Chattanooga, TN — The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is inviting residents to share their experiences and ideas about getting around the city through a new community survey. The results will guide efforts to improve Chattanooga’s transportation system, making it more efficient, equitable, and sustainable for all.
The survey will collect feedback on how residents currently travel, what challenges they face, and what improvements they would like to see. This community input will play a central role in shaping neighborhood mobility zones—areas defined by common travel patterns that connect fixed-route bus lines with new options like on-demand microtransit, car shares, and bike shares.
Residents can take the survey here: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38xjArulflUDTYW
“We are encouraged to be working with leading universities and the Department of Energy on this important project,” said Scott Wilson, Chief of Staff at CARTA and principal investigator for the initiative. “But the most important voices belong to Chattanoogans. By filling out this survey, you will help us design a transit system that reflects the real needs of our community and builds the future of mobility in Chattanooga.”
This initiative is part of a three-year research project led by CARTA in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, and Spark the Firm, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. Together, the team brings expertise in transit planning, artificial intelligence, and community engagement to develop solutions that can be applied not only in Chattanooga but also in mid-sized cities across the country.
The project builds on CARTA’s history of innovation and its commitment to connecting communities, fueling economic growth, and ensuring equitable access to opportunity.