Carta Shuttle Park South

Whoever conceived the idea for a free downtown shuttle and found the money to pay for it deserves a medal. It’s a brilliant idea and gives Chattanooga that much more tourist appeal. The shuttle runs from the Chattanooga Choo Choo on the south end to roughly the Tennessee Aquarium on the north end with stops every block. There’s also a free shuttle that crosses the river to the North Shore.
It’s an easy way to get around downtown and if you’re staying downtown it mitigates the hassle of finding and paying for parking every day. The downtown shuttle runs from 6am — 11pm week days and starts at 9am on the weekends. The only complaint I have is that the shuttle to the North Shore ends at 5:30pm, making it less convenient to visit restaurants across the river.
If you visit Chattanooga, you’ll fall in love with this free service.

CARTA is Chattanooga’s version of Atlanta’s MARTA. I assume I do not have to explain what the letters mean.
This review is for the part of CARTA service I have used most (a lot, really!) — the free downtown shuttle. It has been in place since 1990, running from the Choo-​Choo in the North end of downtown, to just over the bridge that takes you to the North Shore just past the South end of downtown. As this part of Chattanooga has developed and flourished, the shuttle has been a key benefit for tourists, downtowners, every one alike. Since the bus part of CARTA is $ 1.50 like MARTA one way rides are, taking the shuttle whenever you are going more than you are comfortable walking is an awesome alternative.
Main points– the shuttles are clean, the drivers are SUPER nice (and, side note, they remember almost everyone that comes on their routes more than once, call you by name if they know it, and say things to you (me) like «How is your morning going? Better than yesterday, I hope! Did the bank ever open for you?») and the busses — especially the «Choo Choo» bus, which runs from the hotel CARTA parking garage to the Aquarium, where you catch the «North Shore» bus if going over the bridge — run very consistently on a prompt every-​three-​minutes schedule.
A nice bonus? If they see you trying to get to the shuttle stop, they will wait for you — and they will also drop you off just before or after an official stop if it helps you.
When you are visiting Chattanooga, I highly recommend you take the shuttle at least once. Oh — and they are super warm, too!