Chattanooga City Council Meeting: CARTA Strategic Plan and Landscape Ordinance – December 16, 2025

On December 16, 2025, the Chattanooga City Council met to receive a strategic update from the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and to discuss a proposed amendment to the landscape ordinance. The meeting included presentations by CARTA leadership, council member questions, and a motion to refer the landscape ordinance to the legislative committee.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the minutes of the previous meeting without action.

Discussion Items

CARTA Strategic Update

• Charles Frazier, CEO of CARTA, and Johan Denysen, Chairman of the CARTA Board, presented an overview of recent accomplishments and future plans. Mr. Frazier noted that the city’s 2019–2020 consultant, Jarrett Walker, had described the transit system as “a legacy of low expectations and low investment.”
• Mr. Frazier outlined three focus areas: establishing a 20-year shared vision (via the Plan Chattanooga document), stabilizing the organization (corrective actions, technology upgrades, diversifying funding), and community engagement (transit tours, classroom training, windshield tours, and a rider advisory committee).
• Key statistics shared:
  • Caravan (door-to-door) ridership increased 54% year-over-year while miles driven decreased from 70,000 to 45,000 per month, achieving record monthly ridership since June 2025.
  • Fixed-route weekday ridership up 9% year-over-year; weekend ridership highest in four years.
  • Parking utilization at CARTA garages increased 80% year-over-year, revenue up 46% after implementing first-hour free parking.
  • The city’s $2.9 million capital match in 2024–2025 leveraged $25.5 million in grants, including $10 million from competitive grants.
• Mr. Denysen emphasized that 40% of Hamilton County households earn $20,000 or less annually, and that poor transit limits access to jobs and training. He argued that the system is chronically underfunded and called for viewing transit as an economic enabler rather than a transactional service.
• Councilmember Henderson asked about partnerships with Waymo and autonomous vehicles. Mr. Frazier confirmed discussions with the city and UTC on smart grants and autonomous technology, noting that technology could solve first-mile/last-mile challenges.
• Councilmember Henderson expressed concern about the lack of a strategic plan linking transit to workforce development and noted that the current system may be “one of the worst in the nation.” Mr. Frazier acknowledged the need for improvement and said the team is committed to change.
• Councilmember Elliott stressed the need for a dedicated revenue source for CARTA and asked about the cost of new transit hubs. Mr. Frazier said costs are being quantified and that a downtown transfer center is a priority. Councilmember Elliott encouraged CARTA to bring a hard ask to the council.
• Councilmember Clark argued that transit should not be forced on residents and that the return on investment should be framed as economic development, not personal choice. He asked how efficiency savings are reinvested. Mr. Frazier said he would provide details in February.
• Councilmember Burris noted the importance of pedestrian connectivity and the cost of car ownership (estimated $12,000/year), and praised the Plan Chattanooga transit layer.
• The council thanked CARTA for its work and looked forward to a February presentation on the long-term transit plan.

Landscape Ordinance Amendment (Introduced by Councilman Harvey)

• Councilman Harvey proposed amending the zoning code to allow registered professional engineers or architects (not just landscape architects) to prepare landscape plans, citing that the previous code allowed this for over 20 years and that the change would cut red tape and help address housing affordability.
• The amendment adds “or a registered professional engineer or architect licensed to practice in the state of Tennessee and having competency in landscape plan preparation.”
• Councilman Elliott expressed concern about runoff and irrigation issues, and asked whether engineers from other specialties would be competent. Mike Price, an engineer, explained that the same review process at the Land Development Office (LDO) applies regardless of who prepares the plan, and that professionals risk their licenses if they act outside competence.
• Councilman Henderson questioned how “competency” is determined and whether the previous change was due to problems at LDO. Chris Anderson (staff) noted that the change was suggested by planning staff and that it has caused a slowdown in housing production, which this amendment seeks to address.
• Councilman Burris raised concerns about native plant diversity and the city’s status as a national park city, arguing that landscape architects bring a holistic, ecologically-minded approach. She suggested revisiting native plant requirements over time.
• Councilman Harvey reiterated that the amendment does not change the required standards or review process—only who prepares the plan.
• The council agreed to move the ordinance to the legislative committee. Councilman Harvey accepted a friendly amendment clarifying that the LDO Director determines competency.

Key Outcomes

• CARTA’s presentation was received; a detailed long-term transit plan will be presented to the full council in February 2026.
• The landscape ordinance amendment was referred to the legislative committee for further review; a date for the committee meeting will be set.
• The council noted that board appointments for Nan and Linda (names not fully specified) will be on the January 6, 2026 agenda, along with the Northgate TIFF resolution.