Public transportation first appeared on the streets of Chattanooga on September 4, 1875, utilizing horse-drawn trollies.

With the advent of the internal combustion engine, buses began to appear more frequently.

In 1941, Southern Coach Lines took over the public transit operations, and the last streetcar ran in 1946.

Since 1992, CARTA has operated a free downtown shuttle bus service, utilizing electric buses, which runs between the Chattanooga Choo Choo (the former Terminal Station) and the Tennessee Aquarium.

CARTA owns and operates the historic Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, which ascends from the St. Elmo neighborhood to the town of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee as well as the Chattanooga Parking Authority.