A Brainerd group is unhappy about a CARTA route change at Eastgate.
Deborah Johnson said the bus formerly turned off Brainerd Road at the Starbucks, but now turns at First Tennessee Bank and goes to Walmart.
She said the section that also includes a foot doctor, FedEx, Ollie's, Chick-Fil-a, Castle Dental, the Library, EPB, China Moon, Applebees, Chili's, Verizon, and a pain clinic, no longer has service.
Lisa Maragnano, CARTA executive director, said Eastgate management asked that CARTA no longer use its former stop because outdoor dining and vendors are slated to go there.
She said CARTA will continue to look at the issue, noting that 34 percent of CARTA's customers are centered around Eastgate.
The change took place on May 8.
Ms. Johnson said 388 people signed a petition asking CARTA to again serve the section around Starbucks.
The petition says: "As a result of the new changes most of the businesses that regular passengers need are being left out with the new loop. A large percentage of these are elderly and disabled passengers, also the workers who work in these businesses. Please consider changing back to the old entrance and the outer Eastgate Loop."
Ms. Johnson said she had wanted to address the CARTA board about the issue on Thursday morning, but she said Ms. Maragnano and Chairman Steve Jett asked that she first have a sit-down meeting with CARTA officials.