BCDCOG Safety Action Plan

THE LATEST

Charleston Moves participates on the BCDCOG’s technical advisory committee for the creation of a tri-county Safety Action Plan. 

DESCRIPTION

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), USDOT has set up a discretionary grant program called Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) for municipalities and planning organizations. There are planning/demonstration grants (including to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan) and implementation grants (in order to qualify for implementation grants, an applicant must have a comprehensive Safety Action Plan in place). 

In December 2023, USDOT announced the selection of the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) for an award to create a tri-county Safety Action Plan.

HISTORY

South Carolina, and the Charleston region in particular, consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous places in the nation for people on bicycles, foot, and in motor vehicles, based on crash rates. The most vulnerable travelers among us are those who are bicycling or walking, with and without assistive devices. And in South Carolina, Black and senior communities experience a disproportionate impact.

Over the past few years, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has created a Complete Streets Departmental Directive and a statewide Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan. Charleston Moves participated in the development of both documents. SCDOT has been conducting Road Safety Audits along corridors throughout the state with the highest crash rates, and has proposed safety improvements to address some of the collision hotspots. 

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), USDOT has set up a discretionary grant program called Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) for municipalities and planning organizations. There are planning/demonstration grants (including to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan) and implementation grants (in order to qualify for implementation grants, an applicant must have a comprehensive Safety Action Plan in place). 

Charleston Moves currently participates on the BCDCOG technical advisory committee for the creation of its Safety Action Plan, and provided relevant reports from our Close Calls Database.