CURRENT ACTIONS BELOW

North Charleston Unified Development Ordinance

Community Kickoff
Tuesday, June 2
6 pm
North Charleston Athletic Center Mezzanine (5794 Casper Padgett Way, 29406)
Details HERE

The City of North Charleston is conducting a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code, ultimately creating a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This rewrite includes setting standards for the public realm: streets and sidewalks. 

They aren’t starting from scratch, as they will be incorporating their comprehensive plan, the future Lowcountry Rapid Transit route and associated Transit Oriented Development (TOD), and ongoing work on their Safety Action Plan. This kickoff meeting will give you the opportunity to learn more about the UDO, meet the project team, and get involved in the process. If you can’t attend, there will be a virtual kickoff meeting on Tuesday, June 9. 

Transportation Sales Tax (TST)

Public Hearing
Thursday, June 11
6:30 pm
Council Chambers (4045 Bridge View Dr, 29405)
Agenda here

On May 26, Charleston County Council voted to advance first reading of their TST ordinance and ballot language  — getting the $4.25B program one step closer to putting it on voters’ ballots this November. The motion explicitly included that amendments will be accepted up to third reading.

This is important, as Charleston Moves has sent our requested amendments to council; our suggestions include:

• complete streets* language for program subcategories (i.e. featured projects, pavement management, intersections)
• creation of a transportation dashboard to lay out project details for public information and tracking (e.g., scope, timeline/status, cost)
• greater detail on what funding will accomplish for the public transit and greenbelt categories
• continuation of the County’s Special Transportation Sales Tax Committee for the duration of this tax — again, for public information and project tracking

On June 11 at 6:30 pm, there will be a public hearing during which County Council will receive feedback on their draft ordinance and ballot language. This is one of very few opportunities that remain where the public can shape how this large investment will be carried out — how it can be transparent and specific, while giving the public a means to hold our decision makers accountable. Mark your calendar, and prepare your comments!

*”Complete streets language” means we are requesting that Charleston County identify in writing that projects in the TST will include the provision of bicycle, pedestrian, and public transit access as contextually-appropriate

Mount Pleasant Safety Improvement Projects

» Take the survey here

The Town of Mount Pleasant has a survey open to collect public input on their Safe Streets and Roads for All “Tier 1” projects that are federally-funded (to the tune of $15,790,000 — thanks to the Town’s diligence!) and moving forward. We strongly encourage you to weigh in on the project list and share your mobility/safe street priorities. These improvements tie into the Town’s outstanding Mount Pleasant Way initiative.

As James Aton, Mount Pleasant’s deputy director of capital projects and transportation, told Live 5 News: “officials also want residents to provide perspectives that crash reports alone cannot capture. ‘Everybody can relate to safety. Every one of us drive, walk, and bike in this town and every single one of these projects works to improve safety and reduce the likelihood of serious and fatal incidents.'”

Charlestonians Demand Safe Streets

» Sign the petition here

On March 26, 2026, a beloved member of our community, Annelise Simmons, was struck and killed by a motorist while walking in a crosswalk at the intersection of King Street and Broad Street in downtown Charleston. The driver was charged with failure to yield.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Annelise, as her loss has reverberated across our community. One fatality is too many.

In 2018, SCDOT initiated a downtown safety improvement effort based on corridor analyses of King Street and Meeting Street below Line Street, Calhoun Street, and St. Philip Street. Charleston Moves participated in these audits, proposing safety improvements for vulnerable road users. After years of disagreement between the state and locals, construction (sans King Street below Calhoun Street) is expected to begin this summer, with anticipated completion by fall 2027. You can learn more here.

It is unacceptable that proven safety measures, federally-funded and SCDOT-proposed, continue to be questioned, delayed, and sometimes blocked. This is happening not just on the peninsula, but across the region.

Our community cannot continue to endure these losses. It’s time for the City of Charleston to invest in pedestrian safety improvements to protect its people for a safer, thriving community. If you agree, please sign this petition, started by the citizen-led coalition Charlestonians Demand Safe Streets.

And take a look at the City’s Safety Action Plan as a resource for project prioritization, crash data, economic impacts, and solutions to our transportation safety crisis in the City of Charleston.

City of North Charleston Safety Action Plan

» Interactive map + survey here (open through July 2026)

The City of North Charleston has embarked on the development of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (SAP). This document will ultimately provide a data-backed set of priority projects, informed by public input, to address safety for all, with an emphasis on people walking, biking and accessing public transit. According to the City’s project page: “Data alone can’t show every close call or place people avoid, but you can. Your feedback will be combined with safety data to set priorities and shape projects so they reflect real experiences on North Charleston’s streets. By speaking up, you help direct investments to the locations and issues that matter most to you, your family, and your community.”

An interactive map and brief survey is open. Please take some time to weigh in!

Charleston Moves is on the Steering Committee for this effort. What’s more, we have been advocating for the development of a Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan for the City of North Charleston since 2022. We applaud the City of North Charleston for getting this effort underway. The Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will be a valuable tool to not only identify priority projects, but also enable the City to draw down the necessary federal dollars for implementation.

Also, we have an ongoing petition and survey; if you’ve yet to weigh in on those, please do.

Sam Rittenberg Redesign Plan

» Sign our petition here

If you were unable to attend the City of Charleston’s public information meeting in December 2025, you can review the conceptual designs and analysis report here, and provide comments via the project’s interactive map here. The concept uses existing right-of-way to create a more functional, welcoming and comfortable street through the use of landscaped medians, updated signalization, wide paths for walking and bicycling, and improved lighting.

The City’s next steps are to complete 30% of the design for two phases, from Charles Towne Drive to Ashley Hall Road, and Ashley Hall Road to Ashley River Road. At that point, the project will be a solid candidate for grants. We at Charleston Moves want to encourage continued forward momentum, so we have started a petition. Please add your name! We hope the City will be able to use this to demonstrate widespread support in their grant applications.

Highway 61 Safety Improvements

» Sign our petition

Following Road Safety Audits conducted by SCDOT in February and March of 2023, in partnership with stakeholders including Charleston Moves, the agency presented findings and recommendations for the public’s review and input. While the comment period has closed, our petition in support of separated bike lanes and an improved crossing at the intersection of 61 and the Maryville Bikeway is still open.

We submitted signatures received so far along with our comment letter to SCDOT. We will resubmit the signatures (as well as new ones) to the agency once SCDOT revises their concepts and brings them back for further review.

North Charleston Needs Safe Transportation Access

» Sign our petition

Where Do You Want To Walk + Bike In North Charleston?

» Take our survey

We want to know where you currently walk and bike in North Charleston, and where you want to see improvements made to enable more and safer multi-modal trips. Thanks in advance for your input!

Cross the Cut

» Sign our petition