SPEAK UP FOR EQUITABLE MOBILITY!
ISLE OF PALMS CONNECTOR SURVEY
• Take the Survey (by 2/15/23): https://metroquestsurvey.com/nz01m •
Let SCDOT know the IOP Connector should stay as is! Rank “Existing Conditions” as 5 stars in the survey, rank the other concepts as 1 star.
In 2021, after studying how to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on the Isle of Palms Connector, and after the public provided overwhelming support on the record for buffered bike/ped lanes with green intermittent paint on both sides of the Connector, SCDOT restriped the bridge to its current configuration. The experience of bicycling, walking and running on the Connector is now a more comfortable one, with plenty of demarcated space for vulnerable road users, connecting to Mount Pleasant’s multi-use paths on each side.
The City of Isle of Palms expressed concerns about emergency response capabilities following the 2021 restriping, and requested SCDOT commission a third-party analysis of both operations and alternate designs for the Connector. Following presentations of the analysis to Isle of Palms and the Town of Mount Pleasant, we have learned that the 2021 restriping did not impact emergency response times, and the overall number of crashes have actually decreased. IOP Councilmembers noted that motorists are following state law by slowing and moving to the right upon hearing sirens.
SCDOT has put forward five alternate configurations for public comment, and our position is that the existing configuration remains the safest, most connected, most economical, and most thoughtful approach to equitable access between Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms. All of the new concepts shift bike/ped to one side of the Connector and cut the overall dedicated space for vulnerable road users nearly in half. They also require the Town of Mount Pleasant to remove an existing multi-use path between Rifle Range Road and the Connector itself, as well as prevent planned upcoming projects that would add bike capacity and vehicular efficiency along this segment. Proceeding with one of the five alternative concepts over the existing configuration would undo a lot of benefit without adding any substantive safety elements.
Some quick facts:
- Since the Connector was restriped in 2021 to indicate safe bike/ped space and lower the speed limit, there has been a reduction in (both quantity and severity of) crashes. Further, there has not been any delay in emergency response time.
- An overwhelming majority of the Connector is within the Town of Mount Pleasant’s jurisdiction, not the City of Isle of Palms.
- All five newly-proposed alternatives would significantly reduce safe bike/ped space for vulnerable road users AND require the removal of an existing multi-use path in Mount Pleasant.
- The Connector is part of the East Coast Greenway, a significant bike/ped trail through SC that DOT has been working hard to expand access and safety of. It is also part of Battery2Beach and WalkBike BCD, two other important plans that guide the region’s vision for bike/ped infrastructure. Ensuring prioritized space for vulnerable road users on and to the Connector has documented consensus.
We would expect everyone — DOT, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, and the public, alike — to be elated that data proves safety and access for all has been improved since the 2021 restriping. It is a pivotal enhancement from which to propel forward, not backward.
We want to be very clear: speaking up to protect existing projects is the only way to keep them. Our community will lose safe biking and walking infrastructure without your voice.
HOUSING OUR FUTURE
The County’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization wants your feedback on the draft version of Housing our Future, a comprehensive housing plan for Charleston County. Through March 1, there are a number of in-person meetings where you can learn about the plan and provide feedback, as well as an online comment form.
In your comments, please let the County know you want to see safe, connected and equitable transportation as a priority within the plan. Multi-modal transportation and access to affordable housing go hand-in-hand. Through transit oriented development, zoning and policies that work to provide and protect affordable housing in proximity to transit, employment and education, we can build communities that are connected, vibrant and livable.
» View the full draft plan HERE
» View the plan overview HERE
» Provide comments HERE
Public meeting schedule:
February 6, 2023
12-3 pm
Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston 29405
February 6, 2023
5:30-7:30 pm
Otranto Road Library
2261 Otranto Road, North Charleston 29406
February 7, 2023
12-2 pm
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library
1858 S. Grimball Road, James Island 29412
February 7, 2023
5:30-7:30 pm
Main Library
68 Calhoun Street, Charleston 29403
February 13, 2023
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Kiawah Town Hall
4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island 29455
February 22, 2023
6-8 pm
5605 Katy Hill Road, Wadmalaw Island 29487
February 23, 2023
1-3 pm
Buckshots Restaurant
100030 Highway 17 North, McClellanville 29458
February 23, 2023
6-8 pm
Awendaw Town Hall
6971 Doar Road, Awendaw 29429
February 27, 2023
6-8 pm
Wiltown Community Center
5779 Parkers Ferry Road, Adams Run 29426
February 28, 2023
5:30-7:30 pm
Johns Island Library
3531 Maybank Highway, Johns Island 29455
March 1, 2023
5:30-7:30 pm
Wando Library
1400 Carolina Park Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant 29466
MOUNT PLEASANT TRAILS
The Town of Mount Pleasant is hosting public input sessions for various trail projects, as part of the Mount Pleasant Way plan. Additionally, the Town is hosting the next open houses to further develop their Comprehensive Plan. These are great opportunities to let planning staff know what types of bicycle, pedestrian and transit infrastructure are needed. Here is what is coming up through March 2023:
Mathis Ferry Trail
Click HERE for survey — open through 3/17
Ben Sawyer Trail
Click HERE fo
Coleman District
Click HERE fo
Kenny Mile Trail
Public Input Session #2
Thursday, March 9
Drop-in between 5-7 pm
Wando Branch Charleston County Library (1400 Carolina Park Blvd)
Click HERE for survey — open through 3/17
Carolina Park/Ten Mile/Rural Districts
Comp Plan Deep Dive
Thursday, March 9
Drop-in between 5-7 pm
Wando Branch Charleston County Library (1400 Carolina Park Blvd)
Click HERE fo
KING STREET BIKE LANE
• Sign our Petition: https://forms.gle/VzBvRmuZWmKQ2zUq8v •
SCDOT held both an in-person public meeting and open comment period earlier this year for their Downtown Charleston Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Project, which proposed a variety of safety upgrades to King Street, Meeting Street, Saint Philip Street and Calhoun Street (view detailed, mapped concepts here). These recommendations were the result of Road Safety Audits in 2019 and 2020, which we participated in alongside other stakeholders. The four corridors were selected because they are within South Carolina’s top 10 most dangerous roadways for vulnerable road users, based on crash data.
One of the most exciting elements of this project is that it reinforces a connected grid of dedicated multi-modal space, particularly for those traveling by bike as, despite the immense volume of trips, there is a complete lack of infrastructure. It also recommends much-needed pedestrian improvements, while retaining (and even adding) on-street parking. We commend SCDOT for striking this balance, while prioritizing countermeasures that save lives.
A standout recommendation for King Street calls for a road diet from Calhoun to Broad, which would facilitate the installation of a buffered bike lane (with intermittent green paint). This would transform the corridor into a far safer environment by improving functionality and predictability for all travelers. Our only critique is to make the bike lane protected, in addition to buffered.
NORTH CHARLESTON NEEDS SAFE TRANSPORTATION ACCESS
• Sign the Petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/north-charleston-needs-safe-transportation-access •
South Carolina is one of the most dangerous states in the nation for vulnerable road users, with Charleston County leading the state in rates of injuries and fatalities to people on bicycles and on foot. In 2021, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), the agency that controls the majority of our roadways and bridges, passed a Complete Streets Engineering Directive, emphasizing that local formalized bike/ped plans would be needed for the state to install the appropriate infrastructure. For the City of North Charleston to have the best opportunities to work with SCDOT and achieve safe transportation access for its citizens, there needs to be a municipal Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan to guide priorities and facilitate implementation.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO WALK + BIKE IN NORTH CHARLESTON?
• Fill out the Survey: charlestonmoves.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/where-do-you-want-to-walk-bike-in-north-charleston •
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 the Petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/safe-bikeped-access-across-the-wappoo-cut •
The Wappoo Cut Bridge is located along Folly Road between West Ashley and James Island. While it has sidewalks leading to it, and a maintenance path across, the space is too far narrow and close to fast-moving vehicles. This is a key corridor that links destinations with existing infrastructure and pending projects, including: the West Ashley Greenway, Maryville Bikeway, new Ashley River Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge, McLeod Plantation, Rethink Folly Road improvements, Maybank Highway complete streets work, James Island County Park, and more. Despite progress and opportunities on both sides, this bridge remains a barrier. We need a critical mass of support to make this crossing safe and comfortable for people to walk, bicycle, travel in wheelchairs, and with canes.