FOCUS: Will work to relieve traffic congestion as mayor

By Ginny Deerin, candidate for mayor of Charleston  |  Many days, it feels like we spend more time trying to get places than actually being there.

It should not be this hard to get around Charleston. As mayor, I will work day-and-night to relieve traffic congestion — and make it easier to get where we are going.

Deerin

We can do better. We have studied our traffic problems to death. Now is the time for action. I have presented a bold and aggressive transportation action plan — a plan that includes clear and identifiable funding streams.

My plan, “Accelerate Charleston,” calls for a strong emphasis on improving Charleston’s roads to decrease congestion. By better connecting neighborhoods and building and improving local roads, drivers will have more than one way to get on and off main arteries.

There are broader measures we can take too – none of which are rocket science. When new development is planned, traffic infrastructure must be in place before the project is complete — not as an afterthought once we are all stuck in traffic.

In addition, by constructing 50 miles of sidewalks, pathways and bikeways by 2018, residents will be less likely to rely on a car for every trip.

Trying new things will enable us to set the standard for world-class transportation. Connecting the peninsula with West Ashley and Daniel Island by piloting a ferry system across our beautiful waterways will shorten commutes and get cars off the roads. Employing the latest technology will make parking faster for drivers – and residents must be able to park near their homes.

We can also bring modern buses to Charleston, and equip them with wireless internet and smart traffic signal sensors. This technology would allow for traffic lights to remain green for longer when an approaching bus is detected. By piloting routes between high-density points, riders can get to their destinations faster and be more productive on the way. That would make public transportation a more viable option for more commuters.

Failure to act is not an option. Bad roads are personally costing drivers an average of $1,200 each year in extra maintenance, gas and lost time from traffic congestion. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce reported that South Carolina was ranked the second deadliest place to drive in the United States.

Every part of my plan is doable – and has worked elsewhere.

No leader can do this alone. A mayor with a reputation of bringing people together can also bring regional leaders together, and activate citizens to demand real solutions. Revenue strategies that funded transportation projects in other cities can be used here too, like public-private partnerships, philanthropy, and obtainable federal resources.

The missing piece is political will – and it will take individuals frustrated with traffic, parking, and mobility overall organizing to change that.

The governor and state legislature are responsible for some of our frustrations by repeatedly failing to pass a transportation infrastructure bill, despite it having broad support. Both the House and Senate bills called for a slight increase in the gas tax – which is supported by The Post and Courier, Chamber of Commerce, AARP and others. A responsible and sustainable transportation infrastructure bill is in Charleston’s best interest. Not passing one is reckless and shortsighted.

Traffic hurts our quality of life. It prevents us from spending time with our families and from being productive at work. Bad roads also become an unnecessary obstacle in moving goods across our state, which could make us less competitive economically.

I will use every formal and informal tool available to the Mayor to improve our roads and highways to relieve traffic.

Politicians ask us for patience but I’ve used all mine up looking for parking and being stuck in traffic. Without taking real action, our transportation infrastructure will further deteriorate, our traffic problems will worsen, and our quality of life and economy will suffer.

So, I am staking my candidacy for mayor on offering real and thoughtful solutions to problems we face.  Traffic congestion is a natural result of growth, but getting around Charleston should not be this difficult. No silver bullet will solve all our transportation needs, but we can make it easier to get around by taking a comprehensive approach that is bold and aggressive.

Ginny Deerin, a candidate for mayor of Charleston, is the founder and former CEO of WINGS for Kids. Learn more about her campaign here: GinnyForMayor.com. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Charleston Currents has offered this space to each of the Charleston mayoral candidates to share their views with readers. Click the “2015 Election” tab at top to see pieces by William Dudley Gregorie, Maurice Washington, Toby Smith and Leon Stavrinakis. Next week is the last installment by John Tecklenburg.