GOOD NEWS:  New bus shelter unveiled at airport

Charleston City council member Mike Seekings speaks at the shelter unveiling. Photo provided.

Staff reports  |  Charleston International Airport has installed a state-of-the-art bus shelter to accommodate an increasing number of passengers and airport workers riding Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) vehicles to and from the airport.

“With passenger numbers booming at Charleston International Airport, we couldn’t be happier that the Aviation Authority has stepped up to partner in such a big way,” said CARTA board chairman Mike Seekings, who also is a Charleston city council member. “As more visitors than ever come to the Charleston area, we have to mitigate traffic impacts throughout the region, and a $3.50 direct connection from the airport to downtown is one way to do just that.”

The new shelter, which was funded by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, offers solar-powered lighting and a comfortable waiting area for riders on CARTA’s Route 40 Airport Express and local Route 11 Airport/Dorchester Road. The perforated steel structure is located in the center median outside baggage claim.

CARTA reported its Airport Express, which costs $3.50 for a one-way fare saw a 30 percent year-over-year increase in passengers in October.  The Airport Express departs the airport hourly from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It delivers passengers to the Charleston Visitor Center Bus Shed on John Street in the Charleston Historic District and offers return service to the airport. Once downtown, riders can walk to nearby hotels, use the free CARTA Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) or hail a taxi or ride-sharing app, such as Uber or Lyft.

“Passengers want options and the Airport Express route is convenient and offers another transportation choice for those who fly in and out of the airport,” said Paul G. Campbell Jr., executive director and CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority.

Also in Good News:

Satani

New national president.  Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani, a member of the business management faculty at ECPI University’s Charleston campus, has been elected national president of the American Business Woman’s Association (ABWA). “ABWA offers a valued service that helps women garner skills needed to advance in the workplace,” she said in a news release.  “ABWA takes a leading role to ensure that women have access to a college education and other professional development opportunities that can support them in achieving parity in the workplace.” As part of her new role, she’s a trustee for a business scholarship program that has awarded more than $17 million in scholarships to 17,000 women.  Satani also is CEO of Corporate Cycle Consulting LLC.

90th anniversary of library.  Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) will host a 90th anniversary celebration of Dart Hall Library and the John L. Dart Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 9 at the John L. Dart Library, 1067 King Street in downtown Charleston. This anniversary event features the unveiling of a historical marker and special presentations including a poetry reading and an excerpt of a documentary showcasing the evolution of Dart Hall Library and the Dart Library of today.

Get tickets for ship commissioning.  The U.S. Navy will commission its newest destroyer, the USS Ralph Johnson, on March 24 at the Columbus Street pier in Charleston.  But if you want to attend the event for the ship, named for the late Private First Class Ralph Johnson of Charleston, you’ll need tickets.  They’re free, but you’ll need to sign up before the end of the year through the Navy League of Charleston.  Go to the ship’s page at this link and click the invitations link.  To learn about Johnson’s heroism in Vietnam, click here.

Roadwork.  Milling and paving of Spring and Cannon Streets started today and will extend through next week.  It will impact the traffic flow and on-street parking in the area, city of Charleston official said.  During the milling and paving operations, one lane of eastbound traffic on Cannon Street and one lane of westbound traffic on Spring Street will remain open. The work zone will change daily and will be clearly marked with safety barricades and flagmen. Traffic on the cross streets will be subject to intermittent traffic control as equipment works through the intersections.

Free Google AdWords audit: 360 Internet Strategy, a Google Partner, is offering a free AdWords audit for a local nonprofit in the Charleston community. The goal is to highlight areas of improvement to get more from your AdWords account and to increase traffic to your website.  Entries for the free audit must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 22.  The winner will contacted within a week.  Click here for entry form.

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