Charleston Currents – transportation

Old postcard of a trolley on Rutledge Avenue.

GOOD NEWS: Charleston begins to update city-wide transportation plan

Staff reports | The city of Charleston will work to update its city-wide transportation plan starting Oct. 25 with a series of public input sessions designed to determine transportation needs throughout the community.

“Engaging our citizens is a critical first step as we work toward improving transportation city-wide,” said Charleston Director of Traffic and Transportation Keith Benjamin. “Their first-hand recommendations will help us to effectively define accessibility in Charleston, mitigate congestion and achieve a good balance of transportation alternatives throughout our city.”

Also in Good News: YESCarolina’s national winner; #4 minor league city; Ingevity and the Lowcountry Food Bank; Assessor’s Office; and eye health survey.

by Charleston Currents · 10/16/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

TODAY’S FOCUS: Charleston’s bus evacuation system wasn’t ready for storm

By William J. Hamilton | Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit became aware that the Lowcountry’s Emergency Bus Evacuation System, another almost entirely separate transit system from Tri County Link and CARTA, wasn’t ready for a major hurricane on Sept. 5. We blogged the issue and informed local officials with a positively focused post on the Daily Kos, a national news site titled Power and Efficiency of Public Transit can save Low country lives before and after a Hurricane.

Hamilton
Neither CARTA bus drivers nor the public had any detailed knowledge of this alternative bus route system. Maps and schedules could have been handed out to transit riders, who often come from households without private cars and communities where cars are less available.

by Charleston Currents · 09/18/2017 · 3 comments · Focus, Good news

Overhead view of an overpass along Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant that was part of a bonded improvement project. Photo: Charleston County.

MORRIS: Let’s complete the penny tax for infrastructure

By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | Charleston is one of the fastest-growing, economically-diverse communities in America. Some people say we are the victims of our own success. Strong job growth in manufacturing, local business growth and people moving to Charleston in record numbers are a reflection of our success and quality of life.

As is often the case, with success there are also costs. The infrastructure for our road system throughout Charleston County is severely lacking.

In 2004, a referendum passed for a half cent sales tax that would fund road and highway projects in Charleston County.

by Kyra Morris · 11/02/2016 · 1 comment · Money, Views

MORRIS: We need to plan for transportation density now

By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | Transportation in the Charleston area is an issue that needs to be dealt with by the community as a whole. The region needs to provide a lot of the necessary infrastructure, businesses need to get involved with incentives, and individuals need to coordinate travel to either share the ride or consider alternatives. Our transportation issues are serious today. Unless we address them, they are only going to get worse over time. The future is ours to plan for now.

Studies have been done to evaluate potential solutions. Avenues from light rail and water ferries to improved bus systems have been explored. These ideas all have a certain appeal, but when you get into the logistics of implementation there are cavea

by Kyra Morris · 09/26/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Money, Views