Call Now and Ask for A Hearing on Safer Complete Streets Bill H. 3656

Six pedestrians and cyclists have been killed on Charleston’s roadways since New Year’s Day. SC is one of the most dangerous places in the US to Walk, Bike or Ride the Bus. Charleston County is the most dangerous place in SC. The Lowcountry can’t operate a successful transit system if people can’t survive walking or biking to and from our transit stops. Crossing deadly roadways is one of the most common reasons elderly and disabled people cite for not riding the bus. That depresses ridership and leads to cancellation and reductions in transit service.

Bring Safer, Complete Streets to SC

Bus stop in Mt. Pleasant, SC

We need a law to require the SC Department of Transportation to adopt a statewide “Complete Streets” policy so new and improved roadways are safe for transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists with sidewalks, transit stops, bike lanes and safe road crossings. Representatives Marvin Pendavis and JA Moore have introduced H. 3656.

To help pass this bill, we need to have the House Education and Public Works Committee hold a hearing on H 3656- “A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IMPLEMENT A "COMPLETE STREETS" POLICY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND EFFICIENT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND TRANSIT RIDERS.” In the next few weeks.

Unless a hearing is held soon, H. 3656 won’t pass out of the house in time to make the critical “crossover date” to be taken up by the State Senate and passed this year. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of new roads will be planned before the Legislature has the opportunity to act again.

Call and ask for a hearing on H. 3656 Today

• Rep.  Merita A. "Rita" Allison,  Chairman of Chairman, House Education and Public Works Committee, Legislative office - Phone (803) 734-3053
• Rep. R. Raye Felder has signed on as a cosponsor of the legislation, Please thank her and ask her to psuh for a hearing soon - Legislative phone number  (803) 212-6892
• Email- You can also email gingerlee@schouse.gov to request the committee set a hearing and attach detailed input.

Full information on the H. 3656’s current status- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3656&session=123&summary=B&fbclid=IwAR3XkQ7ov_jSfaSP7j9c-_szNobxxrb6eUr1dn5muqdhRs4Sp81VPB0W4Eo

Detailed information on Complete Streets Planning https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition/