526 Funding- A Promise for Charleston County Transit Written, Remembered and Right to Keep.

I526 Funding- A Promise for Charleston County Transit Written, Remembered and Right to Keep.

Transit and the Margin of Victory- 

Transit was the issue which allowed the November 2016 Half Penny sales tax referendum to win support of the majority of Charleston County’s voters. Funding I526 through contracts and debt arrangements which could force or be used to force the sacrifice of transit funds to cover cost overruns for the road project would be such a fundamental breach of trust with the voting public that it would make passage of future, similar referendums across the entire state harder or impossible for years into the future. Local funding for major transit and road infrastructure projects in SC might become impossible to win.

Image, right- The Community Commitment to Transit with Thom Taylor, left and Millicent Middleton right on March 30, 2016.

It was clear in 2016 that without a significant benefit to urban areas such as downtown Charleston and North Charleston, voters in those areas (who wouldn't be getting new roads or green space near where they lived), would vote against the tax. To build a balance of benefits that the voters would approve, County Council promised they would use 600 million dollars from the tax to fund construction of a rapid transit system and to improve regular bus service. It was also clear from debate at County Council that including funding I526 from Half Penny Sales tax funds would be too unpopular to allow the referendum to pass.

When Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit discovered the contents of the ordinance and referendum question had been changed and specific funding provisions regarding transit had been deleted, we suspended our Transit Complete the Penny Campaign we had already begun at a cost of over ten thousand dollars. (County Council voted on a written text which wasn't read to the public at their August 2016 meeting.) Several other groups withdrew their support of the referendum entirely.

A Need for Better Transit- 

Charleston County’s need for better transit was and is dire. Businesses in our vital tourism and medical sectors are unable to hire and retrain staff. Local wage levels won’t support the cost of housing and transportation between work and the regions declining stock of affordable housing. Young families must accept commutes of an hour or more between locations like Boeing and Summerville to find an affordable home and reliable public schools. Our county has the highest rate of pedestrian and cyclist deaths in the State in part because Transit doesn't enable safe, practical trips between work, school, health care and home, forcing people on to roads at night and in poor weather in places where it isn't safe.

A 600 Million Dollar Promise- We agreed to resume our campaign of support for the referendum if County Council with the leadership of Coleen Condon passed a resolution committing 600 million dollars of half penny sales tax funds to transit. That resolution was adopted by council in early October, 2016 and we resumed our efforts to pass the referendum, ultimately winning Charleston County the fund necessary to build the state’s first rapid transit system and to substantially improve inadequate CARTA and Tri-county LINK Bus services.

As part of that campaign, we created the Community Commitment to Transit, a 3 x 5 foot document on which the resolution passed by County Council was set out. Beneath the resolution are the signatures of elected officials including then and current County Council Chairman Elliot Summey and Mayor Tecklenburg of Charleston attesting to their support of the resolution. Below that are the signatures of over 400 citizens stating that they will act with us to enforce that commitment by council and those other elected officials.

Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit is committed to the belief that every Citizen’s right to reasonable mobility should be respected. While it may appear to be simple minded and gullible on our parts, we do not accept the idea that achieving any goal desired through whatever chain of dishonestly and manipulation in politics possible is acceptable. We believe it is the right of ordinary citizens to expect their will, as expressed through their votes in response to the promises made by their elected officials, to be respected. That remains the foundation of public trust and government.

A Demand that  Promise be Kept- 

On behalf of the hundreds of citizens whose signatures are on this commitment and our 2100 supporters, we demand that any agreement for the funding of the construction of I526 preserve and segregate the funding promised in the October 2016 resolution to the purposes of building the rapid transit system and improving bus service set out in that resolution.

Road Projects- 

It is not our charge to attempt to direct which of the sprawl inducing road projects the over 1.5 billion dollars from the tax apportioned to roads should be spent on. We leave that effort to the drivers who continue to believe, despite 70 years of proof to the contrary, that more highways will mean less congestion.

The Community Commitment to transit at Best Friends Office. Executive Director William Hamilton will be available to the media on Wednesday, April 3 from 10 am to 4 pm at the offices of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit at 171 Church St. Ste 160. Anyone wishing to arrange a viewing or place their signature in one of the remaining signing spaces is invited to call (843) 870-5299 or email wjhamilton29464@gmail.comwjhamilton29464@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.

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Transit Enabled Community around the old Navy Hospital

Safer grade separated transit access, a cultural incubator cluster and walk able environment policing will help make development of the area around the old Navy Hospital a success.

After very limited consultation with our membership within Best Friends of Lowcoutnry Transit came up with three major suggestions regarding the redevelopment of Rivers Ave. and McMillan, including the area round the old Navy Hospital, former Shipwatch Square and closed Kmart.

Grade Separated Transit Access- Keeping Riders Safe 

Map of Planning Area in N. Chas.

The Transit Hub and McMillian and Rivers needs grade separated access to bus stops and the BRT stop. Since this area will serve a large, dense population, including, ultimately whatever is build on the old Navy Base and connections from the West Ashley area, a lot of traffic can be expected. if affordable housing is included in the plan, a large population of senior citizens and disabled persons will be attempting to use these stops as well. It's not going to be efficient or safe for pedestrians to be crossing Rivers and McMillian on grade with ordinary vehicular traffic.

Spaces to transfer to and from BRT, regular bus service, rideshare and private vehicles (kiss riders) would need to be planned so that pedestrians can avoid crossing traffic lanes to the greatest extent possible.

Bus Stop, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Pedestrian overpasses should allow transit riders to access the BRT and bus stops going in the various directions without the danger of pedestrian / vehicle collisions. Nearby buildings could be connected directly to the hub from their second floors eliminating climbs up or down stairs and reducing the need for elevators.

It would be possible to bring the BRT up to an above grade station so that it avoids conflicts with traffic at that intersection as well, creating an above grade streetscape dedicated to rapid transit and pedestrians. This is an expensive option, but it would transform the region's mobility with a vastly better gateway experience to the community. Ordinary pedestrain overpasses would be functional at lower cost.

Cultural Incubator

Rising rent, parking and space costs are making downtown Charleston a less practical place for young creatives to establish themselves. Youth oriented cultural activities are also leaving the old City and becoming disbursed to suburban areas where they find their market.

Youth planning transit system

A modestly sized cluster of incubator spaces for artistic work, performance linked to nearby affordable housing could produce huge benefits for the area and N. Charleston. it would help transform public perception of the area. it could leverage large scale civic spaces in nearby existing Churches and the new library to support events which would support a positive cultural and civic life in the area. This would would reduce crime and attract economic activity.

All of this would be linked by the planned Bus Rapid Transit Line to the established performance spaces and tourism entertainment market in downtown Charleston. An actor, musician or stage technician could reach work at the Dock Street Theater or a downtown Hotel in 25 minutes without any need for a car.

Meanwhile, small, modestly scaled studio and performance spaces at McMillian would allow younger creatives to put on events there with a local focus at low cost. They could find affordable housing with walking distance. This would be accessible to young artists in the already existing surrounding communities as well.

The Bus Rapid Transit system would allow all of this to exist without the high cost of parking structures and parking access infrastructure. Audiences could access performances and exhibitions without the need for a car or dealing with the cost of parking as well.

We've seen projects like this in other cities. Most were built around performance spaces of 99 audience seats or less and bare bones studio space. Regular co working spaces were usually found nearby. I've been to one such space in Seattle- http://www.12avearts.org/ and another in Philadelphia where the entire complex, including three functional performance spaces was inside a former town house on a street with no parking.

Law Enforcement

Some sort of office of the policemen patrolling the area needs to be included. Since this is a walk able, transit oriented space, a significant part of police work will need to be done on foot. on a bicycle or by the use of smaller electric vehicles. It may be worthwhile to train officers in how walk-able, urban, transit enabled spaces are supposed to work. Cultivating the goodwill and understanding or residents and visitors in outdoor occupied spaces would help drive crime out of the area. The hundreds of pairs of eyes put on the sidewalk, transit stop and public areas by transit riders and residents can assist the police in keeping the area safe and successful.

Pendarvis Op Ed

State Representative Marvin Pendavis (iamge, right) wrote an Op Ed in the Charleston Chronicle dealing with redevelopment of this area in Fall 2018.

Other Issues, Affordable Housing

We understand that many other issues must be considered in this planning, including creating a significant amount of affordable housing for people in the area and those being priced out of living downtown, including those in our Hospitality and Food Service Industries.  We also understand that the quality and performance of the entire future Bus Rapid Transit line is important to this project. We've treated those issues extensively in other materials and did raise them with the planners at our interview. We also know that Metanoia and CAJM also brought up those issues.

Rapid Transit Summerville to Charleston Progress is Possible

The Lowcountry can have real, rapid transit linking Charleston, the Neck, North Charleston, Ladson, Lincolnville, Sangaree and Summerville. 250 million dollars to pay for it has already been raised through the half penny sales tax referendum in Nov. 2016, which Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit helped win. Planning for the system is proceeding now and needs more public input. The current estimated time for the start of operation is 2025, however it will take massive public involvement and pressure for that to hold.

This page is an evolving overview of plans for the Bus Rapid Transit Line from Summerville to Charleston. Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit have worked as advocates for this effort for 8 years and we were instrumental is delivering the margin of victory in the November 2016 referendum. Bus Rapid Transit was proposed for our region because Light Rail would have cost over 2 Billion dollars more.

We do our work through community events and activities- If you want better transit, showing up really matters. You can view our upcoming events on Facebook.

Video- The fastest way to understand how Bus Rapid Transit works is video

• Bus Rapid Transit - The Future of Urban Transit
• Best Bus Rapid Transit in Major World Cities
• Bangladesh - Still think we're world leaders, you need to sit down before you watch this one.

Planning & Issues

Planning a transit connection between Charleston, N. Charleston, Ladson, Lincolnville and Summerville has been in process since the early 1990s. There have been several major proposals including light rail, commuter rail, monorail, and express bus. Currently the #3 express bus line runs from Dorchester Village Shopping Center (a few miles West of Summerville) down Dorchester Road to Charleston. It's also possible to take the #1 Espress to the Otranto Park and ride lot and transfer to complete a trip to Summerville on Tri County Link which will take you all the way to downtown Summerville. Travel time for the CARTA / LINK combined trip from Charleston to Downtown Summerville varies from 90 minutes to 2.75 hours depending on time of day and success at getting to the transfer point on time.

Pink line shows original planned transit corridor for city.

• Our annotated map of the planned rapid transit line with 18 things which need to be done for it to work properly over the long haul. We've distributed 6000 of these locally, most to family groups with a nose to nose transit conversation. 
• A 4.7 Million Dollar Engineering study and planning effort is underway now, being done under contract with Charleston County and the COG by DHR
• I26alt Study, Recommended Alternative- 2015 to 2016, latest in a 20 year, 4 million dollar series of studies of transit between Summerville, Lincolnville, Ladson, Sangaree, N. Charleston, the Neck and Charleston. This study put the cost of light rail to Summerville at over 2 billion dollars and recommended less expensive Bus Rapid Transit. 
• Transit Enable the Lowline- One of the most critical issues confronting the community is the belief by some that it would be acceptable to end the transit line at Mt. Pleasant Street (Near the Longshoreman's Hall( and either put the BRT vehicles in regular traffic or attempt to service the city with a larger shuttle bus system. Here is why that won't really work.
• Summerville, Lincolnville & Ladson could be by bypassed by the rapid transit line. 
• Lowcountry Rapid Transit- web pages by the BCD COG on the project, whcich they're planning.

Pendarvis, Transit Advocates Help Move SC Towards Safer, Complete Streets at Legislature, On OHM Radio at 4 pm Wed.

Above, Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit members at SC State Capital

The “Complete Streets” Bill, H 3656,  was amended and Unanimously passed out of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Education and Public Works Committee of the South Carolina House of representatives after a contested hearing where advocates for reducing the toll of deaths and injuries suffered by Pedestrians, Transit Riders and Cyclists from across SC. Rep. Marvin Pendavis probed the State Department of Transportation with a courtroom like examination.  The bill will now go to the full committee for Consideration and if passed there, on to the House of Representatives for debate and vote.

Transit Advocate and Attorney, William Hamilton will be on OHM Radio in Charleston at 4 pm on Wednesday, March 27 talking about yesterdays hearing and how the struggle moves forward towards the full house, Senate and Governor’s office.

T

he bill requires the State Department of Transportation to adopt a “Complete Streets” policy to support planning for sidewalks, transit stops and bicycle lanes so that safe multimodal use of our roadways will be possible where appropriate. SC Currently has one of the highest rates of injury for pedestrians (including people walking to bus stops) and cyclists in the US. Charleston County has a pedestrian and cyclist injury rate three times that of any other country in the state. This makes it a struggle for transit riders to reach bus stops, making our transit system less effective.

You can view hearing testimony by Milicent Middleton (Johns island)  and Janet Dieckmann (Sangaree, Berkeley County) online.

The fight for better transit and safer ways to reach transit stops will continue Saturday, March 30 from 11 am to 4 pm in the BI-LO parking lot at 3575 Maybank Highway on Johns Island, SC when Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit holds the Sea Island Transit Funfest. This free event will over family activities including a map participants can mark to show government officials where bus stops should be located and an activity to make “Bus Stop Bus” flags to flag down John’s Island’s unreliable Tri County Link Bus Service. Tri Coounty LInk  lacks fixed stop and bus stop signs in most locations. Participants will also be able to send messages to Rep. Robert L.  Brown, a member of the Committee that considered the bill on Tuesday and who represents Johns Island, but who was not present for the hearing and has not yet cosponsored the bill. Button Making, a cookout, DJ and banner painting will be some of the other activities at the Transit Funfest.

John’s Island’s roads are horrific for pedestrians, transit riders and cyclists. Long, dark stretches of road without sidewalks or bike lanes have taken many lives and the home-made memorials of wooden crosses and white painted “ghost bikes” line roads for miles, giving  the impression of passing through a cemetery when they are traveled. Tri County Link’s bus lines lack stops or safe ways to reach the few roads the buses are supposed to run on.

For more information on Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit’s activities contact Executive Director William Hamilton at (843) 870-5299 or see www.bfltransit.com.

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Tues. March 26- SC Safer “Complete Streets” Lobby Day and Hearing

Join transit, cycling and pedestrian safety advocates from across South Carolina for a day of action to help pass the Complete Streets Bill,  H. 3656 which would require the State Department of Transportation to adopt and apply a complete streets policy to all new roads constructed with its funding so that they’re safer for pedestrians, transit riders and cyclists. You can check the status of H 3656 on the Legislative Website.

Do Now

Ask your Representative  to cosponsor the H. 3656- You can find out who your representative is by using the Find Your Legislator Web page.  We'll be doing State Senators later in the process. 

Reserve your seat in the van going to Columbia. Most seats are free. Riding shotgun costs $50. You can also make donations. Get your seat now. Standby spots are available.  Download a printable flyer to share with all the details.

Rep. Marvin Pendavis has issued a press release on the legislation.

Contact your friends across the state online or better yet, on the phone and ask them to join us on Tues. March 26. You can download a flyer on the effort.

On Tues., March 26

Rep. Marvin Pendarvis

• 8:00 am- Van trip from Charleston. Meet in the parking lot of the Longshoreman’s Hall at 8:00 am or in the parking lot next to CARTA Superstop at 8:20 am for Trip to Columbia. You must RSVP to ride. A $10 contribution for gas and vehicle rent is requested.
• 12:00 noon – Meet with advocates from across South Carolina  inside the Statehouse under the dome in the Lobby. We’ll have “Transit Voter Stickers” and Information sheets for all participants. We’ll meet with legislators and other activists while the House is in session.
• 2 to 4 pm,  AFTER SESSION- We’ll testify at the hearing of the House Committee which will convene after the legislative session ends.
• COFFEE- Before returning to Charleston, we’ll meet with other activists from across the state to compare notes and plan our next steps. Return trip to Charleston will follow, Time TBD.

Afterwards

If the bill gets out of committee, it will go to the house for a vote. If the house votes to approve it before “crossover day” it will to the Senate to be considered.

More information
On the Bill, Contact Rep. Marvin Pendarvis

On the Trip and Grassroots Effort, Contact Best Friends of Lowcountry Tranist Executive Director, William Hamilton (843) 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com

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/

Support Safer, Complete Streets for South Carolina

South Carolina, has some of the most dangerous roads in the United States for pedestrians, transit riders or cyclists. Charleston County has a rate of injuries about 3 times any other county in the state. Over the past weekend one pedestrian was killed and another critically injured on Charleston’s streets.

We can reduce this death and suffering by passing the Complete Streets Act H 3656, introduced by Representatives Marvin Pendarvis and JA Moore. Now cosponsored by Representative S. Williams, Garvin, Cogswell and Felder, its a bipartisan bill. H. 3656 which would require the State Department of Transportation to adopt and apply a complete streets policy to new roads and road improvement projects funded by the state. This would include sidewalks, transit stops and bike lanes. Attention to safe pedestrian crossings would be required. The level of facilities required would vary according to the location and type of road planned.

You can help pass this bill right now. Call the Legislative Council in Columbia at (803) 212-4500. Ask for the name of your State Representative and his phone number at the legislator. Phone their office and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor for H 3656 and ask for a call back. You can also use the Find Your SC Legislator page online and send an electronic message to your State Representative. 

While some of these deaths and injuries are the legal fault of the person hit, that makes little difference in the total cost of the injury. The injured still arrive at a local ER, often without insurance for treatment at a potential cost of hundreds or thousands or even millions of dollar with treatment and disability payments extending far into the future. Families lose a breadwinner. Employers lose the help they need for their businesses to function.

For the elderly person or disabled person who can’t cross a dangerous, busy street to get to the bus stop, it’s lost income to CARTA and the risk that bus service may be reduced or ended due to inadequate ridership.  Such Barriers llimit the ability of many  to get to work, senior citizens centers or medical treatment. Money which might support local business goes to Amazon.

Over 50 years after they were constructed, parts of Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Rivers Ave and Dorchester Road where there are no sidewalks. Hundreds of bus stops lack shelters, subjecting transit riders to humiliating waits for the bus in the rain and blistering heat in the summer. Bike lanes are absent throughout the state.

For a tourism focused economy like Charleston’s, the Grand Strand or Beaufort the cost in injury and death can be very high. The people who make our restaurants and hotels operate 24 hours a day are walking, biking and taking transit to work. They’re often out in the dark, in bad weather or in traffic full of frustrated visitors unaccustomed to our road networks. It’s a lethal combination. It places a cruel premium charged for working here on top of the modest wages they accept.

Please contact your State Representative today.

Information on H 3656 and four other bills to improve transit, increase road safety and make affordable housing more available in areas served by transit can be found at https://tinyurl/transitSC2019 online.

Additional Information.

Smart Growth America- Complete Streets Coalition, Plans and Policies
City Paper Editorial - How many people have to die before Charleston becomes safer for pedestrians and cyclists?
Post and Courier Report on Charleston's unsafe Streets.
City Paper Article on three of the Pedestrian & Cyclists Deaths in Charleston this year