Saturday, June 30, 2018

Fancies about Transit to Folly are not Facts



Two years after CARTA, the BCD COG and local elected officials promised better bus service in return for a half penny increase in the Charleston County Sales tax, local transit riders continue to wait on two things to arrive as scheduled, better bus service and the truth. We’re wondering if either is actually on the way. See an excerpt from the I26alt study showing bus routes to both IOP and Folly Beach.

As is becoming increasingly common, CARTA’s contribution to the content can be described, at best, as incomplete and misleading.

The article states, “Daniel Brock, a spokesperson for CARTA, said that the idea couldn't be implemented in the near future. One hurdle is that the transit agency would need to obtain buses with waterproof interiors in case beach-goers, who often leave town sandy and damp, use the bus. 
Possible CARTA Beach Bus Candidate
Mr. Brock drives a large SUV to work where he invents things like this for CARTA in return for payments of tens of thousands of dollars made to his employer. Since he doesn’t ride the bus except for photo ops with local politicians, we’ll extend him the benefit of the doubt about what he may not know.
CARTA ran bus service to the Isle of Palms for over 50 years using regular service buses, some of which are still operating in CARTA’s regular fleet. Regular vehicles were used for the Island Flex Bus which served East of the Cooper until 2013.
Mr. Brock wouldn’t know that when CARTAs regular passengers climb on board in the pouring rain (when he would never be riding) from the hundreds of unsheltered stops still waiting on bus shelters three years after funding for them was given to CARTA that those passengers track water all over the #10, #11 and other buses serving inland routes. Mud and dirt comes on board as well. On some buses, water gushing up through the corroded floor or pouring down through leaks in the roof saturates the interior as well. All regular transit buses are built to survive this treatment and regular transit type buses serve beaches and damp passengers all over the planet and all up and down the East Coast, just like they do when CARTA's passengers step on board after being drenched in the Freezing Rain in February.
Beach bus for CARTA, it's waterproof.
Had the Post and Courier contacted us for comment, or any experience transit rider, we could have pointed that out. We sent the newspaper two press releases last week and dropped off a press package on Sunday’s Folly Freedom Fish Fry, so they know we exist.
The article goes on to say, "While additional service to area beaches may be an eventual possibility, it’s not feasible in the immediate future," Brock wrote in an email. "Financially, there is no available funding in the system budget for that sort of expansion."
Another option for Folly Road.
This statement is utterly untrue. The resolution passed before the 2016 Referendum provided 250 million dollars for construction of a Bus Rapid Transit Line and 350 Million dollars to improve bus service in Charleston County over the next 25 years. That works out to 14 million dollars in additional funding fo bus service each year. Last year an obscure committee, working in secret passed a “pay go” plan which diverted 11 million dollars of bus money to road construction on the fiction that CARTA will get its share of the money 12 years or more later.

More recently they’ve built on that mythology by concocting a nightmare scenario for 12 years from now where money from the first half penny sales tax passed in 2004 runs out and CARTA continues a skeleton operation using the by then greatly diminished in value remaining dollars to continue a skeleton system on a starvation budget.

Ron Mitchum
Mr. Brock works for Rawl Murdy, CARTA's PR firm. Evidently Mike Seeking’s, the board Chairman wasn’t comfortable making these statements to the press since he may be trying to get elected Mayor of Charleston or be seeing reelection to Charleston City Council. CARTA Executive Director Ron Mitchum (pictured right) chose not to go on the record as well.

The simple fact is that communities up and down the East Coast of the United States, outside of South Carolina, which has failed to shake the plantation / segregation legacy of barriers to beach access, run bus service to their beaches. Each of these transit authorities struggles with funding issues. None of them need a special waterproof bus. 



Next week, many of the people who control CARTA and our local governments will be enjoying the July 4th. Holiday at their family’s beach houses, which most of them have enjoyed for generations. When they had African American maids to sweep their floors and cook their meals, they were careful to have bus service running to Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. That bus service disappeared with the cheap labor which used to wash the sand out of their bathing suits.

Transit outreach on Sol Legare Isalnd, on Folly Road.
The gates which once barred African Americans from our beaches disappeared with segregation, but Charleston’s political leadership perpetuates a view of the world where the quality of life of ordinary people isn’t regarded as significant. The hundreds of help wanted signs now found in nearly every shop and restaurant window indicate that working people understand this and are increasingly finding other places to live. Disasters like the shooting at a downtown Restaurant last summer which hired a dishwasher without a background check, show the high costs of decisions based on these outdated values.

We’ve fought to get public transit back to Charleston area beaches for the last three years not because it is the most important thing, but because of what it means. It tells the community and transit riders that some people shouldn’t have a high quality of life and those people include people who ride our buses. That’s acceptable to some of the people who control our local governments and transit authority, but it’s not acceptable to us.

On July 1 we’ll hold a Freedom Fish Fry at the Island Breeze at Mosquito Beach and on July 14 we’ll invade Folly Beach for Bastille Day at the Beach to begin the transit revolution. We’ll continue the fight for the transit service we were promised for our half penny sales tax money until we have it.




Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Lincolnville Ladson Rt. 16 Propposal

Route 16  to Lincolnville, Ladson and N. Charleston
Public Hearing- Proposed #16 Regular Bus Route Lincolnville, Ladson, N. Charleston Wed. July 11- 7 pm At Lincolnville Town Hall, 141 W Broad St; Lincolnville, South Carolina 29485 Lincolnville Town Council will hear a short presentation and received public comment on a proposed new bus route.

Western Turn around Loop in Lincolnville
The public hearing will be held by Lincolnville Town Council as part of it’s regular meeting. You don’t have to be a citizen of the Town of Lincolnville to speak. 
There is a Facebook signup for the public hearing.  Printable PDF flyers promoting the meeting will be available here shortly. 
This is an independent community effort not connected to CARTA, Tri-county Link or the BCD COG. It is supported by Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc., a local Non-profit group dedicated to bringing better transit to the Lowcountry.

Current Service in Area 

Mayor Duberry, Lincolnville Town Hall
The area is currently served by a Tri County Link route which makes one morning and one evening run per day. While inadequate for a rapidly developing area with thousands of new residents, everyone is encouraged to support the existing route until better service can be made available. Full details on the Yellow D305 Link Route.

Preliminary Plan for the #16 Route

A map of the proposed bus route. 


This service improvement plan for CARTA would extend the existing bus service along the route of the proposed Bus Rapid Tranist Line to Ladson, Lincolnville, Sangaree and the Exchange Park Fairgrounds. It would reach the rapidly developing area and encourage transit ridership with initial service at the rate of one unit per hour. This would help build support for the BRT line and promote development patterns and cultural acceptance of transit in the area, including Summerville and Dorchester County.

A new designated route would share the route of the #10 bus from the new Otranto Park and Ride facility to Health South on Highway 78. It  would continue past the current end of the #10 Route at Health South on Highway 78, running Northwestward across I26 into Ladson.

It would pass the Fairgrounds and Coastal Carolina Flea Market outbound on Highway 78

It would make the turnaround with a loop through Lincolnville, turning left on to Von Olson road briefly before turning right on to Dumayher Hill Road.

The #16 route would take Dunmaher Hill Road across the Tracks to Lincoln Ave. and then turn left on to W. Broad Street for a stop and turnaround at Lincolnville Town Hall. While the stop at town hall adds a few mintues run time, it provides access to bathrooms, rain shelter and route information at town hall. A parking area can accomidate kiss riders and there is space for a shelter the Town is willing to construct. In very cold weather, people can wait inside town hall where an information station with ETA data can be istalled with power and internet access. The police are also nearby.

From Town hall the bus would return to highway 78 by way of Country Road and East Owens Drive, this will bering the route near the rear entrance of the new 2000 unit Magnolia Development.

The bus will return to highway 78 at East Owens, then back down Highway 78 to the start of the route.

Bus stop location, Royle Rd. & 78
Sangaree gets improved transit system access at the Stop at Royle Road and Highway 78 where a large gas station and convenience store provides a good location for a stop with space for kiss rider pick up and drop offs. The road crosses over I26 and offers a quick turnaround for people picking up and dropping off transit riders.

Service would run once an hour from 7 am to 8 pm and would be increased if ridership reaches acceptable levels. 

To achieve desired ridership levels the Town of Lincolnville would lead a community wide effort to reach potential riders along the route, working with the community in nearby Summerville, Ladson and Sangaree. It’s expected the effort would be conducted in the fall starting a few weeks before the new route begins running, take four weeks and consume approximately 200 hours of staff and volunteer time. A grant to support the cost of this outreach effort would be sought.

The goal is to have funding for this new route included in the CARTA 2018-19 budget being voted on this Summer and to have service begin in Fall 2018.


Monday, June 25, 2018

Sol Legare & James Island Outreach for Better Transit

Tuesday Start Pushing for Improved Transit on Folly Road and Back to the Beach

Tuesday on Sol Legare & James Islands
Sol Legare Island and parts of James Island will get a personal invitation to come to Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit’s Sunday, July 1 Folly Road Freedom Fish Fry fundraiser on Tuesday, June 26 when members of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit and volunteers will go door to door in the community bringing information about the upcoming Sunday  event at historic Mosquito Beach and our plans to work towards improved bus service on Folly Road and all the way out to the beach. Plans for a “Folly Ferry” serving Charleston, James Island, Sol Legare and Folly Beach are  also being explored.

WE’RE HIRING FOR TUESDAY EVENING- There will be a limited opportunity for paid work by young people from the Sol Legare Community starting at 6 pm. Pay will be $10 per hour to stuff literature bags and hang doorknobs in the Sol Legare and surrounding James Island Community. Participants must be 16 years or more in age and be able to fill out a W9 form.  Call (843) 870-5299 or email wjhamilton29464@gmail.com if you are interested.

Anyone wishing to help should meet on the South end of the Harris Teeter Parking lot, near the Gas station and Intersection of Sol Legare and Folly Roads between 5 and 6 pm. They should wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a bag to carry literature in and have a water bottle or other hydration. Sol Legare is a coastal island community so climbing steps will be part of the work.

ALSO JOIN US AT THE WEDNESDAY PLANNING MEETING
Join us at the Rethink Folly Road Steering Committee Meeting — Wednesday, June 27 @ 3:30pm, James Island Town Hall (1238-B Camp Road) | The agenda and accompanying documents will be posted the week prior. There is a public comment opportunity, so please attend this meeting to voice your support for a safe, connected Folly Road. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone into this planning effort already. Help mus make sure tranist and safe conditions for pedestrians don't get pushed to the side in the unending quest for greater automobile throughput. If you want to talk about something specific, bring a map or picture of where it is.

Don’t forget the Folly Freedom Fish Fry
To order one of the special fish dinners,please order your tickets online. Preparing food like this takes lead time and the fish fillets have to be ordered by Wednesday. To be sure of getting a dinner, please order now.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Draft Freedom of Information Act Request to BCD COG & CARTA

Towards Transparent Transit in the Lowcountry

Freedom of Information Act Request- June 21, 2018

Update- We have received the following response to our freedom of information act request from Ron Mitchum, dated July 2, 1018.

To           Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD COG) and Ron Mitchum, Chairman and the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA)

From     William J. Hamilton, III, Attorney at Law and Executive Director of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc.

Re           Freedom of Information Act Request for Transit related and other information

To be served June 21, 2018 on Ron Mitchum, signed copy to be served on designated FOIA Request Compliance Officers for both entities named above.

William J. Hamilton, Personally and as the legal representative of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. requests that the following materials be made available for public inspection and duplication within the times set out in the SC Freedom of Information Act. This request shall be a continuing one and shall be renewed monthly by repeated and updated notice until such time as notice is served that further production is no longer requested.

If the cost of monthly compliance with this request exceeds fifty dollars, notice of the same is requested prior to production, and any issues arising shall be resolved by negotiation or resort to the courts for injunctive relief.

Definitions
  1. The BRT Line shall be defined and the alignment proposed and shown in the preferred alternative portion of the I26alt Study and any new or altered proposed location of the line since that time including any system extensions to other parts of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties.
  2. Records shall be defined as any preserved data, documents, correspondence, or images generated, received, or retained by any of the entities named in this request, maintained in any file or data storage system maintained by the parties, or any agent or contractor working for or with them under their direction or control.
The following records and materials are requested.

Ridership data
  1. Monthly and daily ridership totals for the #20 bus line from March 1, 2017 to the date of this notice.
  2. Monthly ridership summaries for all CARTA routes from January 1 2018 to the date of this notice.
  3. Daily totals for ridership on the #7 HOP bus from the start of operations to the date of this notice.
  4. Daily ridership totals for all special bus service operated during the Wando Bridge Emergency for each operating service.

Information on Bus Service to Folly Beach
  1. Planning, ridership and all other records of operation of the “Folly Trolly” during it’s last period of operation including correspondence, publicity materials, ridership data, customer complaints, and responses to customer complaints, correspondence and communications between CARTA, the BCG COG, and the City of Folly Beach regarding the service.
  2. Planning documents, data and all other records produced during and as part of the I26alt study regarding bus service to Folly Beach including citizen input, correspondence with other agencies, businesses, and governments,
  3. Records of all communications between Ron Mitchum, the COG, CARTA, the City of Folly Beach, Mike Seekings, and any other Government or Government agency regarding bus service to Folly Beach produced, generated, or made since January 1, 2018.
Ron Mitchum
Information on CARTA Budget Process
  1. Notice of any meetings or scheduled hearings, including hearings and meetings of governments considering approval of the CARTA budget for the next year. This shall be a continuing demand for notice of all such meetings which may be transmitted to William Hamilton by email at wjhamilton29464@gmail.com.
  2. Documents regarding any proposed changes in CARTA bus service under the new budget or between June 1, 2018 and the end of CARTA’s next budget year including additional service, reduction in service,or changes in service on new or existing routes.
  3. The above said request shall specifically include any requests, demands, or suggestions regarding additional funding sought from or requested from any municipal government whether made in writing, electronically, or by voice conversation. Said response should include the amount and type of bus service under consideration, the cost of such service, the proposed source of such funding, the amount, if any requested from any other government and any budgets, financial records or other documents regarding such service.
  4. Minutes and records of any meeting in which the “Pay Go” plan was considered, including particularly the members of that committee in attendance and the record of motions made and votes taken, a full list of the current and past members of that committee, including their current contact information and the capacity in which they serve on said committee.
Bus Rapid Transit
  1. All records regarding decisions made or being considered regarding the alignment for the planned BRT line South of Mt. Pleasant Street in Charleston including those made in previous COG Transportation Studies since the year 1990. This request includes particularly all communications and plans regarding transit being included in or excluded from the “Lowline Park” project or former railroad line running from Mt. Pleasant Street to Spring Street in the City of Charleston.
  2. In particular, all records are requested regarding the decision to place the planned bus rapid transit line on Meeting Street between Mt. Pleasant Street and Line and/or Spring Street.
  3. All records regarding plans for BRT funding, alignment, operations, or construction in Dorchester County including correspondence with governments in Dorchester County and the Town of Summerville.
  4. A copy of the contract(s) and/or drafts for contract(s) in progress currently being written between CARTA and the engineering firm(s) retained to plan or otherwise work on planning and/or construction of the BRT line.
  5. Any documents pertaining to pedestrian safety and the planned BRT line, including any documents regarding pedestrian access to stations by elevated walkway or by grade crossing.
  6. Any documents regarding real estate development projects being planned with the cooperation of the COG or CARTA along or within a mile of either side of the planned BRT line.
Service Changes or Reductions
  1. Any and all records related to any proposed changes in CARTA or Tri County Link bus service now under consideration by CARTA or the BCD COG.

Status of FOIA Request

June, 20, 2018- Copies of this request were given to each member attending the Thursday, June 21 CARTA Board Meeting. A signed copy will be formally served on the designated agents for FOIA requests for the targeted organizations on Monday, June 24.


Sunday, June 17, 2018

Request better CARTA Bus Service for their 2018-19 Budget

Victory Celebration, Transit Referendum, Nov. 2016
Charleston County can use the money made available by voters and taxpayers through the 2016 half penny sales tax referendum to build a better bus system now, and lay the foundation for a powerful, regional transit system in the near future reaching Dorchester and Berkeley Counties to provide mobility to people and relive traffic congestion.

This page consolidates our proposals to improve CARTA bus service during their 2018-19 Budget Cycle.  All of these plans are in various stages of development depending on the target community's capacity to engage and organize. We've spoken to over 50 thousand people about this issue in the last year. It's expected plans for the actual service expansions and new routes will continue to evolve to and through actual deployment.

If you want this improved service, make sure you contact the CARTA board members representing your Community, your member of Charleston County Council and your local Mayor and Town or City Council.

Ron Mitchum
CARTA leadership, including Executive Director Ron Mitchum Phone: (843) 529-0400, Fax: (843) 529-0305 and CARTA Board Chairman Mike Seekings have been dismissing our efforts by insisting only a tiny group of people want better service and improving service has no real support. Make sure you reach them personally and your friends, neighbors, coworkers and employers do the same. Insist on a personal, live conversation with your local officials and let us know how it goes. This process takes place during the summer, largely out of public view and we'll have to work hard to get the change we voted for and are paying for.

"Pay Go" is a No Go for Transit

Shortly after the half penny sales tax passed, without public hearing or input, a politically appointed board approved their "Pay Go" plan to divert most of the money for improving regular CARTA bus service to an interest free loan fund for construction of sprawl inducing road projects. 11 million dollars was diverted in the first year with plans to divert over 10.5 million this year. The plan would continu to do this for the next ten years or more. When the bus funding is returned in 12 to 15 years, it will have lost over half it's value. Transit advocates call the plan, "We pay, You go."

Town and local officials asking for better bus routes face demands that they pay for them out of municipal funds instead of using the 350 million in half penny sales tax funds County Council approved for improving regular bus service already coming out of taxpayers pockets.  Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach and James Island have all faced demands that they fund improved bus service.

Since the COG controls lots of state and federal grant funding your Town or City desperately needs, as well as road funding, your local officals can't stand up for better bus service. Regular citizens must do that to avoid another year of inadequate bus service and declining ridership.

The time and place to demand this new service is at the Town, City and County Council meetings this summer where CARTA asks for it's budget to be approved.  Last year there was a real discussion in Mt. Pleasant which resulted in a vote to reject the proposed CARTA budget. The City of Charleston slipped CARTA budget approval through with an obscurely worded minor agenda item buried deep in JPG rendered document which assured it couldn't be found the sort of text search one could run on a regular PDF.  Some communities, like the Town of James Island don't have a seat on the CARTA board.

Don't like what you read here?  Don't panic. You don't have to be an officially approved "statekholder" on the same page with everyone else. Show up and demand what you want from the people you vote for to be paid for with the money they take out of your pocket that you voted to allow them to do. Sure they'll tell you they won't listen to you. Don't believe them. They'll listen to a well organized proposal from us that you support. However, they'll also listen to a big crowd of angry disappointed people as well. People we meet always wish us "luck."  The word they're actually looking for is "loud."  It's called representative democracy and freedom of speech.  Like a CARTA bus, it often arrives later than needed here.  They won't ever admit they're listening, even when they pretend to. Just stay loud until you and your neighbors get what you want or the next election. Mark Sanford refused to listen to citizens who wanted better transit  for three years, then lost his primary as the result of a campaign by transit advocates working for the local Up is Good Political Action Committee.

Plans for CARTA Improvement - 2018 to 2019

Hurricane Evacuation Bus System- Implement the proposals to fix our inadequate Hurricane Evacuation bus System made after Hurricane Irma in Fall 2017.  Ignoring tens of thousands of people who lack access to a car to evacuate and the growing population of medically fragile and nearly immobile people dependent on home healthcare technology invites disaster like seen in Florida, Houston and Puerto Rico last year.  Read our updated response to the State's inadequate Hurricane Emergency Guide. 

Electric Bus Grant Application- We're circulating an online petiton to help CARTA purchase 20 Battery Electric Buses made in Greenville, SC by Proterra.  Please sign the petition and share with friends. These would replace the Twenty 22 year old Atlanta Olympics Flyer buses in the CARTA Fleet.

James Island, Sol Legare (Mosquito Beach) and Folly Beach- Double the rate of service on the existing Folly Road bus from once every 95 minutes to once every 50 minutes. Establish a park and ride lot on Folly Road near the end of the regular bus line and near the Express bus stop. Run a shuttle bus to Sol Legare/Mosquito Beach and Folly from that Park and Ride lot and bus stop. Read the most recent version of our draft plan.  You can also take a look at our evolving Bus2Beach Google Slides presentation on this effort.

Beach service was proposed by the COG in the half million dollar study they released before the referendum election in February 2016.  You can view a PDF of their proposed beach routes here:

Begin work on a Folly Ferry connecting Charleston, James Island (via Wappoo Cut, Newtown Cut and the Stone River, Sol Legare Island and the back side of Folly Island.

You are invited to our upcoming Sunday, July 1 Folly Freedom Fish Fry to support this part of our larger effort at Island Breeze at historic Mosquito Beach. 75% of the net proceeds go to our Folly Road Freedom Campaign and 25% goes to support the Sol Legare Community center. The effort will help sustain recovery of the business community at Mosquito Beach as well. A traditional Caribbean fried fish dinner or vegetarian option will both be available.

Lincolnville Town Council
Lincolnville Ladson & Sangaree- Establish a new CARTA Route #16 connecting the #10 stop and new Park and Ride Lot at Otranto (the old Kmart Lot on North Rivers Ave. with Lincolnville, Ladson, the Exchange Park, Coastal Carolina Flea Market Complex and a Sangaree "kiss rider" stop.  This bus would run up Highway 78, into Lincolnville with a stop at Town Hall there (where bathrooms, bus passes and a shelter would be available) and back through a large new apartment development to it's return on Highway 78. This route extends transit service already running on CARTA's most successful route, the #10 and helps prepare the community for the planned Bus Rapid Transit Line.

This PDF shows the Lincolnville Turnaround Loop proposed for the North end of this bus line. It's subject to change based on some new road connections recently added in that area near the large Magonola Development.

We've met with the leadership of the Town of Lincolnville and put over 100 hours of outreach work into this area since February 2018. Read our initial announcement about our proposed improvements.

Mt. Pleasant Town Hall Bus stop
Mount Pleasant & East Cooper- Double service on the #41 bus route to every 45 minutes. Establish and maintain a functional connection to the existing Water Taxi service for this route. Continue to improve stops along Coleman Blvd. and elsewhere East of the Cooper with municipal, redevelopment and private funding from developers. (Mt. Pleasant is well on it's way to an impressive set of bus stops and already has a bus stop with a shelter and swing at Mt. Pleasant Town Hall.  Restore the #40 route to uninterrupted service all the way to Wando HS.  Establish a Mark Clark Connector Route running from N. Charleston, through stops on Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant to the beach at the Isle of Palms. Begin work to site and build East Cooperstop, a transit hub for the East Cooper area to connect service from downtown, N. Charleston, Daniel Island, Awendaw, McClellenville and the beaches East of the Cooper.

Interior of Proterra Electric Bus, made in SC
North Charleston- Improve bus stops on the #10 Rivers Ave., #11 Dorchester Airport and other bus lines.  Complete and properly operate the new Otranto Park and Ride Facility. Establish the first transit traffic signal prioritization on River's Ave. Establish and maintain higher standards for safety and sanitation at Superstop. Include communities along the planned BRT line to make sure the 350 million dollar project serves the communities it will run through. Make sure we have a "gold standard BRT."

Citadel Mall Bus Stop
West Ashley- Double service on the #32 Northbridge route along Sam Rittenberg Blvd and improve more stops, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings along that route. Improve the transit hub at Citadel Mall with a smooth sidewalk which connects bus loading areas.

Plan and begin construction of a park and ride facility West of the Ashley. The location of this is the subject of controversy, however we have supported use of the old Piggly Wiggly site near Ashley Plaza.  Some community representatives want a performance auditorium or facility there, but that would have to have a parking lot and that lot would be little used during daytime hours and could also serve as a park and ride with proper design. Read our derailed proposal for West Ashley.

Transit planning exercise for children.
Downtown- Improve conditions at Mary Street Transit Center. Make sure the planned BRT line continues without interruption to Line or even Spring Street. Don't waste our only available Transit Corridor into the City on Low Line park for dog walking which forces our BRT vehicles into glacial traffic conditions on the Meeting Street of seven years from now. Support implementation of the HOP shuttle bus and satellite park and ride system to full utiliztion with a turnover goal of 2.5 vehicles per space, per day. Begin development of enhanced Ferry Services to link downtown with East Cooper, Daniel Island, James Island, Sol Legare Island and Folly Beach.

We can't go slower

We understand this proposes a rate of change with overwhelms many long time local residents. However most of the planning for these improvements has already been done. Studies and data collection have already been completed at a total cost of over 4 million dollars over the last twenty years. There are studies costing hundreds of thousands of dollars each pending for Folly Road, West Ashley, and High Speed Transit and Corridors among others.

300 thousand new residents are headed to residential units already permitted in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston Counties.  Most of that is in parts of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties where little (Tri County Link) or no transit service is now available. In many cases road networks are being built in a disconnected fashion which will make future transit service impossible.

If CARTA's current plans for regular transit bus service are implemented, the percentage of local trips made on transit in our area will actually decline over the next 15 years, even if the BRT is actually constructed. Resistance to new developments is strong, but it's mostly just pushed sprawl further out into rural areas where there is no one to resist it. Over 3 billion dollars is already committed to new road construction in the Lowcountry. Even though it will actually make sprawl and congestion worse, road construction will continue to dominate local government priorities until it's utter and complete failure 5 to 10 years from now.

The consequences of this course of inaction are Charleston snarled in traffic. Beaches which have become inaccessible. There will be gridlock in the urbanized parts of Orchestrate and Berkeley County surrounded by rural and semi-rural areas which can't access shopping, employment, healthcare or cultural resources even with a car. Adding the traffic the new Volvo plant in Ridgepole will generate to this will exacerbate Orchestrate County's traffic problem.

Some parts of the Lowcountry have been planned in ways which make bringing transit within safe walk able distance of many homes impossible. It is hoped that better transit, well used in the areas which can support it will provide some traffic relief.

Revenge of the Robot Car

We do not believe that the robot car revolution will solve the Lowcountry's traffic problem as is often promised. Autonomous vehicles are likely to be owned by large corporations which use a licensed road network integration system which controls traffic. Access to this network will probably be by payment of variable rates like those used by Uber now, with fast trips during rush hour costing the most, whatever the "traffic" will bear. Experimental "Lexus Lanes" in DC have reached rates of over Forty Dollars for the homeward commute. The most likely result of the robot car revolution will be a privatized traffic management network where your human controlled vehicles are gradually eliminated the way the automobile industry drove horses, bicycles and pedestrians out of the roadway in the first half of the 20th. Century. This will suit the large corporations that want to efficiently concentrate wealth and may end up with everyone riding something more like public transit than the private driver controlled vehicles 95% of low country travelers rely on today.

Your Input

You can contact us at (843) 870-5299 or email Executive Director William Hamilton at wjhamilton29464@gmail.com. However, remember you can't phone in your input via us and expect your elected officials to listen. They count noses and votes and they're eager to dismiss our efforts. They've told each other nobody supports us and are confidently dismissing our input in hopes culturally grounded fatalism will excuse them. Show up and speak for yourself. Get loud. Nothing else is going to work. See our Facebook events page for upcoming opportunities to be heard, but don't rely on it exclusively. Many of the meetings and agenda items are poorly publicized or expressed in obscure terms in places you are unlikely to see them. Sometimes we don't publicize our plans to show up to avoid arriving at a room which has been rigged to work against us. If you spot something, tell us and show up.

     

Friday, June 15, 2018

Folly Freedom Fish Fry - July 1

Sun. July 1 - 6 to 10 pm, 2225 Mosquito Beach Rd, Charleston, SC 29412

Anuncio de Fish Fry en español en la parte inferior de la página


Bringing buses back to Lowcountry Beaches will be the goal of a Freedom Fish Fry fundraiser planned by Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. at the Island Breeze at historic Mosquito Beach on Sol Legare Island on Sunday, July 1st from 6 to 10 pm.  Island breeze is located at 2225 Mosquito Beach Rd, Charleston, SC 29412. Sol Legare Island and Mosquito Beach are off Folly Road between James Island and Folly Beach.  Tickets can be purchased before the event for $15 or 2 for $25 plus taxes and service charges at https://tinyurl.com/freedomfishfry online. Purchasers will get an Afro-carribean fish fry dinner, participate in drawings for door prizes, enjoy music and take part in creative community building activities.  A vegetarian option will also be available. Tickets at the door will be $20 each.


Dinner (image left) will consist of fried fish, beans and rice, Jamaican cabbage salad and sweet fried plantains with lemonaid or tea. Those wanting fortified refreshment can order a "Bus to the Beach," a rum punch in our colors of red, green and gold.  


There will be music on the backyard stage by Sharon Robles, Marc Kruza and others. We hope to fill in the artistic decoration in the blank spaces on the Bus to Beach banner pictured above. Everyone will have the chance to make a bus to the beach button commemorating the event.

You can have a try at designing the regional transit system of your dreams with our wooden train parts and new 12 by 15 foot map of the Lowcontry. In the event of rain, Island Breeze has a large indoor event space we'll hold our activities in.


Event organizer Skyelynn Landry says the goal of the fundraiser is to improve bus service along Folly Road, to improve transit connections to Folly Beach and Mosquito Beach, and to begin work on a Folly Ferry service connecting downtown, James Island, Sol Legare Island and Folly Beach. The event will also help support repairs to the Sol Legare Community center and increase awareness of the culture and community on the Island.

Later on July 14, the organization will present the second Bastille Day at the Beach to raise awareness about the importance of returning public transit to Charleston area beaches. CARTA ended its last, badly managed and poorly promoted beach service when it stopped operation of the Island Flex Bus to IOP and Sullivan's in 2013.

Printable, PDF flyers for the Freedom Fish Fry are now available for download

For more information call (843) 870-5299 or see the event page at https://tinyurl.com/freedomfishfry.

Anuncio de Fish Fry en español

La recaudación de fondos “Freedom Fish Fry”, organizada por Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc., tiene como objetivo llevar los autobuses a las playas del Lowcountry.  Esta recaudación de fondos se llevara a cabo el domingo 1 de julio, de 6 pm a 10 pm, en “Island Breeze”, en la histórica Mosquito Beach en Sol Legare Island, ubicada al 2225 Mosquito Beach Rd, Charleston, SC,  29412.

La isla Sol Legare y Mosquito Beach están ubicadas en Folly Road, entre James Island y Folly Beach. Los boletos se pueden comprar antes del evento por $15 cada  uno, o dos boletos por $25,  más los impuestos y cargos por servicios aplicables (https://tinyurl.com/freedomfishfry). Cada boleto incluye una cena afrocaribeña de pescado frito, sorteos de premios, música, y la participarán en actividades creativas de desarrollo comunitario. El costo de los boletos en la puerta es de $20 cada uno.

El organizador del evento, Skyelynn Landry, dice que el objetivo de la recaudación de fondos es mejorar el servicio de autobús a lo largo de Folly Road, para así mejorar las conexiones de tránsito entre Folly Beach y Mosquito Beach, como así también para comenzar a trabajar en un servicio de ferry “Folly Ferry” que conecte el centro de Charleston con James Island, con Sol Legare Island y con Folly Beach. El evento también recaudara fondos para las reparaciones al centro comunitario de Sol Legare, y aumentará la toma de conciencia respecto de la cultura y el desarrollo comunitario en la isla.

A continuación, el 14 de julio, la organización presentará el Día de la Bastilla en la playa, que tendrá como objetivo la toma de conciencia respecto de la importancia de devolver el transporte público a las playas de Charleston. El último servicio de playa mal gestionado y mal administrado por CARTA tuvo lugar en el 2013, cuando CARTA detuvo la operación del Island Flex Bus para IOP y Sullivan's.

Para obtener más información, llame al (843) 870-5299 o visite la página del evento
https://tinyurl.com/freedomfishfry.

END END END



Wednesday, June 13, 2018

West Ashley Transit Improvement Proposal


West Ashley Transit Improvement Proposal
June 13, 2018
Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit
Linked Version Posted for comment at https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/

We believe the single most achievable approach to improving public transit in the West Ashely area in the CARTA 2018-2019 Budget cycle should focus on improving service along Sam Rittenberg Blvd. connecting Citadel Mall and the area West with N. Charleston by increasing frequency on the existing Northbridge Bus Line, improving stops and creating a functional park and ride opportunity at the old Piggly Wiggly location.
West Ashley has been the most difficult area to reach in our work. We did two days of canvassing last fall on Highway 61 and Sam Rittenberg.  We participated in three West Ashely Farmer’s Markets with an information tent presence and talked to many West Ashley residents elsewhere. We participated in online discussions as well, which were marked with a general pessimism.

The existing developed area has maximized road capacity, in some cases creating intersections nearly impossible for pedestrians and cyclists to cross on foot.  Gridlock has begun to appear regularly. A transit supportive PAC we share members with did one morning of election transit outreach at Citadel Mall. We rode the St. Andrews, Savannah Highway, #2 Express and Northbridge bus several times. Our IT coordinator and six year veteran of our transit advocacy efforts, Dave Crossley lived in the area before leaving for better transit and living opportunities in Delaware last fall and was a careful student of operations there.  Mary Smith, who appears as our mascot Sylphide, currently lives on Sam Rittenberg blvd.

Increase Frequency on the North Bridge Bus Line

The Northbridge bus currently operates on a one hour headway, meaning the average wait for a ride on that bus is a half hour at any given time. Service North and South in N. Charleston on the #10, #11 and several other routes runs about every 20 minutes at Superstop. The stop at Citadel Mall has a bus running to Charleston about every half hour and much more often during the commute. The St. Andrews goes Westward to St. Francis Hospital and Bees Ferry road (Walmart) through a rapidly developing area. Service om this western part area  has been unstable. Service connects  the mental health clinic and social security office out there, which both generate a lot of rides.

This area is home to a lot of younger riders. They plan their trips on their smart phones. CARTA can’t compete with Uber over 50% of the time. Residents aren’t getting the value they were promised for the sales tax money.

Increasing frequency on Northbridge route would more than double ridership. Major employment centers at Citadel Mall, along the route itself need service. The ride into Charleston from the connection in N. Charleston is approximately 30 minutes with three bus lines making that connection. It’s also about 30 minutes from Citadel Mall to downtown, meaning a trip from any point along those three routes can be accomplished in about an hour in either direction with 30 minute sevice on the Northbridge.
Bus Stop, Citadel Mall
Sam Rittenberg needs several more shelters. Current unsheltered stops are uncomfortable and humiliating. There is an excellent new shelter near the intersection of Highwy 61 and Sam Rittenberg.

The Shelter and stop at Citadel Mall (Image, left) needs to be lighted, enlarged and supplied with a sidewalk connecting the area as many as six buses pull in at the same time at.

A park and ride lot needs to be developed at the old Piggly Wiggly location. The trip from there to downtown Charleston is currently only 36 minutes.  This should decline some with greater frequency. A dedicated express bus could make the trip during the commute in 18 mintues.  The park and ride facility should include a shelter and be collocated with a sympathetic business which sells bus passes, refreshments and provides restrooms. Transit riders and family pickingup and dropping off should be sufficient to keep a coffee shop or convenience store at this location busy. A Starbucks in in the area now and is already used by transit riders.

Building Ridership for a Sustainable Route

Building ridership would require an on the ground outreach effort of about 250 staff hous with materials cost of about $1500. At least half of those hours would need to be experienced, paid workers. The balance could be provided by about 250 additional volunteer hours, provided the volunteers work with the support of paid staff. The entire effort should be planned for mid fall and would take about two weeks, concluding before November 1. We could capitalize on the Halloween and Harvest vents and push all West Ashley Service.

Increasing frequency on the Northbridge Route would require an increase in the CARTA budget for the West Ashley area which would be covered by reducing the amount which is currently being diverted for road construction.

Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit will submit this proposal to the Tri County Transit Equity Coalition on June 20 and if approved to the full CARTA board that same afternoon.  Comments to this proposal can be posted to our blog: https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/.  A linked version of this proposal will be posted there.

William J. Hamilton, III
Attorney at Law, Executive Director, Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc.
wjhamilton29464@gmail.com, (843) 870-5299