Transit and Climate Change in SC Lowcountry- Problems and Solutions

Our core issues relate to Climate Change in many ways, largely through human impacts.

Transit- Flooding disrupts transit service and salt water destroys transit vehicles. Hurricanes shut down the transit system resulting in lost farebox revenue and lost federal matching funds. Flooding can sever the north south tranist lines which run through the Charelston neck, making transit travel between Charelston and N. Chareleston impossible. Cars, which operate on elevated I26 do not have this problem. however the massive amount of traffic now running on Rivers Ave. and Sprull is diverted to I26 and detours through West Ashley, making on time operations impossible. Our system relies on transfers between infrequent service to function. Without keeping schedule, a trip of ten miles can take several hours and waiting often has to take place at unsheltered stops. Though county council committed 600 million of the half penny sales tax for improved transit, there have been some suggestions that the transit system be cancelled and the fund used to build a flood protection wall around wealthy homes in downtown Charleston. A provision allowing the half penny tax to be used for "drainage" was slipped into the referendum language secretly by County Council. At the time everyone thought that meant buidling and improving drainage along the road and transit system.

On the bright side any bus, full of passengers emits far less carbon for passenger mile. The Oldest CARTA bus, burning diesel at the rate of four miles per gallon transporting 50 passengers Operates at at a rate of 50 passenger miles per gallon. A single passenger vehicle, operating at 30 miles per gallon burns nearly twice the gas per passenger mile. CARTA has five electron Pro Terra buses on order.

Transit vehicles are also durable. Some CARTA buses have been in service since the Atlanta Olympics and are now over 20 years old, reducing the environmental impact of new vehicle construction.

Transit reduces the need for roads and parking lots, which absorb a lot of solar radiation and contribute to global warming. Since this temperature increase in concentrated in urban areas, this increase the energy demand for air conditioning. Hard surface roads and parking lots also contribute to flooding.

Floyd Manor Public Housing near planned Transit line

Affordable Housing- Hugo destroyed about 8 thousand low income housing units, mostly older wooden houses which often sheltered several families. these buildings had termite and rot problems and simply collapsed under the force of the wind. Several people were killed that way. The cost of rental housing went up drastically as wealthier people forced from their homes competed for the available apartments in the market. the large public housing project East of East Bay street near what is now the Aquarium was flooded and later leveled. Condos for the wealthy, elevated above anticipated flood levels now stand there.Homeless people are very vulnerable in hurricanes and even rain flooding. Many live under bridges or in low lying areas. Since Tent City was cleared, most homeless people now live in mobile micro camps and reaching them with warnings and evacuation assistance is very unreliable. The loss of affordable housing in the city due to flooding and hurricane damage reduces the population of people who use transit, meaning lost ridership and cancellation of routes and service.

Tent City, Charleston, 2016

Transit makes it possible for people seeking lower housing costs to choose from more options in more areas and to have more power in negotiating rent costs. Housing is more affordable when a family does not have the burden of supporting a car. 30% of the cost of the new apartment buildings being constructed in Charleston is devoted to the cost of parking structures and lots. Parking lots and structures could be better used as housing or open space.

The planned Bus Rapid Transit line promised to begin operating in 2025 will open large areas for the creation of dense, walk able communities where residents will be able to walk, or in some cases ride the elevator to their local transit stop. We've been involved in the effort to build such a community on the site of the old naval hospital for two years.

Add caption

Living Wage- Hurricane Dorian cost the local tourism industry over 50 million dollars, including 10s of millions of dollars in wages and tips which were not earned. Workers will still have to pay the high rents Charleston demands.  (there is some public assistance available for that purpose from FEMA)  Dorian  was the third nearly week long shut down of our tourism industry in 12 months. The Snow storm and the 2018 hurricane also took place in the previous 12 months. Low wage workers are often required to work instead of evacuate. SC is a right to work space and they know they can be fired for any reason or no reason at all.

Transit helps riders save money. Parking downtown now costs about $20 a day. The new HOP lot reduces that to $5 per 24 hours and connects people with a fast shuttle ride into the city. Getting more people to ride improved bus services all the way from their homes would be even better for the environment. Parking lots are far from free. the new park and ride facility in N. Charleston cost about $3 million dollars or about 10 thousand dollars per space.

Twelve Goals to Achieve transit justice – Build BRT and strengthen bus service

Achieve Transit Justice – Build BRT and Strengthen Bus Service

These 12 demands are part of a more detailed document containing over 70 recommendations for improving transit in the Lowcountry. They elaborate one of the demands being made by Climate Strike Charleston, “Achieve transit justice – Build BRT and strengthen bus service”

During the Global Climate Strike, Sept. 20 to 28, 2019, we are asking transit riders and the general public to review the Google Docs Version of the full, five page document online and post their comments and suggested additions and revisions. We are distributing the longer document online to reduce the use of paper and carbon impacts. Our organization has already begun work on all 12 of these goalsm but details and tactics continue to evolve with community input.

The final version will be published to the Democratic candidates for President present at the Blue Jamboree in Charleston County on Oct. 5 and delivered to Republican leaders and local elected officials and the BCD Cog, CARTA and Tri County Link shortly thereafter.

These 12 goals are the ways in which Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit believes the Lowcountry can use improved transit to reduce our community’s carbon footprint, slow the destructive changes in climate and sea level which threaten our community and increase environmental justice.

The full, detailed document is now open for comment on Google Docs.

12 Goals for a better Transit enabled future for the Lowcountry 

1. Plan, build and commence operation of the Bus Rapid Transit line on or before Oct. 1, 2022 connecting Charleston, N. Charleston, Summerville, Ladson & Lincolnville.
2. End the 11 Million dollar per year “Pay Go” diversion of transit funds and apply more of the 350 million dollars approved by voters in 2016 to approve existing regular bus service.
3. Build 20 more sheltered bus stops in Charleston County in 2020.
4. Return Transit service to the beach by Memorial Day 2020.
5. Double Transit Ridership by Seniors and Students by November 2020.
6. Transit Enable the Lowline for fast, efficient rapid transit service to the heart of Charleston.
7. Restore Webcast and Video Archiving of CARTA Board Meetings. Establish Webcasting and archiving of Tri County LINK board meetings.
8. Reserve space for affordable housing along planned rapid transit line.
9. Build complete streets for transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians.
10. Plan Rapid Transit to the heart of Downtown Summerville and increase frequency and coverage of transit service in Dorchester County.
11. Begin better bus service and shelters for Berkeley County
12. Maintain Breeze Bus service from Walterboro to Hilton Head and establish a circulator service connecting Walterboro with surrounding rural communities.

Read and comment on the full document 

at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IueWoN-ZDVPWLPKas2bc7UyThoi0L671/view?usp=sharing or contact William Hamilton at wjhamilton29464@gmail.comwjhamilton29464@gmail.com or call (843) 870-5299

Climate Strike for Sustainable Community for All

Note= 9-25-19- The schedule of events has been updated again, past events have been deleted.

The South Carolina Lowcountry must change its focus to its people and the future. Tourism, history, landmarks and the priorities of the wealthy cannot force us to wait until climate change, development, sea-level rise and globalization allow others to make all our decisions for us. We must have a community where affordable housing is available, living wages are paid and our transportation system offers mobility to all planned in a way that accounts for the changes in sea level and climate change. These plans must reduce the impact of those changes on the remaining generations that will live here.

Download Updated, printable PDF flyer- Ver. Sept. 12-230


A Strike for Climate, Mobility and Equity- From Friday, Sept. 20, the first day of the Global Strike for Climate until Oct. 5th, when candidates for President from around the nation will be here for the Blue Jamboree held by the local Democratic Party, our coalition will demand local, state and national government respond to the problems destroying the quality of life for ordinary people here. This includes the 30th. Anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, marking a generation since Charleston ignored its first wakeup call on climate and lost thousands of affordable housing units. During the generation since, sprawl development and gentrification have ended downtown Charleston’s inherited model for civic and economic life.

We demand that the next 30 years of planning in the Lowcountry focus on three priorities as they impact the lives of working people”

Sustainable Community for All

Living Wage & Unions for All - Raising the minimum wage will benefit everyone in Charleston—working people, businesses, and the entire economy. Research shows about 684,000 South Carolina workers — or a third of the state’s workforce — would see their wages increase if a $15 federal minimum wage were adopted by 2025. Why Unions? Unions can bargain for the establishment of workplace environment committees that give workers real power to set sustainability benchmarks and to play an active role in the implementation. Unions can also demand that employers commit to specific environmental goals directly in their contracts.

Affordable housing for All - on high ground in safe areas constructed in a durable, sustainable fashion which reduces carbon impacts.

Mobility for All- A Transit and Transportation system linking those jobs and living areas efficiently so that people have the time and choice they need to live rewarding lives without being forced to buy and maintain a car. Road planning in which the focus is on serving areas inland, uphill and accessible to all. Reduce carbon impacts, congestion and injuries to transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists with complete streets. You can read our detailed response to the climate Strike in 12 calls to action, which cover 70 planned transit agenda items  (Currently open for public comment through Google Docs) online now: Achieve Transit Justice, Build BRT and Strengthen Bus Service. 

Our Shared Demand for Transit Equity-

As part of the general Lowcountry Climate Strike effort we've committed to support, "Achieve transit justice – Build BRT and strengthen bus service."  Our detailed demands for Transit Equity add actionable detail to the generalized statement. Please read, share and comment. We'll revise after the climate strike and publish to the candidates for president, state and local leaders at the Blue Jamboree and other public events in October. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IueWoN-ZDVPWLPKas2bc7UyThoi0L671/view?usp=sharing

Tentative Summary Schedule

Note- For more detailed information on CofC connected events, check the links and the new Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/CharlestonClimateStrike/  Note that past events have been deleted and many wonderful events have already ended. Plans for a second major series of events are not being made, so come to the remaining activities on the schedule to get involved and help shape the future of the local effort. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2019 7-8 PM Climate Justice: Unequal Consequences College of Charleston RSS235 Omar Muhammad

Thur. Sept. 26, 5 to 6 pm- Dutch Dialogues Demonstration- Join a demonstration outside the Gaillard Center before the last event (6 to 7:30 pm) focused on dealing with flooding facilitated by experts from the Netherlands. Make sure the needs of people and their right to resources for the future aren’t forgotten. (On CARTA 210, 20, 1, 2, 3 & 4 Bus Lines) Facebook Sign up for this event. 

We'll be filling in the final twenty spaces left on the Community Commitment to Transit that evening. That's the massive petition (image right, Congressman Sanford should have taken it more seriously) we've circulated for three years to hold our politicians to their promise to build the transit system made before the referendum. We'll have a mini teach in and demand, again, somewhat louder, that CARTA return bus service to the beach instead of just waiting for the ocean to come to the nearest bus stop in about 40 years. We'll have a table and sign making supplies on site. Other groups and activists are welcome to join and bring up there issues.

Friday, September 27, 2019 1-2 PM- Beneficial Plants: Let Nature Reduce Bad Insects Dr. Linda Geronilla @ Pink House (Permaculture) Dr. Linda Geronilla

September 27, 2019 5:00-6:30 PM Climate Change and Mental Health: Caring for Ourselves and the Planet at the Same Time Dr. Jen Wright College of Charleston RSS 252*

Image, left, we celebration our referndum victory for the new transit system on Rivers Ave. November 2016)

Saturday, Sept. 28, Rapid Rivers Reactivation- Persephone Moulton Community Center, North Charleston, South Carolina, 1919 Robertson Blvd. N. Charleston. Activists will do outreach along Rivers Ave. in N. Charleston.  We'll be working bus stops, street corners and hanging door knobs in neighborhoods along the planned transit line. We need people to stuff outreach bags, which can be done sitting down in the shade. We need people to walk the streets before heading to the Candidates for N. Charleston. We need four rock solid activists to join our Go Forward SMAK team which will cover several neighborhoods. SMAK stands for Speedy Movement Allied for Komunity, its a very fast structured, radio and internet enabled outreach team, bring a backpack and waterbottle.)  Bag stuffing begins at 8 am. First team goes out at 8:30 pm. SMAK deploys at 10:00 am.

Saturday, Sept. 28 3 pm- N. Charelston Mayoral Forum- That afternoon we'll converge on the Mayoral forum  at 3:00 pm. at Mt. Moriah Church. Along #10 CARTA Bus line. Get tickets for N. Charleston Mayor's Forum. Transit and affordable housing are two of the three issues the forum will focus on.

Saturday, October 5 - Unions for All - We will join Fight for $15 under the banner of Unions for All as we stand together on a day of action and solidarity. We will begin the day at 9am on Rivers Ave-nue by standing with workers, followed by a charter bus ride and lunch as we travel to the Blue Jamboree located at The Bend in North Charleston. Don’t miss this unprecedented opportunity to unite the fights for environmental, racial and economic justice.
*This is a national media event, please wear your organization tee or bring your signs. We will have a brainstorm/sign-making party towards the end of September to tie in various issues. Tickets for the Blue Jamboree, lunch, and transportation are included. Contact Amanda @ (803) 322-3097 or amanda.robertson@thefightfor15.org to add your organization to the list.

Sat. October 5- Blue Jamboree- Confront candidates for President at this Democratic Party event with our local priorities as we face a rising cost of living, rising congestion and a rising ocean. . Fight for $15 is organizing an action for the living wage which will begin on River's Ave. on the #10 bus line and provide free entrance and lunch to the Blue Jamboree where participants will parade in. Once you are at the event, visit our yellow information booth in the village area, make a button and learn about our work which will continue. We'll also have some spare chairs because sometimes you have to rest.

This coalition effort involves many organizations with radically differing approaches to the challenge of climate change. Not all organizations agree on the details of policy or method. Please communicate directly with the individual organization for their precise position and policies. Planning for all of these events has been disrupted by the recent Hurricane and changes are to be expected. 

Coalition Supporters
Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit
Lowcountry Up is Good
Fight for $15 and and a Union

Hashtags
#climatestrike
#fridaysforfuture
#chstransit

#UnionsForAll