Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments

When using the logo on a dark/multi-colored ba

STATE OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION 2020

INTRODUCTION TO THE AGENCY

T

he Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments is a regional planning agency and voluntary association of local governments. Our role is to assist leaders in addressing common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for regional development. The agency’s purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate duplication of efforts and make joint decisions.

BCDCOG serves a three-county region in South Carolina and includes 30 member governments. The COG’s board of directors provides a forum for local leaders to discuss common issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries, identify common goals, and determine a course to address them.

Through thoughtful planning and partnerships with our members, we work to ensure prosperity for the tri-county region.

2 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

WHO IS THE COG? As one of South Carolina’s 10 Regional Planning Councils, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments’ primary objectives are to assist governments in the region, develop local and regional plans and initiatives that improve quality of life, as well as provide local governments with planning and technical support. Our regional planning programs are diverse, ranging from transportation and water quality planning to community development and infrastructure projects.

Regional Planning

Transportation Planning

BCDCOG provides technical expertise in major planning initiatives impacting the region by participating in and/or facilitating multijurisdictional and regional planning efforts.

The BCDCOG’s planning focuses’ include transportation, transit, land use, environmental quality, and redevelopment.

Regional Planning

Economic Development BCDCOG serves as the region’s Economic Development District (EDD), implementing the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and providing support to local jurisdictions and organizations on individual economic development initiatives through grant writing and administrative services.

Workforce Development SC Works Trident – Initiatives of the statewide SC Works program that strive to fully develop the region’s workforce are managed by the BCDCOG. These initiatives connect businesses, job seekers businesses, job seekers, and training providers to create a pathway to employment.

Charleston Area Transportation Study - BCDCOG serves as the area’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), coordinating activities of the Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS), the local designated recipient of federal funds for crucial transportation infrastructure projects.

Economic Development

Lowcountry Rapid Transit – A major transportation initiative of the BCDCOG is the 26-mile bus rapid transit system connecting Transportation Planning Charleston, North Charleston and Summerville that will provide CHATS reliable travel, connect communities, and energize economic Lowcountry Rapid Transit opportunities along the corridor.

Lowcounty GO

Workforce Development SC Works Trident

Transit Services CARTA Tricounty Link

Community Enrichment Grant Writing Project Implementation

Community Enrichment BCDCOG assists local governments in developing projects, and applying for and administering Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The program addresses social and environmental problems in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods through neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and improvement of community facilities.

Lowcountry Go – A commuter services program administered by BCDCOG, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, with the goal of reducing traffic congestion by encouraging use of alternative modes of transportation.

Transit Services BCDCOG plans and administers public transit services in the region.

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority – CARTA, with an annual ridership of over 3 million, provides public transportation services to the urbanized area of Charleston County.

Tricounty Link – TCL is the region’s rural transit system, connecting the residents of outer Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties to employment, education, healthcare and more.

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

3

XXXX WHO IS CHATS?

XXXX

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he Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that federal transportation funds are spent wisely and that our region continues to remain accessible as the population increases. CHATS is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the tri-county region. An MPO is a federally funded organization that is required to carry out short and long-term transportation planning for urbanized portions of the metropolitan area.

The CHATS study area includes portions of all three counties that were considered urbanized in the latest US Census and those areas projected to become urbanized within the next 20 years. This area currently covers about one-third (33%) of the BCD region or 945 square miles.

Transportation activities within the CHATS area are governed by a policy committee whose 50 members represent governmental and transportation-related organizations throughout the region. CHATS programs and initiatives are facilitated by the BCDCOG. A study team of technical experts, representing those same organizations, considers and advises the CHATS Policy Committee on any changes to funding, policies, or plans associated with transportation initiatives.

CHATS establishes and implements transportation policies for the region through development of a Congestion Management Process (CMP), a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

All these documents are available on the BCDCOG website:

bcdcog.com/transportation-planning LEGEND

How is the CHATS or Urbanized Area defined?

Rural Area Adjacent County County Line Water Body CHATS Study Area

.

4 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

Urbanized areas (UZAs) are defined by the US Census to include those census tracts that meet a minimum threshold of population density. The US Census updates the urbanized area every 10 years to accommodate population growth. The CHATS Study Area also includes adjacent census tracts that are most likely to become urbanized with in the following 20 years after each update.

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he region has two Long Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs): one for the urbanized (CHATS) area and one for the rural area. These set the framework for sustaining and enhancing mobility in the region. Each LRTP is developed through a multi-faceted development process that involves coordination with state, county, city and town planning and engineering professionals, public outreach, gathering and analyzing data, and synthesizing the information to produce a comprehensive transportation plan for the future. The goal of this approach is to have a plan that identifies those projects that will most effectively use federal transportation funding allocated to the region during the next 20 years.

The LRTPs are multi-modal and consider opportunities to improve the efficiency for all modes of transportation: automobiles, transit, freight, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

In addition, consideration is given to travel demand reduction strategies. While BCDCOG monitors the system continuously, the CHATS LRTP and the BCD Rural LRTP are both comprehensively updated every five years.

The LRTP update process includes assessing the effectiveness of current transportation facilities, identifying current and projected transportation needs, and evaluating all strategies for improvements and potential transportation projects to address those needs for the next 20-year period.

WHAT IS THE LRTP? XXXX Transportation projects in the LRTP are classified as: Capacity improvements Intersection improvements Corridor studies Access management studies and improvements Projects in the Long Range Transportation Plans are scored against 12 criteria of effectiveness, each of which are assigned a weight as part of a prioritization process. Criteria and weights applied in the prioritization of projects for funding in the CHATS 2040 LRTP were:

Congestion Relief 20%

Transit Support

10%

Freight Mobility

10%

Improvement of Existing Infrastructure

10%

10%

Financial Viability

Contribution to Addressing Safety Issues

8%

Environmental Impacts and Mitigation

8%

Support of Local Land Use Objectives

7%

7%

Support of Economic Development

Evacuation Routes

Facilitation of Bicycling

3%

Facilitation of Walking

3%

Most projects identified during the update processes are included in the LRTPs. Those expected to be accomplished with federal funds are designated in the “fiscally constrained” project list based on the prioritization process. Remaining projects are included in a “vision” list.

The LRTP not only includes projects that may be accomplished with federal funding, but also those projects identified by the partnering organizations that have regional significance, such as those projects identified in the three counties’ Transportation Sales Tax (TST) programs. Local transportation sales tax and gas tax funding, as well as specialized funding sources, can leverage the federal funding to expand the list of projects that are undertaken.

4%

DID YOU KNOW?

Freight Mobility

Freight activity is indicative of the region’s vibrant economy. The CHATS Freight Advisory Committee is collaborating with the SC Ports Authority, Norfolk Southern and CSXT railroads, Palmetto Railways, and members of the SC Trucking Association to plan for reliable mobility of goods through the region. An average of over 4,500 trucks daily travel to/from the SCPA’s facilities which has planned $2.6 billion in capital investments through FY2020.

During the most recent update of the CHATS LRTP, more than 150 proposed transportation improvement projects were evaluated. The total cost to implement those projects was estimated (in today’s dollars) at more than $2.6 billion. The region’s projected annual federal funding of $19 million can cover the cost of fewe r than 40 of these projects.

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

5

XXXX

WHAT IS THE TIP? XXXX

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he Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) “programs� funding for projects identified in the LRTP. In essence, a project is added to the TIP when funding is designated moving it from the long range (20+-yr LRTP) to the short term (4-5 yrs) timeframe. It programs federal, state, and local funds to priority transportation projects/ programs that help the region achieve its long-term goals and objectives.

In order for a project to be listed in the TIP to receive federal funding, it must be included in the CHATS or Rural Long Range Transportation plans. Like the LRTP, projects of regional significance that are locally funded are also programmed in the TIP and generally follow the federal process for project development in the event that leveraging of federal funding becomes necessary.

Also included in the TIP are transportation improvement projects managed by other agencies that are supported by specialized sources of federal funding, such as transit funding from the Federal Transit Administration. Trail improvements, supported by the SC Parks and Recreational Trails grants, as well as large projects, such as the SCPA Wando Terminal Rehabilitation and Ashley River Bike/Ped bridge, funded by discretionary federal grants (TIGER and BUILD) are programmed in the TIP. The TIPs are continuously updated as projects move forward into engineering and design or construction or receive new funding. The most up-to-date TIP is posted on the BCDCOG website under transportation planning.

DID YOU KNOW? Transportation projects may be funded with specific allocations depending on project objectives:

Interstates and bridges

Safety improvements

6 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

Road capacity improvements

Pavement improvements

Transit capital improvements and operations

Non-motorist facilities for cyclists and pedestrians

XXXX

FUNDING XXXX Funding for Transportation Improvements comes from a variety of sources. Below are the principal sources of funding for transportation facility improvements in our region.

Projects may be funded by more than one of these.

Transportation Funding

Federal Funding

State Funding

Local Funding

State Transportation Block Grant (STBG) or Guideshare funding is formula based and allocated by Federal Highways through SCDOT to the MPOs and COGs in South Carolina proportionate to the current and projected population within each region.

SCDOT partners with individual counties on transportation infrastructure through the “C” program. “C” funds come from an allocation of the state gas tax. Projects completed by the counties with these funds include maintenance, repairs and improvements to the state and county highway systems.

In 2018, $8.3 million was allocated to the three counties in our region.

Each of the three counties has a County Transportation Sales Tax (TST) program which generates additional funding for transportation projects. Transportation Sales Tax funding and STBG funding are often used to leverage one another to ensure complete funding for a specific project.

BUILD (the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) program is a discretionary grant distributed by the federal government through a competitive selection process to fund projects that include safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, environmental protection, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a federally funded program passed to the State and MPOs to build pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and streetscaping projects.

Transit operations and capital investments in the BCD region may be funded by programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration. These range from formula based allocations for transit capital, planning, and fleet maintenance to discretionary grants that are awarded through a competitive process.

In 2017, the SC Legislature passed Act 40 that increased the state’s gas tax and imposed fees that will generate higher revenues for transportation improvements. The state distributes revenues from the gasoline tax that are placed in a special account called the “Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund” which again is used to repair, maintain, and improve the existing highway system.

The State Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SIB) was created by the SC Legislature to focus greater attention on larger transportation projects, and thereby allow SCDOT to devote resources to other important transportation needs.

The SIB selects and assists in financing major qualified projects by providing loans and other financial assistance to construct and improve highway and transportation facilities necessary for public purposes including economic development.

Some municipalities in the region collect Impact Fees to finance transportation and other infrastructure needs generated by a new development. These may or may not be used in conjunction with transportation sales tax funds.

DID YOU KNOW? Charleston County’s Transportation Sales Tax allocates funding to transportation projects, transit, and greenspace.

Berkeley and Dorchester County Transportation Sales Tax programs allocate funding to specific transportation projects.

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

7

The Regional Transit Framework Plan (RFTP) sets the stage for how the region will establish a true multi-modal, transit-rich network.

REGIONAL TRANSIT FRAMEWORK Goals and objectives Connectivity

Reliability

Economy

Safety

Provide a multi-modal system that connects the Lowcountry

Provide a multi-modal system that responds to varied trip needs and competes with single occupancy vehicle travel times

Provide a multi-modal system that supports the regional economic well-being and development plans

Provide a multi-modal system that is attractive and inclusive of all passengers

What the plan does The RTFP lays our short-, mid-, and longrange plan for high-capacity transit corridors including bus rapid transit and interstate express buses in priority lanes such as HOV, HOT, or bus on shoulder.

The RFTP recommends five High-Capacity Bus Rapid Transit corridors in addition to the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project: Dorchester Road to Summerville US 52 to Moncks Corner Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant Highway 17 & Glenn McConnell in West Ashley Folly Road

The plan recommends Express Bus Service on I -26 to Ridgeville and I-526 in managed lanes or as “Bus on Shoulder.�

It also sets priorities for the consolidation and expansion of local transit services based on the following guiding principals: Service should be frequent Routes should be direct Routes should be symmetrical Routes should serve well-defined markets Service should be well coordinated.

Impacts and financials of the full RTFP framework buildout in 2040 $960M in new capital funding needed $1.3B Full Buildout Costs

9.6 Million annual riders on the BRT System Systemwide Daily Ridership: 40,661 passengers per day 12,500 new daily transit riders 8 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

DID YOU KNOW? Regional residents an nually incur an average of

$1,850 in costs and 41 hours

stuck in traffic due to

$215 million

New operations funding needed through 2040

congestion.

See the full plan at: BCDCOG.com/frame work

LOWCOUNTRY RAPID TRANSIT (LCRT)

Modern transportation to transform our region.

The Lowcountry Rapid Transit project is a proposed 26-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) system between Charleston, North Charleston and Summerville that would provide reliable travel, connect communities, and energize economic opportunities along the corridor.

Proposed project timeline

The proposed corridor BRT Stations

STUDY AREA

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NORTHWOODS MALL

Do rch est er

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NORTH CHARLESTON

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NORTH Riv CHARLESTON ers Av e

Ashle y Rive r Rd

MAGNOLIA

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iver yR hle

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61

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ROMNEY STREET

iver

DID YOU KNOW? LINE STREET

As 61

Ashle

y Rive r Rd

26

60 minute one-way trip

22

2 million

proposed stations

estimated trips per year on the line

24

6,784

vehicles

T The Capital Inve stment Grant Program (New Starts/Small Starts) CHARLESTON

UPPER PENINSULA (MT. PLEASANT ST.) 7

mile corridor

STROMBOLI AVENUE MAGNOLIA

NORTH CHARLESTON

Fast facts

SHIPWATCH SQUARE CHARLESTON

HUGER STREET

NORTH CHARLESTON

LINE STREET

Final alignment alternatives will be presented to the public for comment in late Daniel 2020. spring Island

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UPPER PENINSULA (MT. PLEASANT ST.) 7

Do rch est er

Daniel Island

STROMBOLI AVENUE

T

hle y

Ph os ph ate

Av e

TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Rd

SUMMERVILLE

Ph os ph ate

Rd

Riv ers

per Riv er

DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE

FAIRGROUNDS/ COLLEGE PARK

Rive

GOOSEREMOUNT CREEK

P

NORTHWOODS MALL

C oo

LINCOLNVILLE

do

TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

do

Ladso n Rd

P SUMMERVILLE

OTRANTO

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ALTERNATE

GOOSE CREEK

P

As

52

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17

BRT Stations with Transit Hub

52

P

LINCOLNVILLE DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE

alignment alternatives, which will be presented to the public for comment in late spring.

OTRANTO

TRIDENT HEALTH/ P CSU

P

P

Proposed station locations indicated in this map, An evaluation of the study area is underway to identify alignment alternatives, which will presented the and end asbewell as tostart public for comment in late spring. points, were identified by the I-26ALT study and continue to be evaluated and refined.

P BRT BRT Stations Ride of the study study willtocontinue to be evaluated and refined.

Stations with Transitwith Hub ParkAn&evaluation area isand underway identify T

TRIDENT HEALTH/ CSU BERLIN G MYERS

G MYERS

BRT Stations with Park & Ride

W an

T

P

Proposed station locations indicated in this map, as well Proposed station locations indicated in this map, as well as start and end points, were identified by the i-26ALT study and will continue as to bestart evaluated andend refined. and points, were identified by the i-26ALT

BRT Stations

P

daily trips

HUGER is a discretionary and competitive feder al grant STREET 41 program that funds appr oximately $2.3 billion per 61 17 year through the Federal Transit Adm inistration to construct light rail, heavy rail, comm uter rail, streetcar, and bus rapid transit projects like the Lowcountry Rapid Transit Project. The program will fund up to 50% of major transit cons truction projects. The LCRT project will comp ete for these funds, and as the system expands, this program can also fund future BRT corridors ident ified in the Regional Transit Framework Plan.

See the full plan at: www.lowcountryrapidtransit.com Project timeline is estimated under the New Starts Capital Investment Grant Program guidelines.

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

9

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BCDCOG coordinates administrative functions and planning for the two public transportation systems in the tri-county region: the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and TriCounty Link (TCL)

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is the public transportation system covering the urbanized area of the Charleston-North Charleston Metropolitan area. CARTA is the state’s largest public transportation provider and ranks as one of the top systems in the Southeast, with a ridership of well over 3 million annually.

TriCounty Link (TCL) provides commuter and demandresponse public transportation services to the rural areas of Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Since coming under the BCDCOG umbrella, Tricounty Link has increased coordination with CARTA to provide easy transitions between the two systems for riders.

Funding Transit BCDCOG is the designated recipient for federal transit dollars, and provides administration and system planning services for the two agencies. The Region’s Transit Consolidation Plan has the ultimate goal of bringing the two agencies together as one to provide seamless regional connectivity via transit.

CARTA is funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT). CARTA also operates using local funding from farebox revenue and from a pair of Charleston County transportation sales taxes. CARTA partners with member jurisdictions, MUSC and the College of Charleston to fund services, such as the free Downtown Area Shuttle. CARTA is subject to the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), FTA, SCDOT, and federal, state, and local laws.

10 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

DID YOU KNOW?

The graph shows the breakdown of funding for CARTA operations in 2017.

CARTA partnered with the City of Nort h Charleston to build the $16.5 milli on North Charleston Transit Center whic h opened in 2019 in Liberty Hill. The modern state of the art facility was fund ed by the Federal Transit Administration , Charleston County, and City of North Charleston to bring together Amtrak Southeastern Stages Intercity Bus Servi ces, and CARTA at one location. The trans it center has a community meeting spac e as well as a history room that tells the story of Liberty Hill and passenger rail in the Charleston Region.

PARK AND RIDE

T

he BCDCOG Park and Ride Study identified short-, mid-, and long-term investments in park and ride facilities for carpool, vanpool, and transit.

The first publicly owned and permanent park and ride facility was recently opened off Rivers Avenue on Melnick Drive. Most of the existing Park and Ride facilities are handshake agreements with the property owners that are at risk of no longer being available as the area develops.

Capital Investment

Construction

Property

Short Term

$3,606,662

$0

$3,606,662

Mid Term

$12,46,424 $5,640,000

Long Term

$8,952,179

Total

Annual Maintenance

Total

$171,665

$104,810

$276,475

$18,056,424

$90,750

$204,956

$295,706

$13,615,229

$30,250

$134,561

$164,811

$24,975,265 $10,303,050 $35,278,315

$292,665

$444,327

$736,992

$4,663,050

Mid Term (3-5 Years)

Long Term (5-10 Years)

Publicly Owned

Publicly Owned

Privately Owned

Existing PNR

BCDCOG purchased a site in the upper peninsula of downtown Charleston at Mount Pleasant Street between Meeting and King streets. The site is currently being designed to provide a permanent park and ride facility that will serve our free Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) and Downtown Area Shuttles (DASH), as well as the proposed Lowcountry Rapid Transit BRT route.

Total Annual Lease

Short Term (1-2 Years) Mount Pleasant Street I-26 Rest Area

CARTA’s new park and ride lot on Melnick Drive provides a safe, secure facility with shelter, restroom facilities, bus lanes, lighting, cameras, and fencing. The lot is available for commuters who want to share rides or ride transit.

Annual Operating Cost

Citadel Mall Mount Pleasant Walmart (Oakland) Festival Centre Dorchester Village Oakbrook Shopping Center James Island Walmart Berkeley County Administration Building

I-526 & Hungry Neck (Mt. Pleasant) I-26 & US 78 (N. Charleston)

Privately Owned

I-526 & Clements Ferry US 78 & Berlin G Myers Exchange Park Fairground US 78 & Royle

US 17 (near Roper Mount Pleasant) US 176/17A (near Roper Goose Creek) Nexton

Existing Centers Tanger Outlet North Charleston Center Bees Ferry Walmart

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies advance transportation safety and mobility and enhance American productivity by integrating advanced communications technologies into transportation infrastructure and into vehicles. ITS encompasses a broad range of wireless and traditional communications-based information and electronic technologies.

Examples are High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane operations, ramp metering, red light cameras, traffic signal coordination, transit signal prioritization, traveler information systems, congestion management systems, and, in the future, connected and autonomous vehicles. BCDCOG is investing in ITS with Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) systems on the transit fleets to provide real time information, and will integrate Transit Signal Prioirtization (TSP) as part of the proposed Lowcountry Rapid Transit project.

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

11

SAFETY

I

n 2017, there were approximately 24,600 traffic collisions in the BCD region, of which 27% were fatal or injury collisions (121 persons killed and 9,668 persons injured). When compared to other counties in the state, both Berkeley and Charleston Counties ranked in the top 10 based on fatal collisions with Charleston County ranking in the top 2 for both 2016 and 2017. Approximately 1 in 5 fatalities is a non-motorized user (pedestrian or bicyclist).

Federal legislation identifies safety as one of the planning factors the MPO is required to consider as part of the transportation planning process and should be integrated throughout the planning process and within the development of plans such as the LRTP, asset management plans, congestion management process, etc. As such, the MPO identifies, coordinates and direct funds to projects which in part are the highest safety priority. The COG continuously works with partners – including SCDOT, transit providers, EMS, law enforcement, advocacy groups, and local jurisdictions to improve the safety of the region’s transportation system for both motorized and vulnerable road users (pedestrians and bicyclists).

In 2017 there were approximately

24,600

traffic collisions in BCD region

27%

of collisions involved either fatalities (121 people) or injuries (9,668 people)

1 in 5 fatalities

was a pedestrian or bicyclist

Major Plans or programs that COG oversees to improve ped/bike safety: Walk Bike BCD Plan (2016) identifies opportunities to create regional connections through improving and expanding pedestrian, bicycle and trail network, increase access to the system and improve the safety for all users.

This plan provides infrastructure, program, and policy recommendations to provide BCD residents increased transportation options beyond auto use.

Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant programs funding for projects that improve the safety of and help connect and develop the non-motorized transportation network such as or including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, non-motorized paths, streetscape improvements, and projects that meet the requirements of the safe routes to school program.

See the full plan at: www.walkbikebcd.com

12 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

Complete Streets program designates funding for projects that create a connected and multimodal system that supports all modes and users (considers auto use, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, freight, etc. based on context).

Walk Bike BCD The Walk Bike BCD plan was adopted for the region as part of the CHATS Long Range Transportation Plan. The purpose of the plan is to guide short and long-term landuse and transportation planning decisions for a safer, more accessible region for people on foot and bike. The plan identifies opportunities to create regional connections from county to county, community to community, and neighbor to neighbor. It also provides a long-term vision for collaboration and investment for increased accessibility and safety for all ages and abilities. Walk Bike BCD serves as a working plan to guide regional active transportation priorities while also providing action-oriented guidance for improving walkability and bikeability in local communities.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP)

TAP grants provide funding for 80% of a project’s cost. Sponsor organizations provide the remaining 20% through direct funds, donated materials, or in-kind services that meet federal and program guidelines. In our region, TAP projects are principally multi-use paths, trails or sidewalks that improve connectivity within a community or safety along a corridor with frequent use by pedestrian and/or cyclists.

TAP grant funding for projects in the urbanized area are sub-allocated from SCDOT to CHATS, which oversees a competitive application and selection process to identify projects for implementation. TAP grant funds for projects outside the urbanized area are allocated directly

by SCDOT to successful applicants. Authorized applicants may include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resources or public lands agencies, educational institutions, or any other governmental entity that oversees transportation or recreational trails.

Transportation Alternatives Program grants provide funding for

80% of a project cost.

DID YOU KNOW? Between 2003 and 2017, approximately

80

T

he Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a federal grant program administered by the FHWA and SCDOT to support transportation projects that enhance multimodal transportation activities or otherwise improve the environment.

Tanner Ford Blvd. Multi-use path

+20

Trail project in Gahagan Park

$10 million in federal transportation alternatives funding was allocated for projects in the CHATS study area to leverage more than $16 million in total project costs.

20%

comes from direct funds, donated materials, or in-kind services BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

13

LOWCOUNTRY GO

L

owcountry GO is a commuter services program administered by the BCDCOG in partnership with the SCDOT and the FHWA. The purpose of the program is to reduce traffic congestion and manage future traffic volume by encouraging Lowcountry residents to consider alternative modes of transportation and assisting them in transitioning.

Lowcountry Go’s public outreach efforts are intended to make people more aware of sustainable commuting options such as carpooling and vanpooling, public transit, biking, and walking. The program’s coordinators also reach out to employers and stakeholders in the tri-county region to encourage the implementation of work flextime, telecommuting programs, staggered shifts, and commuter incentives in their workplaces. Additionally, Lowcountry Go offers a regional ride-matching service that connects people who are interested in carpooling with other people that share similar travel patterns, making the process of forming a carpool much easier.

CARPOOL

The Ride Low Go App is available for download and provides users with tools to help utilize alternative transportation options.

BIKE TO WORK BUS TO WORK

WALK TO WORK WORK FROM HOME SCHOOLPOOL

Lowcountry Go can connect you with a commuting partner by searching for others who live and work near you and have similar trip schedules.

14 BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The BCDCOG strives to ensure the public is fully aware of all its initiatives and opportunities for participation. The BCDCOG outreach efforts strive to educate and solicit public input on all projects. Outreach methods vary from project to project, but will include those below as a minimum. For more information, the BCDCOG Public Participation Plan (PPP) can be found on its website.

Website

Social Media

Public Engagement

BCDCOG project information is posted on its main website: BCDCOG.com. Larger initiatives may have dedicated websites that are accessible from the main website.

The public can keep up to date on BCDCOG initiatives through social media. BCDCOG can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

BCDCOG undertakes significant public engagement activities for its programs and projects that range from one-on-one outreach with residents to formal public meetings. The agency seeks to meaningfully interact with the public, collect feedback, and build trust in the process of moving our region forward.

FREQUENTLY USED ACRONYMS IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AMPO: Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations APTA: American Public Transportation Association AVL: Automatic Vehicle Locator BCA: Benefit-Cost Analysis BCDCOG: Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments BMP: Best Management Practices BRT: Bus Rapid Transit CARTA: Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority CHATS: Charleston Area Transportation Study CIP: Capital Improvement Plan DASH: Downtown Area Shuttles DBE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise EA: Environmental Assessment EIS: Environmental Impact Statement EJ: Environmental Justice FEIS: Final Environmental Impact Statement FFY: Federal Fiscal Year FHWA: Federal Highway Administration

FONSI: (SCDOT) Finding of No Significant Impact FTA: Federal Transit Administration GIS: Geographic Information System HOP: Hospitality on Peninsula ITS: Intelligent Transit System LCRT: Lowcountry Rapid Transit LRTP: Long Range Transportation Plan MOU: Memorandum of Understanding MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organization MTAC: Mass Transit Advocacy Committee NADO: National Association of Development Organizations NARC: National Association of Regional Councils NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NTD: National Transit Database PI: Public Involvement PMT: Passenger Miles Traveled PPP: Public Participation Plan RLRTP: Rural Long Range Transportation Plan

RPWP: Rural Planning Work Program RTIP: Rural Transportation Improvement Program RTMA: Rural Transportation Management Association (d/b/a TriCounty Link) SCCOG: South Carolina Councils of Governments SIB: South Carolina State Infrastructure Bank STIC: State Transportation Innovation Council STIP: State Transportation Improvement Program TASC: Transportation Association of South Carolina TDM: Travel Demand Management TIP: Transportation Improvement Program TMA: Transportation Management Area TOD: Transit Oriented Development TDM: Travel Demand Management TSP: Transit Signal Prioritization UPWP: Unified Planning Work Program UZA: Urbanized Area

BCDCOG: State of Regional Transportation

15

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WWW.TRIDENTSCWORKS.ORG

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