The South Carolina DOT (SCDOT) recently adopted a wide-ranging complete streets policy for the state-owned highway system.
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall signed the document in Columbia at SCDOT Headquarters on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
The complete streets policy requires SCDOT to work with the state's regional transportation planning partners and regional transit providers to identify and include walking, bicycling, and transit needs as part of their regional visioning plans. These plans will be tailored to the unique needs of each area of the state and will serve as a foundation for highway planning and design, construction, maintenance, and daily operations.
"The goal of the policy is to make our highway system safe and accessible to all users; drivers, passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders," Hall said in a statement. "Proper planning is key to ensuring that the appropriate level of multimodal accommodations is provided in the right context, on the right project, and in the right manner to meet the needs of the community."
Key components of the policy include:
- Funding for these accommodations is to be included in the budget for each project if warranted on the individual project and in accordance with the regional plans.
- SCDOT will update and modernize its design manuals to include multimodal accommodations.
- SCDOT will establish a council to facilitate ongoing communication to seek continuous improvement opportunities and initiatives.
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SOURCE: South Carolina DOT
