[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6348408,"mediaKeyId","2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499","parentId",2242375,"title","CARTA reports service updates, training plans and LCRT progress; asks county help for crosswalk beacons","audioSeconds",558,"startMs",454000,"endMs",1012000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499&start=454&end=1012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499/thumbnail_454000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348408/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/CARTA-reports-service-updates-training-plans-and-LCRT-progress-asks-county-help-for-crosswalk-beacons","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348408-71e95b75cda89471fd8b0409e95c97c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777403468&Signature=MxqlJOX-6aLvTMJgMegZFz-dfGkAKWXbn77XOrPSne7Oi7E1JXCLl42pyv8ZhqMmbJb8RLzmuUb4TqkXEV3YOHEG7hyTeU-tiY56N-0l8KoUHDi6jXS0g1MLNGYV1~Wfc5YnUhgjoAFmwFp05Ex68N3snDiJneRWoZvYM7WE7mgQfI9-wNWbnksLxySRheSmjsZmNObRUoi3PV~WFwtUU6NLLLgNBfF~rWOPy9U-M6ZQ2f8I26oIXeDDJJOMuq10cd~sU79qbo6hHMjzdS7ZMtzR0t9PtvnRKAG9CsfE5SXJNAor-2g-SxCwLb2Y1eFgRJico~3iDoSTDc9PDdEmYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-03T23:59:54Z","article","Rob Mitchell, with CARTA, told the Charleston County Council the transit agency is moving forward on shelter, safety and service planning while awaiting federal approvals for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) project.

Mitchell said CARTA has scheduled a senior free-ride day in February and an Earth Day free-ride on April 22, has added shelters and benches, installed 30 “soda lights” in recent months, and is seeing steady growth in mobile ticketing. “We did, again, end in the black, so I’m pleased to report that,” Mitchell said of CARTA’s federal fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

The agency will conduct a comprehensive operational analysis to review schedules, on-time performance and public outreach and to prepare for connections to the LCRT project. Mitchell said the LCRT project is in final design and that the agency is waiting on a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval; the corridor runs roughly 21 miles and staff are preparing 90% design plans and coordinating with the City of Charleston, City of North Charleston, the Federal Transit Administration and South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Mitchell asked the council for help installing flashing pedestrian beacons at a school crosswalk near a newly placed military magnet shelter, saying motorists “get going pretty fast” on that stretch and that slower pedestrians, including seniors using CARTA to reach a nearby senior center, need safer crossings. He also described a ribbon-cutting for the shelters and a December bike giveaway in partnership with Second Chance, a group that refurbishes abandoned or damaged bicycles from shelters.

Mitchell discussed workforce training tied to an LCRT station building: the second floor of a station at Shipwatch Square will house a workforce training center, and a grant includes CDL training to help expand the pool of qualified drivers. He said the port and other employers are experiencing similar CDL driver shortages.

Mitchell briefly updated council on other projects: plans for a park-and-ride parcel near Joseph Floyd Manor that require relocation of above-ground Dominion power lines underground, and progress toward breaking ground on a Mount Pleasant Street parcel. He said mobile ticketing use is increasing, speeding boarding for passengers who scan phones rather than use cash or paper passes.

Mitchell closed by saying CARTA’s audit will be presented to the board in March after a peer-review delay for the auditor and that staff do not anticipate issues.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/06/2025 - Charleston County Council","oneSentenceSummary","Rob Mitchell, with CARTA, told the Charleston County Council the transit agency is moving forward on shelter, safety and service planning while awaiting federal approvals for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) project.","taxTitle","Charleston County, South Carolina","taxId",3700,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6348397,"Votes at a glance: council approves proclamations, consent items, spending amendment and settlement after executive session",1427,2404000,3831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499&start=2404&end=3831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499/thumbnail_2404000.jpg","/articles/6348397/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-proclamations-consent-items-spending-amendment-and-settlement-after-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348397-4d2c540d09ee3995a6dd14e1d69753fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1777403468&Signature=igWRtQ7Epaj7Qoejsxnv0PTGDq5jVU9BYiRXF7GwXDn0L1fvF4BTeSvHShJSG4bCzQ7sq-EkehQpG9u5XcOeZSAja0uKN4Kq787CGFpSN4vudUIMs53O1~pWxEGuyAZZVEbx~fOtvo6iIGe2plzP4hmgsstQwF1xpNzQZxQig-5O6wqhYejh7VYJIPTtNMU0DqN~vyY75dZiqe5yhZLvAZg-o6b-rqBxPgaMtZBfOQu69oBvd11C~0oCVHmCjYrcUeCvn7Sp8tCQLh6cP6nkz9y2QyFuPiQ7p1wV1y75UqmLO6zLc1r6vaSEy2I-QarbfYhv08RKJHOtR9PjRWiTZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charleston County Council recorded a series of routine and substantive approvals during the meeting, including proclamations, consent items, a right-of-way acquisition step and an executive-session settlement.

Proclamations and consent: Council approved two Black History Month items (2a, 2b) and approved consent agenda items 3a through 3c (resiliency and sustainability advisory group committee) by voice vote; the clerk recorded “ayes have it.”

Right-of-way/legal process: Council approved an action allowing the county to proceed with right-of-way acquisition for a road project involving heirs’ properties where some heirs cannot be identified. County staff (Mr. Adams) told council three of the four tracts had signed concurrence letters and that funds for an undivided heirs’ parcel would be deposited with the clerk of court for heirs to claim; staff said the county follows the state-approved appraisal and acquisition process. Council recorded the approval by voice vote.

Contracts and projects: The council approved item 5a (Charleston Home phase; motion moved and seconded, vote recorded as “aye”) and item 6a (FY2025 budget ordinance amendment for special-purpose districts; moved and seconded, “ayes have it”).

Executive session and settlement: The council went into executive session to receive legal advice on the item listed as “City of Charleston, South Carolina, et al. v. Airbnb” and returned with no votes taken in session. After returning to open session, a council member moved to accept a settlement and authorize execution of the settlement agreement; the motion was seconded and passed on a recorded voice vote (“ayes”). The county attorney told the group the executive-session discussion should take no more than 15 minutes.

Motions, seconds and vote tallies were generally recorded in the meeting as moved/seconded with voice votes and the clerk announcing “ayes” or “the ayes have it”; explicit vote tallies or the names of movers and seconders were not specified on the record for many items.","During the meeting the Charleston County Council approved Black History Month proclamations, several consent items, a right-of-way acquisition step for a road project (heirs properties), Charleston Home phase, a FY2025 budget ordinance amendment for special-purpose districts, and authorized a settlement after an executive session on a case listed",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6348403,"Main Road Segment C faces trade-offs: stopping at Plowground eases tree impacts but would worsen 2045 traffic, county staff say",670,1476000,2146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499&start=1476&end=2146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2242375-e9614a5ae667e6839a8717a7b40fc499/thumbnail_1476000.jpg","/articles/6348403/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Main-Road-Segment-C-faces-trade-offs-stopping-at-Plowground-eases-tree-impacts-but-would-worsen-2045-traffic-county-staff-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348403-6352fd67eaf878ff5e49f02513e41e26/orig.mp4?Expires=1777403468&Signature=IeSu6xOWDU0DPHBIWZLHGrq38A49DcsUYEZLDbhGEHfvGRIAQ~BlC1pY-FGzVauM1ooRX0gn86rmVidvQ0ZIRiH6tQLA2Y8VhpFP6M-QXsgBMHfQ5yXN6RWC81YEypiV4dMDVgWHMt3s61n7JGFQOTkyFv98G-utkaCYMineD43tRotv4ZhLUXaiqHQK-vN5XFyQI4mq8icfh2drX5d425f8Unw827qdDFZ-FWYK311lm-2OA1bT-NzhJzMLBwFsMQL07wE8nZhAUdqLTg1bOdr0dicwIvThq0cS0LtLQrM9cU57i09eDbFREUF6lVEZPY7Xu2KKMhm0aTrcUg7d3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alex Oziak, capital programs manager for Charleston County Public Works, told council members the Main Road Segment C project is being re-evaluated after mixed public comment, environmental concerns and funding pressures.

Oziak said the project team received “over 430 comments” during a public review and that roughly “a little less than 25” of those comments were in support of the project as presented, about 35% sought modifications and about 40% opposed it. Council had asked staff to look at stopping roadway widening and a multi-use path at Plowground to reduce impacts to private property and natural areas.

Staff found that stopping the roadway widening at Plowground would result in “a failing level of service at Edenvale” in the 2045 design year and more congestion on Bohicket Road between Plowground and River Road. Oziak said the team considered several fixes — shifting the multi-use path to the east side of Bohicket Road, reducing path width to the minimum allowed by DOT, and converting roundabout proposals to signals — but each option had trade-offs, including potential right-of-way acquisitions and additional impacts to Grand Live Oaks and other trees.

Oziak said design proposals initially identified about 67 Grand Live Oaks (graded C or better by an arborist assessment) that would be removed; stopping improvements at Plowground could reduce that number to about 25, but shifting the multi-use path or other adjustments could offset that reduction and leave roughly 60 tree impacts overall. He also said some parcels along the corridor are protected by conservation easements held by the Lowcountry Land Trust and that the proposed right-of-way line for Angel Oak parking relocation would cut through planned parking areas.

The presentation described funding effects from other projects: Main Road Segment A’s construction contract came in higher than the original estimate, Oziak said, and available funds were diverted to cover those overruns. He said the Segment A original construction estimate was about $195,000,000, the construction contract came in at about $350,000,000, and “overall project costs” were described in the presentation as approximately $4,400,000,000 (design, right-of-way, construction and inspection noted in the transcript). A failed 2024 transportation sales tax referendum removed an anticipated $282,000,000 in additional collections staff had planned to draw on.

Oziak said the county uses a pay-as-you-go approach tied to a 2016 sales tax and that extraordinary recent construction inflation — staff cited roughly a 58% increase in 2023–24 alone for some estimates — has strained budgets. He said staff plan to return to council at a March 6 meeting with more details on the sales tax program and proposed scope reductions.

Council members asked timing and level-of-service questions; Oziak said he did not have specific year-by-year service-failure tables in the presentation but that the 2045 design-year analysis showed failing conditions if improvements stop at Plowground. He reiterated that right-of-way impacts at the Maybank/Main intersection would be difficult to avoid without sacrificing traffic improvements.

Oziak concluded that while stopping at Plowground reduces some live-oak impacts and removes most impacts to several conservation easements, it would produce unacceptable traffic results in the design year and that funding shortfalls mean the county must consider scope reductions for remaining sales-tax projects.","Charleston County Public Works presented options to trim Main Road Segment C after public comment and funding shortfalls. Stopping improvements at Plowground would reduce impacts to Grand Live Oaks but, staff said, would cause failing traffic levels in 2045. Cost overruns on Segment A and a failed 2024 transportation sales tax referendum reduced","actionData","errors"]

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CARTA reports service updates, training plans and LCRT progress; asks county help for crosswalk beacons

Votes at a glance: council approves proclamations, consent items, spending amendment and settlement after executive session

Main Road Segment C faces trade-offs: stopping at Plowground eases tree impacts but would worsen 2045 traffic, county staff say