[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6684622,"mediaKeyId","2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3","parentId",2381614,"title","OSBO updates TPAC on certified SLBEs and upcoming workshop; members press for sidewalk opportunities for small contractors","audioSeconds",1518,"startMs",474000,"endMs",1992000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3&start=474&end=1992","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3/thumbnail_474000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6684622/Richland-County/South-Carolina/OSBO-updates-TPAC-on-certified-SLBEs-and-upcoming-workshop-members-press-for-sidewalk-opportunities-for-small-contractors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6684622-9d3242cbe7a90ba7b2c3e74d690f9d7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776424442&Signature=GJpmQ1Sr4bLsyoU4pSeTJVsX9CU04zIcx8-DUF1hmFynAo5owiMRmlLV6eNwAPBO-23hc7k0plUUZWw779dbEn5cmeRcChEjXJAYvPmkYPyd5zBQMUVg1pKRzV~vwHSdOE4CLf3ZWLuAJTGU8ypv7S7wTiiLBps1nULccL0glpaEv~fzKN5CSNdaB8QgE3NQo2aOleDC5heS8AhNf4O9QzE8VwW4jjlJIlAFIY8z~zCzikYEzGbS3TrTCRl4RsIox0MZ0Us8ZTJrgRgH~ABCZDYcUhIWxYAcmPyiDLDDt3QdN97BK3z~lTL3IOzua8rWy~WlmxjQk-5rUbFjnpRTTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland County","date","2025-02-24T21:38:03.51Z","article","The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) reported to the Transportation Pending Advisory Committee that 248 small/local business enterprises (SLBEs) are currently certified and that the office is recruiting additional firms and hosting workshops to help businesses access capital and county contracting opportunities.

OSBO Assistant Director Lasasha Brilliant told TPAC the current certified SLBE counts are: 6 architectural and engineering firms; 62 construction firms; 96 nonprofessional services; 78 professional services; and 6 wholesale firms — a total of 248 certified SLBEs. She said OSBO had eight pending new applications and 14 renewing SLBEs.

Brilliant announced OSBO's next in-person Business Workshop Academy event, \"Finance Forward: Unlocking access to capital for your business,\" scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Richland County Administration Building, 4th Floor Conference Room, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29204. The event will include a panel of partners from Capital Funding Solutions, Community Works, the South Carolina Community Loan Fund and Security Federal Bank; lunch and free surface parking will be provided. Register at www.richlandcountysc.gov/osbo or call (803) 576-1540 for details.

During the projects discussion TPAC members raised concerns that smaller concrete subcontractors struggle to join large prime contractors on sidewalk and widening projects. Public Works Director Michael Maloney said OSBO will review each project and recommend an SLBE participation percentage for procurement. \"There would be a percentage of each project we bring to OSBO to review, to see what we have available out there in SLBE contractors,\" Maloney said, adding that SLBE requirements on projects have ranged from about 10% on larger projects up to 50% or more on small projects.

Maloney and committee members discussed the practicality of awarding standalone sidewalk packages versus bundling sidewalks with large prime contracts. Maloney said some sidewalk work will be stand-alone projects that could create direct opportunities for smaller firms, while other sidewalk work tied to widening projects will likely be performed by subs on a prime contractor's team.

TPAC asked OSBO to continue outreach to small firms and to coordinate with Public Works on project-level SLBE participation goals. No formal policy change or vote was taken at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monthly Transportation Penny Advisory Committee Meeting, February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity reported 248 certified SLBEs, upcoming Business Workshop Academy event on March 20, 2025, and TPAC discussed how Penny 2 sidewalk work and procurement set-asides could create opportunities for smaller firms.","taxTitle","Richland County, South Carolina","taxId",3705,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6684629,"Maloney updates TPAC: right-of-way acquisitions advancing, low resurfacing bid frees funds",288,1318000,1606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3&start=1318&end=1606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3/thumbnail_1318000.jpg","/articles/6684629/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Maloney-updates-TPAC-right-of-way-acquisitions-advancing-low-resurfacing-bid-frees-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6684629-5088c8ec5043c2794b26e0a21144edcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776424442&Signature=ESzPJQWYQLDWpZCRSLAnp2HMQmxlgT~Dy8g9DMKdbpAzzD6SgEFhmyFHdjEJee6RYn7XK~r2Rso7sFhK8RLx-c3oEmFfiQC6o-lVcEXkxOf65VvPR2fvmQF7IBmXml3MlTDNrH4tEViPVZVeEzatsvhqTXf3IzsLgVgMjqGfJQRRRErvsGsCKs2olKP11hk84e01hOkmbsJnprUEZ0KCciuihf8~ffy48Bswu7AQDsyRu-owmprpvbMUFDZ2kvfOzIbeIWZzoCxnMm9T9hKKBG36mAg0a~1FjqMbkyiuP048ipzkbl7Nla1IMlAMT0Ef8zHjhJhmKiw3Vk6A-Mov9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director Michael Maloney updated the Transportation Pending Advisory Committee on project-level progress across multiple Penny and non-Penny projects, including right-of-way acquisition, construction starts and a resurfacing bid that came in far below the engineer's estimate.

Maloney said acquisition activity is under way on several large projects. He reported Broad River Road widening right-of-way acquisition is about 70% complete, Pine View Road acquisition is roughly one-third complete, and Lower Richland Boulevard and Spears Creek Church Road are also in acquisition. He said some properties will go to county council when condemnation or title issues require action.

On construction, Maloney said Sunset Drive — off North Main Street toward Broad River Road — is scheduled to be reopened to traffic in about two weeks after sidewalk, retaining wall and water-main work. Percival Road sidewalk work has begun (storm sewer installation and clearing). He also said a final dirt-road package has been bid and that many previously discussed dirt roads — including Sarah Matthews off Monticello Road — have been paved.

Maloney reported the resurfacing bid results for a resurfacing package: the engineer's estimate was in the $6–7 million range while the low bid returned at approximately $2.8 million. \"So we'll actually have another bid set to get out on resurfacing, and we'll be able to show you that before it goes out,\" he said, adding that the larger resurfacing program will reach additional districts.

Sidewalk projects in Brookfield and Hunt Club Road remain in right-of-way acquisition. Maloney said Atlas Road widening is underway with utility relocations. He noted the county is balancing work across districts and will continue to monitor consultant and staff capacity as Penny 2 proposes a larger program of projects.

No formal committee action was taken; the update was informational and staff said they will return with procurement and council items as projects require council-level approvals.","Public Works reported progress on right-of-way acquisition for several Penny projects, construction timelines for Sunset Drive and other projects, and a resurfacing bid significantly below estimates that could permit additional work across districts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6684631,"TPAC to consider adopting county transportation needs assessment; airport extension flagged as uncertain",230,929000,1159000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3&start=929&end=1159","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3/thumbnail_929000.jpg","/articles/6684631/Richland-County/South-Carolina/TPAC-to-consider-adopting-county-transportation-needs-assessment-airport-extension-flagged-as-uncertain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6684631-c4bd7494377a4c6392de5dd0d3345adf/orig.mp4?Expires=1776424442&Signature=R3mAhyGmVvGs31m43wORzi5vufg9q268fVxlBkFfNYJ6CDCgP8qhdKSycoX7uyx~uCb8lJUFYVBRa4RDGN7W6pBW2ZF4SGsvAY57fdQUWr4FFg5nDguL2DgchdaVvTDXoX4PWdY1OAssqBFMS2aicSD2bdCkOeeto85osKwyNvv6xxFI6bkkRqN6j6xPKFt7ySq1f0chFKypP5ZqkqQlbC2BIBdM-OrZKdSbNFpIHCQSCEwguPtTHJitQsIethwCiw3NWZnsK7KOdJIyI6jVpv9YkzgesGaHzCnskw0EtOwgi5Hl0XhJ2jyKlCzIzSwwQSYmSKMQxP6V0F~b91J3BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richland County Public Works Director Michael Maloney told the Transportation Pending Advisory Committee that staff will ask TPAC next month to adopt the county transportation needs assessment based on a Stantec report and that a previously planned airport-related Penny 1 allocation may be uncertain for Penny 2.

Maloney said the county received the Stantec report on Oct. 14 and used it in developing the referendum principles document. He asked committee members to review the full needs-assessment document, which he said is large (about 19 MB) and can be emailed or printed for members. \"What we'd like to do with this is ... adopt the entire needs assessment,\" Maloney said.

On a separate item, Maloney described the county airport (the downtown/Columbia airport) and said earlier discussions with the FAA explored extending the runway by \"4, 5, 600 feet\" (as described in the meeting record). He said the runway extension would require major environmental documents before any work could begin and that Penny 1 included a $5,000,000 allowance tied to an access road around a potential expansion. Maloney said the county does not foresee that runway extension occurring in the next five years under the Penny 1 timeline, and that no specific Penny 2 airport allocation has been identified yet; taxiway improvements and drainage work are immediate priorities.

Maloney said staff will seek outside counsel guidance about whether Penny funds can be used for the airport-area transportation items being discussed, emphasizing that the county is focused on transportation-related improvements (runway, taxiway, landing pads) rather than building security or fencing. He asked TPAC members to expect an action item next month after members have had several weeks to review the materials.

No formal vote occurred at the meeting; staff indicated it will circulate the needs-assessment document and a summary of airport-related options in the coming week so TPAC can act at its next meeting.","Public Works asked TPAC to adopt a county transportation needs assessment derived from an October report by Stantec; staff said a previously-budgeted $5 million airport item in Penny 1 may not proceed in the Penny 2 timeline and that a runway extension would require environmental review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6684636,"TPAC hears mixed transit ridership figures; COMET service suspensions cited",146,667000,813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3&start=667&end=813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381614-54b9aaca800298e956b8b94f50d8d8d3/thumbnail_667000.jpg","/articles/6684636/Richland-County/South-Carolina/TPAC-hears-mixed-transit-ridership-figures-COMET-service-suspensions-cited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6684636-66f94e5e87da0361371a2cd2f74f2fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776424442&Signature=nMCanWWUEuZRmFWf3K~4sZiTA4ZXFPwbxH3bkvqE2y0IlKoBwqdf56V~~e22gZ~cSMrmNzEnxQb-fdAzkcDQ9zAez9a9MLy7fWm91ZkZozyK3RCLXqSOlT5e9lZI-VtdswXvG8YbYTlFlUeMenvjPYZb1bYIlL8VFfr7c4eQ2l3Bjam6NRJvKAvF4eT7YGW4NP5fF7j4TZ~kNO2bwd9Vqb1tGdrQGxbX3phhzceLY~BK16tz9GNZeBGxFDh-7eDkJDnJ1wCaa4GbUk-kiMyiVpq5-gUQlotVpIwTMFgdasOxaPzePedgY2XIJmPwfUxWRBpwadBh1k9OZyHFm3vpVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richland County Transportation Pending Advisory Committee on a recent meeting received January ridership and related transit reports from COMET staff, who said weather-related service suspensions contributed to a year-over-year ridership decline.

COMET transit staff Jackie Bowers reported that January ridership showed an 8.12% decrease compared with the same month in the prior year, and an 11.16% increase compared with December 2024. Bowers also said that COMET suspended service twice in January, including one full-day suspension because of icy conditions.

The ridership report included a detailed comparison table of monthly and average daily boardings; Bowers highlighted a separate figure for USC-related trips, saying \"there was 26,166 total passenger boardings for January of 2025.\" She closed by noting the meeting packet also included a finance report through Dec. 31, 2024, and DBE tracking through Dec. 30, 2024.

TPAC members asked no substantive technical questions about the figures during the meeting. Committee leadership said they plan to arrange a site visit: TPAC members will be offered a tour of COMET facilities and a ride on a COMET bus so committee members can better understand operations before future discussions.

The committee did not take any formal action on the ridership report; it was presented for information and follow-up was proposed.

Copies of the ridership, finance and DBE materials were provided in the meeting packet. TPAC members asked staff to schedule the planned COMET tour and return with a proposed date.","Richland County TPAC received January ridership figures from COMET showing a year-over-year dip but a month-over-month gain, with service suspensions for ice cited as a cause. Staff proposed a COMET tour for committee members.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

OSBO updates TPAC on certified SLBEs and upcoming workshop; members press for sidewalk opportunities for small contractors

Maloney updates TPAC: right-of-way acquisitions advancing, low resurfacing bid frees funds

TPAC to consider adopting county transportation needs assessment; airport extension flagged as uncertain

TPAC hears mixed transit ridership figures; COMET service suspensions cited