Johns Island multiuse path wins public backing as county considers Main Road segment A designs

Advocates for bike and pedestrian infrastructure told Charleston County Council on Tuesday that a shared-use path across the Limehouse Bridge as part of the Main Road Segment A project will close a key gap in the county’s multimodal network.

Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves, and Anna Kimbleblatt, communities and transportation program director for the Coastal Conservation League, both urged council to approve the design that includes a cost-effective multiuse path. "This is a pretty big gap that you'll be filling in the bike-ped network," Zimmerman said, noting the path would link Johns Island to Stono River County Park, the Bease Ferry Path, the Larry Shirley Path, the Glen McConnell Path, the West Ashley Greenway and other routes.

Zimmerman said the petition supporting the path collected more than 700 signatures and continued to grow, adding 18 signatures in the days immediately before the meeting "predominantly from John's Island." Kimbleblatt said the connection would improve safety and allow Johns Island residents to access parks, libraries, schools and jobs.

Both speakers tied the proposed path to the county’s climate-action goals and described the design as a multimodal, safety-focused compromise. Council will revisit the project as part of its agenda items; at the meeting, advocates asked council to approve the plans when they appear on the agenda.

No council vote on the project was recorded in public comment; speakers said the path was contingent on staff and council approval of the final design and cost estimates.