Richland staff outline Penny 1 closeout, remaining projects and launch plan for Penny 2

Transportation staff gave a multi-part update on the county's transportation "penny" (one-percent sales tax) program, reviewing unfinished Penny 1 projects, forecasting final program balances and describing a launch approach for Penny 2.

Assistant Director Nathaniel Miller said seven projects are in active construction and many others are in right-of-way or design. Director Maloney (transportation program lead) presented program-level numbers for the original 2012 referendum projects: staff cited prior estimates and actuals, showing a roadway total of about $656,000,000 and a remaining budget estimate of roughly $448,000,000 for unfinished items. Maloney said the program forecast, including other revenues and grants, produced a cushion of about $48,900,000 but noted roadways may still need more funding and that staff have contingency ideas such as moving select projects into Penny 2 if required.

Maloney explained the Penny 2 principles approved by council: launch carryover projects from the 2012 list first, develop and score needs into project plans, and use six-factor metrics plus prorated district allocations to ensure at least $25,000,000 per council district (over the life of projects). Staff identified a dozen rollover projects for Penny 2, including two large widenings (Pineview Road widening and Broad River Road widening) and multiple greenway and sidewalk projects. He projected the first Penny 2 quarterly check would arrive in April 2027 (for the January'March quarter), and the program is designed to align annual project launches with the budget process.

Council raised operational questions: whether costs such as public-information campaigns may be charged to penny funds. County staff and the county attorney said Department of Revenue guidance requires that penny funds be "tethered to a project" and cannot be used for items such as publication or outreach; those costs must be paid from other revenue sources. Council members asked staff to prepare district-level lists showing how projects could reach the $25 million per-district threshold and to provide clear public-facing materials on how constituents can propose or follow projects.

Why it matters: The penny funds a substantial portion of local transportation investment. Decisions about which Penny 1 projects finish, which carry into Penny 2, and how the county sequences launches will determine near-term construction, traffic impacts and project benefits across districts.

What's next: Staff will present further details to the Transportation Penny Advisory Committee and return to council; council scheduled transportation ad-hoc briefings and asked staff to prepare district project lists and public engagement materials prior to formal Penny 2 launches.