Delegation seeks DOT study, SIB support as Beaufort‑area leaders press I‑95 repairs and Exit 3 financing
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Summary
Sen. Davis proposed a $2 million DOT pilot study on waterborne transportation linking Beaufort and Jasper counties and discussed accelerating I‑95 improvements; he said the State Infrastructure Bank committed about $91 million for the Exit 3 interchange but questions remain about funding for the connecting parkways and security arrangements with the landowner.
Regional officials pressed state legislators on transportation funding and project timelines during a delegation briefing.
Sen. Tom Davis said he is pursuing a $2,000,000 budget proviso for the South Carolina Department of Transportation to study a comprehensive waterborne transportation system for Beaufort and Jasper counties and to produce a one‑year blueprint for capital needs, landing sites and last‑mile delivery. "I give a one‑year period for them to do this study because I want that to be a blueprint for capital investments," he said.
On I‑95, Davis said the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) has authorized roughly $91 million for the Exit 3 interchange itself. He cautioned that additional funding will be required to build two parkways that connect the exit to surrounding roads and communities, and he described ongoing negotiations about how private landowner commitments would secure those costs — including an appraisal and a potential commercial letter of credit to provide assurance to the SIB and DOT.
Local officials asked whether a consortium of municipalities, counties and private landowners could apply jointly to the SIB. Davis and regional staff said joint applications and public‑private participation would strengthen proposals and make them more competitive; they encouraged coordinated local referenda or local funding commitments to show "skin in the game." "If you've got the municipalities, counties and landowners joining as an applicant ... I think that would be extremely powerful," Davis said.
Officials also discussed the interplay of state budget choices — including proposed homestead and income‑tax changes — with available money for transportation projects. Davis said the administration and DOT leaders are seeking a $1 billion nonrecurring allocation to accelerate remaining I‑95 improvements but warned that competing tax‑cut proposals will draw on the same pool of funds.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. Organizers encouraged continued regional coordination and suggested the transportation funding strategy be an agenda item for a future Solocco meeting prior to any local referendum.