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Town to lower speed limit and add crosswalk beacons in Northridge segment to address pedestrian and bicycle safety
Summary
Council heard staff recommendations for the Northridge segment (Beach City Road to Dillon Road): reduce posted speed from 45 to 40 mph pending SCDOT reposting, standardize crosswalks, install two RRFB beacons, add ADA treatments and median plantings funded in part by Beaufort County impact fees and town CIP.
Town staff presented a targeted safety package for the Northridge area (Segment 3), saying the section had the highest frequency of incidents involving bicycles and pedestrians. The staff summary described inconsistent crosswalk striping, odd crossing angles, lack of pathway lighting and a posted speed limit of 45 mph that staff said motorists often exceed.
Nut graf: To reduce mid-block crossings and improve visibility, staff proposed a set of relatively low‑cost, short-term measures — a posted speed reduction to 40 mph (SCDOT dependent), two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), updated pavement markings and ADA-compliant treatments — funded in part through an MOA with Beaufort County impact-fee funds plus town CIP resources.
Sean said the Northridge plan includes restriping and realigning crosswalks for consistent patterns, installing two RRFBs already deployed in the area, repairing pathways and adding bollard lighting and median plantings to deter mid-block crossings. He told council the town requested SCDOT repost the limit and asked SCDOT to provide advance notice so the town could message the change to residents prior to signs going live.
Councilmembers raised outreach concerns: warn the public before the SCDOT speed-change signs go up, coordinate event-permit notifications so transportation staff can plan for large gatherings, and provide bilingual educational materials for new RRFB installations so visitors and Spanish-speaking residents understand that the beacons do not stop traffic but provide additional warning.
Staff reported funding for a significant portion of the work from a Beaufort County impact-fee MOA and the remainder through the town’s CIP; construction was projected to be complete in January with closeout in February. Council asked staff to return with precise SCDOT timing, a public communications plan and confirmation of the portion of county impact-fee funds earmarked for Palmetto Bay work noted in the presentation.
The workshop produced no formal vote on adoption of the corridor package; staff will bring implementation phasing and public-notification plans back to council for approval.
