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Council approves $600,000 IGA with Beaufort County for William Milton Parkway safety improvements
Summary
Town Council voted 7–0 to authorize the town manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with Beaufort County committing up to $600,000 in county impact‑fee funds toward safety and pedestrian improvements on William Milton Parkway; discussion focused on SCDOT permitting for in‑pavement puck lighting and the pace of implementation.
Town staff presented a resolution asking Council to authorize the town manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with Beaufort County to fund safety and pedestrian enhancements on William Milton Parkway (Beach City Road to Dillon Road). Mr. Coleman described the package of improvements the town seeks to implement—crosswalk lighting, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), pavement and striping improvements, speed‑limit reduction, pathway lighting and landscaping—and said Beaufort County had approved up to $600,000 in impact‑fee funding for the projects.
Coleman outlined permitting discussions with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), saying the town had approval for RRFBs and many elements but that SCDOT had been cautious about approving in‑pavement puck lighting at unsignalized crossings because of limited precedent. "Our preference is to do them both," Coleman said of RRFBs and puck lighting, adding that a recent call with headquarters-level DOT staff resulted in partial approvals and continued discussion about puck lighting and the requested 35 mph posted limit (DOT approved a 40 mph reduction).
Council members expressed support and asked clarifying questions about remaining SCDOT approvals; one member said the corridor has a history of serious crashes and expressed gratitude for funding and progress. The resolution passed unanimously (7–0), authorizing the town manager to execute the agreement and start project execution with a target start in September and completion by the end of October where feasible for the funded elements.
Why it matters: the funding advances street-safety investments on a corridor identified in town analysis as having a high concentration of crashes and serious injuries; the agreement uses county impact fees to accelerate locally prioritized improvements.
What’s next: staff will continue SCDOT permitting coordination (including further justification for puck lighting), finalize the intergovernmental agreement, request county reimbursement for eligible expenses, and proceed to construction as approvals allow.
