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Commission forwards annual traffic monitoring report to Town Council after questions on Sea Pine Circle and Greenwood Drive
Summary
The Planning Commission reviewed the Town's 2025 annual traffic monitoring and evaluation report, discussed Sea Pine Circle performance and Greenwood Drive delays, and unanimously voted to forward the report to Town Council with requested clarifications and follow-up.
The Hilton Head Island Planning Commission voted June 17 to forward the 2025 annual traffic monitoring and evaluation report to Town Council after a detailed staff presentation and commissioner questions about methodology and local problem spots.
Theresa McVay, the town’s traffic operations manager, said the report — prepared with infrastructure consulting firm ICE — tracks peak-hour turning movement counts, 24-hour bidirectional counts and operational performance at signalized intersections. "The volume-to-capacity ratio quantifies the level of congestion and identifies where intersections may be approaching operational failure thresholds," McVay said, noting the town’s operational goal is to keep v/c ratios at 0.9 or lower.
Key findings summarized by staff included a roughly 4% decrease in 24-hour counts in 2025 compared with 2024, while overall 2025 volumes remained about 6.7% higher than 2020 levels. Staff also reported declines in bicycle and pedestrian crossings compared with 2020, with a notable increase in activity at the South Forest Beach Drive pedestrian signal near Coligny.
Commissioners focused questions on Sea Pine Circle and Greenwood Drive after staff said the circle remains within LMO performance goals for average delay but that the Greenwood Drive approach experienced a large increase in average delay (rising from roughly 76 to 128 seconds for a measured approach). "As you have increases in demand, even small increases in demand at a capacity-limited intersection... you will have exponential increases in delay," a town analyst said, describing how geometry and approach spacing limit Greenwood Drive motorists’ reaction time.
Commissioners also asked about data collection (moving from June to July counts starting in 2023) and the difference between town peak-season counts and SCDOT calendar-year averages. Staff said contractors avoid bad-weather days and that a revised report correcting typographical errors will be issued.
After questions and requests for follow-up, a motion to forward the report to Town Council passed by unanimous voice vote. Staff and commissioners said they expect follow-up briefings and potential coordination with SCDOT on problem intersections.
