Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Director Maloney outlines pedestrian funding split, five-year penny planning and Saluda River Greenway delay
Summary
Director Maloney briefed the committee on a prior vote allocating 75% of pedestrian-related penny funding to safety and 25% to access, a move to create a standard operating procedure, formation of a project development team for five‑year planning, FY27 staffing additions, coordination issues with CSX delaying the Saluda River Greenway final sections, and an Aug. 13 groundbreaking for Trenton Newcastle NIP sidewalks.
Director Maloney gave a broad transportation update to the advisory committee covering funding guidance, planning, staffing and construction coordination.
On pedestrian priorities, Maloney summarized a prior committee vote and said staff had reviewed that guidance: “That vote involves 75% of funding for pedestrian safety, 25% for pedestrian access, allowing more routine sidewalk infill to occur, while larger, important safety projects are occurring.” He said staff will document the guidance in a standard operating procedure to create consistent application and will provide that SOP to county council and this advisory group for review.
Maloney described a request to look five years ahead for penny-funded projects to give a clearer view of district coverage and to show what could be accomplished each year under current scoring. He said staff created a project development and delivery team to develop a plan based on existing scoring and estimated five-year revenues.
On staffing, Maloney said the council-approved FY27 budget includes three new program positions — a program manager for greenways and sidewalks, a resurfacing program manager and a program coordinator for data management — plus two reclassifications to create an assistant director of project development (a civil professional engineer) and a transportation program superintendent to manage project delivery systems.
Maloney also updated the committee on the Saluda River Greenway, saying construction is progressing but coordination with CSX Railroad is required because work is below the ordinary high‑water mark. The county provided additional survey data to CSX; Maloney said CSX asked the county to delay building the last few sections to preserve space for a bridge delivery and erection, and the county accepted a contractor change order to wait one year as a precaution. He identified the prime contractor as Southern Vista and a subcontractor as Blackwater.
Maloney announced a groundbreaking event on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. at 6300 Shakespeare Road (the coroner’s office) for the Trenton Newcastle NIP sidewalk projects, and said Richland County Public Works will form a technical advisory group under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to advise on pedestrian safety, greenways, sidewalks and bikeways once council approves committee formation.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about timing of the penny transition and project sequencing; Maloney said collections will switch to the 2024 referendum project list at the end of the designated month and staff will coordinate with budget, finance and counsel on exact start timing. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.
