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James Island Council Unanimously Asks SCDOT to Remove Controversial Folly Road Medians, Seek Alternatives
Summary
After heavy public turnout and hours of debate, the Town of James Island unanimously authorized the mayor to request that SCDOT remove proposed raised medians from the Folly Road (SC‑171) safety project and replace them with other effective safety measures; council directed outreach to federal and congressional offices for funding clarification.
The Town of James Island council voted unanimously to ask the South Carolina Department of Transportation to remove the controversial raised medians from the Folly Road (SC‑171) safety project within the town's jurisdiction and to replace them with other effective safety measures. The motion—crafted after extensive public comment and council debate—also directed the mayor to pursue clarification with federal and congressional offices about whether sidewalks and other funding components could proceed without the medians.
Mayor Brooke Lyon summarized concerns voiced at neighborhood meetings and at the council chambers. "They think it's a good plan, and we just need to go along with it," she said, describing the tension between the majority of SCDOT's plan and local objections. Councilmember Louis Dodson moved to authorize the mayor to request removal of medians and seek alternative safety measures; after discussion the council approved the motion by roll call.
Residents and business owners who spoke during public comment told the council they fear loss of access, increased U‑turns and traffic diversion into neighborhood streets, emergency‑vehicle maneuvering challenges, and potential harm to small businesses that rely on direct access. George Hyams, who operates a business on Folly Road, warned a median could force large delivery trucks into nearby residential streets and said his business sometimes receives 2,500–3,000 cars per week and 30–40 tractor‑trailers; he told the council a median could make his business unviable.
Council members asked SCDOT representatives whether federal funding requirements tied medians to bigger sidewalk and safety components; council members said SCDOT staff were noncommittal and urged the town to get explicit federal guidance. Several council members recommended contacting congressional offices to seek definitive answers about federal funding conditions before final design or construction. The motion passed unanimously; the mayor said she will deliver the request to SCDOT and coordinate outreach to federal representatives.
