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James Island council rejects SCDOT Folly Road raised‑median plan after resident opposition
Summary
After extended public comment and council debate, the Town of James Island council voted against approving a municipal agreement with SCDOT to add raised medians on Folly Road, citing business access, neighborhood cut‑through risks and safety concerns.
The Town of James Island council declined to approve a municipal agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to install raised medians along Folly Road (SC‑171), a decision the mayor said follows “over 1,000 people … speaking out strongly against this.”
Local business owners and residents told the council they fear the medians would remove center turn access, hurt customers and push commercial traffic into nearby neighborhoods. “Any barriers that impede traffic flow into businesses will undoubtedly drive unintended traffic through the neighborhood,” said Chase Barton, owner of Martin’s Barbecue Joint, urging the council to “please vote against this project.” Barton said he and other business owners had heard “nothing but overwhelming disdain” for the proposed median plan at community meetings.
Council members spent more than an hour discussing alternatives with several members expressing skepticism about SCDOT’s outreach and data. Mayor Brooke Lyon noted SCDOT had offered left‑turn lanes into some businesses but would not remove the raised medians, and she said councilors must weigh neighborhood feedback. After discussion, the council called a roll‑call vote on the motion to approve the municipal agreement; the motion failed on a unanimous ‘no.’
The council did not adopt the SCDOT proposal and did not enact any amendments to the DOT plan. Mayor Lyon said minimal safety improvements such as sidewalks and crosswalks remain possible through other programs, but the raised median component will not proceed with the town's approval. The council’s decision does not prevent the county or city sections from moving forward independently; Mayor Lyon said portions in those jurisdictions could advance without the town’s participation.
Next steps: the council left open engagement avenues with SCDOT and said staff would continue to pursue alternatives that focus on safety without restricting business access.
