County says final report expected soon Previous story Making highway 3 lanes from Stono River to River Road would ease traffic, advisers say, published 02/07/09 A proposal to help traffic on Maybank Highway on Johns Island flow more smoothly needs refining, cost estimates and approval from Charleston County Council before the project can get under way. Earlier this month, consultants from the Urban Land Institute recommended that the county expand Maybank Highway to three lanes from the Stono River to River Road. They said the move would largely solve problems with traffic, which backs up from River Road to the Stono during the evening rush hour. It also would preserve the rural character of the island, they said. Charleston County in October called on the institute to help the county and the city of Charleston decide whether to widen the two-lane highway to four lanes; create instead a network of streets to disperse traffic; or some combination of both plans. Kurt Taylor, head of the county's transportation sales tax programs, said county staffers found the institute's recommendations helpful and are now awaiting a final written report, which they expect to arrive soon. After the county receives the report, staffers will analyze it more deeply, he said. Then they'll develop a plan for the road and bring it to County Council with a recommendation on how to move forward incrementally. The project will be paid for with money from the half-cent sales tax, and will be built through the county's road-building program, RoadWise. Taylor said there's a lot of work involved in refining the plan and determining the cost of the project. His staff will continue to work collaboratively with officials from Charleston and the state Department of Transportation. Christopher Morgan, director of Charleston's Planning Division, said the project is in the county's hands, but city leaders will work with the county to refine the plan. "The devil's in the details," he said. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley has said he's pleased with the overall concept of the institute's plan, but the city may want to add or change a few details. County Councilman Curtis Inabinett, who represents Johns Island, said, "Their proposal sounds pretty good to me, but I'm waiting for a final report." He also wants to hear reactions from the Johns Island community as well as city and SCDOT officials. "I haven't had one phone call from a resident since that meeting," he said. He also said he would like more detailed information on how the proposed plan for Maybank would connect the highway to River Road, a frequently traveled path for people heading to Kiawah and Seabrook islands. Councilman Paul Thurmond, who represents Kiawah and Seabrook, said he's disappointed that the institute wasn't also charged with looking at River and Bohicket roads. Johns Island needs more road capacity, he said. "We need a comprehensive plan and discussion" about traffic on the entire island, he said.

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