County helps fund Maybank study

By: Tenisha Waldo of The Post and Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 3/15/08

A $68,000 traffic study about alleviating traffic problems along Maybank Highway should be under way soon, and Charleston County is paying a portion of the study's cost.

County Council voted initially 7-2 Thursday to pitch in $17,000 for the study. Councilman Paul Thurmond and Councilman Curtis Inabinett voted no, saying the county's consultants have already found the best solution and that the process shouldn't be drawn out. The delay will cost the county an estimated $120,000 a month in escalating construction costs, or about $360,000 for the 90 days it will take to complete the study, county officials said.

Deputy Administrator Kurt Taylor said he anticipates the county will find ways to make up those costs once construction starts to avoid going over budget. "What is really weighing on me is we have studied this," he said. "The best alternative was put forward."

Roadwise, the county's half-cent sales tax traffic group, is suggesting widening the heavily traveled road on Johns Island to four lanes with a landscaped median and with a two-way left turn lane on busy stretches.

But the city of Charleston wants to build a village-like grid system that would diffuse traffic through networks of smaller roads, instead of having a single, widened main road. Many residents, conservationists and transportation activists favor the city's plan.

Roadwise studied and rejected an alternative similar to the city's plan, saying it wouldn't significantly reduce traffic congestion.

However, Josh Martin, the city's director of planning, preservation and economic innovation, told council Thursday that Roadwise looked at an option that didn't include the full scope of the city's plan. "We feel that it's necessary to have a second opinion," he said.

Some County Council members questioned whether a grid system would adequately address traffic problems on the sea island, how long it would take for a grid pattern to prove effective and how much the city's plan would cost.

The city worked with a renowned traffic engineer on a comprehensive growth plan but has not had an actual traffic analysis done. City officials hope the new traffic study will answer those cost and effectiveness issues.

Thurmond said there are a "heck of a lot of obstacles" associated with the city's plan and that the council is faced with the traffic problem now. He said they shouldn't forfeit an additional 90 days but should move forward with Roadwise's widening designs.

Voters approved the Maybank widening project as part of a 2004 bond referendum on spending half-cent sales tax revenues, and County Attorney Joe Dawson advised council that any deviation from the project would call for voter approval.

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	A $68,000 traffic study about alleviating traffic problems along Maybank Highway should be under way soon, and Charleston County is paying a portion of the study's cost. County Council voted initially 7-2 Thursday to pitch in $17,000 for the study. Councilman Paul Thurmond and Councilman Curtis Inabinett voted no, saying the county's consultants have already found the best solution and that the process shouldn't be drawn out. The delay will cost the county an estimated $120,000 a month in escalating construction costs, or about $360,000 for the 90 days it will take to complete the study, county officials said.
Deputy Administrator Kurt Taylor said he anticipates the county will find ways to make up those costs once construction starts to avoid going over budget. "What is really weighing on me is we have studied this," he said. "The best alternative was put forward." Roadwise, the county's half-cent sales tax traffic group, is suggesting widening the heavily traveled road on Johns Island to four lanes with a landscaped median and with a two-way left turn lane on busy stretches. But the city of Charleston wants to build a village-like grid system that would diffuse traffic through networks of smaller roads, instead of having a single, widened main road. Many residents, conservationists and transportation activists favor the city's plan. Roadwise studied and rejected an alternative similar to the city's plan, saying it wouldn't significantly reduce traffic congestion. However, Josh Martin, the city's director of planning, preservation and economic innovation, told council Thursday that Roadwise looked at an option that didn't include the full scope of the city's plan. "We feel that it's necessary to have a second opinion," he said. Some County Council members questioned whether a grid system would adequately address traffic problems on the sea island, how long it would take for a grid pattern to prove effective and how much the city's plan would cost. The city worked with a renowned traffic engineer on a comprehensive growth plan but has not had an actual traffic analysis done. City officials hope the new traffic study will answer those cost and effectiveness issues. Thurmond said there are a "heck of a lot of obstacles" associated with the city's plan and that the council is faced with the traffic problem now. He said they shouldn't forfeit an additional 90 days but should move forward with Roadwise's widening designs. Voters approved the Maybank widening project as part of a 2004 bond referendum on spending half-cent sales tax revenues, and County Attorney Joe Dawson advised council that any deviation from the project would call for voter approval.