The South Carolina DOT (SCDOT) has recently adopted a broad policy of complete streets for the state road system.
South Carolina Transport Secretary Christy A. Hall signed the document in Columbia at SCDOT headquarters on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
The full street policy requires SCDOT to work with the state’s regional transportation planning partners and regional transit providers to identify and include walking, cycling and public transportation needs as part of its regional vision plans. These plans will be adjusted to the unique needs of each area of the state and will serve as a basis for the planning and design of highways, construction, maintenance and daily operations.
“The policy’s goal is to make our road system safe and accessible to all users; drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit passengers,” Hall said in a statement. “Proper planning is the key to ensuring that the appropriate level of multimodal accommodation is provided in the right context, on the right project and in the right way to meet the needs of the community.”
The main components of the policy include:
- Funding for these accommodations must be included in the budget for each project, if guaranteed in the individual project and in accordance with regional plans.
- SCDOT will update and modernize its design manuals to include multimodal accommodations.
- SCDOT will establish a council to facilitate continuous communication to seek opportunities and initiatives for continuous improvement.
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SOURCE: South Carolina DOT