The Rural Interstate Freight Network Mobility Improvement Plan will focus solely on rural sections of the interstate system with a focus on freight density and improving mobility. The SCDOT plans to allocate $110 million to the program once the fuel tax credit included in Act 40 sunsets in 2022.

Following Commission approval of the program in October, the SCDOT received 224 public comments on the program. Of those, 95% were in favor of the improvements. In addition, 86% of those comments specifically mentioned I-95.

A breakdown of responses* is outlined below:

• 106 comments in favor of widening I-95
• 75 comments in favor of widening I-95 at Georgia state line.
• 21 comments in favor of the overall program.
• 12 comments were in favor of I-95 and mentioned I-26.
• 5 comments required responses from SCDOT staff.
• 5 comments were not substantive.

*Source: SCDOT Commission Notebook December 6, 2018

View SCFOR’s coverage of the SC General Election here.

The SC Department of Transportation met on Thursday, October 18, to approve the addition of mobility targets to the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). In addition, they also approved the inclusion of the Rural Interstate Freight Network Mobility Improvement Program to the TAMP, which will specifically target rural sections of the interstate system for capacity improvements.

Measuring Mobility
Mobility performance targets are based on two key factors:

1. Performance of Interstate (Percentage of Interstate Segments with Reliable Travel Times*)
2. Movement of Freight (Truck Travel Time Reliability Index*)
*These factors are based on data that is collected at an interval rate (15 minutes) during peak travel times across 1300 segments of the interstate system.

Baseline conditions (2016) and 10-year target figures are outlined below. As you can see these additional investments will not come close to solving problems, but they will serve as an attempt to help ease the decline of mobility.

The Rural Interstate Freight Network Mobility Improvement Plan will be in addition to the previously approved interstate widening projects planned for the urban areas of the state. It will focus solely on rural sections of the interstate system with a focus on freight density and improving mobility.

The SCDOT plans to allocate $110 million to the program once the fuel tax credit included in Act 40 sunsets in 2023.

Focusing on the movement of freight allows for the SCDOT to improve reliability, productivity, and begin addressing capacity needs on our interstates in areas that they are needed most. While interstates only make up 2% of the system, they carry 30% of the traffic and serve as main arteries of commerce in the state.

Truck freight has grown across the country and will continue to grow in the coming years. In South Carolina, truck freight tonnage is predicted to increase from $375 million to $600 million by 2040.

A total of 18 freight corridors were identified for the program using Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) boundaries as the basis.

The SCDOT also worked in conjunction with the SC Department of Commerce and the SC Ports Authority to better assess economic impacts and mobility of routes.

Each segment was ranked using the following criteria:
• Truck travel time reliability – 0 to 250 points
• Freight tonnage – 0 to 200 points
• Average Annual Daily Truck Traffic – 0 to 200 points
• Potential for economic development – 0 to 100 points
• Service to SC Ports – 0 to 100 points
• Commercial truck crashes – 0 to 100 points
• Connectivity to our existing widened sections – 0 or 50 points

Based on rankings, the top five rural interstate freight segments were identified:

Source: SCDOT Commission Notebook 10/18/18

SCFOR applauds the SCDOT for working to address additional interstate capacity needs across the state. South Carolina’s roads, especially our interstates, must be able to efficiently move goods and people. The planning and use of analytical data by the SCDOT to identify these corridors to make strategic investments in the coming years is a proactive and responsible approach to managing mobility on South Carolina’s interstates. 

The State Transportation Infrastructure Bank (STIB) Board held a special meeting today where board members voted 5-2 to rescind their June 2018 vote to terminate participation in the project and to amend the current intergovernmental agreement (IGA), bringing new life to 526/Mark Clark Expressway.

Proposed Changes to the Agreement
The proposed changes include additional revenue from the county. Charleston county has agreed to increase their portion from $117 million to $305 million. The Bank has committed to $420 million (capped amount) with the county covering any excess costs.

It is expected that the term agreement which was distributed to board members during the meeting will be made public.

There is a 45-day deadline to amend the agreement. If the agreement is amended and approved, the Bank will submit the project to the appropriate entities for approval.

Road Conditions & Closure Information for SC & NC

The SCDOT has resources online for motorists as the state deals with impacts from Hurricane Florence. Information on road conditions and traffic can be found on the SCDOT’s Storm Resources webpage which is updated frequently: https://www.scdot.org/travel/stormResources.aspx

The NCDOT also has similar resources available online for road closures and conditions: https://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/

 

 

As we begin year two of the fuel tax increase, it is important to remember that it would be impossible to #fixscroads over the course of a year. In fact, this will be a lengthy process that will take many years.  However, progress is being made and you can follow the money and the project lists online.

There is currently $3 billion worth of work on the streets with over $440 million of that directly attributable to the new revenues generated by Act 40.

The SC Department of Transportation has made a significant amount of information available online about how the new money is being spent and the types of projects going on around the state.  This is all part of the transparency that was promised in Act 40 and these are just a few of the resources available:

• You can follow the new money online through the SCDOT’s website, including a county by county list of the projects that have been funded by the new revenues;
• There’s also an interactive map that shows the projects going on all across the state;
• If you aren’t sure who owns a road that needs to be fixed, you can find out who is responsible for it here and then you can report the issue here.

As we move forward on this long road of repair, we want to follow the #progress to #fixscroads! As projects are rolled out and hitting the streets near you, Tweet us @scroads, send us pictures and let us know what you are seeing!

The SCDOT has announced that the SCDOT Commission recently approved the second phase of the agency’s Rural Roads Safety Program. Phase 2 will address safety improvements on 446 miles roads across the state. A full list of the phase 2 projects can be viewed here.

This comes as year two of the Act 40 money phase-in began on July 1, 2018 and proves the agency is on course and continues to make progress in carrying out the difficult task addressing the state’s infrastructure needs.

According to the press release, over the past year (phase 1), SCDOT has already awarded contracts totaling 187 miles of safety improvements in with another 276 miles in phase 1 currently under development. The Commission’s approval for phase 2 includes the start of an additional 446 miles of safety improvements across South Carolina. This constitutes a total of 909 miles in projects approved for development.

According to SCDOT, the types of safety improvements will vary and will be designed specifically for each road. They include rumble strips, wider and brighter pavement markings, brighter signs, high-friction surface treatments, wider/paved shoulders, improved clear zones, guardrails, cable barriers, eliminating vertical drop-offs along pavement edges and beveling of driveway pipes.

“South Carolina’s fatality rate is the highest in the nation, and this program is attacking that problem mile by mile,” said Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall. “SCDOT is targeting the ‘worst of the worst’ roads in our state with our Rural Roads Safety Program.”

SCFOR commends the SCDOT for establishing a long-term plan to address improvements to our roads that enhance safety. We applaud the agency on progress that has been and will continue to be made as they work to #fixscroads and make commutes safer for drivers across the state.

SCDOT Press Release: “Rural Roads Safety Program Phase II Approved by SCDOT Commission ” 07/31/18

Beginning Sunday, July 1, South Carolina’s fuel tax will increase two cents per gallon, brining the statewide total to 20.75 cents per gallon. The revenue generated from this increase goes directly to the Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund to be used on the repairs to existing roads and bridges across the state.

Despite the increase, our gas receipts will still be among the cheapest in the nation. For example, here’s how much you would be paying in state taxes/fees to fill up in our sister states.

South Carolina taxpayers are eligible for an income tax credit to offset the increase in the motor fuel user fee. The SC Department of Revenue’s website offers more information on eligibility and how to claim this tax credit.