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.

Legislators who were defeated in the primary elections were not defeated by candidates who were against road funding in general. In fact, based on SCFOR’s review of the primary races, legislators who faced candidates who strongly opposed the increase in the gas tax were successfully reelected – most by very large margins.

These victories come on the heels of campaign rhetoric from candidates that say, “the money was there” and that “reforms” would fix roads. As many of us know, these very issues have been a part of the conversation since the road funding debate began 5 years ago. If roads could truly be fixed without increases in taxes/fees, believe us, that would have been done a long time ago. Unfortunately, the current condition of our roads and bridges is the result of years of under-funding. The legislature understood this and acted.

Funding South Carolina’s transportation infrastructure is a multifaceted issue and unfortunately, campaigns tend to downplay the complexity of it all. The good news is, voters have clearly paid attention over the past few years and the educational efforts of SCFOR and our allies has paid off. It’s safe to say that voters overwhelmingly supported good public policy over politics in the SC primary elections.

SCFOR is proud to see voters support legislators who support good public policy. Once again, we want to congratulate all our friends who won their primary elections!

On Tuesday, SCDOT Secretary Christy Hall announced that the SCDOT has had a record breaking year in the first year of the agency’s 10-year plan to rebuild the state’s roads and bridges. The official release cites the progress that has been made following the Legislature’s action to generate additional investments in our state’s infrastructure – here’s a few highlights:

Making History: The amount of road work underway on the state’s highways has exceeded $3 Billion, which is three times the normal level of work and the first time this amount of work has been underway in SCDOT’s history.

Rural Roads Safety: SC Ranks #1 in the Nation in highway fatality rates. SCDOT aimed to address 100 miles per year; however, to date, 187 miles of safety improvements have already been awarded.

Pavements: The overall goal of the pavement program was to improve the quality of SC’s roads by 3% per year, and to date there has been nearly 5% pavement improvement.

Bridges: Currently, there are 51 bridges under construction across the state. The 10-year goal is to replace 465 bridges. This program is on schedule and within the next 12 months, another 41 bridges are scheduled to go to construction.

Interstate Widenings: The plan is to improve 140 miles of interstates over the decade and 70 miles are currently under contract. The plan designates that a minimum of $5 billion should be invested over the course of 10 years. $1 billion of projects is underway in the Upstate (I-85) and within the next 12-18 months another $1 billion will be underway in the Midlands (Malfunction Junction). Following these projects, there will be improvements to the existing I-526 in Charleston.

Thanks to the SC Legislature and the SCDOT, a safer and smoother ride is in store for drivers in South Carolina. While our infrastructure woes can’t be fixed overnight, this shows that progress is being made and your dollars are being put to work to #fixscroads.

Learn more about projects in your area here.

SCDOT Press Release: “SCDOT’S 10-Year Plan is Ahead of Schedule in Year #1” 06/18/18

Primaries are arguably the most important phase of an election, yet voter turnout for primary elections is always dismal.

The act of voting is your opportunity for choosing the person who most resembles your own belief system. Regardless of the outcome, your vote sends a message, letting politicians know what is important to you. So, when you don’t show up, you let others speak for you, and chances are they are a lot different than you.

Cindi Ross Scoppe addressed voter turnout in The State this week. Scoppe offered some personal insight as to why voters skip the primaries and how it is detrimental to the political system. She says there is a price for sitting on the sidelines during the primary election:

“The primaries are decided by people who are farther to the left and the right than the people who don’t vote. They’re decided by people who are angrier. By people who demand ideological purity, who consider compromise a dirty word. Primary voters tend to punish candidates who work across party lines — which of course creates a self-perpetuating cycle…so come November, those in the sensible center are stuck with candidates who are farther to the left or the right than they are, with people who are less interested in working for pragmatic solutions than they are…”

The road funding issue is a prime example of how political ideologies can conflict with even the most responsible and realistic solutions to a problem. While no one likes a tax or fee increase, sometimes they are necessary, and serve as the most equitable and effective policy solution. This was most certainly the case with Act 40 in 2017.

SC Legislators shouldn’t be punished for investing in our state and putting the welfare and quality of life of people above political ideologies.

Heed Ms. Scoppe’s warning and no matter how far right, left, or in the middle you are, just simply exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, June 12. It’s important.