I-26 ALT

Transit area being studied
From the Town of Summerville to Charleston

     Did you know there are current studies being done right now to determine more efficient ways to get around town.  There are meetings scheduled tonight and Thursday for the public to weigh in: tonight (1/26) from 6-8:00 at the Charleston Museum Auditorium or Thursday (1/28) in Summerville at the Bethany United Methodist Church (118 W. Third Street) from 7-9:00.  The best way to access this information is click HERE.  This site will provide more information on the current research studies being done regarding mass transit options from Summerville to Charleston.

     One of the options being studies is called the Bus Rapid Transit which allows for buses (such as CARTA) to have their own designated lanes thereby allowing them to miss the traffic and congestion. I've seen this in Pittsburgh and it works very well.  Here is a link for more information on the BRT - https://www.itdp.org/library/standards-and-guides/the-bus-rapid-transit-standard/what-is-brt/

    This is a huge area of need as it affects over 600,000 people.  I heard a statistic today that our metro area will reach 1 million people by 2027 and that 43 new people move here every day.  That's over 15,000 people/year coming here and Summerville is in the top 10 fastest growing cities in SC. As a Realtor I love this (how do I find these 43 people every day?) but as a resident I get worried about the congestion and my daughter driving here.

     What do you think? If you ever drive 26 or 526 in the morning or later afternoon you agree with me that we have an issue. I'd like to see a commuter train arrive on the scene as I think it's more efficient but that's just this writer's opinion. I'm open to any remedy that will alleviate traffic.  I also think we should build an overpass that will avoid the restaurants and shops around Azalea Square so that if people are heading to 26 they avoid all that congestion.  It just makes sense!!!