SCDOT’s Extraordinary Focus On Conservation

I attended SCDOT’s public meeting in North Charleston today, and had the pleasure of meeting two members of the SCDOT strategic planning team and a senior planner within the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.  Together they are conducting a feasibility study to determine the practicality of implementing a HOV lane along an I-26 corridor approaching Charleston.  The team has embarked on an aggressive schedule to educate the public about the benefits of HOV lanes and their potential impact to the region.  Today’s meeting was the third of four planned events in our area.

All three planners had kind words to say about the launch of CarolinaCommuter.com and car pooling.  Their efforts to educate the public about HOV strategies include an informative tour of the many cities that have already or are planning to implement HOV lanes. The SCDOT’s introducing of an HOV initiative in the Lowcountry represents the very kind of bold innovation that we need from SCDOT and our local Government leaders, at a time when we need it the most.   

I realize ride sharing will not solve the entire problem of road congestion but I do think it deserves consideration as a viable strategic element within South Carolina’s approach to traffic density and energy sustainability.  South Carolinians can and should take pride in the I-26 HOV initiative.  

Carolina Commuters, to show our support and appreciation for the SCDOT’s extraordinary focus on conservation please plan to attend the upcoming public forum on September 30^th in Charleston from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Charleston County Public Library.