What is the issue?
Charleston County Roadwise half-cent sales tax Transportation Program listed the widening of Maybank Highway on Johns Island as a priority project. Unwilling to see another Savannah Highway cut through the center of rural Johns Island, the League hired urban transportation planning firm, Hall Planning and Engineering (HPE) to study alternatives. HPE’s solution was a “pitchfork” plan that developed a network of parallel and complementary streets at the congested intersection of River Road and Maybank. Using a network helps drivers take right and left turns and avoid gridlock at the light. HPE determine the remainder of Maybank is capable of carrying current and future traffic after the construction of this grid. Ultimately this alternative relieves the congestion of Maybank without sacrificing the tree canopy and without widening the remainder of the road. This plan was approved in August 2009 by Charleston County Council.
How would it affect South Carolina?
The major flaw with the widening plan is the impact a 5-lane high-speed thoroughfare would have on the character of Johns Island as it develops overtime. This type of thoroughfare attracts big box/strip retail and automobile dependent businesses: such development is contradictory to the area now and in the future. In addition, the widening plan does not address or relieve safety issues and concerns about Johns Island Roads. Roads that do not provide choices for the driver, are not pedestrian or bicycle friendly and diminish local character are not the roads we need on our rural Sea Islands. Developing without adherence to local character and heritage will transform our coast into monotonous suburbia.
What can you do about it?
The HPE alternative is supported by the City of Charleston who concurrently contracted the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to complete a corridor study. The ULI report agreed with the HPE alternative and recommended the County move forward with the plan. This “pitchfork” plan was approved by Charleston County Council in August 2009. Thank you County Council members!
- A street network on Maybank Highway will improve traffic congestion and link businesses and neighborhoods along the road.
- Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will have more choices: walking to the local store or avoiding commuter traffic by utilizing local roads are now viable and safe options.
- Tree canopies and rural and residential character of Johns Island are protected from poor road design and associated sprawl.
- A suburban road will tear through a rural sea island
- Associated development will not complement the islands history or its current residents.
- County tax money will be spent on a detrimental road project.
Related Articles
City of Charleston's Johns Island Plan
Related Links
Hall Planning and Engineering Report on Maybank HighwayImages of Maybank Highway Improvements
