Clogged and getting worseWith commuters bumper-to-bumper on I-26, riding rails gets serious look The Post and Courier
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wade Spees Railroad tracks pass under rush hour traffic as commuters merge onto Interstate 26 near Remount Road from Interstate 526 on Monday. Flash File
The Post and Courier Interstate 26 is by far our most important and heavily traveled roadway in the Charleston metropolitan area. On a typical workday, roughly 140,000 vehicles roll through its busiest stretches — 160 a minute during the morning rush. Most of the time, I-26 efficiently speeds motorists between downtown Charleston and Summerville in 20 to 25 minutes. But rush hour is a different story. Trips then can take nearly twice as long on average, a new Post and Courier survey shows. If you're one of these commuters, you know full well how I-26 clogs near the Mark Clark Expressway. And if a wreck shuts down some lanes? Sorry, boss, I won't be in for another hour. But if you think rush hour is tough now, consider what it might be like in 20 years or so. If government projections hold true — and the area's planners suspect their own forecasts are too conservative — 265,000 new residents will pour into the area during the next two decades. Many will settle in and around the I-26 corridor, and you don't have to be a plumber to predict what happens when you pour stuff into a pipeline that's already full. The state plans to spend about $300 million to widen an 8.2-mile section of I-26 in North Charleston from the current six-lane profile to eight lanes. But this larger pipeline won't solve the problem. If the state manages to complete these jobs in 10 years, and there's no guarantee the work will happen that soon, sections of this newly widened I-26 will still be stop-and-go, a Post and Courier analysis of traffic data found. What to do? 'Round the bend? For more than a decade, local business and government leaders have toyed with creating a new transportation pipeline between Summerville and Charleston, namely a train. But with Dorchester and Berkeley counties experiencing a historic wave of growth, many now say the idea should be put on a fast track. Last December, for instance, 150 of the region's movers and shakers gathered in an auditorium at Trident Technical College for a "Reality Check," a game of sorts with a high-stakes goal: Craft a vision of the area's future. Participants of every political stripe took part. They split into 15 teams and crouched over table-sized maps. When it was over, every team had some type of rail or rapid bus transit shooting through the I-26 corridor. Now, planners and consultants are working on: --A $97,000 study looking at the nuts and bolts of how a commuter rail system between Charleston and Summerville might work. --A complex computer model that could predict how people will move about as the area grows — information that's key to getting federal transit money or funding from investors. --Applications to the State Infrastructure Bank for rail money and talks with railroad companies about the possibility of leasing their tracks. Like a locomotive, the commuter rail concept is slowly gaining steam, especially as gasoline prices and concerns about air pollution rise. In fact, when it comes to air quality, the Charleston metro area might soon fail federal Clean Air Act standards for ozone pollution. If air pollution gets worse, the federal government could restrict funding for new road projects. But does a train make sense for this metropolitan area? During the next couple weeks, The Post and Courier will examine whether creating a commuter rail network is worth the money, whether it could work here, if enough people are here (or will be in the future) to support a train, and if there are better options. The stakes are high in The Great Train Debate. The outcome could determine how hundreds of millions of private and public dollars are spent, how we spend our time moving from place to place and where thousands of people live and work. The rush hours An inspection of I-26 is a good place to start in this debate. Crews built this ribbon of rebar and concrete in the late 1960s. It curves through the center of Charleston's Neck Area and North Charleston like a stretched out letter S. Originally built with four lanes, it now has six for much of its length through Charleston and North Charleston. Its busiest stretch is near the intersection with the Mark Clark Expressway. The state keeps a traffic counter there. Last Wednesday, 141,618 vehicles clicked by. Daily traffic counts are deceptive, though. During most daylight hours, traffic flows relatively well. The situation changes during morning and afternoon rush hours, when 9,400 vehicles per hour or more squeeze through these lanes. That's a lot of cars to handle. If you assume all 9,400 are 15 feet in length, a conservative number for sure, and placed them end to end, they would make a train about 26 miles long — the distance from Charleston to Summerville with a few extra miles to spare. It's no surprise to anyone who drives daily on I-26 that traffic spikes in the mornings and late afternoons. But what does this congestion really mean? Travel time study To find out, Post and Courier test drivers recently timed 200 trips on I-26 between the Summerville/Moncks Corner interchange and downtown Charleston. The P&C test drivers found: --It's best to avoid going to work between 7 and 8:15 a.m. Trips during this time period take about 38 minutes on average — roughly 15 minutes longer than trips before and after the rush. --People heading home in the afternoon can expect a 31-to-34-minute drive on I-26 if they leave downtown between 3:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. --Leave after 6 p.m. and your drive time typically drops to between 22 and 26 minutes. --The worst of the worst: Heading to Charleston between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. (44 minutes for a typical trip) and leaving Charleston between 5 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. (34 minutes.) Overall, the newspaper travel-time study and DOT traffic counts show that I-26 can stomach plenty of traffic now, if only people wouldn't use it at the same time. In other words, I-26 currently has a classic case of rush-hour indigestion. These results also show that a key aspect of the debate over a train involves how people move about during relatively short time periods, how our existing infrastructure handles pressure during peak times of use, and how vulnerable it is when something goes wrong. That happened suddenly the morning of March 27, when a car slowed to a stop during rush hour. A motorcyclist ran into the car, triggering a chain reaction with five other cars and a tractor-trailer. When the car parts stopped spinning, traffic backed up all the way to Summerville. Cars soon choked Ladson Road and S.C. Highway 61 and Rivers Avenue. A 30-minute trip turned into 2 hours. Tempers flared. Some motorists gave up and turned back while wreckers and state troopers worked like plumbers to unclog this critical pipeline. Next: Train or no train, the state has extraordinarily expensive plans to widen I-26 to keep traffic moving. Watchdog: For stories, photos and video from the series, go to Charleston.net/watchdog. |
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Comments
This article has 79 comment(s)
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on July 6, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Am I missing something? Why don't I ever hear about a proposal for carpooling? Create an HOV lane to encourage people to rideshare. Give them commuter lots to meet up and carpool. We don't even have to build anything new- just use sections of existing large shopping center parking lots. (I’ve seen it work in other cities, for both the commuters and the businesses.) Why wait 10 years when we can start addressing the issue now and without the need for costly changes to infrastructure?
It won't completely eradicate the congestion problem, but I'm sure it will help. And given the (rising) price of gas, I suspect many will be much warmer to the idea than in the past.
Posted by Creeker01 on July 6, 2008 at 3:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would have helped if our on/off ramps hadn't been designed by High School Students to begin with.
Whose bright idea was it to merge 4 lanes of traffic into two at I-526/I-26 westbound? There's no way that Law Enforcement can enforce the rights of way on the me-first-merge louts, so accidents will continue until something is rectified there.
Whatever became of the Monorail idea? Did it bite the bullet that the subsidised bus system fired from Little Joe's gun?
Posted by CharlestonJim on July 6, 2008 at 3:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as Dorchester and Berkeley Counties, and the towns of North Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, keep allowing every house, mobile home, and tent that people apply for, we will keep having worse and worse traffic on these roads. There is very, very, few decent paying jobs in these areas. Most have to flock into downtown or West Ashley for something other than working at the mall, gas station, or serving food. There are some jobs in these areas, but not enough to support all the people around them. Naturally, these people who can't afford to live around their jobs here must drive in everyday. The problem will not get better. All we can do is limit the pain, and that takes plenty of dollars. I suggest we place a toll on I-26. There has to be a reason for people to rethink our problems. The money raised can go to fixing our current roads. Simply adding more lanes and more roads is like giving a crack addict more crack. Why are we so outraged and shocked by this? In Mt. P, the houses are so close when you flush your toliet at night you worry about waking up your neighbor. Doesn't packing people in like this on old paved over horse and buggy roads with 1 interstate promote the very problems we are seeing now?
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 4:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh ..oh, 97k already being spent?? It will be interesting to see how indepth this reporting is and what is too come.
Rail track here in Charleston is for moving freight. We do not need to be building additional track. Google "SKYTRAN" or similar Elevated mag-lev concept to solve mass transit and school bussing with one system using exsisting highway and power line easements. Cheaper and faster to deploy than rail just to start with.....
Posted by ForPnC on July 6, 2008 at 4:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My friends and I have discussed this. None of us would ever use any kind of public transportation. One can barely walk down the street without being attacked. A train would become a haven for crime.
Go ahead and waste the money though. After all, it isn't yours so why should you care?
Posted by trod1 on July 6, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CharlestonJim on July 6, 2008 at 3:44 a.m. As long as Dorchester and Berkeley Counties, and the towns of North Charleston and Mt. Pleasant.please man get over yourself.
Every decent paying job isnt down town maybe you should actually do some research.
Posted by 2380sc on July 6, 2008 at 5:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a resident of Summerville, opportunities for any kind of good employment are scarce. It seems working downtown or in Mt Pleasant are the only options for decent work. However, to work and travel 20+ miles to and from is not only expensive but extremely time consuming!
How come a 21st century idea isn't mentioned as a consideration......like having a monorail system!? Not only would it be environmentally beneficial but probably safer, esthetically more appealing!
Posted by mr_happy on July 6, 2008 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well thats what you get when you only have 180 degrees to deal with traffic unlike Atlanta which has their whole 360 to go with
Posted by melvinthebarbarian on July 6, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be a waste at this point to spend money on expanding existing roadways. Projecting the current rise in fuel prices into the future, personal transportation is going to become a luxury, affordable only by the very wealthy. The rest of us may see our lifestyles change dramatically.
If Charleston wants to insure a prosperous future then she'll invest now in public transportation. The benefits should be obvious.
Public transportation provides inexpensive access to lower wage jobs. This eases upward pressure on wages by persons who can't otherwise afford to get to a job.
By the same token public transportation provides access to jobs to workers who live in more remote areas it services, thereby easing housing pressures in areas closer to the city's center.
In the near term, don't underestimate the value of a good train ride when it's set against 1/2 hour or more of fighting traffic on I-26. I'll bet even folks who can afford to drive right now might opt to ride a fast train where they could get some work done on the way.
Posted by vicupstate on July 6, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The P&C is to be commended for looking at this in-depth. I look forward to reading the future installments.
Trains are in our future, the rising price of gas assures that. The sooner we start planning for it, the better. The cure for the tremendous mindless sprawl we have in this country, is a better mass transit system.
Charlotte's new light rail system is shattering ridership projections. Because so much of the traffic in the metro area is funneled into the 1-26/Summerville-Charleston corridor, the rail option numbers could work much sooner than a metro area of Charleston's size normally would indicate. Someone in Summerville could probably pay $5 round trip for a train ticket, and still come out ahead, if they pay to park DT and didn't at the rail station.
Instead of widening I-26 just put that money toward the rail plan.
The comment about crime is nonsense. Policemen can ride the trains too if a problems should arise. Washington DC has a very high crime rate, but their Metro system is very safe (not to mention clean and efficient).
Rail is the future, will Charleston lead the way in SC?
Posted by Mayor on July 6, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If your willing to spend over 300 hours per year driving to and from work, just think that in 10 years you'll have spent over one whole work year driving. And you didn't get paid for it. This is just 45 minutes each way per day.
You better move closer to where you want to work. Do the math, what a waste of time.
Posted by karmann on July 6, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does this include the increased truck traffic that will be the result of a new SPA terminal in North Charleston? Supposedly there was a promise that this would be taken care of if/when the SPA is built. Why do we spend money on studies that point out the obvious. Of course if you avoid certain peak hours you won't get caught up in the traffic. There does not seem to be much in the way of planning for these things.
Posted by Paul on July 6, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's an idea; but, I'm sure the need-developement-for-new-tax-base-people would disagree:
No new developement or additional housing until the congestion is corrected by attrition and infrastructure completion.
Posted by teeitup on July 6, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr happy--apparently you have never been in the Atlanta rush hour traffic. With the 360 degrees you have traffic from every direction coming or getting off of 285. Its not the degrees but the amount of traffic on the roads that cause backups.
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reading about Charleston looking at other transportation options for the trident area is a good idea looking at the mess that Atlanta has and will never be able to get out of until gas prices keeps people of the roads. It is time to get commuter trains on the move. I feel that the Summerville to Downtown plan is great, let me add on more. how about and north-south route, let say start john's island(red top) to moncks corner. how you may ask it is simple, Amtrak runs that way everyday so to add commuter rail to a line with passenger rail already in service seems like a cheaper options. This option would not only help those in the southern portion of charleston county and berkeley county also get into town. It will also eliminate the need for the 526 extension across to john's island since so many are against it, i know plenty people from the area that would like to see a better way to work from all these outlying points. It is time for actions to be started and not just sit on the drawing board until kingdom come.
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South "First off, nobody in their right mind would use public transportation, it's a haven for muggers and other criminals"
I am pretty sure that the muggers and criminals that are public transportation are now out numbered by the honest hard working riders who are tired of high gas prices. The real criminals are the gas companies(not meaning to start a debate on gas prices,lol) If you think muggers and criminals are on public transit, come to Atlanta and ride MARTA and the express buses. It is full to capacity with folks tired of paying high gas prices. The muggers and criminals are the ones in fear of transit now. Do not be afraid of what may come, be afraid of what may happen if the area doesnt act. Charleston could be just like Atlanta 20 years too late, or its instate neighbor Greenville who is acting like crazy to make changes.
Posted by cricket420 on July 6, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why keep the commuter train in the Charleston area? Why not extend it to Columbia? How about a beltway about 15 miles out from 526? I can sympathize with the difference in commute times, I used to live in the Washington DC area and a 15 minute leave time can mean a 20 minute or a 2 hour commute for 20 miles.
Posted by 512c on July 6, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every time there is a drunk driving, or a car wreck, or someone falls asleep, think: "this could have been avoided if we had trains or transit systems worth a darn"
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea Cricket, take it to Columbia and points beyond, if you cant find a great job in the charleston area why not go where the job is and not have to take the unnecessary step of moving. If you didnt have to drive that would make it worth it. Hey NC has there own communter rail service up and running so if they can why can the SOUTH do it!
Posted by vicupstate on July 6, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mouth of the South is wrong. The DC Metro system proves it. So does the Atlanta Marta system.
The new Charlotte System has lead to exactly the OPPOSITE of what he describes. There has been a multi-BILLION dollar explosion of construction and renovation along their newly opened rail line. The same thing is occurring along the designated expansion routes.
Posted by 2380sc on July 6, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There may be great jobs in Summerville area for 'skilled' workers...but...not for someone who wants part time office work, 20 to 25 hours a week, Monday thru Friday, needs no benefits and earn $10/hr.....there ARE NO jobs in the Summerville area!
Posted by farfallaspeaks on July 6, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well stated 512C and vicupstate.
Trains and Metros have always worked, but all the trains are owned by the oil corporations.
They don't want what is best for the people, the economy, or the environment, they want what is best for their wallets.
It's really sad. The rails already exist. It may cost a little money to get them back up and working, but it is really worth it. Think about it. You could get a job in Wilmington or Columbia and take a high speed train every day to work. It would be so fast, it may only take an hour to get there. You could sleep the whole way, surf the web, or eat your breakfast. Or you could get your laptop out and get some work done. It would be so safe, less expensive, and super fast. More jobs would be available to the people because they could commute farther, and faster.
Well, you may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a brilliant idea. Do something to make another avenue for commuters besides 1-26. I mean, if some genius would finally notice that Hwy 61 is a major artery that needs to be a little bigger than 2 lanes, and that it runs from Summerville to West Ashley, and that it's a stones throw across the river from Dorchester Road - TADA! How about building some well-placed bridges across the river so that people can get from one side of the river to the other without having to circumnavigate the entire Lowcountry. I mean, this is not a complex problem. But then again, noone designing roads around here seems to know how to build proper merge lanes either. And how about some bike lanes. This is the most biker unfriendly town I've ever seen. And how about some driver's education? Does noone understand "right of way" or "yield" in this town? Or "Stop"?
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see what can be done, right now, to help the problem.
1) Persuade MUSC to change their 07:30 shift change to 08:30
2) Persuade College of Charleston/Citadel to change their start time to 08:30
3) Get Mr. Riley to allocate several CARTA Express buses/set up parking areas in one of the shopping centers off Main Street to speed Summerville traffic into the City of Charleston.
4) Check with SPA to restrict the truck traffic during the high peak time morning and afternoon.
The traffic on I-26, going into and out of the City of Charleston is almost non-existent except for high peak time morning and afternoon.
Those of you who have access to a computer, for the next couple of weeks, check out the SCDOT website and view the traffic at normal times during the day. What you see may shock you.
" Commuter train between the City of Charleston / Summerville, we don't need no stinking 200 million dollar + Commuter train."
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hartley great idea just that once you talk about widening Hwy 61, that means cutting down the trees on the right of way and I can gather that means a lot of people in that area is going to fight it. It has been tried time and time again only to fail. Dont get me wrong I do agree with your idea it is just that it will fall once you get in that fight about the trees on HWY 61, remember the draw for the Charleston area is tourism.
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You may not need it now but when the time comes and you do need it what are you going to do when the price at that point triples. Look at the future, things are going to get more and more crowd on the streets. Staging start times will work, however lets not forget that those trucks that clog your roads are not on a start time they work 24/7. You only take the rush hour and extend it longer(truckers are not to blame). When was the last time you seen a train stop for a car in rush hour, how many times have you been stopped by a train in rush hour.
Posted by WestAshleyMomma on July 6, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I worked in Washington DC for 6 months, and I rode the Metro every day. I'll tell you this, I felt 100% saver in the Metro than I did on the streets, whether driving or walking! The Metro has officials who monitor their area. Its clean - you can't eat or drink in it. AND, I was able to read the paper and drink my coffee, cause I wasn't driving! And, it was packed every morning and every evening on the way home. Plus, the Fed govt gives federal works around $60 a month as an incentive to ride the Metro. That could be an incentive for Charlestonians to ride it here!
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The traffic on I-26, going into and out of the City of Charleston is almost non-existent except for high peak time morning and afternoon.
Those of you who have access to a computer, for the next couple of weeks, check out the SCDOT website and view the traffic at normal times during the day. What you see may shock you.
Posted by 2380sc on July 6, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd like to know why there hasn't been more building of shopping areas, office buildings, restaurants, etc north of the 17A exit (exit 199)on I 26....and I don't mean distribution centers and warehouses!! I mean businesses that can actually EMPLOY a good number of people!! There are SO MANY people in Dorchester and Berkley counties who are looking for work!!!
Posted by IOP4ME on July 6, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A rail line won't work if it only goes from one destination to another. In today's economy, people aren't just commuting from couch to desk, but are mobile for a large part of the day and use their cars throughout the day. The rail line would need to be shaped like a + in essence, with a hub downtown sprouting out to Summerville, James Island, West Ashley and Mt Pleasant in order for it to be practical for more than just a small minority of the people on 26.
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Persuade MUSC to build their next couple of hospital buildings off 1-26 above the Northwoods Mall neighborhood.
Posted by 2380sc on July 6, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IOP4me...you're absolutely right!
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea IOP4ME, except theres no room in the City of Charleston for a hub. Unless Mr. Riley, once again destroys another black neighborhood.
Posted by jefferymaier on July 6, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Concentrating all the government offices, hospitals, and colleges downtown never made sense. I remember a few years ago they tried to move one of the county courthouses to N. Charleston and Riley fought it tooth and nail. A rail system will only benefit down town Charleston. The rest of us will be stuck with the bill.
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can we have a big amen for jefferymaier, "AMEN".
Posted by Reader on July 6, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First, MouthofhteSouth wrote, "[N]obody in their right mind would use public transportation[;] it's a haven for muggers and other criminals." That is preposterous. Can you post a link to even one article documenting this crime wave taking place on CARTA?
The problem is that the congestion is not bad enough to do anything about yet. If the worst traffic only slows your commute by 15 minutes or so from the fastest times, people are unlikely to make changes. Take a train for example: How many people would go to the extra trouble of driving and parking at a remote train station, waiting for the train, sacrificing their cars during the day, and have to pay for the service, just to save 15 minutes? Not very many.
Posted by tallblonde on July 6, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't look to Atlanta as a blueprint for easing traffic woes! *LOL* I moved about 40 miles north of Atlanta 2 years ago from Charleston - and my husband & I laugh when we remember we used to complain about Charleston traffic.
Posted by RedSnappa on July 6, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mouth of the South is clueless about a rail system. We just got back from a vacation to DC, and on the advice of a friend who works up there, we stayed down by Andrews AFB, and took the Metro rail to all the sites and attractions. This was my first time on a "subway" , and I loved it! We saved on gas, parking, and aggravation of trying to commute in beltway traffic. Not once in a week, did we see a mugger, or feel unsafe on the MET, in fact it was fun taking the trains all over the city. Charleston needs to study how Washington works a multi line system. You need a couple of transfer stations, and about 4 or 5 lines out to the areas. I will now be in favor of mass transit.
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas1776, the nurses are looking for you, time for your medication.
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas1776.... Would you Google SKYTRAN and see what you think about this transit system instead of trains?.....
I believe once built; that it would serve as school bussing and public transit. Not only that; but at 3 to 5:30 in the morning with the right plan.. could serve to deliver UPS, FEDEX and Mail to distribution points in the tri-county area.
We would use OUR trash, wind, and NUCLER to power it.
Think about this....if your luggage can be scanned to get to the right plane in the major airports...THINK about how this would work Once you swiped in your skytran card. Point to point transport with a view of OUR city and State. Its very dissapointing to see that this may not even be discussed.
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas1776...
Watch this...
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html...
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Traffic in Charleston is nothing compared to Atlanta or Charlotte, instead of just waiting until it gets worse,as it always seems like the way things get done, how about for a change(I know I am dreaming) do something before it gets worse.
Posted by LutherVanderhorst on July 6, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can someone please buy this reporter a train? It's obvious he wants one.
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Luther.... he needs this...
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html...
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Earmarks for mass transit....
http://www.topix.net/forum
/source/myrtle-beach-online
/T7STQIMUCEJHMCJ71#lastPost
Posted by KidYendor on July 6, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A ski mountain gondola pod system is the answer. With pickups and dropoffs in Summerville, Goose, N. Charleston, and Rileyville, this system would be cheaper than trains or more concrete/labor for slow highway expansion.
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KidYendor,
What do you think of SKYTRAN?
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html...
http://www.unimodal.net/index.php
Posted by ysillyme on July 6, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The article starts by saying, "I-26 is our most important roadway..". Kind of scary; I wonder if he thinks MaMa is our most influential TV spokesperson.
Posted by drp7773 on July 6, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just think our parents walked to school and work barefoot 25 miles uphill in a blizard and we cant get from Summerville to Goose Creek because of bad traffic... Trains and the bus are great when they stop outside your building but it's not so good when you get let out let say for an exp. at Rivers and Aviation ave but your building is over the bridge down the frontage rd and you have to walk to get there.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Arabs are solving the problem for us. Pretty soon, gas will be so expensive that we'll be riding bikes. Once we run out of oil, the problem is moot.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My wife and I only live one mile from where we work. We'd gladly ride bikes to work if we had some sort of bike lane or sidewalk on Hwy 78. But, since this cheapskate town can't conceive of an extra foot of asphalt on the two sides of the road for bikes and pedestrians, we drive. I wouldn't dare ride a bike down 78. Death would result within one month, guaranteed. This town has the worst drivers in the world. I know, because I've driven all over the world. The taxi drivers in Tijuana and Addis Abbada would be scared to death driving in this town.
Posted by TSSATL on July 6, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey drp you forgot they walked uphill both ways in a blizzard in the south,lol
Posted by a_set_love on July 6, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, should have included the web site on my earlier post.
"The traffic on I-26, going into and out of the City of Charleston is almost non-existent except for high peak time morning and afternoon.
Those of you who have access to a computer, for the next couple of weeks, check out the SCDOT website and view the traffic at normal times during the day. What you see may shock you."
www.dot.state.sc.us/getting/cams/
Posted by FindingMyself on July 6, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think a train system would be a great idea. It works well with alot of the bigger cities, a smaller scale version could work here. The main problem I could see with it would be this: If they have a train system, and people start using it to, for example, get from their homes in Charleston to their jobs or a tourist attraction in Summerville, then once they got to their destination, what then? How would they get from the train station to their workplace? Outside of downtown Chas, there aren't alot of places that you can walk or bike to.
Posted by tlfviccnic on July 6, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
farfalla....ya got it right...my options just extrpolated for a "job".....Lennon BTW.... Imagine......
Posted by LocalTruth on July 6, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have one simple solution- Deport the illegal aliens now!!!
They are DIRECTLY responsible for the traffic problems in the lowcountry. Them and only them. Not the engineers, not the synchronization of traffic signals or the lack thereof, not the housing growth, ILLEGAL ALIENS are the problem here. Save us some tax money and get rid of these criminals. As far as restricting tractor-trailer traffic during peak traffic times, professional truckers pay far more road use taxes than the average 4 wheeled vehicle. I hear that 85% of our road taxes go to a general fund only to be stolen by the politicians we hired. Most people do not realize truckers have more priority in regards to road use. Want to use your shirt to wipe your ass? Then leave the truckers alone so you can get your toilet paper and EVERYTHING else. When was the last time you seen truckers in your place of employment asking your boss to cut your hours so they can get to work faster? Get a brain. Good dicussion here, but still have a few airheads in the mix.
Posted by pck5 on July 6, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YES!! Commuter rail!!!
Not only does it appease traffic on I-26, but cuts down on how many cars end up downtown. I spent 18 years in the suburbs of Boston. We had a commuter rail that had a stop in our town. It's so much easier (and more relaxing) to take the train than sit in traffic. Widening the road is a waste of time and money when there's a more efficient answer (plus, can you imagine the traffic during the construction??).
Posted by STREETLAW on July 6, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone who had anything to do with the design of the I-26 / I-526 Corridor should be ashamed to call themselves an engineer or whatever people who plan highways call themselves. The same can be said for the stretch of I-526 which includes the Don Holt Bridge.
The Don Holt bridge roadway is a masterpiece of asininity. The road inexplicably expands from two lanes to three lanes and back to two lanes in a very short distance.
As the third lane appears to the right going toward North Charleston, someone might think the lane actually goes somewhere. Like maybe there was a right hand turn off up the road. And that might have happened in a saner world.
But the cruel and deadly joke is the lane goes nowhere and anyone who decides to use in must merge back into 55 mile an hour traffic. In the meanwhile, people hit the brakes and get rear ended or try to cut people out and get sideswiped. Then of course traffic slows to a crawl.
That no one in the Charleston area has raised a commotion about this death trap is not surprising. People in Charleston SC are so used to such stupidity they long ago stopped complaining about it. If roads were built this way in the Columbia area, heads would roll.
I'm sure there is a solution to this problem but it is a long way off. Commuter trains might help, but most people don't like the idea of being without a car with all the uncertainty about terrorist attacks. Perhaps double-decker roads would work, but those would be a hard sell because they make too much sense.
My suggestion would be if you don't have to drive at peak traffic, don't. If you can car pool, do. If you can find a job near to your home, take it, even if it means a slight cut in pay. If you can find a way to work from your home, mores the better. You can even take a bigger cut, because what you save on transportation plus being able to take a tax deduction will really make it worth your while.
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.unimodal.net/index.php?option...
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What could you get with 300 Million with SKYTRAN???
http://www.unimodal.net/index.php?option...
What are OUR leaders thinking??
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html...
Posted by DontSpamMeBro on July 6, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Said it before, I'll say it again - The engineers who designed the I-526 merge and the Ashley Phosphate merge should be taken out and shot for utter incompetence.
Posted by trod1 on July 6, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Traffic isnt that bad around here compared to a major city.leave a little earlier for work everyone tries to go between 630 and 800.i leave at 6 and im in mt pleasant in 20-25 minutes .
Posted by lowcountrylover on July 6, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY CHARLESTON, BERKELEY,DORCHESTER COUNTIES. YA DON'T HAVE TO INVENT A SYSTEM. HAVE THE LEADERS EVER GONE ANYWHERE? JUST DO SOMETHING. TAKE A TRIP TO ATLANTA, D.C., LA. GET AHEAD OR THE CURVE FOR A CHANGE. OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE BY OTHER CITIES. WAKE THE HELL UP!
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea...WAKE UP and look here!!!
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html...
http://www.unimodal.net/index.php?option...
Egypt has the pyramids...We Want SKYTRAN !!!!!
Posted by cpanther515 on July 6, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlotte, NC did light rail for the most part on existing rail lines and it has execeded all estimates for ridership.
Posted by CharlestonJim on July 6, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by trod1 on July 6, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CharlestonJim on July 6, 2008 at 3:44 a.m. As long as Dorchester and Berkeley Counties, and the towns of North Charleston and Mt. Pleasant.please man get over yourself.
Every decent paying job isnt down town maybe you should actually do some research.
Well, I feel better after reading all of the other post hat take my side and agree with me. Also, if these people aren't going to work on 26 and then going home.... where are they going at 830 and 530? To the wonderful ice cream shops downtown? You see the flood of people coming into West Ashley to work every morning as 526 backs up 3-4 light changes to get on Sav Highway. You see it crowd up at 500pm at the 526-26 interchange as these people go home. The 500 lawyers and 200 accountants plus St Fran should really look into staggering their start and finsish times, as we all should. 9-5 not being so rigid would really, really help things, as would 4 "10 hour" days on a staggered basis. This way, offices can remain open 5 days, but with fewer people per shift. It would keep us off the road a day a week, and change our rush hour driving times. It is a win win win win win. People who want the change could be the only ones who have to do it. There would be plenty of people who want it.
Posted by whycantitbebetterhere on July 6, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
None of you have seemed to notice that you have one of the lowest gasoline tax rates for road building and construction in the United States. Perhaps the roads would all make more sense if all of the plans for needed work had not been placed on the shelf twenty years ago when they were developed and couldn't be funded. SCDOT "owns" ALL of the roads and is responsible for their maintenance and upgrading. Do you even know who your Highway Commissioner is? Do you even know how underfunded roads, not to mention mass transit, is in this state? Ever been to a meeting where they decide this stuff? Even know where the meeting is? Bet you have no IDEA whatsoever. South Carolina is probably dead last again. You don't pay any taxes to support roads, so, you've gotten what you paid for. Meanwhile, all of your legislators won't increase the funding (gas tax), because they are chicken of "you" and of not getting re-elected because they raised taxes.
Posted by trod1 on July 6, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are plenty of jobs that pay decent outside of downtown .most of the jobs downtown are service related or tourism related good for the owners. not so good for the surrounding communities.there are plenty of 50k to six figure jobs in the surrounding areas alot of people don't have the skills to do them several business parks are being built to accommodate more business ..as far as Dorchester county they have started to limit growth.research would have told you this.downtown traffic will always be a problem due to the historical properties and nature of the city.road design elsewhere is a problem only our elected officials would build a 6 lane road to feed into a two lane road.artery systems never work .we always build to little to late when it comes to roads in this area.just look up around Greenville they have been working on the roads there for a decade.unlike here where is a few years then stop then another patch then stop.our local officials have been screwing up the roads here for at least 3 decades i can remember and will continue to do so as long as we let them.
Posted by trod1 on July 6, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/usgastaxes....
Posted by zoomru on July 6, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The federal gas tax is more than enough to upkeep our roads...don't give us that more tax CRAP!!! We are talking mass transit anyway. The Legislators ARE chicken alright....chicken of doing the RIGHT thing. They would rather RAIL, COAL, GAS, and Paving Lobbyists preen those couple of tail feathers they have left than be REAL... Gutsy LEADERS with vision. We still have landfills when we have technology to never have one at ALL. We don't have windfarms but yet we have coastal WIND. We have exsisting street, highway, rail, and powerline easements for an Elevated Mag-Lev Mass transit system to solve public and school bussing but they are "cowering" to lead on any ONE thing.
Posted by clubracergt1 on July 7, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I admit, I am new(ish) to the Lowcountry area; (Moved from far south side of Chicago 2 1/2 years ago) but all of this bickering about traffic and trains makes no sense to me. It should be very cut and dry. Leave I26 alone. The capacity of this roadway is just fine. Add any kind of mass transit system, ideally rail. It will be used for far more than commuting to work during rush-hour.
Case in point:
I55 from Joliet, IL to Chicago has but 1 more lane than we have here going into downtown, and-probably-4 to 5 times the traffic. It is congested ALL THE TIME (except at about 3-4am). As a result the METRA rail system is always in use. People take the train to go to the museums, aquarium, sporting events, concerts-you get the idea. I would drive 20 minutes to get to a 30-45 minute train ride instead of driving for 2 or more hours to get where I needed to go.
A well-planned rail system would be a wonderful addition to the Lowcountry area. Come out of downtown Summerville into Charleston. Run a line from Columbia, along 26, into downtown with stops at or near the major interchanges. Some have said that trains are all good when they stop in front of their offices. Where that is true, most cities also have bus stations/hubs at major train stations. That solves the issue of getting someone to there job 2 miles away from the train. I know this would require them to fix CARTA; but that needs to be done anyway.
Taxes will go up. Oh, well. They NEED to in order to get some progress into this area. Stop building more homes. Don't be afraid to cut down a few trees. Oh, yeah, zoomru-How much are you getting paid to plug SKYTRAN? Go back to the hippie nation and relax.
Posted by zoomru on July 7, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am getting nothing to PLUG Skytran...zero! I see a solution to more than one problem with a well thought out plan using today's technology... not last century's. Skytran or similar concept would solve school bussing and public transit in one design. It's not just I-26 that is clogged ...people! Do we want to pave and widen every major road in the lowcountry? I am all for developement. Property owners should be able to do what they want with their property. But when tax payers pay for school fuel, CARTA fuel, 300 Million for 9 miles of Road widening, and an additional RAIL LINE? Something SMELLS.?? We need a system that would PAY for itself and skytran or similar is the best solution to date. Are we going to LEAD or follow some OTHER city??
Posted by gcmadness on July 7, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A large percentage of the workforce in downtown lives in the Summerville/Goose Creek/Ladson areas. Most of us live in these towns because we can't afford to live in West Ashley/Mt P/downtown. So a train system would be very beneficial to those of us who live north/west of Charleston. Thanks to rising gas/parking prices, a lot of the support staff/hospitality workers are struggling to get to work. Seems those of you you who make in excess of $100k forgot about us.
Posted by zoomru on July 7, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Consultants already are reviewing plans for commuter rail linking Summerville and Moncks Corner with downtown Charleston. As envisioned, rail lines also would serve North Charleston and Goose Creek.".....
Sounds to me like the Deal with the DEVIL has already been struck.
How are you going to get more people to the beach? Widen those roads too?? Build a train track?? They must be using this to get more RAIL lines built for some business. It definately won't solve our congestion problem.
WHO are these consultants??
Posted by common_sense on July 7, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What works in Atlanta, Boston or DC may not work here. This is an area sealed in by water & marsh on many sides, forcing people to live in specific areas. This also forces employers to have offices in specific areas. If we're to blame anyone for the traffic mess, it is mother nature, for not providing much available land to us except west of town.
Trains are fine & dandy, as long as they are rider-supported. ZERO tax dollars should be used to fund what will eventually be an expensive boondoggle. Face it, we love our cars & will continue to utilize them. 38 mins from downtown to S'ville in the afternoons is NOT a bad commute!
Spend the money on extra lanes on 26 & 526, including HOV lanes from DT to at least Ashley Phosphate. Spend some money on reconstructing the exits on these roads, and build overpasses for traffic on major arteries for at-grade railroad crossings. Widen Hwy 61 & Dorchester Rd. to 17-A.
Money needs to be spent, but definately not on rail. There simply is not a mentality for such here.
I'm just sayin...
Posted by asdpe on July 7, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me chime in, as one more person to state that I"ve used trains/subways in several major cities, and not felt scared, not felt like it was a "haven for criminals", etc. I've ridden them in LA, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York, and other posters here have it right........people DON'T just use them for commuting to and from work. It is used 24/7 for transportation to everything! And for tourists, like we were in all of those cities, we appreciated the fact that we didn't have to rent a car, didn't have to negotiate parking and driving in unfamiliar areas, etc.
Reality---people are here, period. Charleston area is not going to go back to a sleepy small town situation, as much as some of you might like that. Therefore, we've got to make the best of that situation. And no, I'm not a Charleston native, but have been here for 15 years and love the area!
Posted by FindingMyself on July 7, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Zoomru,
CARTA already has routes going to and from most of the popular beaches(Isle of Palms, Folly Beach). With a train system, they could simply get off the train at the appropriate stop, and get on the appropriate bus, just like somebody mentioned with getting people to jobs that aren't directly within working distance of a train station.
I also would like to mention, that yes, perhaps the rail would start with N. Chas, Summerville, and Goose Creek. But that doesn't mean it would end there. Typically, and somewhat understandably, the developers would probably have the rail be in a small area like that, to test the response and how much it would be used. If they see that is working out well, then they would expand the distances and locations that the train is available(perhaps even, as someone said, going to Columbia).
Posted by danser81 on July 11, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe if Charleston would focus on promoting growth in already developed areas and a more "affordable" (term used loosely) housing market closer to the city, then there wouldn't be the traffic nightmare that there is today. Let's be realistic though, the quality of life in Charleston's outlying areas is terrible, so why are so many people relocating to these outlying areas and subjecting themselves to this traffic nightmare anyways? Lightrail only works with integration of transit supportive uses, so without the focus on the broader perspective, the region will just be wasting tax dollars.
Posted by danser81 on July 11, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and for those saying that traffic in Charlotte is worse than Charleston...please tell me you are joking. I have lived and commuted in both cities and can attest that the traffic nightmare is much worse in Charleston because of the lack of connectivity and the fact that it is a peninsula!