Baxter-to-Kingsley: SCDOT responds to public’s call that plan include walkers, bikers
There will be some sidewalks. Still, many involved with the road work coming to Fort Mill face questions whether the project will go far enough.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has planned work for I-77 and S.C. 160. The department has proposed three options, all aimed at better traffic flow through altered alignment and limited left turns. The Rock Hill-Fort Mill Area Transportation Study will fund the job.
An RFATS policy committee meeting Friday afternoon was the most recent setting where project leaders heard public comment -- not on driving the intersection, but on getting through it without a car.
“We want to respond to the comments we get from the public, and this has clearly become a key issue to a lot of folks,” said Josh Meetze, assistant program manager with SCDOT.
As of Friday morning a change.org petition urging pedestrian connection from Baxter to Kingsley showed more than 1,200 signatures. Steve Yaffe, a pedestrian path proponent, said the ask is simple.
“We want a pathway to walk and cycle safely,” he said.
Options, he said, could be a six-foot pedestrian lane in the middle of the bridge with a signal at the traffic light, or interstate flyovers. Whatever the option, Yaffe said he believes transportation planners need to consider the health impact of pathways.
“One reason why the Carolinas exceed the national obesity rate is our lack of pathways,” he said. “Kids can’t walk to parks or rec facilities. Highway planners and policymakers just evaluate projects on vehicles throughout, not people throughout.....”
RFATS routinely decides on sidewalk projects funded through federal air quality grants or other sources. Recent large sidewalk projects include new pathways near Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, Indian Land High School in Lancaster County and the Dam Road area of Tega Cay. RFATS and groups like Pennies for Progress also fund sidewalks with larger road projects, as they’re required.
Yet the far larger share of transportation funds goes to evaluate, study and build new or wider roads to move more vehicles.
Liz Duda also wants dedicated space for pedestrians crossing from Baxter to Kingsley. She lives in Tega Cay but supports bike and path access countywide. Duda said she believes a Baxter-to-Kingsley connection helps residents and workers in both areas, plus commuters since more pedestrians won’t have to use their cars.
“Dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians (and) cyclists reduces traffic congestion helping residents, workers and commuters,” she said. “Fewer cars means parking is more accessible so businesses benefit and customers are less frustrated.”
Air quality, physical fitness, mental health (from avoiding traffic), quality of life — Duda said it all improves with pedestrian paths. The challenge is to make the case now when she knows road officials are listening.
“SCDOT needs to add dedicated pedestrian/cycle infrastructure now between Baxter and Kingsley, as it is hard to retrofit a road, and congestion will only get worse,” Duda said.
Meetze said the website set up to share information and take comment, at sc160.project.com, had more than 2,000 visits in its first 10 days. His group got emails and other feedback pushing for pedestrian accommodation. Meetze said he expects more residents to share concerns at a public meeting on Jan. 30.
Meetze said some access issues are certain, others are to be determined.
“We’re definitely going to have sidewalks going across the bridge, because right now there’s nothing to connect both sides of the bridge,” he said. “We’ll definitely implement that. Beyond that we’ll have to kind of look, based on comments we receive at the public meeting plus what alternative we pick.”
Funding will determine what options could be included. Something like a pedestrian path flyover would be far more expensive than more traditional options. Yet any option adding pavement also will come with a cost. Planners say they hear the case for pedestrian use, but the main reason the project is happening is vehicle traffic.
“The primary purpose here is to improve congestion for cars, and once we get that finalized and settled then we’ll look ‘alright, how much budget do we have left?’” Meetze said. “How can we possibly implement bikes and pedestrians?
“We’ll do what we can. But the primary purpose of the project is a congestion improvement project.”
The community can bring comments and concerns to a public meeting Jan. 30 at Real Life Church on Pleasant Road. SCDOT will listen to community members in an open house format from 5 to 7 p.m. The public has through Feb. 14 to submit official comments. Details are available at sc160project.com.
The plan now is to start acquiring right-of-way this fall for the project and start construction in 2022. Recent estimates put the project at about $20 million.
At the policy committee meeting Friday, Chris Herrmann with RFATS laid out state and federal transportation goals that included safety data for non-motorized travel — walkers, bikers, scooters.
“In this area I’d say we’re faring pretty well,” Herrmann said.
RFATS leaders routinely look beyond cars, from pedestrian paths to potential light rail.
“As our area continues to grow, the importance of looking at a road network from a holistic point of view for all users is only going to get more and more important,” Herrmann said.
He said he sees value in putting pedestrian paths where they make sense, or other options that look beyond just moving cars.
“Our area is projected to continue growing at extraordinary rates,” Herrmann said. “We can’t just keep putting cars, more and more, on the roadways. There’s going to have to be other answers to how people move around.”
Transportation leaders say commuting traffic is significant, something they have to plan for in an area right off I-77 and just south of Charlotte. For some in York County, they want to make sure planners are thinking about more than drivers.
“Transportation projects should benefit everyone,” Yaffe said, “not just commuters driving alone.”
