State of the Penny Offers a Look at Transportation’s Future in Richland County
County Celebrates Neighborhood Connectivity with Sunset Drive Upgrades
A recently finished Richland County Transportation Penny project promises to give safer passage to pedestrians and cyclists while also boosting community connectivity between River Drive and North Main Street in Columbia.
Residents and local officials gathered for a celebratory ribbon cutting Wednesday to mark the completion of a 5-foot-wide sidewalk along the north end of Sunset Drive, from River Drive to Elmhurst Road. The Sunset Drive Sidewalk project also includes enhancements to the roadway and improved curb and gutter, drainage systems, utilities and driveways.
The improvements to the 0.8-mile stretch of Sunset Drive “create connectivity for our neighbors here to get to businesses, restaurants and schools nearby,” said County Council Chairwoman Jesica Mackey. “With this new sidewalk, we do believe that you’ll see increased activity, but most importantly, safety.”
Sunset Drive connects several neighborhoods north of Columbia and is also close to Earlewood Park.
Mike Maloney, director of Public Works for Richland County, said the limited area for right-of-way on Sunset posed challenges for the sidewalk project, which began in 2024. The County ultimately acquired private property to allow room for construction, along with moving a water main and building shoring and retaining walls.
Funded by the Richland County Transportation Penny program, the project cost $5.2 million. For more information on ongoing Penny projects, visit RichlandPenny.com.
State of the Penny Offers a Look at Transportation’s Future in Richland County
Richland County will bring together state and local entities for an upcoming public event focused on the positive impact of the County’s Transportation Penny program, both at present and in the future.
The 2025 State of the Penny address is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 12 in Council Chambers at the Richland County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia. Residents will have the opportunity to learn about Transportation Penny operations, projects and expenditures. Representatives of the County’s Transportation Penny Advisory Committee (TPAC), the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and The COMET will discuss the Penny’s impact on the infrastructure, economy, and quality of life for County residents.
State of the Penny speakers will include:
• Jesica Mackey, County Council Chairwoman
• Paul Livingston, District 4 County Councilman and chair of County Council’s Transportation Ad Hoc Committee
• Mike Maloney, Richland County Public Works Director
• Dr. John Thompson, Assistant County Administrator
• John Black, chair of TPAC
• John Boylston, chief engineer for project delivery, SCDOT
• Maurice Pearl, executive director and CEO, The COMET
Space will be limited at this event, which will stream live on Richland County’s YouTube channel.
Background on the Penny
Richland County’s Transportation Penny Tax program funds much-needed transportation projects across all 11 Council districts. The program is designed to upgrade infrastructure, improve access and safety for pedestrians, create greenways and bikeways, and expand public transit. Penny projects are funded by a 1 percent sales tax residents voted to approve in 2012 and extended by majority vote in November 2024. The latest voter-approved referendum will continue program funding for 25 years or until a maximum revenue of $4.5 billion is collected, whichever comes first.
For more information, follow Richland County Transportation Penny on Facebook. To learn more about the Transportation Penny program, visit www.richlandpenny.com.