Official Sunset Sidewalk Project Slated to Begin

Richland County residents are invited to share comments about the proposed Transportation Penny Referendum during a public hearing at County Council’s July 9 meeting. The referendum must pass three readings before it can be included on the November General Election ballot. A third reading is scheduled for July 16.

In October 2023, Council approved a resolution authorizing County staff to prepare for a Transportation Sales Tax referendum. Council passed a first reading of the referendum on April 9 and a second reading on May 14.

The projected revenue from a potential new Penny collected over 25 years or until the maximum revenue is received, whichever comes first, is estimated at $4.5 billion. During the second reading, Council voted to allocate 50% to County advancement projects, 30% to community investment projects, and 20% to Comet-related enhancements. The motion also included a minimum of $20 million for each Council district that could be spent on advancement or investment projects.

“It is important for residents to understand that the vote is not yet final, and we want to hear from our constituents about transportation needs in their respective communities,” said Richland County Council Chairwoman Jesica Mackey, District 9. “We understand the frustrations of the first Penny, and my colleagues and I are committed to full transparency in this process. We have and will continue to be
diligent in our efforts.”

The current Penny program, a one-percent sales tax that was approved by voters in 2012 has, to date, funded over $700 million of $1.07 billion projects in Richland County, for road improvements, sidewalks,
and greenways, as well as the Midlands public transportation system, The COMET. Over 120 miles of roads have been resurfaced, 85 dirt roads have been paved, and eleven new intersections have been constructed.

Additionally, the Penny has been instrumental in creating more than 6,500 employment opportunities and has contributed an estimated $400 million in wages to workers across the County, which has played a significant role in improving the overall standard of living. Over the last decade, there has been over $4.7 billion in new economic investment, which has led to a sixty percent decrease in unemployment rates, 20,000 new jobs, and 4,000 new businesses.

Mackey adds that the Penny program has afforded the County opportunities to make significant improvements to infrastructure which otherwise may not have been possible – paving the way for economic development and job creation. “Richland County residents have benefited from increased mobility, safer roadways, and overall higher quality of life as a result of their investment in the community. I applaud this Council for their commitment to this program and their transparency as we navigate its trials and successes,” Mackey said.

Residents who cannot attend the July 9 public hearing but would like to have their voices heard may email comments to transportationpenny@richlandcountysc.gov to be included in the record. The deadline to submit written comments is 5 p.m. July 5.

Additional information about the Transportation Penny including current projects and future plans, as well as recordings of public meetings can be found on the Penny website. Residents may also sign up for the Penny Tax newsletter and request a speaker by visiting the website.

Richland County staff have begun discussing accomplishments of the Transportation Penny program at community meetings throughout the County. The meetings provide a forum for residents to ask questions and voice their concerns on the development of various Penny projects.

On April 23, County Council participated in the second of four Transportation Improvement Work Sessions, where they reviewed information from a recent transportation needs assessment and discussed next steps. Watch a video from the April session and set your calendars for the next one, set for 2 p.m. June 25.

The Alpine Road Sidewalk and Road Resurfacing project has begun. Crews started preliminary work on the sidewalk in April. It will cover more than two miles and connect S.C. Highway 12 (Percival Road)

to U.S. 1 (Two Notch Road). The resurfacing work is planned tobegin mid-June.

An added benefit of the new sidewalk is the connection to the
Polo Road sidewalk or “shared-use path,” another Penny project completed in 2021. This path stretches 9,000 feet past Polo Elementary School, ending at Mallet Hill Road and the Richland County Recreation Department Sports Field Complex. These two Penny-funded projects will provide more than 3.7 miles of pedestrian improvements, increasing safety and enhancing quality of life for area residents.

The Alpine Road project has an estimated budget of $4.3 million, including some S.C. Department of Transportation resurfacing funds. The anticipated completion date is September 2024.

Find detailed information on active and completed Transportation Penny Projects here.

A ceremonial groundbreaking and press conference on March 26 with County Councilmembers kicked off of the $5.2M Transportation Penny project that will bring enhancements to the area including road paving, upgraded utilities, and construction of a 5-foot-wide sidewalk.

The sidewalk plus curb and gutter work will provide safety for pedestrians using the 0.75-mile long path running from Makeway Drive, near River Drive, to Elmhurst Road, near North Main Street.

“This is the first time a pedestrian improvement has been designed for this area. The project design will provide pedestrians safe access to area neighborhoods, schools and local commerce from Broad River Road to Main Street,” said Transportation Penny Program Director Mike Maloney.

The project scope also involves a nearby water line and adds structures to improve drainage along the corridor, including improvements for driveways and a retaining wall at the culvert.

No lane closures are expected for the area, but drivers should expect a temporary detour while work is ongoing. The County will release more details on a timeframe for the detour when they become available.

The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025.

County Council voted to approve the start of the Atlas Road Widening project during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 9. The scope of this Transportation Penny project for District 10 and District 11 focuses on widening the current two-lane road to a five-lane roadway, separated by a 15-foot median from Shop Road (SC 768) to Garners Ferry Road (US 76).

Pedestrian improvements between Bluff and Shop roads are also part of the project. New sidewalks will be constructed on both sides of the road. Four-foot bike lanes will provide safe passage for cyclists. Drainage installation, curb and gutter, traffic signals, and erosion control design are just a few infrastructure elements that are part of the projected $37 million budget, funded by your Transportation Penny. Once started, the construction is anticipated to take 36 months, with a target completion date in January 2027.

In January, Richland County began holding community meetings in each of the 11 Council districts to present completed and upcoming transportation projects slated for the coming year. Residents were invited to attend these drop-in discussions, submit questions about the projects, and provide perspective on what community needs were most pressing.

 Councilmembers and County staff helped answer questions and spark discussion during the open forums, which were hosted by Stantec LLC, a consulting group charged with capturing community input and concerns to inform a County-wide assessment on transportation needs.

 This information is also being leveraged as content for a new “Transportation Road Map.” This will be an online resource to share answers to frequently asked questions, news and presentations outlining community needs, and video from work sessions between County Council, Transportation Penny Department leadership, and representatives of the consulting group. The goal of this work is a detailed, well-informed needs assessment of community transportation improvements that will enhance residents’ safety and quality of life and best position the County for smart growth and development in the future.

Driving the winding, wooded portion of Columbia’s Sunset Drive between Elmhurst Road and River Drive can make you feel like you’re suddenly driving through a scenic byway in the foothills. That peaceful drive can quickly turn into a busy byway and convenient connector for traffic traveling to and from Broad River Road, Main Street and I-277. The road is also useful for pedestrians, but narrow shoulders on both sides makes walking roadside somewhat treacherous.

Your Transportation Penny is providing a solution to this issue. Starting in March, construction of a new sidewalk will begin.

The focus of the Sunset Drive Sidewalk Project is the creation of 5-foot-wide sidewalk that will stretch for .75 miles from Makeway Drive to Elmhurst Road. Also considered a neighborhood improvement project, driveways along the walk will be enhanced, new drainage structures will be installed along the corridor and water lines will be properly relocated. There will also be a retaining wall constructed at the culvert. The budget allotted for this Penny Project is $5.2 million.

“This is the first time a pedestrian improvement has been designed for this area. The project design will provide pedestrians safe access to area neighborhoods, schools, and local commerce from Broad River Road to Main Street,” said Transportation Penny Program Director Mike Maloney.

The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025.