Drop-in Event to Highlight Transportation Projects, Resources in County

(Richland PIO) – County residents will soon get the chance to learn about and weigh in on planned improvements for a two-mile stretch of Bluff Road.

A public drop-in meeting highlighting Phase 2 of the County’s Bluff Road Widening Project will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1609 Zion Ave., Columbia. Attendees can review the project’s redesigned plans at their convenience, talk with Richland County Transportation staff about the designs, and give feedback on the project.

Bluff Road Widening Phase 2 involves the following upgrades:

• installing a traffic signal at Bluff Road and Bluff Industrial Boulevard
• resurfacing Bluff Road from National Guard and Berea roads to South Beltline Boulevard
• making intersection improvements as needed, such as turn lanes

Transportation staff have not yet established a timeline for the improvements but aim to begin construction in 2023.

In addition to the meeting June 2, residents can provide input through the following methods:

• Email: transportationpenny@richlandcountysc.gov
• Phone: 803-766-5605
• Mail: Richland County Transportation
  O. Box 192
  Columbia, SC 29202

During the project’s first phase, crews widened Bluff Road to five lanes, adding bicycle and pedestrian accommodations from Rosewood Drive to George Rogers Boulevard. A sidewalk from Rosewood Drive to Bluff Road was also added.

For more about the Bluff Road improvements, visit www.richlandcountysc.gov/transportation or call 844-RCPENNY.

(Richland PIO) – An upcoming event by the County’s Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) aims to get residents up to speed on transportation projects and resources available in the community.

“Maintaining SPEED with Transportation Resources” will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 24 in the entrance plaza outside the County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia. Attendees can speak with County Transportation staff to learn about current and planned projects and try out a Blue Bike, offered by the City of Columbia’s bike share system.

Sign up to attend via Eventbrite: https://maintaining-speed.eventbrite.com.

The drop-in session is part of NIP’s SPEED (Sustainability, Planning, Education, Engagement, Development) effort, a yearlong program featuring events geared toward training and engaging the community.

“This event continues the goals of our SPEED program by educating residents about sustainable modes of transportation and responsible development of our roads and trails in the County,” said Marc Ridlehoover, Richland County neighborhood planner.

In the event of inclement weather, this event will be postponed to a later date.

To keep up with SPEED events year round, visit the County’s website: www.richlandcountysc.gov, and navigate to the Neighborhood Planning events page. For more information, email NIP@richlandcountysc.gov.