Construction on South Carolina’s first ever bus rapid transit system is slated to start early next year. Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) will run along the Rivers Avenue corridor, connecting downtown Charleston to Ladson. The effects of this project are potentially transformative, giving residents, workers and visitors a new way to move around, reducing traffic and reshaping the future of development along Rivers Avenue.
The implications of these changes will affect the region for years to come and your input can help inform what comes next.
An infrastructure project of this size presents several opportunities. According to the BCDCOG, the Charleston metro is expected to gain roughly 270,000 new residents by 2045, placing more pressure on the already crowded roadways and inadequate attainable housing supply.
LCRT can provide solutions to these challenges in a multifaceted way. The most direct, immediate impact would be less cars on the road. With the transit line providing a viable alternative to driving, hundreds – even thousands – of vehicles could be taken off one of the most congested corridors in our region. Especially during rush hours, the downstream effect of reduced traffic on Rivers Avenue would help alleviate backups on I-26, I-526 and other vital arteries.
For commuters, LCRT has the opportunity to not just be an alternative, but the superior option for their commute. LCRT buses will have a dedicated lane for the majority of the route and utilize Transit Signal Priority technology to communicate with stoplights, allowing them to get through intersections faster. Buses will also offer Wi-Fi, a useful amenity for workers trying to get a head start on their day or wrap up their to-do list on the way home.
But the second and third order effects of LCRT can have long term impacts on the region. As an alternative to sprawl creeping into parts of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, the transit line would incentivize development along the route. With the right support, transit-oriented development can concentrate growth along the corridor, where infrastructure, water and sewer service, schools and healthcare facilities are already in place.
It’s a model for smart growth that would make our region better prepared, more resilient and strategically address the impacts of growth in places that don’t have the existing infrastructure to support it.
Our region is growing and the communities along the future LCRT corridor will play an important role in what comes next. The choices made now have the opportunity to strengthen existing neighborhoods, support local businesses and guide future development in a way that reflects the people who live and work here.
To help inform their Transit Oriented Development Study, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) has launched two brief surveys—one for residents and one for business owners. If you live or work along the LCRT corridor, we encourage you to take a few minutes to share your perspective.
LCRT TOD Small Business Survey
LCRT TOD Housing Survey
Your voice will help shape the LCRT corridor and the future of growth and development in the Lowcountry as a whole. We hope you will take this opportunity to provide your input.
If you have questions or are interested in getting more involved with the Chamber’s advocacy work, I’m happy to connect. Reach out at jgamble@charlestonchamber.org.
