Transportation Funding

There are various sources of funding for transportation projects.  Click here for an overview.  The funding sources include

• CHATS:  Charleston Area Transportation Study
• CTC:  Charleston County Transportation Committee, aka "C" funds
• Federal Guideshare
• STIB:  SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank
• TST:  Transportation Sales Tax (see below)

Charleston County utilizes two funding sources for pavement management. 

• “C Funds” which are dollars generated by the State’s 28 cents/gallon gasoline tax (some of which is obligated for C Funds) and allocated specifically for road resurfacing projects. SCDOT obligates “C” funds to the Charleston County Transportation Committee (CTC) each year and historically the CTC allocates between $3 and $3.5 million per year for resurfacing.

• The County’s Transportation Sales Tax (TST) Program in which $5 million per year is allocated for resurfacing contracts, with half of that being performed on state-owned roads selected by the SCDOT.  This is part of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Charleston County and the SCDOT that was developed at the conception of the program. 

This tax was defeated by a margin of 50.7% to 49.3%

Voters passed this tax by a margin on 50.4% to 49.6%.  It was subsequently voided by the South Carolina Supreme County due to irregularities in the referendum process.

The 2004 tax was for $1,303,360,000 and was to last for 25 years.  Greenbelts were allocated $221,571,200 (17%).  Up to $113 million could be bonded.  The referendum passed by 59% to 41%.  

The projects listed in the ordinance, but not in the referendum, were:  

• Widening and improvement of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard from the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge to the I-526 overpass

• Glenn McConnell Parkway/Bees Ferry Road Intersection improvements

• Road improvements on James Island (Folly Road and Maybank Highway intersection improvements, Harbor View Road Improvements, and an off-ramp interchange loop from the James Island Connector to Folly Road)

• US Highway 17 access ramp onto the US Highway 61 connector near Wesley Drive

• Roadway connecting Ashley Phosphate  Road and the Palmetto Parkway through Spartan Blvd

This referendum was only to approve additional bonding for the 2004 tax (TST1).  The bonding was $205 million for roads and $95 million for Greenbelts, for a total of $300 million.  The referendum passed by a 3:1 vote.

The projects, which were listed in both the ordinance and in the referendum, were: 

• Widening and improvements to US Route 17/Johnnie Dodds Boulevard from the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge to the Interstate I-526 Overpass 

• Folly Road (SC 171)/Maybank Highway (SC 700) Intersection Improvements 

• James Island Connector (SC 30) Interchange Loop to Folly Road (SC 171) 

• Harbor View Road (S-1028) Improvements 

• Interstate I-526 Loop Ramp to Glenn McConnell Parkway (SC 61 Spur) 

• Bees Ferry Road (s-57) widening from US Route 17 to Ashley River Road (SC 61) 

• Folly Road (SC 171)/Camp Road (s-28) Intersection Improvements 

• Future Drive extension to Ladson Road and the extension of Northside Drive 

• Maybank Highway (SC 700) widening from proposed I-526/Mark Clark interchange to Bohicket Road/Main Road (S-20) 

• Roadway Improvements in the Medical University area including Lockwood Drive (S404), Courtenay Drive (S-550), and Bee Street (S-551) with additional improvements at the Courtenay Drive intersections with Calhoun Street (S-404) and Spring Street

The 2016 tax was for $2.1 billion and was to last for 25 years.  Greenbelts were allocated $210 million (10%).  Up to $200 million could be bonded.  The referendum passed by a 51.6% to 48.4% vote.

The projects listed in the ordinance, but not in the referendum, were:  

Projects of regional significance: 

• Airport Area Roads Improvements [Airport Connector Road, Palmetto Commerce Interchange, Palmetto Commerce Parkway Phase 3 [PCP Phase 3 funding moved to TST3]]

• Dorchester Road Widening Michaux Parkway to County line  [Funding moved to TST3]

• US 17 at Main Road flyover and widening Main Road from Bees Ferry to Betsy Kerrison with Parkway type section at Bohicket [Segment A, Segment B, Segment C.  Segment C defunded].

Projects of local significance: 

• Glenn McConnell Parkway Widening

• James Island Intersection and Pedestrian Improvements [Central Park and Riverland Drive, Fort Johnson Road and Camp Road, Fort Johnson Road and Secessionville Road, Folly Road]

• Northside Drive Realignment at Ashley Phosphate Road [Defunded]

• Savannah Highway/Ashley River Bridges/Crosstown Congestion Infrastructure Improvements

• Savannah Highway Capacity and Intersection Improvements

• SC 41 Improvements / US 17 to Wando Bridge

• US 78 Improvements from US 52 to County line [Funding moved to TST3]

The 2024 tax was proposed for $5.4 billion and was to last for 25 years.  Greenbelts were allocated $432 million (8%).  Up to $1 billion million could be bonded.  The referendum failed by a 61.45% to 38.55% vote.

The projects listed in the ordinance, but not in the referendum, were:  

Priority Project: Mark Clark Extension

Other Projects: 

• Rivers Avenue Mobility Improvements

• Northbridge Bicycle Pedestrian Improvements

• Mall Drive Improvements

• South US 17 Corridor Improvements from Dobbin Road to Main Road

• Glenn McConnell Overpass at Magwood Drive

• Ashley River Road Corridor Improvements from Bees Ferry Road to Old Parsonage Road

• US 17 / SC 61 Exit Ramp Improvements

• Maybank Highway Corridor Improvements from Bohicket Road to River Road

• Maybank Highway Corridor Improvements from River Road to Stono River Bridge 

• Folly Road Bicycle Pedestrian Improvements including Sol Legare Road

• Long Point Road Corridor Improvements from Whipple Road to US 17

• Darrell Creek Trail Realignment 

• Carryover Projects [Palmetto Commerce Parkway Phase 3, Dorchester Road Widening Michaux Parkway to County line, US 78 Improvements from US 52 to County line]