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Welcome to the BCD Council of Governments digital newsletter. This newsletter is published once a month to bring you highlights of projects and activities being undertaken at the agency. Should you have any questions or would like to request additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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BCDCOG to Participate in National Bike Month
To provide bike safety educational and policy efforts, the League of American Bicyclists encourages communities and individuals to
John Pardee fits a child with a bike helmet at the Charleston Museum's FAM FEST. | promote May as National Bike Month. Throughout the month, the BCDCOG is partnering with the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, Coastal Cyclists, Trident Safe Kids, DHEC, the Summerville Bike & Pedestrian Coalition, and other organizations and government entities on a series of events. These events include a panel discussion of bicycle transportation planning policies with representatives from SCDOT, the City of Charleston, BCDCOG, Charleston County and the Town of James Island. The BCDCOG's educational efforts include bicycle safety training rodeos with children from throughout the region at the Safety Fair hosted by Trident Safe Kids. Bike rodeos, helmet fittings and helmet giveaways were also held at the Charleston Museum's FAM FEST and Charleston County's Earth Day celebration in Park Circle. For more information on how to get involved this year or next, please contact Vonie Gilreath at the BCDCOG office. |
SCDOT HOV/HOT Study Results Released
 SCDOT recently released results of a secondary study conducted to analyze whether High Occupancy Vehicle/High Occupancy Toll (HOV/HOT) lanes are feasible on I-26. The study focused on five Interstate Highway Corridors. Phase 1 was prepared as the preliminary screening using two criteria: presence of both present and future congestion, and physical feasibility, which was assessed via a windshield survey. The Phase 1 study showed that the option of a HOV/HOT lane is a physical possibility on I-26. Phase 2 provided a more detailed evaluation of the I-26 corridor. SCDOT evaluated the AM and PM peak hour congestion and prepared a traffic analysis, which included a carpool component. The study concluded that while there may be future benefits in terms of relieving congestion, the physical feasibility of implementing a design would require significant FHWA approved design exceptions. Further, some short-term, low-cost opportunities could include enhanced transit, regional ridesharing & park-n-ride, vanpooling, and flexible scheduling as an alternative. The full report and Executive Summary can be found on the BCDCOG website. For more information, contact Senior Planner Jeff Burns.
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Dump the Pump Day - June 17, 2010
On June 17, 2010, the BCDCOG will join TriCounty Link, CARTA, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and public transportation systems across the country to celebrate the 5th Annual National "Dump the Pump Day". In these tough economic times with high gas prices, everyone is looking for a way to save money. National "Dump the Pump Day" encourages people to ride public transportation (instead of driving) and save money. Riding public transit is the quickest way to beat high gas prices. The latest APTA Transit Savings Report show that a two car household that downsizes to one car can save, on the average, more than $9,000 a year. The average household spends 18 cent of every dollar on transportation, and 94% of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing.
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BCDCOG Revolving Loan Funds Available
The BCDCOG's Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) currently has funds to loan. The RLF's primary goal is job creation and retention. It is a federally initiated, state-backed program designed to assist businesses whose projects should improve the tri-county economy. Eligible uses for loans include the purchase of equipment and land, and the improvement of real estate and building facilities. The RLF can assist with start-up businesses or the expansion of an existing business. The RLF specializes in gap financing, or resolving cash shortages that would prevent a successful project. Contact us today or visit our website for more information. |
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TIGER II Discretionary Grant Applications Being Solicited | |
The USDOT is soliciting applications for the TIGER II discretionary grant program, a $600 million competitive grant program for surface transportation projects. While very similar to the original TIGER program, there are minor changes (Note: the federal share for selected projects is 80% with the only exception being if the project is in a rural area, in which case it may be funded at 100%, however priority is given to those projects which use federal funds as part of a package of different funding sources). Pre-applications are due on July 16, 2010, and final applications are due on August 23, 2010. The pre-application will include basic information on projects and will be used by DOT to determine eligibility, the presence of the appropriate match and whether NEPA has been initiated. Funding is available to units of government - including state, tribal and local governments, transit agencies, port authorities, MPOs and multi-jurisdictional entities - for capital investments in highway or bridge projects; public transportation projects; passenger and freight rail transportation projects; port infrastructure investments; and intermodal facilities. More information, including a fact sheet and more details are available. COG staff is available for support as needed, please contact Jeff Burns for assistance. |
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TriCounty Link Named Top Rural Transportation Provider
TriCounty Link has been named the Top Rural Transportation  Provider of 2010 in the state by the SC Department of Transportation. The TriCounty Link system is comprised of 9 regular fixed routes and 4 commuter routes that provide services to rural residents of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. The system also includes Medicaid transport, adult daycare transportation, and other various contracts with private companies. In choosing TriCounty Link as the top rural public transportation provider, SCDOT emphasized TriCounty Link's cooperative program with CARTA. Passengers who use TriCounty Link pay only one fare even if they need to transfer onto a CARTA bus to get to their final destination. The system is reciprocal if CARTA passengers need to use a TriCounty Link shuttle. Please join us in congratulating TriCounty Link as Top Rural Transportation Provider of 2010. |
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Planning Training Opportunities Available
The BCDCOG will continue to provide planners and planning and zoning officials with the chance to earn credit hours for attending training. The Friday series of continuing education webcasts at the COG will continue through the summer. In addition, the COG will host a 6-credit hour orientation program on June 18th for newly appointed
planning/zoning board and commission members, as well as staff. Please contact Kathryn Basha for more information.
BCDCOG
Participates in MUSC Earth Day Event
The BCDCOG participated in the MUSC Earth Day event to promote sustainable living practices including carpooling using the BCDCOG TridentRideshare program, taking transit, or bicycling and/or walking to work. While employees and community members walked around obtaining information on recycling and other green strategies from government and business groups, MUSC President Raymond Greenberg participated in a panel discussing MUSC's efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of every patient and employee at MUSC. To read about MUSC's recycling and sustainability efforts, please click here. | |
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