Thursday, September 30

FLATS Policy Committee Pursues Options

The most recent FLATS (Florence Area Transportation Study) Policy Committee meeting was held this past Monday. The meeting revealed what we can expect regarding transportation in our area and what applications for enhancement grants have been submitted.

Enhancement grants are federal funds most often used for bicyclists facilities, pedestrian facilities, landscaping and scenic beautification such as streetscaping and also preserving the abandoned railway corridors. Eligible applicants include city and county governments in the FLATS area (Darlington County, City of Florence, Florence County and Quinby). SCDOT must approve the local government to manage the project by showing that it has adequate staff to meet federal requirements. The allocated amount for the FLATS area is $117,000 annually.

An enhancement project that prompted discussion was the enhancement of the Cheves St. corridor (shown in turquoise and labelled "A" in the map below) from around the railroad tracks west to Irby St. The City of Florence is investing $1 million in parking north of this street that will support the Performing Arts Center and planned museum. City plans show a change in the number of lanes of this corridor to provide a more pedestrian-friendly environment to downtown and these new facilities. The enhancement grant proposal also includes much needed landscaping and bike lanes.


Renee and Debi did this.
Another option is to enhance the Dargan St. corridor (shown in pink and labeled "B" in the map above). Some of the Committee members mentioned this street may be the focus for enhancement monies. This street is two lanes and begs for beautification that will be inviting to downtown. The Committee has requested City of Florence staff to incorporate Dargan St. in the plan. What is your choice?

Other discussion at the meeting included upgrades to S. Cashua from Second Loop to Knollwood Rd. The question is whether sidewalks should be included in the project in a location where currently has little walking traffic or is walking traffic light because there is no where to walk? With limited area to expand, would a bicycle lane be a better solution in this area? As you can see in the schematic below, lane designation near the shoulder acts as a more significant bicycle accommodation.

Courtesy of SCDOT
The Committee has asked SCDOT to determine a cost savings if sidewalks were omitted from this project. Weighing the pros and cons make for healthy discussions especially when there is a high dollar at stake. We'll talk more at the next FLATS Policy Committee Meeting.

What are your thoughts and concerns on the above projects?

Adventures in Planning

Hello Blogosphere! My name is Elizabeth Ervin, and I’ve been interning at the Florence County Planning and Building Department for almost three months now, and I have to say I’ve learned a lot. I started strictly working in the GIS department, going over the database of Florence County roads with a fine tooth comb to make sure that when firefighters, police officers, EMS, and other first responders head to a sight they have an accurate map to guide them.

A few weeks into my internship, I got asked to help proofread the Transportation Element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Reading this piqued my interest in planning, so I asked Scott if I could help out more often, and he was nice enough to say yes.

Since then, I have gotten to attend meetings on transportation planning, learn planning terminology, and even make a few cool maps that show areas of growth in Florence County. I have been bombarded with new terms and ideas, and have seen firsthand all the work that goes into county planning.

Currently, I am working with a planning program called CommunityViz. CommunityViz allows for the visualization of future patterns of growth based on different scenarios. You can input zoning types, unbuildable areas, current building footprints, and other existing information. Then you can specify certain scenarios, for example changing zoning type or building of new roads or other infrastructure, and the program will predict what will happen to the area in the future. It’s really cool stuff, and especially great because I get to combine GIS with planning! It’s taking some time to figure out, but with the help of Rony (a super-talented GIS Technician), it’s getting there.

Working for the Planning department has been quite an experience so far, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next!

Tuesday, September 21

Eat Smart Move More Florence Chapter

Everyday brings more and more pedestrian friendly events, goals to improve our infrastructure for drivers, walkers and bicyclist and committees formed to educate us on the importance of being given a choice of travel.

The City of Florence is continually researching ways to improve and expand our current Florence Trails System. The Eastern Carolina Community Foundation is constantly looking for grants and stakeholders to contribute to the health and wellbeing of all Pee Dee residents.

The Florence Trails Committee members are always brainstorming...
--where are the areas in need of connectivity to the trail system;
--where are new sidewalks or improvements to existing needed; and
--which roadways are utilized on a daily basis by residents to reach their
point of destination either on foot or by bicycle and what amenities are
needed for this road to make their trip as safe and pleasant as possible???

Of course, it takes money to achieve these brainstorming ideas, which we all know can be few and far between. But hey, at least the ideas are there when the 'green' is available.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has enhanced their regulations on transportation federal funding to promote sustainable, livable, walkable communities. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is on the same page with FHWA, not only promoting these initiatives, but making safety and decreasing traffic congestion a top priority.

The Florence Area Transportation Study (FLATS) receives federal funding for transportation related projects. One of many documents FLATS is required to maintain and update on a regular basis is the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The FY2035 LRTP is in the final draft stages and will be presented to the FLATS Policy Committee on September 27th. The Policy Committee is the decision making body for FLATS. One of the ten chapters in this document regards bicycle and pedestrian facilities (Ch. 6). The entire document can be reviewed on the County Planning Transportation website. Look for more information on the adopted LRTP soon. Lots of information!

Florence County is fortunate to have numerous committees, businesses, schools, and stakeholders, just to name a few, jumping on the bandwagon with FHWA and SCDOT to promote safe, healthy, multi-modal options for us.

I thought you might be interested in learning of a recently formed committee in our area. Florence has just become a 'Certified Chapter' of Eat Smart Move More South Carolina (ESMMSC). The Eat Smart Move More Coalition is a result of a merger of the SC Coalition for Obesity Prevention Efforts (SCCOPE) and the SC Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (SCCPPA). For more information on ESMMSC, check out their website .
The Florence Chapter anticipates their webpage becoming live in the next couple of months. It will be accessible through the ESMMSC website. Make a note to keep visiting this website and check out the things your local chapter is doing in our area.

Monday, September 13

Planning for the Pedestrian

The latest Florence plan for transportation has a significant focus on alternative ways to get around including by foot!

Downtown Florence improvements that lend to pedestrian traffic.

See the urban area plan here and County plan here.

Recent news from the past two months aren't the only indications of conflicts between walkers and drivers. Oftentimes, I personally see pedestrians crossing Irby Street at various locations to access the library, convenience stores or drug stores. On larger roads like Lucas Street, pedestrians use the shoulders to get where they want to go. There are still other clues of pedestrian use just by looking at the worn path along roads such as National Cemetery Road, Pamplico Highway and Palmetto Street. I am making my own path along Cherokee Road!

A road with limited pedestrian capacity.

There is little doubt that walking is an important mode of transportation.

Obviously, news reports on when pedestrian and car mix improperly usually result in a very bad outcome. Forty-five miles per hour and 3800 lbs. versus a 200 lbs person (I use my own weight, not yours) at 3 miles per hour has terrible odds when they meet. I hope I never find out what that feels like; and with those odds, I probably wouldn't. But I digress. There is a long list of issues that may not be readily apparent to a driver. Pedestrians are oftentimes walking in edges of unkempt yards and trash thanks to our faster transported cohorts (that's a whole other blog). Sometimes pedestrians walk uneven shoulders as is the case on Cherokee Road which has a steep side and a more flat side (although State Law says that you must always be on the left for two-lane roads). I opt for the flat side every time although I am not walking against traffic for half the time.
Some shoulders show signs of heavy pedestrian and bicycle use. 

Other issues include the obvious. Why would someone walk when they have a car (that is, if they have a car): it's either a desire to enjoy a walk through the park over waiting for the light to change, or a necessity. I know I contend with speeding traffic whizzing by, hoping they had their cup of coffee and see to avoid me. I hope the grass is mowed and the sprinklers are off as I walk to work. I hope turning vehicles don't mind waiting a few more seconds so I may cross. I hope the sidewalks I find are in good repair. I hope the suicide lane on Irby Street doesn't morph into a merging lane. I hope the temperature is below 75, but I would be asking for too much by that time. I wish Cherokee Road was a bus route.

In fact, if you live in more rural areas of the county, your transportation options are ever more limited and I am sure you would have to deal with higher grass at the least. In order to live outside of municipal limits, one would certainly need access to a car (or a neighbor with a car!). The American Association of Highway Officials (AASHTO) recently reported that improvements are needed to the "rural transportation system to keep agriculture, new energy products, and freight moving; improve access for the travel, recreation, and tourism industries; connect new and emerging cities; and to ensure reliable access to key defense installations..." However, the lack of multi-modal options in the report stirred the National Rural Assembly (along with YouthBuild USA, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), Redwood Coast Rural Action and others.) to counter that "public transit, regional, and inter-modal systems" should be included.

A typical cross-section and traffic of rural roads.

Even through the recent planning process, it's hard to determine the solution of where to utilize limited funds for multi-modal projects. Without much feedback from rural residents, can the assumption be made that everyone has a car there.  Or are rural areas among the only affordable locations to live with transportation continuing to take a bigger share of family income?

PDRTA waiting at the Timmonsville greenway.

Individuals and government agencies consider many factors when planning on that next house to live in or road to improve. What is your perspective on transportation priorities?