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.
Tuesday, September 21
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!
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!
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.
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.
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?
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?
 |
| 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?
Monday, August 30
What I Learned on My Summer Vacation
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| Brisbane is a mostly a young city with decent architecture. |
I visited Australia and I am very excited to share what I saw. [Yes, this is work-related]
I saw bicycles, catamarans, buses, trains, pedestrian bridges, taxis, hints of bicycle sharing, pedestrian only streets and parks (which I might highlight parks with a follow-up blog). Where did I see all this? The beautiful City of Brisbane, located in the southeast corner of Queensland on the country's east coast.
The city is a big one! The country's third largest city has over one million people spread over an area of 727 sq. mi. That's not quite as big as the entire Florence County area which is 799 sq. mi., but a lot more density than the whole Pee Dee region combined.
Mostly, I wanted to share photos that I took while tooling around the City and I'll describe what I could gather from my exploration. And, of course, if driving on the wrong side of the road has you worried, be comforted by the following alternatives...
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| Queen Street has been converted into a pedestrian street. No bicycles allowed. Note the overhangs to protect pedestrians from the weather. Mid-block cut-throughs were common as were shopping center-sized 'arcades'. The bus depot is located on the next parallel block consisting of a close series of designated stops. |
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| CityCycle is a new program just starting for the City and some surrounding suburbs. Shown here is one of the pick-up, drop-off locations. In theory, a small fee would allow you to rent a bicycle. A rechargeable 'Go' card allows you get discounted prices to ride the bus, train, catamaran and utilize this service. |
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| This is a pedestrian only bridge over Brisbane River. It connects the Queensland Technical College and Botanical Garden area to an neighborhood of green space, cafes, shops, apartments and offices. Note the bulb out portion of the bridge - there was a cafe there, too. |
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| Probably one of the most exciting ways to travel was by catamaran. Since the Brisbane River connected the heart of the city as seen in the right of this photo to the arts district, Queensland University, Technical College, residences, shopping and parks, the catamaran was an efficient and fun way to travel or commute. |
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| If you are still reading, then all these pictures were not just fun to do. In fact, this is what I would refer to as a technical photo. Yes, as a planner, this photo would be considered to embody the very intention of a complete street. Note on the left side of the photo the pedestrian walk including sitting areas, curb-outs for parking, bollards that protect pedestrians from vehicles and, what is that??; oh, trees and landscaping. Nice! Even the road where the peds cross is raised and has a different texture. Also noteworthy is the layout of the area: apartments to the right and to the left a large area park complete with gardens, main lawn, picnic area and amphitheater! |
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| Pedestrian walkways along the Brisbane River within a park setting. Bougainvillea are trained to the sculpture-like boundary. One of these parks included an artificial beach and water playground. |
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| A riverside promenade. This turned into a roadway of bicycles, pedestrians and runners in the morning and afternoon hours. Note the sign which explains that walkers should stay left for bicycles to pass. Bicyclists use bells to make known of passing, too. Storey Bridge in the background includes a pedestrian lane - plus for fun, you can walk on the top! |
Well, there you have it for now. I have a lot more photos; and hopefully, I can compile some that show the importance of public spaces, which Brisbane is full of. Until then, tell me what you think about these amenities and how we could possible integrate here.
Tuesday, August 17
PDRTA Continues to Expand Service
The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority is now providing a DART bus service to the City of Darlington. Let it be known that their stone gathers no moss! This service began August 16th and free rides are available through August 27th.
The residents of Darlington voiced their concerns about the lack of transit in this area and PDRTA listened. One major problem was no way for residents to get to doctor appointments or medical care.
DART will operate hourly between 7am and 5pm Monday through Friday. A one-way cash fare of $1 will also be offered.
Senior citizens age 65 and older ride for half price. Those with disabilities, Medicare card holders and children between the ages of 2 and 10 are offered the same half-price fare of $.50. There is no charge for children under age 2.
Route maps and schedules are available online at http://www.pdrta.org/. This information can also be found at the city's water department, the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce and Pearl Street Furniture.
The residents of Darlington voiced their concerns about the lack of transit in this area and PDRTA listened. One major problem was no way for residents to get to doctor appointments or medical care.
DART will operate hourly between 7am and 5pm Monday through Friday. A one-way cash fare of $1 will also be offered.
Senior citizens age 65 and older ride for half price. Those with disabilities, Medicare card holders and children between the ages of 2 and 10 are offered the same half-price fare of $.50. There is no charge for children under age 2.
Route maps and schedules are available online at http://www.pdrta.org/. This information can also be found at the city's water department, the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce and Pearl Street Furniture.
Thursday, August 12
Highway Improvements For Florence County
Over the past several months, have you noticed sidewalk improvements, repaving of roads and maybe even some bridge repairs? These improvements are the result of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The President signed this act in February, 2009 in an effort to improve our State's infrastructure and economy by saving or creating jobs.
The Federal Highway Administration while working with state partners, were able to meet the deadline of March 1, 2010 set by Congress to obligate 100 percent of the Recovery Act stimulus funds. What this means is $26.6 billion was committed to more than 12,000 road, highway and bridge projects across the country. In addition to putting our fellow citizens back to work, these projects are making our communities safer, greener, more livable, less congested and economically stronger.
Another accomplishment as a result of this Act is SCDOT's 2009 Statewide Sidewalk Enhancement Program. Enhancement funding in the amount of $2 million was reserved for sidewalk improvements in each engineering district. These funds are being used to construct new sidewalks and/or upgrade existing sidewalks to insure compliance with the most current standards with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Speaking of new sidewalks or repairs to existing, any suggestions? A representative from the Florence SCDOT office is a member of the Florence Trails Committee. We have begun compiling a list of areas that we feel sidewalks or repairs to existing ones are needed. We will present this list to the local SCDOT representative at our next meeting in October for their review. Of course, any project has federal eligibility requirements and there may be only one or two on our list that qualify, but hey, that's one or two more than we had before.
Send me your suggestions and I'll add them to the list. Even better, come join the Florence Trails Committee. We'd love to have you. You give me the word and I'll add you to the e-mail distribution list.
The Federal Highway Administration while working with state partners, were able to meet the deadline of March 1, 2010 set by Congress to obligate 100 percent of the Recovery Act stimulus funds. What this means is $26.6 billion was committed to more than 12,000 road, highway and bridge projects across the country. In addition to putting our fellow citizens back to work, these projects are making our communities safer, greener, more livable, less congested and economically stronger.
Another accomplishment as a result of this Act is SCDOT's 2009 Statewide Sidewalk Enhancement Program. Enhancement funding in the amount of $2 million was reserved for sidewalk improvements in each engineering district. These funds are being used to construct new sidewalks and/or upgrade existing sidewalks to insure compliance with the most current standards with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Speaking of new sidewalks or repairs to existing, any suggestions? A representative from the Florence SCDOT office is a member of the Florence Trails Committee. We have begun compiling a list of areas that we feel sidewalks or repairs to existing ones are needed. We will present this list to the local SCDOT representative at our next meeting in October for their review. Of course, any project has federal eligibility requirements and there may be only one or two on our list that qualify, but hey, that's one or two more than we had before.
Send me your suggestions and I'll add them to the list. Even better, come join the Florence Trails Committee. We'd love to have you. You give me the word and I'll add you to the e-mail distribution list.
Thursday, July 29
Affordable Housing
South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC State Housing) has been there to aid many low income families, disabled persons and older adults for almost four decades. Their vision is to provide all SC citizens the opportunity to live in safe, decent and affordable housing.
The economy has certainly placed many citizens in a situation that they never thought they would be in. With unemployment resulting in foreclosure, many are faced with the problem of "no where to go".
Affordable Housing may still be a challenge for low income renters. Two questions are asked each year by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
1. Could a full time job at minimum wage today support the affordability of a modest rental unit in the community?
2. How much would a family have to earn to to assure them of quickly finding an affordable rental unit? A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
Fair Market Value(FMV) in South Carolina for a two-bedroom apartment is $675. In order to afford this amount of rent and the utilities without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $2,249 monthly or $26,992 annually. This income level translates into a housing wage of $12.98. This is based on a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year.
The following programs provide assistance for affordable housing and can be found in detail by contacting the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority at http://www.schousing.com/:
1. Mortgage Revenue Bond(MRB)Program
2. South Carolina Housing Trust Fund (HTF)Program
3. HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)Program
4. Multifamily Tax Exempt Bond Program
5. Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)Program
6. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
7. Contract Administration (CA)Program
8. Neighborhood Stabilization (NSP)Program
Definitions:
Cost-burdened: A household is considered cost-burdened when it spends more than 30% of monthly household income on either housing costs or rental costs.
Cost-burdened, Severe: A household is considered severely cost-burdened when it spends more than 50% of monthly household income on either housing costs or rental costs.
Fair Market Rent: A dollar amount set by HUD to determine the costs of renting a modest housing unit in a given market area (state, county, metropolitan statistical area).
Housing Wage: The hourly wage one would need to earn working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year in order to afford the HUD estimated Fair Market Rent for a given area while spending no more than 30% of monthly income on housing costs or rental costs.
HUD: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Low Income: A household is considered of low income when its income is between 51% and 80% of area median income.
Low Income, Very: A household is considered of very low income when its income is between 31% and 50% of area median income.
Low Income, Extremely: A household is considered of extremely low income when its income is 30% of or below area median income.
The economy has certainly placed many citizens in a situation that they never thought they would be in. With unemployment resulting in foreclosure, many are faced with the problem of "no where to go".
Affordable Housing may still be a challenge for low income renters. Two questions are asked each year by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
1. Could a full time job at minimum wage today support the affordability of a modest rental unit in the community?
2. How much would a family have to earn to to assure them of quickly finding an affordable rental unit? A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
Fair Market Value(FMV) in South Carolina for a two-bedroom apartment is $675. In order to afford this amount of rent and the utilities without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $2,249 monthly or $26,992 annually. This income level translates into a housing wage of $12.98. This is based on a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year.
The following programs provide assistance for affordable housing and can be found in detail by contacting the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority at http://www.schousing.com/:
1. Mortgage Revenue Bond(MRB)Program
2. South Carolina Housing Trust Fund (HTF)Program
3. HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)Program
4. Multifamily Tax Exempt Bond Program
5. Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)Program
6. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
7. Contract Administration (CA)Program
8. Neighborhood Stabilization (NSP)Program
Definitions:
Cost-burdened: A household is considered cost-burdened when it spends more than 30% of monthly household income on either housing costs or rental costs.
Cost-burdened, Severe: A household is considered severely cost-burdened when it spends more than 50% of monthly household income on either housing costs or rental costs.
Fair Market Rent: A dollar amount set by HUD to determine the costs of renting a modest housing unit in a given market area (state, county, metropolitan statistical area).
Housing Wage: The hourly wage one would need to earn working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year in order to afford the HUD estimated Fair Market Rent for a given area while spending no more than 30% of monthly income on housing costs or rental costs.
HUD: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Low Income: A household is considered of low income when its income is between 51% and 80% of area median income.
Low Income, Very: A household is considered of very low income when its income is between 31% and 50% of area median income.
Low Income, Extremely: A household is considered of extremely low income when its income is 30% of or below area median income.
For more information, please contact the Housing Authority of Florence at 843.669.4163 or their website at www.hafsc.org. The Lake City Housing Authority can be contacted at 843.374.3541.
Tuesday, July 6
Sustainability, Smart Growth, Livability - WHAT? WHY?
"Sustainable Communities", "Smart Growth", and now "Livability". Phrases we're hearing more and more and will continue to. I don't know exactly how long we've been hearing them, but in doing some research, I found as early as 1998 with the Clinton-Gore Livability Agenda: Building Livable Communities For The 21st Century. If I did an intensive research, I'll bet I'd find these initiatives have been around much longer than that by a different way of communicating them, but the same meaning.
But why are they so important, and what do they mean? Their meanings are similar when it comes to transportation planning. Transportation is a critical link in creating more livable communities. It plays an important role in connecting affordable housing, good jobs, a safe and healthy environment, and strong schools, just to mention a few.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), look favorably on these initiatives regarding funds allocated for transportation planning. DOT's vision is "transportation policies that focus on people and communities who use the transportation system".
In June, 2009, the Partnership for Sustainable Communities was formed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency (EPA). These three agencies have pledged to ensure that housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change.
Listed below are basic explanations of each along with websites containing more detailed information on each:
- Sustainable communities identify a more compact and mixed-use, with a range of transportation options, less sprawl and more compact, walkable communities. (The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sustainability webpage; The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Livable and Sustainable Communities webpage)
- Smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities. (EPA Smart Growth Guide; Smart Growth America website.
- Livability is tying the quality and location of transportation facilities to broader opportunities such as access to good jobs, affordable housing, quality schools, and safe streets. This includes addressing safety and capacity issues on all roads through better planning and design. (The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) DOT Livability website;The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Livability initiative website)
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59; SAFETEA-LU) is a funding and authorization bill that governs federal surface transportation spending. It was signed into law on August 10, 2005 and will expire the end of 2010. Congress is expected to begin working on a replacement bill for the next six-year period soon.
In a press release in April of this year, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) stated that DOT has indicated that livability is among the Administration's top priorities for future transportation funding. Soon it will be up to Congress to determine how "livability" will fit into the next multiyear transportation authorization legislation.
So you see, these phrases are here to stay and the initiatives behind them more than likely will become regulations for transportation funding. That's a good thing though. Just one more option on how to Florence County even better!
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