When voters in Charleston County go to the polls in November, they might be asked about extending the county’s half-cent Transportation Sales Tax, a measure that would generate $4.25 billion over 25 years for infrastructure projects, public transit and land conservation.

Earlier this week, county officials met to put together an initial draft of the potential referendum. While subject to change, this is the current breakdown of how the revenue generated from the sales tax would be spent:

• 60% ($1.6 billion) on infrastructure
• 20% ($850 million) on public transit
• 15% ($650 million) on the county’s greenbelt program
• 5% ($190 million) on bike and pedestrian improvements

Some of the projects included in this initial proposal are:

• The Battery Extension on the Charleston peninsula to combat flooding and create a linear park connecting West Ashley to Mount Pleasant
• A new overpass at the intersection of Glenn McConnell Parkway and Magwood Drive
• Improvements to Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant to combat flooding and mitigate traffic
• A new overpass at the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Durant Avenue in North Charleston so traffic is no longer disrupted by the rail line
• Construction of the Southern Pitchfork on John’s Island to connect River Road and Maybank Highway

Charleston County Council will continue working on the referendum in the coming weeks ahead of a public input period which will start at the end of this month.

County officials deserve credit for their transparency and robust community outreach efforts throughout this process. During their initial public input campaign last year, they held nearly 70 info sessions and collected over 30,000 comments from residents on their website.

These efforts demonstrate a collaborative approach that focuses on solutions to the challenges that face our rapidly growing region, including a future-ready infrastructure.

The transportation sales tax is a proven, effective avenue to provide funding for key infrastructure projects. With the current sales tax set to expire next year, extending it this November will be vital for our region’s continued success.

Since the transportation sales tax program began in 2004, $4.56 billion has been committed to infrastructure improvements across Charleston County. This has led to 895 miles of roads being paved or resurfaced, 69 intersections getting improved and 49 miles of bike, pedestrian and multi-use paths getting built. It’s also been instrumental for public transit, funding 125 new vehicles for the CARTA fleet and improvements to 146 bus stops across the county. Even one of the most iconic landmarks in Charleston – the Ravenel Bridge – was partially funded by a half-cent sales tax.

As the referendum continues to take shape, the Chamber will remain focused on advocating for the needs of the business community. Advancing our region will require a collaborative approach and when the time comes, the voice of our members will play an important role in that effort. In the meantime, we will continue to keep you informed as this process moves forward.

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.