Last month, we told you about the upcoming Transportation Sales Tax Referendum in Charleston County. This half-cent sales tax continuation would generate $4.25 billion over 25 years and provide critical funding for road projects, public transit, bike and pedestrian improvements and land conservation.

Since our last update, there have been some changes to the allocation of the projected $4.25 billion in revenue. Here is the current breakdown:

• 63.52% ($2.7 billion) on infrastructure
• 20.24% ($860 million) on public transit
• 16.24% ($690 million) on the county’s greenbelt program

Going deeper, 39.95% out of the 63.52% of funds for infrastructure will go toward featured projects. These would include improvements to Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant, the widening of US-17 in West Ashley, a new overpass at the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Durant Avenue in North Charleston and the Battery extension in downtown Charleston. View the 2026 TST Potential Investment Categories and Projects overview for a comprehensive list of projects. Unlike the failed 2024 TST Referendum project list, the 2026 proposal will not include the Mark Clark Expressway extension.

On February 19, Charleston County Council approved a motion to wrap up debate on the first draft of the referendum and begin a month-long public input period.

As members of the business community who live and work in Charleston County, now is the time to make our voices heard and engage local leaders in this critical moment for our region.

Please take a moment to fill out the county’s survey on the first draft of the Transportation Sales Tax referendum and share this link with your friends, family members and colleagues. It is vital that the business community has a say in this process. It should take no more than five minutes to complete.

First and foremost, we must emphasize that this is a Transportation Sales Tax. The transportation needs of Charleston County are extensive and must be the primary focus of this effort.

In your survey responses, we ask that you encourage the Charleston County Council to prioritize road projects and public transit.

The featured projects included in the referendum will alleviate traffic across the county and help people move around. Additionally, investments in public transit will help CARTA continue to expand and implement Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT), which is slated to begin construction next year. LCRT has the potential to transform transportation and the future of development in our region. Without adequate funding from the tax continuation, CARTA would be unable to sustain its current operations.

This is the bottom line: we must fix our roads and fully fund public transit. We ask that you make your voice heard by providing your input on the Transportation Sales Tax and urging the Charleston County Council to make public transit and our roads the top priority of this referendum.

You can submit comments HERE.

The Chamber will continue to monitor the referendum and advocate for the needs of the business community. We will keep you informed as this process unfolds.

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.

Thank you for your continued partnership in advancing policies that support our region’s business community.