FINAL October 2017 GRAND STRAND AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION GSATS 2040 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was developed in collaboration with the following entities: Mark Hoeweler, Director Grand Strand Area Transportation Study 1230 Highmarket Street Georgetown, SC 29440 www.gsats.org ADOPTED DATE The preparation and publication of this report was financed in part through grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. All opinions, findings, and conclusions presented in this report reflect the view of the Plan authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the Federal Highway Administration or the South Carolina Department of Transportation. This page is intentionally blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS Objectives ...................................................................................... 10 1 INTRODUCTION .................................. 1 Goal 5: Modal Choices and Balanced System ................................... 10 Objectives ...................................................................................... 10 MTP Overview ......................................................................... 2 Goal 6: Safety and Security ....................................................... 10 Objectives ...................................................................................... 10 2 PLANNING CONTEXT ........................... 3 Goal 7: Infrastructure Preservation and Maintenance ........................ 10 Purpose of MTP ........................................................................ 3 Objectives ...................................................................................... 10 Background/History of GSATS Region .............................................. 4 Goal 8: Congestion and Reliability ............................................... 10 GSATS Structure and Organization Responsibility ................................ 5 Objectives ...................................................................................... 10 Related Plans/Studies ................................................................ 6 Performance Measures ............................................................. 11 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) .................................................... 6 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) ................................................ 6 4 STUDY AREA CHARACTERISTICS ............ 13 Congestion Management Process (CMP) ..................................................... 6 Demographic Conditions ........................................................... 13 Public Participation ................................................................... 7 Steering Committee ............................................................................ 7 Existing Transportation System ................................................... 15 Public Meetings .................................................................................. 7 Roadways Facilities ........................................................................... 15 Interactive Online Mapping Application ..................................................... 7 Capacity Analysis .............................................................................. 18 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities ............................................................ 21 Consideration of State and Local Plans ............................................ 8 Transit Facilities ............................................................................... 22 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Levels of Service ....................................... 23 3 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND PERFORMANCE Safety Analysis ...................................................................... 24 Vulnerable Road Users ........................................................................ 25 MEASURES ............................................... 9 Hurricane Evacuation .............................................................. 26 Goal 1: Coordinated Land Use and Transportation .............................. 9 Objectives ........................................................................................ 9 5 ROADWAY MOBILITY .......................... 27 Goal 2: Economic Competitiveness ................................................. 9 Objectives ........................................................................................ 9 Project Identification .............................................................. 27 Goal 3: Mobility and System Accessibility ......................................... 9 Project Scoring Criteria ............................................................ 27 Objectives ........................................................................................ 9 GSATS Project Scoring Criteria Breakdown ..................................... 28 Goal 4: Environmental Stewardship .............................................. 10 Traffic Volume and Congestion .............................................................. 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS Public Safety ................................................................................... 28 Air Cargo ............................................................................. 56 Livability ....................................................................................... 28 Financial Viability and Maintenance Cost ................................................. 29 Functional Class (Truck Traffic) ............................................................ 29 9 FINANCING AND IMPLEMENTATION ........ 57 Environmental Impact ........................................................................ 29 Roadway Funding Sources and Revenue Forecasts ............................. 58 Consistency with Local Land Use Plans .................................................... 29 Federal and State Funding Sources ......................................................... 58 Pavement Quality Index, Cost, and Total Reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled* ... 30 Local Funding Source – RIDE III .............................................................. 58 Roadway Recommendations ....................................................... 30 Additional Funding Sources .................................................................. 58 New Construction Recommendations ...................................................... 30 Roadway Revenue Forecast ....................................................... 58 Widening Recommendations ................................................................ 32 Recommended Projects ............................................................ 59 Access Management/Streetscape/Complete Streets Recommendations ............. 34 Project Prioritization ......................................................................... 35 South Carolina Act 114 ............................................................. 65 Project Cost Estimation and Roadway Design Concepts ................................ 41 North Carolina DOT SPOT 4.0 ..................................................... 66 Strategic Corridors Network SC and NC .......................................... 42 GSATS’ Local Input Point Assignment ...................................................... 66 Alternative Funding Strategies .................................................... 67 6 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION .................. 43 Policy Recommendations .......................................................... 67 Overview of Existing Facilities .................................................... 43 System Preservation........................................................................... 67 System Efficiency .............................................................................. 67 East Coast Greenway ............................................................... 44 Safety and Security ............................................................................ 67 Safe Routes to School .............................................................. 46 Travel Demand Management ................................................................ 67 Land Use and Urban Design .................................................................. 68 Active Transportation Recommendations ....................................... 46 Environmental Mitigation ..................................................................... 68 Technology ..................................................................................... 68 7 TRANSIT ........................................ 49 Mobility Needs ....................................................................... 49 Existing Providers ................................................................... 50 APPENDICES Coast RTA Ridership .......................................................................... 50 Appendix A – Public Meeting Summaries Brunswick Transit System .................................................................... 50 Appendix B – Goals and Objectives Technical Memorandum Service Providers Outside GSATS Region .................................................. 50 Appendix C – Performance Measures Technical Memorandum Other Transportation Providers ............................................................. 50 Appendix D – Level of Service Technical Memorandum Appendix E – GSATS Transportation Context Technical Memorandum Future Transit Outlook ............................................................