Isle of Palms is actively exploring solutions to the growing traffic concerns on the island, with the city council considering a comprehensive traffic study to improve transportation on both the island and the Isle of Palms Connector.
Proposed Traffic Study and Concerns
The city council is currently looking into a proposal to conduct a $29,500 traffic study, but Jan Anderson, a councilmember and former registered professional engineer, suggests they should pause the proposal and instead issue a request for proposals for a more thorough study to be conducted next season. Anderson, who has 40 years of experience in traffic studies, emphasized the need for careful planning.
“I’m going to propose that we take a step back and we set up a request for proposal for a more in-depth study that we can do next season,” Anderson said. She argued that starting data collection in the middle of the busy summer season would be ineffective, especially since the traffic challenges are most intense between May and September.
Focus of the Traffic Study
The main focus of the study would be to understand the causes of gridlock on the island and explore how to clear it more efficiently. One of the key locations under consideration for improvement is the intersection of Palm Boulevard and the Isle of Palms Connector, which is the island’s only signal-controlled intersection. Anderson said that the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is already on board with the idea of re-timing the traffic light at this intersection and may even look into reconfiguring it for long-term improvements.
Additionally, Anderson suggested considering short-term solutions like using the shoulder lane on the outgoing side of the IOP Connector to create an extra lane of traffic. This would be subject to permits from SCDOT and would need coordination with neighboring areas like Mount Pleasant.
Community Input on Traffic Concerns
Residents like Amy Ballard, who lives on Isle of Palms, support the idea of a traffic study. She noted how difficult it can be to get around the island in the summer, especially when trying to make dinner plans or reservations due to heavy traffic. Ballard believes action needs to be taken but is unsure about the exact solution.
On the other hand, Jim Gaughan, another resident, said that while traffic can be an inconvenience, it hasn’t significantly impacted his quality of life. He added that living on the island has its advantages, and despite the traffic, the benefits outweigh the problems for many residents.
Future Steps and Council Discussion
Even though residents have different views on the traffic situation, Anderson maintains that improvements are possible. “We can have viable improvements people will actually notice,” she said.
The city council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday night to discuss the next steps. Anderson has stated that while the in-depth study might be postponed until next year, now is the right time to select the company that will conduct the study.
