Charleston city leaders face a pressing challenge in funding road and intersection upgrades on Johns Island amid worsening traffic from rapid population growth outpacing infrastructure. Many bottlenecks occur on state roads, where South Carolina’s Department of Transportation reports a $42 billion funding gap through 2040 against $70 billion in needs. City Council has until February to decide on a Municipal Improvement District (MID) to levy fees on new developments for local fixes like traffic lights, sidewalks, and pathways.
Funding Proposals
A Municipal Improvement District would reinvest developer fees into Johns Island-specific projects, as Councilman Jim McBride advocates, targeting growth-related infrastructure. Mayor William Cogswell notes the timing limits revenue potential since much commercial development occurred earlier, prompting consideration of a Tax Increment District using rising property values instead. No final decision exists, with public input ongoing after a prior 2021 pause for federal review.
Traffic Impacts
Congestion already deters visits to local businesses, harming the economy, while state funding shortages leave capacity issues unaddressed. Ongoing county efforts, like the $195 million Main Road Corridor project funded by a 2016 half-cent sales tax, focus on phased widening and safety upgrades but fall short for all needs. Proposed sales tax extensions could allocate $225 million more to Johns Island projects such as Maybank Highway widening and roundabouts.
