Traffic signals are slated to be included as part of the Harbor View Road Improvement Project. They could begin operating as soon as next September. One signal will be at the corner of Fort Sumter and Harbor View Road. The other will be at Mikell Drive and Harbor View Road.
The former Principal of Stiles Point Elementary, Steve Burger, asked Councilman Leonard Blank to include a signal at Mikell Drive. While a traffic signal at Mikell drive had been part of the plan very early, it had been removed from the plan by 2008. Councilman Blank saw that it was included in the planning process in 2010 or 2011 and it became part of what was called "Plan B." Plan B had been developed at the behest of County Councilman Joe Qualey during the period the Town was closed down. There were public meetings about "Plan A," the original plan, and "Plan B" in the spring of 2012. I was very busy with the Town's incorporation election at the time, but I did attend a meeting at Stiles Point Elementary. "Plan B" had more support among the public and County Council changed the Harbor View Road project consistent with plan "B."
By the time the Harbor View Road project was ready to start, the Town was reincorporated. State law requires that projects on SCDOT roads have approval of a municipality if it crosses its jurisdiction. In the summer of 2014, Town Council approved the project on a very contentious 3-2 vote. At that time, the plan included the two traffic signals.
Recently, County Councilman Qualey has been trying delay the full installation of the traffic signal at Mikell Drive. I know that I have had some residents of the area complain about the traffic signals and I am sure he heard the same. The first step of the process was to be a request from the James Island Town Council to reconsider the traffic signal. Only then would County Council decide whether to pursue this course. If the necessary permissions could be obtained from the State and Federal governments, then it would come back to the Town of James Island and the City of Charleston for final approval.
Town Councilman Blank, who had originally championed this traffic signal at Mikell, was open to this delay. He had spoken with a school crossing guard who doesn't like serve where there is also a traffic signal. Apparently, drivers get confused about whether they should obey the signal or the crossing guard. (You are supposed to stop for the crossing guard and school children, even if the light turns green.) Based upon the request by County Councilman Qualey and my discussions with Town Councilman Blank, I placed the issue on the agenda for the last Town meeting.
Councilman Blank wanted to know if the new principal of Stiles Point still wanted the traffic signal. We contacted Mr. Ard and he believes that having a traffic signal at the corner is in the best interests of the school and the children. With that information, there was no interest on Town Council in trying to change the plan (again) at this late date to delay the installation of the traffic signal. At the last Town Council meeting, no action was taken. The plan for the two traffic signals is moving forward as before--as it has since 2012.
I am frequently stuck in traffic in the morning on Harbor View Road. The reason for the backup is that people stop to allow left turns by those coming in on side streets. Once past the last side street before the bridge, North Shore, the traffic moves steadily. The next tie up is on the Connector, with people stopping at the lights on Calhoun.
I think there is at least a chance that rather than each driver deciding whether to be nice and let people in, if there is traffic control then those wanting to turn left do so during the breaks created by the signals. Rather than the constant stops to let people in, people will go with the light is green. I admit that I am not certain it will help. But it is the only element of the project that has a chance to improve the traffic tie ups in the morning. And that is why I have supported the traffic signals. The timing on modern the traffic signals can be controlled.
Can the traffic lights be set to "flashing" during periods when there is little traffic? Perhaps. The traffic signals will be directly under the control of the City of Charleston, but any major changes would require state approval.
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