Central Park and Riverland Drive: A Longstanding Problem

The intersection at Central Park and Riverland Drive has been a serious problem for years.   Both Central Park Road and Riverland Drive are owned by the state government, so any improvements to the intersection must be approved by SCDOT.   Fortunately, SCDOT sometimes funds safety projects on James Island.  (For example, they are funding the new roundabout at Camp and Riverland as a safety project.)

The portion of Riverland Drive running through the intersection at Central Park Road is under City of Charleston jurisdiction as are the parcels on the southeast corner--the storefront currently housing a church.   This means that any change in the intersection must also be approved by the City of Charleston.

Up until 2011, the parcel across Riverland from Central Park and the large vacant parcel on the northeast side were in the Town as was Central Park Road.   This meant that the Town would have had to approve any improvement to the intersection as well.

After the Town was closed down in 2011, its areas of jurisdiction returned to unincorporated Charleston County.  Because this area is separated from the rest of the Town by areas annexed by the City of Charleston, it was not included in 2012.  It continues to be under the jurisdiction of Charleston County.

SCDOT proposed a safety project for the Central Park and Riverland Drive intersection.   I asked the Town's Public Works Coordinator, and he told me that everything was still moving forward as of the summer.   It involved turn lanes and a traffic signal.

Rumor has it that there was an internal dispute at the City of Charleston with the Transportation Department favoring approval but the Planning Department opposing the project because of the impact on grand trees.  My understanding is that recently SCDOT cancelled the project.

I will ask that this matter be put on the agenda for the spring meeting of the James Island Intergovernmental Council.  The meeting isn't scheduled yet, but it should be in March or April.

James Islanders who favor this project and who live in the City should contact their members of City Council.   This would be Councilman Gregory, Councilwoman Wilson, and Councilman Moody.  The intersection is in Councilman Gregory's district.   Because of the key role of SCDOT, it is important to bring in our State Representatives, especially Senator Thurmond and Representative McCoy whose districts include the intersection.  Since a portion of the intersection is in Charleston County, County Council members are also involved.   It is in Councilwoman Anna Johnson's district, though County Councilman Joe Qualey has also shown interest in the project.

One of my key goals is for the Town to be reunited, and if we were, it would be the Town that would have responsibility rather that Charleston County.  Or more exactly, the Town would be sharing responsibility for this decision with State government and the City of Charleston.    The Town had sought improvements for this intersection for many years.   I was very happy that it was moving forward.  I was shocked and appalled that it has been cancelled.