The first major improvement coming out of the Rethink Folly Road plan is a sidewalk in the Commercial Core of Folly Road--between Ellis Creek and Prescott Street. The Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, and Charleston County have all committed to making significant financial contributions and we obtained a complete streets grant of federal money from the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments. Charleston County Transportation took over management of the project from the Town and hired the Reveer Group as engineering consultants.
The Steering Committee had approved a proposal for an eight foot sidewalk on the west side of Folly road running from Ellis Creek to Pittsford Street. Because of difficulties in relocated the power poles in the segment between Camp Road an Pittsford Street, Charleston County Transportation recommended putting the sidewalk on the east side of Folly Road between Camp Road and George Griffith. The Steering Committee recommended that the sidewalk be 7 feet wide in this segment, which will be entirely on existing SCDOT right-of-way. The proposal includes a crosswalk at George Griffith, but the steering committee made it clear that it needs to be a robust and safe crossing. The project also includes a widening and painting of the bike lanes in this area of Folly Road. By keeping the entire sidewalk on SCDOT right-of-way in this segment, more funding will be available to improve the bike lanes and the crosswalk.
The Steering Committee also recommended that the City of Charleston and Charleston County adopt the Town's revision of the Folly Road overlay to include a multi-use path on any new development or redevelopment on Folly Road. The long term goal is to have multi-use paths on both sides of Folly Road from Wappoo Cut to the City of Folly Beach.
Finally, the Steering Committee recommended that the Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the City of Folly Beach hire the Toole Design Group as a consultant to manage the Rethink Folly Road Plan. The intention is not to replace Charleston County Transportation's role in the current or future infrastructure projects, but instead to work on other elements of the plan especially marketing and business outreach. The Town of James Island is managing the consultant contract, with finance being shared by the four constituent governments. Town Council has approved the MOU with Charleston County, the City of Charleston, and Folly Beach and also approved the contract with the Toole Design Group.
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