Boundary Street road ‘diet’ latest proposal for change
BEAUFORT – A presentation two weeks ago by the county’s planning engineers has stirred comments from the citizenry and a call for more details from the city’s elected officials.
The county planners who are working with both the city and Port Royal to improve traffic in this rapidly developing little corner of the Lowcountry, came up with a proposal to experiment with lane changes on a small 12-block section of Boundary Street. The new idea is called a “road diet” in transportation jargon because it would reduce the four lanes from Ribaut Road to Bellamy Curve to two lanes.
There would be two lanes for traffic with a middle turning lane along the major thoroughfare. The proposal is to try the plan for six months, to see how it works.
The planners say the changes, which would be done by re-striping the road, would give them an opportunity to gauge impacts on traffic. Would vehicles slow down but traffic still flow efficiently?
They also want to see if the same concept of road “dieting” would work on Ribaut Road where the same sort of lane narrowing has been proposed through the northern, residential section. That suggestion, even with two new traffic circles proposed to improve flow, has not been met with public enthusiasm.
That project, in case you’ve forgotten, is part of what was called “Reimagine Ribaut Road,” which now has officially seen the word “reimagine” removed. There was a feeling among the elected officials that the word “reimagine” had become a red flag target for those opposed who think it’s a crazy idea.
But even if we’re not to say “reimagine,” changes are in the works. Beaufort city officials have said they want more information about the proposed “diet” for Boundary. And that’s always a good response from your elected officials. More information should lead to better decisions.
In November, county voters will be asked to make a decision on a 1% sales tax projected to raise $1.6 billion over a 15-year period. The revenues could be used to pay for some changes citizens have been talking about for years – like placing utility lines underground or a comprehensive study of a third bridge crossing between Lady’s Island and Beaufort, and like the improvements Port Royal officials want to see for their end of Ribaut Road.
So, before the Boundary Street “diet” plan is killed before it gets started, reflect for a minute on how long folks have been asking our local officials to “do something” about the traffic congestion. This appears to be an example of the professionals trying to do something … which includes trying to make everyone happy. And we all know how impossible that can be.
Proposed Boundary Street parallel road – is it a ‘dead deal?’
BEAUFORT – On the subject of road planning, Beaufort City Council did a bit of that at their recent retreat although the proposed “diet” for Boundary Street wasn’t on the agenda.
Instead, at the very end of their two-day exercise, the elected officials tackled the much-debated proposed Boundary Street parallel road that never got built.
The parallel road, which was part of the Boundary Street Redevelopment Project adopted by the City Council in 2009, was proposed as an alternate east-west route to relieve some of the congestion between the Robert Smalls Parkway/S.C. 170 intersection and Ribaut Road intersection.
The road never got built because the City Council at the time never formerly adopted a specific roadway plan for one reason or another, including the fact the proposed route went through the Riverview Baptist Church.
Starting late last year, we’ve seen a major new residential project, PinTail Pointe with 84 “affordable” apartments under construction where the parallel road would have gone and … guess what? Now, a second apartment complex, Carrington Manor, next to PinTail Point is about to begin construction.
Yes, another 64- unit “affordable” apartment complex for 55 and older residents will soon be under construction, meaning those drivers will be joining residents of the PinTail Apartment complex in turning right onto Boundary Street when it’s time to go to work. Same for guests at the Holiday Inn and SpringHill Suites Hotel. No left-hand turns or stoplight there.
The new apartment projects, just like the SpringHill Suites, the Chipotle drive-thru and other new buildings within the Boundary Street Redevelopment District, were approved in 2022 under provisions of the development district agreement which meant the developers didn’t have to go through the city’s Design Review Board.
The planning staff had authority over these 4- and 5-story buildings which create something of a “canyon” effect as you drive west down Boundary. Of course, drivers have the option of looking to the south at the newly created open space, the 1st South Carolina Volunteers Park, but taking one’s eyes off the road along there is certainly not recommended.
As to the Council’s discussion about the future of a parallel road, it got kicked down the proverbial road.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
