Reducing Emissions thru Congestion mitigation

BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS ACCOMODATIONS
AND INTERMODAL PLANNING

SCDOT was the first DOT in the southeast to adopt a policy affirming that bicycle and pedestrian accommodations be a routine part of planning, design, construction and operating activities and be included in the everyday operations of our transportation system. Highways are being viewed as more than simply a place for cars and trucks, they are also facilities that will allow for alternative modes of transportation and easier commutes. A prime example of this is the bicycle/pedestrian lane on the new Cooper River Bridge. This lane is separated from traffic and is used by hundreds of people each day.

SCDOT is also identifying and protecting abandoned rail corridors across the state to promote the future use of passenger rail and shared bicycle and pedestrian paths. These modes of transportation have the potential of reducing carbon emissions -promoting good health for the citizens of our state, as well as reducing the green house effect on our environtment.

To further reduce emissions, SCDOT has encouraged Mass Transit providers to install bike racks on buses. This increases mobility for customers and encourages the use of alternative transportation. The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA) has installed bike racks on all of the CMRTA busses and providers throughout the state are beginning to follow their lead. Bike racks have also been installed at the SCDOT Headquarters building in Columbia, encouraging visitors and employees to use two-wheeled transportation- an environmentally friendly free form of transportation.

Intermodal connectivity is another tool we use to enhance transportation, giving travelers more options and improved convenience. SCDOT is developing a 20-year Intermodal Plan that will improve connectivity between highways, airports, bus terminals, seaports, rail, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. By working together with our partners in each of these areas, the state will benefit by having a well thought-out transportation system.

Twenty to twenty-five percent (20-25%) of morning rush hour traffic is attributed to adults driving their children to school. (U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Safe Routes to Schools,” DOT HS 809-497: Sept. 2002, 73.) The South Carolina Safe Routes to School Program provides guidance and funding to make walking and cycling more appealing transportation alternatives for students in kindergarten through eighth grades. By enabling and encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school, we reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. The Safe Routes to School Program also explores reducing the number of children that must be bused within a reasonable walking distance, encourages carpooling, and proposes no idling policies in school pick-up lines.

Safe Routes to School - Children safely crossing school crosswalk.