SCDOT Launches Public Information Meeting Website for Proposed Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project in Columbia

Public Input is Requested Through Nov. 11 on Alternatives

to Relieve Rail-Related Traffic Delays

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), today launched an online public information meeting for a proposed project that would reduce traffic congestion due to train crossings along and near Assembly Street south of downtown Columbia. The online meeting for the Assembly Street Railroad Separation project provides the opportunity for the public to review the preliminary alternatives for the project's design and make comments through the project website.

Citizens are encouraged to visit the website at http://assemblystreetrailproject.com and submit comments from October 12 through November 11, 2020. The public information meeting is being held online for health safety reasons.

SCDOT proposes roadway and rail improvements, including multiple road and rail crossing separations, along and near Assembly Street south of downtown. The proposed project study area is bounded by Blossom Street to the north, Pickens Street to the east, the Norfolk Southern rail line 1.1 miles southeast of Rosewood Drive toward Andrews Yard, and Catawba Circle/Heyward Street/Dreyfuss Road/Assembly Street to the west.

The online public information meeting provides easy access to project displays, informative videos and other materials about the project the public would normally receive at an in-person meeting, and it offers the opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide formal comment for the project record.

The Assembly Street railroad separation project and related rail studies for the area have been evaluated for many years. The project team and community stakeholders have been focused on the current study area of the Assembly Street corridor and nearby streets since 2018. The current public information meeting period is a preliminary planning step that will later result in a preferred alternative identified for the project design, which will be presented to the public for additional comment.

In addition to the public information meeting online, an in-person meeting to discuss the project with Project Manager Joey McIntyre may be scheduled by calling 803-737-1842 or emailing McIntyreJD@scdot.org.

For those with limited access to the Internet or with special accommodations who would like to receive printed copies of the public information meeting materials, please contact:

Joey McIntyre – Project Manager

Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project

P.O. Box 191

Columbia, SC 29202-0191

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Media Contact:

Ted Creech

SCDOT Public Relations

803-737-1087

creechjt@scdot.org