Legare Bridge Safety and Access for All

Quality of life: enhancement of recreation and transportation options for West Ashley and for all area residents and families. Makes West Ashley more special. Improved safety: Current four-lane configuration induces risky lane changes. Reduction to three lanes will promote vehicular safety. Concerns about traffic backup are addressed by significant improvements to Bee Street off-ramps. Pedestrians and bicyclists using the Rte. 17 bridges will enjoy vastly enhanced safety conditions, currently non-existent. Health benefits: With the 7th highest rates of obesity in the nation, we must provide for more active lifestyles, more options for commuting, and family activities. Lane increases accessible locations for people to walk, opens up the range of downtown accessible locations for West Ashley residents without adding to downtown traffic and parking congestion. Connects & Extends West Ashley Greenway: Traffic on the WAG is growing exponentially and council-approved plans contemplate this connection to the Legare Bridge providing an off-theroad, safe and separate system for bicycles and pedestrians in West Ashley. This route begins at Village Green (on Rte. 61), continues across West Ashley past West Ashley High School, through Carolina Bay, across Savannah Highway, to the Greenway itself, then east to the bridge. Families will now be able to safely walk and bike from thousands of homes and businesses across West Ashley to popular West Ashley and Downtown destinations, reducing car traffic in these areas and downtown. Civic Promise: City and regional transportation plans since 1976 have identified the importance of this type of a crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists as a critical need. The regions first Bike and Pedestrian Plan from 1995 indicated this crossing as a top priority, and the half-cent sales tax measure promised the public facilities such as this. National (and International) Emphasis on Active Lifestyles: Nationally and globally, cities are converting paved areas originally dedicated for autos into accessible locations for walkers and bicyclists. This trend has taken firm root as close by as Greenville and Savannah. Absence of such a crossing over the Ashley has stifled Charlestons progress in this highly competitive arena. Preparing for next generations: A Metro Area Chamber of Commerce report recognizes that young, tech-savvy families (and employers) seek communities offering transportation choices to promote active lifestyles, and warns against falling further behind in this competitive arena. Strong Public Support Registered: An MUSC employee survey found that over 500 would be willing to use the bridge to bike or walk to work if it were made safer and more practical. Charleston Moves collected nearly 1400 individual signatures in a matter of only weeks, as well as resolutions of support from, both the College of Charleston Faculty and Student Senates, Charleston County Parks and Recreation, and the City of Charleston Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Development, Real Estate Impact: Bike/ped improvements raise real estate values. The developers of the apartments coming soon to 35 Folly Road were drawn in part to that site because of its location near the West Ashley Greenway. Young families are purchasing homes adjacent to the WAG because of the promise of the Legare Bridge crossing. Residents of the pending Horizon Project on the Charleston side will also be heavy users of this lane to access WA businesses and amenities.