Two people died during an investigation into the walkability of Charleston Street after a hit-and-run

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Bicycling and walking advocates say downtown’s Morrison Drive corridor is one of many in the Charleston area where infrastructure hasn’t exactly kept pace with development.

After a hit-and-run accident killed two 20-year-olds in April, advocates are calling on leaders to take a closer look at the area.

“This has created a crisis in our region,” says Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves. “And it is a sad reminder that we cannot rest on our laurels when it comes to continuing to ensure we make progress and move the process forward across the county.”

Zimmerman says the proposals and designs for the Morrison Yard area are promising, but even now that the buildings are built, some walkability projects have stalled.

“So there are a lot more people out and about or walking or cycling and waiting at bus stops. And you certainly had all of that, before the land use changes, but now it’s even worse, which is wonderful, except that we need to have this secure and connected infrastructure so that people can feel safe and actually move around safely. says Zimmermann.

Morrison Yard developer Woodfield proposed adding sidewalks in front of the buildings, adding new CARTA stops, installing a new traffic light with crosswalks across Morrison Drive and a staircase connecting the complex to Wonder’s Way, the Ravenel Bridge sidewalk , connects.

The sidewalks in front of the settlement will be laid and CARTA stops will be built. The developers say they have received approval for the stairs, but SCDOT is still in the study phase to determine whether to add a traffic light and crosswalks to Johnson Street.

“The good news is that at least one developer has worked very diligently to make these improvements. I think the best course of action for the rest of the corridor is for us all to be in the same room,” says Zimmerman. “Stakeholders, city, if the county needs to be involved, then definitely the state, anyone who should have a say, let’s just get a room and plan the corridor.”

At the moment, the corridor has crucial gaps, she says. For example, the sidewalks in front of the buildings do not connect to other paths further down Morrison Drive, meaning there is no sidewalk access to the nearest pedestrian crossing. Many people often walk on the bike path on one side of the busy road.

Morrison Yard resident Sarah Paetow has lived in the Charleston area for five years, some of it as a student at the College of Charleston.

“My roommate and I go for walks all the time,” says Paetow. “I would say with the railways and trains and heavy road traffic, it can get a little scary, especially if we want to walk across the bridge and there’s not really easy access to the bridge in our scenario.”

Paetow also says a traffic light on Johnson Street would make her safer. She drives out of the complex this way every morning and says it feels dangerous for walkers and therefore drivers.

“Sometimes I have to look back and forth so much, and I’ve seen people walking over with Airpods, and I think, gosh, that can be really scary,” Paetow says.

Paetow and Zimmerman say it’s more than just a building. There are several projects in the area and prior to the recent development there were businesses generating traffic.

“I know the ports are right back there. “So there are also a lot of 18-wheelers coming through. So it’s not just the residents of Morrison Yard who are affected. Everyone is there back there too,” says Paetow.

“You’ve got housing, there was already a neighborhood on one side, the Ravenel Bridge was where people were trying to get to Wonders Way and back, you’ve got a school, bus stops, office space coming up and you’ve got a hotel When you go online, you know, all these uses,” says Zimmerman. “The area needs to change and it is probably no longer acceptable to assume that it is OK for people to both walk on cycle paths and cycle in them.”

Due to the gap in access to the nearest crosswalk via Morrison Drive, Morrison Yard is half a mile from another crosswalk up the road. The distance makes many people hope that traffic will calm down and rush across the street.

“We have gaps that need to be closed. We need to make improvements to the existing infrastructure. And the only way to move this forward is for everyone to kind of work together and work together,” says Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is calling on the city, county, South Carolina Department of Transportation and others with an interest in the region to prioritize the corridor and meet to close the gaps that currently exist.

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