Lowcountry Rapid Bus System
{{Short description|Bus Transit system in South Carolina}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Lowcountry Rapid Transit
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| defunct =
| locale =
| service_area = Charleston County
| service_type = bus rapid transit
| alliance =
| destinations =
| stops =
| stations = 20
| lounge =
| fleet = 19 60 ft Articulating Buses
| ceo =
| website = https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/index.html
}}The Lowcountry Rapid Transit system (LCRT) is a bus rapid transit system in development which will initially connect downtown Charleston to the Exchange Park in Ladson, South Carolina (also known as the Ladson Fairgrounds). Plans are for the system to eventually reach Summerville, South Carolina.
The LCRT is the first mass transit project in the history of South Carolina. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and the system is expected to begin operating by late 2028 or early 2029. When completed, the system will be among the longest rapid transit systems in the United States.
Plans and development
= Design of the system =
LCRT is expected to initially consist of 19 buses that will ferry people between the medical district in downtown Charleston to the Ladson Fairgrounds at $2 per fare.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Skyler |date=2 April 2018 |title=Charleston's major mass-transit project could change how SC commutes |url=https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/charlestons-major-mass-transit-project-could-change-how-sc-commutes/Content?oid=31926939 |access-date=2020-07-29 |website=Charleston City Paper |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dennis Jr., Slade, and Wise |date=2020-02-02 |title=Overlooked for years, North Charleston's south end awaits transformation |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/business/real_estate/overlooked-for-years-north-charleston-s-south-end-awaits-transformation/article_396cc6f0-3ed7-11ea-a1fb-371257312fc1.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-07-29 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Lowcountry Rapid Transit Project - New Starts Engineering |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-07/SC-Charleston-Lowcountry-Rapid-Transit-Project-Profile-NSE.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2025}} The current plan is for the system to traverse approximately 22 miles, making it one of the longest rapid transportation systems in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Skyler |date=2023-03-24 |title=Bus rapid transit project enters final design stage |url=http://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/03/24/bus-rapid-transit-project-enters-final-design-stage/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Charleston City Paper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenny |date=June 14, 2023 |title=Details emerge on state's first $625M mass transit system in Charleston > Charleston Business Journal |url=https://charlestonbusiness.com/news/transportation/83676/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Charleston Business}} The system will start with 18 stops, a large portion of which are likely to be on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. The exact locations for many of the stops have not been determined yet.{{Cite web |last=Benre |first=Robert |date=19 December 2018 |title=Charleston region to study how bus rapid transit could reshape neighborhoods |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-region-to-study-how-bus-rapid-transit-could-reshape-neighborhoods/article_11a2cb02-0313-11e9-9a78-0b0ffccfd1be.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-07-29 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}
The scope of the work for the project currently includes adding dedicated bus lanes to the medians along key streets such as Rivers Avenue, adding traffic signals to give buses priority at intersections, constructing twenty bus stations and several park-and-rides, as well as overall road improvements. The system will use existing infrastructure from Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) when possible.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) started the development of the LCRT in 2014. Due to the area's geographic population spread, BCDCOG determined that rail was impractical.{{Cite web|last=Darlington|first=Abigail|date=2018-12-23|title=Here's what the Charleston region has to do to make robust transit a reality|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/heres-what-the-charleston-region-has-to-do-to-make-robust-transit-a-reality/article_6c96a376-03a4-11e9-acf6-e347e21f793b.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Post and Courier|language=en}} Costs for LCRT are estimated to be $625 million.
= Funding and planning =
In 2018, the Federal Transit Administration provided a $880,000 grant to aid in planning for development along the line. In 2021, the administration provided another $860,000 to BCDCOG for key development tools.{{Cite web|last=Baldwin|first=Skyler|date=2022-01-30|title=Charleston-area COG gets $860K grant for rapid transit|url=http://charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston-area-cog-gets-860k-grant-for-rapid-transit/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Charleston City Paper|language=en-US}} A transit framework plan also determined other potential bus transit corridors in the area.
As of July 28, 2023, BCDCOG and officials for the bus rapid transit system are hosting public input meetings for the project. Currently, the project is planned to begin construction in 2026 with a late 2028 or early 2029 finalization date.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Destiny |date=2023-07-27 |title=Lowcountry Rapid Transit workshops give public a chance to weigh in on project |url=https://www.live5news.com/2023/07/27/lowcountry-rapid-transit-workshops-give-public-chance-weigh-project/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Live5News |language=en}}
= U.S. Highway 52 corridor system =
In 2024, BCDCOG began conducting a feasibility study for a separate bus rapid transit system along the Highway 52 corridor. Preliminary plans of the rapid bus transit system include a connection to the planned LCRT at Rivers Avenue and Melnick Drive.{{Cite web |last=Coe |first=Kenna |date=2024-10-17 |title=Could a new bus rapid transit system relieve Lowcountry commuter congestion? |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/highway-52-bus-rapid-transit-berkeley-county/article_70faba1a-84d1-11ef-b808-bf7d23345f0e.html |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}