Charleston City Council votes to approve funding for Phase 1 of the Lowline

January 30, 2025

At the City Council meeting, funding for Phase 1 of the Lowline was officially approved. With this vote, the Lowline is now officially moving forward, signaling a commitment to a more connected Charleston.

The Lowline has been a long-discussed project, but without proper funding, it has spent years sitting on the shelf. This vote today secured the funding that will put the years of planning and preparation into motion with wonderful partners like Friends of the Lowline, and The PATH Foundation. This project will change the way residents and visitors alike travel across not only our city, but the entire Charleston region.

Our city staff and collaborative partners have been hard at work over the last eight months integrating this project so that it will seamlessly flow into other projects we have in the pipeline, like the proposed Battery Extension and the ARC Bridge. In alignment with these other projects, the Lowline will create a more connected, walkable, and bikeable city.

Phase 1 of the Lowline will include the completion of the 1.6 mile-in length path, running from Mt. Pleasant Street to Line Street, a wonderful park space, and 2 revenue generating parking lots.

“This is a huge win for Charleston,” said Mayor Cogswell. “The Lowline will bring incredible benefits to our residents, reshaping the way our city functions. When combined with the other initiatives we’re working on, Charleston will be serving our residents in ways we have never been able to before.”

The estimated budget for Phase 1 is $15 million. Friends of the Lowline have agreed to attempt to fundraise to offset the design costs associated with the Lowline project.

The city will use the Cooper River Bridge TIF as its funding source, and we are currently looking at a Fall 2025 Groundbreaking.