City of Charleston advances pedestrian safety improvements

The City of Charleston has been working for months to make downtown streets safer for the more than 8 million visitors and hundreds of thousands of residents who move through the peninsula each year. That work is accelerating.

The City is working closely with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to conduct Road Safety Audits, which evaluate roadway conditions and identify improvements to enhance safety for all users. Based on these assessments, the following intersections were approved for redesign:

• Calhoun Street at Coming Street
• Calhoun Street at St. Philip Street
• Calhoun Street at King Street
• King Street at Market Street
• Meeting Street at Market Street
• Meeting Street at Broad Street

As part of these improvements, each intersection will incorporate a “pedestrian scramble,” a traffic signal phase where all vehicular traffic stops, allowing pedestrians to cross in any direction, including diagonally. Construction at these previously approved intersections is expected to be completed by 2027.

This week, Mayor William Cogswell and Charleston City Council met with SCDOT and formally requested that the intersection of King Street and Broad Street be added to the redesign plan, a swift response to an intersection that warranted immediate attention.

Mayor Cogswell is also directing staff to bring forward a proposed $1 million investment dedicated to pedestrian safety improvements citywide.

“Making our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, and drives through Charleston is a priority for this administration,” said Mayor Cogswell. “We have work underway, and we are engaging with residents who see the problem areas on a firsthand basis. Their input to change is invaluable.”

Charleston’s downtown streets serve a unique and demanding mix of residents, commuters, and visitors. The City is committed to managing that reality through infrastructure, technology, and enforcement, and is increasing traffic enforcement efforts citywide. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians, run red lights, or make illegal turns may be cited. The City also encourages all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and golf cart operators, to remain alert and follow traffic laws.

Through continued investment in infrastructure, technology, and enforcement, the City is confident these efforts will make Charleston’s streets safer and more accessible for everyone.