Trident CEO Council stands for progress on I-526 extension as key component of broader plan to deal with region’s growth

Trident CEO Council, a group of Tri-County business leaders that stands for progress on the region’s top issues, is in full support of the new joint Charleston County/City’s proposed plan to extend I-526. Infrastructure is among the 13 critical issues that the organization has identified through its Stand For Progress initiative, created to share facts about the issues most important to shaping the Charleston region.

“Trident CEO Council supports the County and City’s joint effort to resolve this most important infrastructure issue that is currently facing our region,” said Tom Leonard, Executive Director of the Trident CEO Council. “If we are to move forward as a region, we must be able to move. This plan outlines a well thought-out approach and much needed improvements that serve the needs of all levels of government, and most importantly, its citizens.”

The plan, introduced via a letter to Chairman Vince Graham and the State Infrastructure Bank Board (SIB) by Charleston County Chairman J. Elliott Summey and Mayor John Tecklenburg on September 15, 2016 outlines a two-phase approach to completing the I-526 extension including: 1) Connecting West Ashley to John’s Island and 2) Connecting John’s Island to James Island.

If adopted, the outcome would result in I-526 being extended to provide the Lowcountry traffic relief, additional evacuation and emergency response capacity, and connection to regional public transit and bike/pedestrian facilities. The plan would also enable the completion of key State Ports Authority infrastructure projects, designed to reduce truck and container traffic on I-26. Charleston County and City would contribute to State road improvement projects and the John’s Island plan would be updated.

The plan outlines a solution with critical steps to completing key infrastructure projects throughout the region. View the letter and proposed plan here.

Comprehensive approach to manage region’s growth

While infrastructure is a key component of the plan, Marc Fetten, Trident CEO Council Chairman said that it is part of a larger and more complex solution.

“Conservation, mass transit, density, and green belt development are very important additional components to a long term holistic solution, and Trident CEO Council supports inclusion of these aspects in the referendum,” he added. “Density must be increased in suitable locations to minimize the need for commuting with mass transit evolving along with it to provide lower impact transportation. Additionally, definition and protection of greenspace is not only important to protect the natural beauty of our region, but also has economic benefits as conserving is proven to be cheaper than mitigating pollution.”

Trident CEO Council supports a local infrastructure funding solution including the half cent sales tax addressing the following considerations:

• A list of key projects transparent to voters while maintaining flexibility to address evolving needs
• Inclusion of a phased approach to the Mark Clark extension
• Sufficient oversight of funds by voters, ongoing voter input and education along with accountability of elected officials administering funds
• Further development of mass transit appropriate for current density levels
• Sufficient greenbelt funding to protect the region, designated higher density in suitable locations and offset impacts from further road construction

“In light of the long and complex history around the 526 extension and other infrastructure issues, our elected officials must work together to find compromises,” said Fetten. “We urge our leaders to communicate as openly and often as the process permits to emphasize the needed transparency to voters.”

About Trident CEO Council

Trident CEO Council is a group of executives from the Tri-County region employing in excess of 10,000 associates in the local community, advocating a culture to Stand For Progress in our local region. For more information about the Council and its initiatives, visit www.westandforprogress.com.

Trident CEO Council Members