Local leaders set to discuss updates on Folly Road safety improvements

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – The Rethink Folly Road committee is set to share updates on several safety improvements Wednesday at James Island Town Hall.

The Folly Road safety project is preparing for its second public input meeting, but local leaders are meeting ahead of time to give updates since the last meeting in March.

The entire effort comes from multiple agencies including the Town of James Island, City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Since November, SCDOT has been analyzing many safety measures to put on the road for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

“The raised medians is to control the access and encourage safer movements to use existing signals. To kind of restrict the left turn movement out of some of the properties because the angle crashes are the ones that produce the highest severity of the crashes,” Shawn Salley, program manager at SCDOT, said. “So, that’s what the intent of the median is to reduce those crashes and improve safety in the area.”

The agency conducted a road safety assessment from 2018 to 2022 and found over 2,000 crashes and six fatalities occurred on the roadway. This called prompted them to step up with local leaders to address and remedy the concerns.

SCDOT plans to implement several safety measures:

• High visibility crosswalks
• Sidewalks and ADA ramps
• Countdown signal heads
• Access management
• CARTA bus stop relocations
• Lane reconfigurations
• Raised medians

“The Fort Johnson Road Folly Road intersection to me is the scariest one of all the intersections. I don’t think they have any kind of median strip there,” Barbara Atkins, a Folly Beach resident, said. “I think it did help over here by Camp Road, but again we don’t have one there.”

Atkins added that she and her husband do feel unsafe driving on Folly Road because of the many access points and unsafe speeds. Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves, said speeding is also an issue for those on foot or biking.

“It also just contributes to making the area feel generally uncomfortable and unsafe. So, when you cross the street – you’re going to have to jog to do it, if you’re in the bike lane you’re right up against fast moving traffic. It’s an uncomfortable space that desperately needs improvement, not just from a safety aspect but as the main street of James Island. I think it should function better for everybody,” said Zimmerman.

The SCDOT has gathered feedback from all involved agencies, residents, business owners, and advocacy groups. The final concepts are expected to shown during the public input meeting using that feedback.

The committee is expected to meet at 3 p.m. at James Island Town Hall. The SCDOT public input meeting will be on May 22 at Camp Road Middle School from 5-7 p.m.