Editorial: Don’t Gamble Taxpayers’ Money On Expensive I-526s | Editorial

Spending $75 million on a road project that may never be built? The Charleston County Council is meeting to debate what to do about the controversial project to extend Interstate 526 across Johns Island. A decision is expected on Tuesday. its payment method. And all the struggles and delays came at a shockingly high price, as the county’s projected value ballooned from zero to $1.78 billion.

We have asked the County Council to abandon this project and instead invest in smaller, more strategic, and more popular road improvements, such as new roads, that will help move traffic in and out of Johns Island. requested that far less of the transportation sales tax be used. It is south of the Maybank Highway and connects the Paul Gerregotis Bridge to River Road. Or improve the Maybank Highway between River Road and Chisholm Boheckett Road. Or widen the main road north of Maybank. Or all of the above. Such projects can be completed much more quickly and can address the very real problem of island congestion in increasingly suburban seas.

Last week, SC Transportation Secretary Christy Hall appeared before the county council and told its members that the state would soon need $75 million to keep the project moving forward. In other words, it’s decision time. “In short, we are now at the point where we need the next project sponsor, who will provide her with $150 million in funding to keep the project going,” she said, noting that the state will Matches her $75 million. Any delay will cost you more. ”

The only plausible way the county legislature could build a project under its current contract with the state is if county voters approve a sales tax expansion or extension that will raise the necessary funds in 2024. , because the state’s contribution to the project is currently limited to $420 million. This was once thought to be enough to build the entire project, but now only a fraction of it can be paid for. On Tuesday, the county legislature will decide whether to make this bet: Spend $75 million now in hopes that voters will approve the controversial project within two years. On the other hand, projects that gamble too much with taxpayer money, which could lead to further price increases, lack universal support at best, and degrade the environmental and housing quality of the northeastern tip of Johns Island. It is strongly recommended that you proceed with

It’s too risky and irresponsible bet.

It is highly doubtful that this referendum will pass if it is put before voters two years later. After all, the county legislature deliberately left him off the latest project list when he asked voters to extend his half-cent sales tax in 2016, but later added it as a project to ensure the same. Lost voter confidence. The road also addressed congestion in only two of his nine council districts in the county. The previous sales tax referendum was carefully crafted to include major projects across the county, from downtown Charleston to northern North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and the county’s countryside.

No one knows what the 2024 referendum will look like, but with $1.78 billion spent on this one project, it’s hard to believe other areas will get so much attention. It’s hard to imagine.

State and federal governments build interstate highways. Charleston County shouldn’t try to join them, especially in a project that promises to cost him at least $231 million per mile. Even if this $2.2 billion project of his was built as currently envisioned, its price and scope of work would include the cost of borrowing and the amount River Road would need to handle the additional traffic from the extension. No improvements included.

We believe the only way for city councilors to abandon this project and find a better one is for their bosses, the county voters, to make it clear that it is what they expect. We therefore urge concerned residents not only to avoid a catastrophic financial collapse, but more importantly, to prioritize other road improvements Johns Island badly needs. The county legislature deliberately voted last week, shortly after Secretary Hall’s presentation, to minimize public backlash before Tuesday’s vote. I can’t help but think that I might have avoided

Not surprisingly, the county council is trying to repair its reputation following the shambolic financial disposition of a Naval Hospital renovation. Especially when there are better, more affordable alternatives out there, it just doesn’t help that repair job at all.

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