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| Grand Strand Area Transportation Study | |
|---|---|
| Name | Grand Strand Area Transportation Study |
| Region | Grand Strand, South Carolina |
| Agencies | South Carolina Department of Transportation; Horry County; Myrtle Beach Planning Department; Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments |
| Established | 20th–21st century |
| Type | Regional transportation planning study |
Grand Strand Area Transportation Study The Grand Strand Area Transportation Study is a regional planning effort focused on mobility, safety, congestion, and multimodal connections across the Grand Strand coastal corridor in South Carolina. The study synthesizes data from federal, state, and local agencies to inform policy, capital improvements, transit operations, and environmental review. It guides coordination among transportation authorities, municipal governments, and stakeholder organizations for long-range investments.
The study assesses arterial corridors, collector routes, and tourism-driven traffic patterns linking municipalities such as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Conway, South Carolina, Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It integrates modeling tools used by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and planning partners including the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Major corridor references include U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 501, South Carolina Highway 31, and connector routes tied to Interstate 95. The study aligns with federal frameworks under the Federal Highway Administration and programs administered by the United States Department of Transportation.
Initiated amid rapid tourism growth tied to attractions like Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and developments near Broadway at the Beach, the effort followed earlier regional initiatives influenced by planning precedents from Florida Department of Transportation corridors and coastal studies associated with Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Historical influences reference postwar growth trends similar to Sun Belt expansion and resort-area transportation planning seen in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Funding and policy context intersects with statutes and programs from the Federal Transit Administration and grant mechanisms used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for coastal resilience.
Methodology combined travel demand modeling used by the Metropolitan Planning Organization framework, traffic counts from the South Carolina Department of Transportation, origin-destination surveys, and collision data from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Scenario planning referenced demographic projections from the U.S. Census Bureau and economic forecasting from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Multimodal analysis drew on ridership metrics from transit operators similar to the Coast RTA model and bicycle/pedestrian assessments following guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Geographic information systems employed datasets from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Geological Survey.
Findings highlight recurring congestion on U.S. Route 17 and peak-season load on U.S. Route 501 approaching destinations linked to entertainment nodes such as Broadway at the Beach and Market Common, Myrtle Beach. Safety analyses identified high-crash segments paralleling coastal tourist corridors comparable to case studies in Ocean City, New Jersey and Daytona Beach, Florida. Recommended actions include phased capacity improvements, managed lanes modeled after Florida's Turnpike practices, targeted intersection upgrades using techniques from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and transit enhancements inspired by Portland, Oregon transit-oriented strategies. The report advocates resilience measures referencing Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines and green infrastructure approaches similar to projects in Charleston, South Carolina.
The study evaluated automobile, bus, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, and emerging mobility modes including microtransit and demand-responsive services. Transit analysis referenced operational examples like Coast RTA services, while bicycle and pedestrian planning cited facilities comparable to the East Coast Greenway and multiuse trails such as Waccamaw River Trail concepts. Freight and logistics considerations linked port and rail interests represented by Port of Georgetown, South Carolina and regional rail corridors connected to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway. Aviation links referenced Myrtle Beach International Airport and its role in seasonal passenger flows.
Environmental assessment considered coastal storm surge vulnerability with modeling approaches used by the National Hurricane Center and habitat impacts near marshes and estuaries protected under South Carolina Department of Natural Resources guidelines. Economic impact analysis utilized tourism revenue data tied to entities like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and employment insights from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Recommendations balanced transportation capacity with conservation priorities reflected in planning efforts comparable to Congaree National Park buffer strategies and coastal management policies under the South Carolina Coastal Council.
Implementation pathways combine local capital budgets, state transportation program allocations via the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank, and federal grants from programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. Public-private partnership models reference agreements like those used on I-495 Express Lanes and procurement strategies seen in Build America Bureau projects. Phased timelines coordinate with municipal comprehensive plans from Horry County, South Carolina and capital improvement programs of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and its neighboring jurisdictions.
Stakeholder engagement included outreach to tourism industry groups such as the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations in Conway, South Carolina, environmental organizations like the Coastal Conservation League, and business coalitions modeled on South Carolina Retail Association participation. Public meetings followed procedures similar to National Environmental Policy Act scoping and incorporated feedback loops used by regional planning commissions and transit advisory boards. Input emphasized seasonal congestion mitigation, multimodal connectivity for residents and visitors, and coordination among agencies including the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments.
Category:Transportation planning studies in South Carolina