Lowcountry Rapid Transit

Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) is a modern bus rapid transit system that will connect the region, its communities, key destinations and employment centers. This project will transform our region by improving transportation for people traveling on buses, on foot and on bikes. The foundation of LCRT will serve Charleston and North Charleston and spark upward mobility and economic growth through the area.

A traditional bus operates in regular lanes, stops every few blocks and usually has a sign and a bench at stops. BRT operates in transit-only lanes, stops every half mile, utilizes advanced technologies, and offers enhanced stations with more amenities. For more information on BRT, click the button below.

Learn More About BRT

A route has been identified. LCRT will operate mostly in dedicated lanes from Ladson, serving North Charleston on Rivers Avenue and connecting to the Medical District/WestEdge in Downtown Charleston.

View the Route

Transit-only lanes will be used in areas where space is available (such as Rivers Avenue). These lanes will be added in existing medians and will not decrease the number of travel lanes. In areas where space is limited, such as in Ladson and Downtown Charleston, LCRT will operate in mixed traffic. In these areas, service will remain frequent and reliable, with 10-minute peak frequencies on weekdays.

LCRT will include 20 stations, with additional stations proposed for the future. These station locations can be viewed on the About page.

Yes. The system will include operations upgrades (like bus-only lanes) as well as safety improvements. The project will also improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure by incorporating sidewalks, shared-use paths, and additional crosswalks throughout the corridor.

Advanced technologies will make the LCRT system faster and more efficient. Technology utilized in LCRT will include traffic signal priority at stoplights, WiFi equipped stations and buses, digital station displays with real-time information and maps, updated wayfinding and corridor lighting, and off-board fare payment. To see some of the technology features, visit the Project Features page of this website.

Safety is a top priority of the LCRT project team and its partners. Safety features currently planned as part of the system include additional crosswalks and sidewalks for pedestrian and bicycle safety as well as area lighting, shelter lighting, and CCTV cameras at stations to help provide a safe and secure environment for riders waiting for the bus.

The project team conducted two safety studies in 2019 to evaluate existing road safety and crash history as well as system operation and design safety. The results of both studies will continue to influence the final project design.

Read more about these studies

Planned fare to ride on LCRT is $2.00. The cost is projected to be the same as a one-way CARTA trip.

Yes. LCRT buses will be battery electric.

Yes. LCRT buses will have space to carry bicycles. Stations will also have bike racks.

LCRT will have a recognizable brand that stands apart from the local traditional bus service, CARTA, and will be displayed and included in various ways on LCRT buses and stations.

The project is expected to cost $625 million to construct and $4.2 million per year to operate.

LCRT is programmed to be funded by the Charleston County Sales Tax program and being designed to qualify for matching federal grant money through the FTA Capital Investment Grants program to cover remaining construction costs.

The project team is following the federal-mandated process to advance through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program to receive federal funding. Through coordination with the FTA, the project is expected to be completed in 2029.

LCRT was accepted into the FTA's CIG program and received approval to enter the Engineering phase in summer 2022. The FTA program requires projects to follow a specific schedule with clearly defined dates and milestones, which differs from highway project schedules that are not defined by specific dates. Mandated by the FTA, this schedule is a requirement for funding eligibility.

The FTA grants program is part of federal law. The process must be followed to receive grant funding.

Steady growth and increased traffic are impacting our area. This growth is overwhelming our transportation network and we cannot widen our roadways out of traffic. New transit options are vital to our quality of life. A BRT system will ensure the Lowcountry remains a desirable place to live, work and play.

LCRT will expand access to jobs, affordable housing, education, and community resources. It will provide a new means of transportation and lead to economic growth in the region.

Learn more

Public input is essential to the project and involvement opportunities are continuous and ongoing. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media to receive updates about upcoming meetings and events.

TOD is a planning concept that encourages the development of compact, walkable, and bikeable communities centered around and connected to high quality public transportation. Through successful TOD, communities along the corridor will benefit from improved access to jobs, education, and services, reduced travel times, economic development, and affordable housing.

Yes. There will continue to be opportunities for the public to comment on the project. Additional public meetings, events and workshops will be planned as the project moves forward. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media for event updates.

Business owners can contact the project email, info@lowcountryrapidtransit.com, or call the project hotline, 843-303-9698, to leave a comment or receive more information on how to get involved.

Yes. Fill out our speaker request form by clicking the link below.

Request a Speaker

The LCRT route was chosen over other options because it has the most riders, low operating costs, minimal railroad crossings, and connects the most employment areas.

Suggested station areas have been identified through a series of workshops, stakeholder input and CIG testing. These areas will be further refined based on their connectivity to existing services and employment centers.

The cost of building one mile of light rail track can pay for five-and-a-half miles of bus rapid transit lanes. This was one of a number of factors that made BRT the best solution for the Lowcountry. For more information, view the i-26ALT study by clicking the button below.

View the study

Speed and separation for bicyclists and pedestrians were challenging with this route. The City of Charleston's vision for the Lowline is to reserve the Lowline as a public park and green space.

Funding is a critical piece of the puzzle in identifying a successful bus rapid transit system for implementation - 50% of the funding for this project was identified in the 2016 Charleston County Sales Tax Referendum, and the project team is currently positioning the project to secure a 50% federal funding match through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. The CIG program is extremely competitive and the key to having a competitive project is based on the ability to balance overall cost with ridership volumes. During the CIG evaluation process, the project team adjusted the northern end of line from Downtown Summerville to US-78 & Commerce Center Boulevard in Ladson. These decisions were made to balance costs while maximizing ridership and overall reliability for LCRT to qualify for federal funding. The project team is continuing to move forward with the LCRT project opening in 2029 and is recognizing the potential for a future project, which would extend the system from Ladson to Summerville. The project team and project leaders will continue to work with Lincolnville, Summerville, and Dorchester County officials to identify funding sources for making the extension into Summerville a reality.

Tri County Link service to Lincolnville/Summerville

The US-78 & Commerce Center station in Ladson will serve as a park-and-ride hub for the LCRT system. Commuters from Summerville, Lincolnville and surrounding communities can park here to hop on LCRT. TriCounty Link bus service will connect Lincolnville and Summerville to LCRT.

Through coordination with stakeholders, an end of line was identified Line & Westedge streets. Stations in the Medical District and WestEdge generated the highest ridership for LCRT and improved the project's competitiveness for federal funding.

The project team also adjusted the northern end of line from Downtown Summerville to Ladson. These decisions were made to balance costs while maximizing ridership and overall reliability for LCRT to qualify for federal funding. From this base, regional rapid transit can grow and thrive.

The Capital Investment Grants Program (CIG) is a discretionary federal grant program directed by the Federal Transit Administration. This competitive program will provide up to 80% of funding for major transit construction projects. CIG funds around $4.6 billion per year in rapid rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, bus rapid transit, and ferry construction. LCRT will compete for these funds and, as the system expands, funding can be pursued through the program to fund future BRT corridors identified in BCDCOG's Regional Transit Framework Plan.

The CIG Project Rating is a score that determines whether a project is approved to move from one step to the next within the FTA's New Starts and Core Capacity approval process. This rating is based on the project's local financial commitment and project justification. Overall project costs, operating costs, ridership, environmental benefits, land use and affordable housing are some of the key factors used to determine this rating. Projects require a rating of Medium or above to qualify for federal funding. The scale ranges from Low, Medium-Low, Medium, Medium-High, High. At Entry into Engineering, LCRT received a Medium-High rating, the second highest on the rating scale.

The FTA grants program requires a project to work through set phases of evaluation and must be followed to receive federal funding. The LCRT project team will continue working to complete the engineering and construction phases efficiently.

A two-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the project began in late 2019 and concluded in 2021. The purpose of this review was to minimize environmental impacts and ensure that the public is included in the decision-making process. The NEPA review was overseen by the FTA. More information can be found by clicking the link below.

Learn More

LCRT is designed to address mobility issues within the project area. While it will not directly address other issues, such as flooding, regulations prevent the project from making problems worse.

The FTA recognizes that landscaping is an integral and functional element of many transit systems and facilities. Functional landscape applications such as erosion control, storm water drainage, noise mitigation, and visual screening may be eligible for federal Capital Investment Grant (CIG) funding. Landscape costs for purely aesthetic purposes are not eligible for FTA funding under the CIG program.

SCDOT is a critical partner in this project and will work in coordination with BCDCOG to oversee the design of the system as LCRT's Engineer of Record progresses the project from 60% to 100% design in the coming years. SCDOT will also oversee the construction phase of the project.

Charleston County is a key stakeholder in the project, serving as a member of the LCRT Executive Leadership Team, which serves to inform and approve important project recommendations before they are taken before the BCDCOG Board for approval. In November 2016, Charleston County voters passed a half-cent sales tax to fund roadway, transit and green space projects. Part of the transit funding identified in the 2016 referendum — about $250 million — will be used for LCRT.

Charleston, North Charleston and Summerville are members of multiple project stakeholder committees. The Cities of Charleston and North Charleston, along with Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, have been involved in regular coordination meetings with the project team. Their role is to provide insight into their community and constituent needs and help inform key project decisions.

The right-of-way (ROW) process for LCRT began in summer 2024. Those with property impacts will be contacted directly by a SCDOT ROW agent. You can learn more about the ROW process in SCDOT's Highways and You resource document or ROW explanation video.

Possibly. BCDCOG has identified a network of potential bus rapid transit corridors. Among them are US Hwy 52 to Moncks Corner and Dorchester Road. In addition, the BCDCOG completed a study to identify a long-range vision for mass transit throughout the region. LCRT is the first of several proposed mass transit lines to serve the region. Read more about the Regional Transit Framework Plan by visiting the link below.

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