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Frequently Asked Questions

Click below to learn the answers to your most pressing LCRT questions.

The Lowcountry is growing at three times the national average. This growth is overwhelming our transportation network and we cannot build our way 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.

The project is expected to cost $625 million to construct and $4.2 million per year to operate. These totals are estimates and may change.

LCRT is partially funded through the Charleston County Sales Tax program. Part of that funding is being used to apply for matching federal grants to cover remaining construction costs.

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

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

Learn More About BRT

Yes. We are evaluating 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.

A recommended route has been identified. LCRT will operate mostly in dedicated lanes between the Fairgrounds in Ladson, serving North Charleston on Rivers Avenue and connecting to the WestEdge in Downtown Charleston.

View the Route

The project team is following the federal-mandated process to advance through the Capital Investment Grants program to receive federal funding. Through coordination with the Federal Transit Administration, the project is expected to open to the public in 2029.

Opportunities for public input are ongoing. Involvement opportunities are available at each decision-making milestone. Follow us on social media for consistent updates on community events.

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.

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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.

Learn More About TOD

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

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.

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

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. Lowcountry Rapid Transit 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.

Read Now

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.

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

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 30% 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 project involved two safety studies. The first evaluated existing road safety and crash history. The second focused on system operation and design safety. The results of both studies will continue to influence the final project design.

Read more about these studies

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, LCRT will operate in mixed traffic.

Approximately $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.

Approximately 20. The final locations are currently being refined.

LCRT was accepted into the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program and received approval to enter the Engineering phase in summer 2022. The FTA program requires projects to follow a clearly defined schedule with clearly defined dates, 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.

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 grants program requires a project to work through set phases of evaluation. However, the approach to complete both the engineering and construction of a project can accelerate a schedule. The LCRT project team is evaluating the most effective approach to complete engineering and construction 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 Federal Transit Administration (FTA). More information can be found by clicking the link below.

Learn More

The BRT system will have a recognizable brand that stands apart from local traditional bus service. View the LCRT project visualization to get a glimpse of the operational branding and BRT features, located on the Resources page of the website.

Advanced technology will make the LCRT system faster and more efficient. Technology utilized in LCRT will include traffic signal priority at stoplights, WiFi equipped stations and interactive station maps, updated wayfinding and corridor lighting, and off-board fare payment. To see some of the technology features, view the LCRT project visualization located on the Resources page of the website.

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 $2 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 the Regional Transit Framework plan.

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 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.

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 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 Capital Investment Grants evaluation process, the project team adjusted the northern end of line from Downtown Summerville to the Fairgrounds Exchange Park 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 2028 and is recognizing the potential for a future project, which would extend the system from the Fairgrounds 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 Exchange Park station at the Fairgrounds 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 at Hagood and Line streets in the WestEdge development. Stations in the Medical District and WestEdge generated the highest ridership for the LCRT and improved the project's competitiveness for federal funding.

The project team also adjusted the northern end of line from Downtown Summerville to the Exchange Park in 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 Federal Transit Administration 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.

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Download the Project Definitions and Acronyms Sheet using the button below or email us at info@lowcountryrapidtransit.com

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