Lowcountry Rapid Transit

Lowcountry Rapid Transit

April/May 2021 Virtual Public Meeting Skip to main content

Welcome to the Virtual Public Meeting!

Comment Period April 26th - May 26th

Project Overview

LCRT is being designed as a modern bus rapid transit system that will connect communities in our region like never before. Operating mostly in dedicated lanes between the Fairgrounds in Ladson, serving North Charleston on Rivers Avenue and connecting to the WestEdge in Downtown Charleston, LCRT will offer a safe, reliable, low-cost and a new mobility alternative to tens-of-thousands.

21.5 miles, one way
20 second stops at each station
Service every 10 min. for most of the day
6800+ daily trips on the line
20 stations
2M+ yearly riders
19 vehicles
1 hour from end to end
20+ hours of daily operation

Project Updates

We are more than halfway in the 12-year process to build the state’s first bus rapid transit system! To see where we are in the process, hover over the dots on the timeline below.

2014 - 2016 Local Planning

  • Pre-Project Development
  • Comprehensive Operational Analysis
  • Alternatives Analysis
  • FTA Guidelines/Travel Demand Forecasting
  • Public Engagement

2016 - 2019 Project Programming

  • Bus Rapid Transit Preferred Alternative Identified
  • 2016 Half-cent sales tax referendum passed in Charleston County
  • Agency Coordination
  • Informal Scoping & NEPA Checklist
  • Identify Funding & Schedule LRTP
  • Existing Conditions Evaluation & Conceptual Design (10%)
  • NEPA Class of Action & Initiate NEPA Scoping*
  • Request Entry into Project Development*

2019 - 2023 Capital Investment Grant Program

  • Project Development

    We are here

  • Complete NEPA
  • Adopt a Locally Preferred Alternative
  • Complete 30% Design
  • Must Receive Medium Rating for Project Justification & Financial Commitment Criteria*
  • Engineering
  • Significant Progress with Engineering
  • Recommended for Construction Grant Agreement

2023 - 2026 Construction

  • Construction Begins
  • Project Completion
Major Milestones
* Federal Transit Administration Decision Point

View the Online Meeting

Fill out the form below to participate in this virtual meeting where you will be guided through key decisions and recent project updates.

You're In!

How to Navigate this Meeting

Click on the tabs above to visit a specific meeting section or use the arrow buttons at the bottom of each page to move through the information.

Project Details

Station Locations

With input from the public and stakeholders, the Lowcountry Rapid Transit route has been defined and will run from the Fairgrounds Exchange Park in Ladson, to North Charleston and Downtown, ending at Hagood and Line Streets in the Medical District. Local bus service will connect Summerville and surrounding communities to the Fairgrounds, allowing for easy travel throughout the region. Opportunities to extend the line into Summerville will be explored in the future. The route and station locations can be seen on the map below.

What is Bus Rapid Transit?

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a high-quality transit system that delivers fast, comfortable and cost-effective service. BRTs operate primarily in dedicated lanes, keeping cars and the transit system separate. Check out some of the unique features of BRT in the sections below.

Bus Features

BRT vehicles are not traditional buses. Hover over the images below to see special features that allow for a faster, more pleasant travel experience.

Larger Vehicles

Buses can accommodate 60-90 passengers.

Reduced Emissions

Vehicles will be electric or will run on alternative fuel.

Bicycle Friendly

You can take your bike on the bus.

Real-Time Information

Real-time information displays, and a rider app can track the bus in real time.

Wifi Access

Stations and buses will offer free Wifi.

Accessibility

The stations, crosswalks and buses will be designed for ADA compliance.

Station Features

Hover over the dots on the image below to see all the unique features that will be included in LCRT stations.

Center Running Stations
Side Running Stations

Project Visualization

Watch the video below to see how LCRT will operate along the project route.

Route Design Plans

View Full Screen
Pin shape Station
Star shape Point of Interest
LCRT Route
Zoom To This Proposed Improvement

Exchange Park/Fairgrounds Park and Ride Station

Aerial view of the park and ride facility

Approximately 140 parking spaces will be constructed.

Rendering of Ladson Ingleside

The Exchange Park station at the Fairgrounds will serve as a park-and-ride hub for the LCRT system. Commuters from Summerville and surrounding communities can park here to hop on LCRT.

TriCounty Link bus service will directly connect Lincolnville and Summerville to LCRT. A future BRT connection to Summerville is a regional goal.

Heading south from the Exchange Park, fully electric LCRT vehicles will operate in mixed traffic on US 78 until they reach Ingleside Boulevard.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Ingleside Boulevard

Birds eye view of the reversible lane Legend for rendering

LCRT vehicles will share a single, reversible lane that will keep them separated from automobile traffic.

Birds eye view of the reversible lane

Throughout the entire corridor, LCRT will operate within the existing roadway. From Ingleside Boulevard to Trident Health and Charleston Southern University at Medical Plaza and Excellence Way, LCRT vehicles will share a single, reversible lane that will keep them separated from automobile traffic. This means that the LCRT lane will change direction for the bus based on the direction of peak traffic.

Transitioning to a shared, exclusive guideway – or bus rapid transit lane - will allow the LCRT buses to avoid congestion while minimizing environmental impacts on the Blue House Swamp and using the existing bridge spanning I-26.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Transit Signal Priority (TSP)

How Transit Signal Priority works

Here, and throughout most of the corridor, LCRT vehicles will have transit signal priority, or TSP. TSP is technology that enables vehicles to “communicate” with traffic signals in real time. This allows LCRT to keep moving safely through an intersection if the signal is going to turn red or is already red.

This advanced technology will be used in the corridor to keep the LCRT vehicles on schedule with minimal impacts to all other traffic.

Medical Plaza Drive Station

Center station rendering Legend for rendering Center station rendering

LCRT vehicles will have exclusive lanes in both North and South bound directions.

At the intersection with Medical Plaza Drive, the guideway transitions from the single LCRT lane to an exclusive guideway for both North and South bound directions.

Beginning at University Avenue there will be two general travel lanes in each north- and south-bound direction, two lanes that are exclusive for LCRT, and a center raised median. The exclusivity of the lanes will help keep LCRT on schedule and provide reliable service to passengers. The median is there to prevent unsignalized left turns across the LCRT lanes.

From Trident Health and CSU – and all the way to Reynolds Avenue in the southern part of North Charleston -- LCRT vehicles will travel in their exclusive lanes, which will be built within the existing median.

Many enhancements throughout the corridor will make it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and even motorists as these enhancements will reduce conflicts with traffic. These enhancements, such as upgrades to crosswalks, shared-used paths, and pedestrian crossings, will result in improved mobility for all.

What are bike and pedestrian improvements in this area?

At this area of the corridor, the existing six-foot sidewalks on the South side of University Avenue will be kept in place. Adjacent to the Charleston Southern University property, the project will replace the 10-foot shared use path that is out there today; this path will extend all the way to the US 52/78 Interchange.

What does the station look like?

The Medical Plaza Drive station will be the northernmost center-running station along the corridor. The station will be located on the east side of the Medical Plaza/University intersection. Center-running stations allow LCRT vehicles to service northbound and southbound routes without interrupting other traffic flow.

Additional Details

Click on the image below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Fernwood Drive Approaching US 52 & US 78

At the intersection of Fernwood Drive and University Boulevard, the LCRT dedicated lanes transition from center running to side running to navigate the US 52 and US 78 interchange.

LCRT vehicles traveling Southbound towards North Charleston will navigate a widened ramp onto Rivers Avenue, through the Otranto Road intersection, to a new proposed signal at Melnick Drive.

Headed Northbound, one of the two lanes in the existing flyover will be repurposed to a dedicated LCRT lane.

South of Otranto Road, the signalized intersection located at the entrance to McDonald’s and the T Mobile Call Center will be relocated to Melnick Drive. This change is to accommodate the existing CARTA park and ride facility.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Melnick Drive Station / Park and Ride

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The Melnick Drive station will include two locations conveniently located near the existing CARTA Park and Ride. The southbound station will be side-running and positioned on the corner of Melnick Drive and Rivers Avenue. After the LCRT vehicle leaves this station it will transition back to the center-running exclusive guideway.

The northbound station will be center-running and will be in the median on the south end of the intersection at Melnick Drive and Rivers Avenue.

Further south on Rivers Avenue, the exclusive guideway for both directions will follow the southbound travel lanes through the US 52 and I-26 ramps.

What are bike and pedestrian improvements in this area?

At this area of the corridor the existing six-foot sidewalks will be maintained on both east and west sides of Rivers Avenue.

At the Greenridge Road intersection, the sidewalk on the east side of Rivers Avenue converts to a multi-use path that extends all the way through North Charleston to Hackemann Avenue atKing Street Extension.

On the west side of Rivers Avenue, sidewalks will not be constructed at the Greenridge Road intersection to Eagle Landing Boulevard at Northwoods Mall. However, there will be a shared use path on the other side (east side) of Rivers Avenue. On the west side of Rivers Ave., from Greenridge to Eagle Landing, the road splits to feed into/out off I-26. There is no existing pedestrian access and if there were to be a connection, then a bridge would be needed to go over the part of the road that peels off to I-26. Funding for such bridge was not identified as part of this project.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Eagle Landing Boulevard Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The Eagle Landing Boulevard station, serving the Northwoods Mall area, will be in the center median on the north side of the intersection at Rivers Avenue. Rivers Avenue will be widened to create dedicated bus rapid transit lanes. Traffic flow at this intersection will stay the same as it is today.

What are bike and pedestrian improvements in this area?

Six-foot sidewalks will be maintained on the west side of Rivers Avenue and that will continue all the way to Ashley Phosphate Road. On the east side of Rivers Avenue, the 10-foot multi-use path will be maintained all the way to Hackemann Avenue.

Did you know?

The Northwoods Mall area is one of the potential key redevelopment station locations along the corridor that has opportunities to see significant transformation to enhance quality of life for North Charleston communities. This area contains a lot of underutilized parking lots from big box stores to smaller retail. There is also demand for more housing nearby. Make sure to check out the Transit Oriented Development section of the online meeting to see what is possible!

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Safety Improvements Along Rivers Avenue

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

Where an RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-turn) is in place, left turns from side streets are not allowed. Instead, to “turn left” you will first turn right, then make a U-turn at a signalized median crossover.

Beginning at this portion of the corridor, the exclusive guideway along Rivers Avenue will follow the wide grass median, which runs from Ashley Phosphate Road, all the way to Piggly Wiggly Drive.

Along this section of the corridor, there are various intersection designs that are intended to benefit all users of the corridor including bikes, pedestrians, transit users, cars and more. In addition to these traffic enhancements, the following improvements will be made to create safer access to neighborhoods and businesses along this corridor:

  • Smarter traffic signals that will give priority to LCRT
  • Signalized U-turns placed at key intersections
  • Shared use paths for bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized modes of transit
  • More signalized crosswalks to create safer access across Rivers Avenue

For instance, at Morris Baker Boulevard we are restricting the left turns onto Rivers Avenue and introducing a nationally recognized interchange concept call the “Super Street” or RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turns). Where an RCUT is in place, left turns from side streets are not allowed. Instead, to “turn left” you will first turn right, then make a U-turn at a signalized median crossover.

RCUT intersections are in place along many of the nation’s heavily traveled main highways. They can provide better corridor travel speeds, reduce the number of turns being made at individual intersections, and reduce un-controlled conflict points. This new addition keeps traffic moving and will allow more cars to pass through an intersection in any given cycle with minimal impact travel time. This change is a safety measure that may lead to a more than 40% reduction in accidents.

RCUT intersection changes are recommended along RIvers Avenue at the following locations: James Bell/ Harley Street, Remount Road, Benderson/Spaudling, Hanahan Road, Eagle Drive, Midland Park Road, Morris Baker Boulevard, Mabelline Road, North Charleston Shopping Center and Gaslight Square

Check out this example of a Median U-Turns (RCUTS)

Additional Details

Interested in seeing the entire exclusive guideway in the grass median along the Rivers Avenue Corridor?

Download Now - A Download Now - B

Mabeline Road Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

Several unsignalized crossings of Rivers Avenue have been consolidated to the RCUT’s at Mabeline Road.

Birds eye view

The Mabeline Road station will be in the center median on the north side of the intersection at Mabeline Road and Rivers Avenue, with signalized crossings for pedestrians.

Several unsignalized crossings of Rivers Avenue have been consolidated to new signalized RCUTs (Restricted Crossing U-Turn) at this section of the corridor. This new traffic movement will improve safety. This part of the corridor sees almost twice the national average for crash rates.

Drivers approaching Rivers Avenue from the east will turn right on Rivers Avenue and travel approximately 1300’ north to the nearest traffic signal to make a U-turn and continue traveling south towards Downtown Charleston.

Drivers approaching Rivers Avenue from Carolina Memorial Gardens will turn right on Rivers Avenue and travel approximately 3100’ south to the nearest traffic signal to make a U-turn and continue traveling north toward Summerville.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Hanahan Road Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering Birds eye view

The Hanahan Road station will be in the center median on the north end of the intersection of Hanahan Road and Rivers Avenue.

Drivers turning onto Rivers Avenue from Hanahan Road, will turn right on Rivers Avenue. Approximately 1000’ north of the intersection there will be a traffic signal to make a U-turn and continue traveling south toward Downtown Charleston.

These signalized U-turns will create safer and smoother traffic flow.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Aviation Avenue

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

Unsignalized U-turns just north and south of Aviation Avenue will be relocated and signals will be installed, creating a safer travel environment for all.

Planned look for Aviation Avenue

Improvements are proposed for this area of Rivers Avenue to enhance safety for cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Many intersections in the corridor will be updated or redesigned.

While the intersection at Rivers Avenue and Aviation Avenue will largely operate as it does today, there will be a notable exception -- unsignalized U-turns just north and south of Aviation Avenue will be relocated and signals will be installed.

Signalized pedestrian crossings will be added across Rivers Avenue on the south side of the intersection and across Aviation Avenue.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Remount Road Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

LCRT will provide a major safety benefit at the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Remount Road.

Birds eye view

LCRT vehicles will be larger and offer more seating and room for bikes than traditional buses, and there will be doors on either side of the bus, allowing for more flexible access to stations.

The Remount Road station will be in the center median on the south end of the intersection of Remount Road and Rivers Avenue. LCRT will also provide a major safety benefit at this intersection.

Most LCRT stations in North Charleston will be in the center median, a common feature of Bus Rapid Transit worldwide.

Station access will be made possible via signalized crosswalks, such as this one at Remount Road.

The stations will include raised platforms for level boarding and access, bicycle racks, weather protection, free Wi-Fi, maps and wayfinding, abundant lighting, and off-board fare payment.

Improvements here will keep LCRT vehicles – and mainline traffic -- moving, providing safe left- and right-hand turning areas AND improving flow for ALL traffic.

When approaching Remount Road from the north or south, motorists will shift into left turn lanes prior to the intersection – giving the LCRT vehicles priority.

Directed by a signal, traffic will cross safely over LCRT lanes before proceeding to the intersection.

Northbound and southbound left-hand turns from Rivers Avenue onto Remount Road will work the same way they do today.

To keep traffic moving swiftly through the intersection, left-hand turns from Remount Road onto Rivers Avenue will be modified – and traffic will only turn right onto Rivers Avenue.

To make a left, Remount Road traffic will first turn right, then make a U-turn at a new signalized lane.

It might sound strange at first, but this modification will improve traffic flow for motorists at this notoriously difficult intersection

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Gaslight Square Shopping Center

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

Rivers Avenue is one of our state’s most dangerous and deadly roadways. Improvements are proposed for this area of Rivers Avenue to enhance safety for cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists entering and exiting Gaslight Square and its surrounding areas. At the James Bell and Harley Street intersection, existing left turns out of the shopping center will be removed and replaced with an RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn). A signalized pedestrian crossing will be added across Rivers Avenue.

The at-grade railroad crossing here will remain in place.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

I-526 and Rivers Avenue Interchange

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

This portion of the LCRT project is being coordinated with the SCDOT and the Lowcountry Corridor: I-526 Corridor Improvement Project (https://www.scdot.org/business/lowcountry-corridor.aspx).

As the design of the I-526 and Rivers Avenue Interchange advances through design, the full build out of the LCRT corridor will be coordinated between the SCDOT and the BCDCOG.

Extension of the multi-use path will be included in the project.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Mall Drive Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The Mall Drive station will be in the center median on the north end of the intersection at Mall Drive and Rivers Avenue.

Mall Drive and Rivers Avenue will operate as a full access intersection allowing left hand turns onto Rivers Avenue.

A signalized pedestrian crossing will be added to provide access to the station.

Just past the Mall Drive station is the Montague Road bridge over Rivers Avenue.

The existing access to Montague Road from the north and south side of Rivers avenue will be modified. Access to north bound Montague becomes a right-in right-out only movement on to Rivers Avenue headed north.

A full signal will be added to Morning Side Drive connecting to Montague.

A new pedestrian crossing will be added here across Rivers Avenue. Just past Montague Road ends the wide grass media section of the LCRT corridor.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Durant Avenue Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The Durant Avenue station will be in the center median on the south end of the Rivers intersection. This location will serve as an LCRT connection to the local community as well as the Amtrak Station/North Charleston Transit Center.

This station will be a single sided center running station that provides access to LCRT vehicles with one lane to reduce impacts from the existing at-grade rail crossing. Just south of the railroad crossing the LCRT vehicles will return to exclusive lanes with a raised median.

From Durant to McMillan, raised medians and exclusive LCRT lanes will prevent unsignalized traffic crossings across Rivers Avenue.

North of Durant Avenue, at Piggly Wiggly, to Rivers and Reynolds, sidewalks will be reconstructed on the west side of Rivers Avenue. On the east side of Rivers Avenue the proposed shared use path will continue to Hackemann Ave.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Dorchester Road Station (Shipwatch Square)

Birds eye view Legend for rendering Birds eye view

The Dorchester Road station will be in the center median on the north end of the intersection at Dorchester Road and Rivers Avenue.

This station location is adjacent to Charleston County’s planned Civic Hub, at the site of the former Shipwatch Square Shopping Center. The Civic Hub will include consolidated social services, a new library, a police substation, and a transit hub, that will accommodate up to 10 traditional bus routes. The new facility will be designed to include indoor and outdoor waiting areas along with ticketing and restrooms.

This station will serve the surrounding communities and link to critical bike/ pedestrian infrastructure being developed that will also connect to the to the City of North Charleston’s Riverfront Park.

Did you know?

Shipwatch Square, the former site of Chicora Park, was once the thriving Pinehaven Shopping Center in late 1950s.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Reynolds Avenue Station

Birds Eye View Legend for rendering Planned look for Reynolds Avenue

At Reynolds Avenue, LCRT will transition from dedicated lanes into mixed traffic on King Street Extension.

The Reynolds Avenue station will be in the center median on the north end of the Reynolds/Rivers intersection.

Rivers Avenue will be widened in this area to create a single dedicated BRT lane servicing northbound and southbound travel at this station with a single bi-directional LCRT vehicle lane. The flow of traffic will be the same as it is today.

Did you know?

Reynolds Avenue is currently experiencing a resurgence of activity with new businesses and a focus on reinvestment as it was in the early 1960’s.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Hackemann Avenue Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

At this station location there are several potential impacts to LCRT vehicles, traffic, bike, and pedestrians from a very active at-grade rail crossing.

The LCRT station at Hackemann Avenue is proposing a station located on each side of King Street Extension to serve passengers traveling either north or south. Here, the LCRT vehicle will operate in mixed traffic. During mixed traffic operations, the BRT buses will travel along the same lanes as other vehicular traffic. The flow of traffic will be the same as it is today.

At this station location there are several potential impacts to LCRT vehicles, traffic, bike, and pedestrians from a very active at-grade rail crossing.

To serve the Union Heights neighborhood and provide them regular and safe access to the LCRT corridor, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed over the railroad. This bridge will also allow for access to the station when long rail trains may be blocking the roadway.

The at-grade pedestrian rail crossing will also be improved.

What are bike and pedestrian improvements in this area?

A ten-foot multiuse path will be constructed along Meeting Street from the intersection of Carner Avenue and King Street Extension to Riverview Avenue. From Riverview Avenue south to the intersection of Meeting Street and Spruill Avenue, a six-foot sidewalk along the east side of the road along with bike lanes along both east and west sides will be provided, tying into existing bike and pedestrian facilities along Meeting Street. This will provide bike and pedestrian access to Chicora Cherokee Elementary School, Military Magnet, and the Union Heights Neighborhood as well as to and from the transit station.

After connecting to the Hackemann Street station, existing sidewalks will be replaced, and bike lanes will be added to tie into existing infrastructure along Meeting Street.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download detailed design plans of Hackemann Avenue.

Download Now

Click on the button below to download detailed design plans of the Carner Avenue multiuse path.

Download Now

Milford Street Station

Birds eye view

Proposed bike/ped improvements at Discher and Meeting Streets, near the Milford Street Station

The LCRT station at Milford Street is proposing a station located on each side of King Street Extension to serve passengers traveling either north or south. Here, the LCRT vehicle will operate in mixed traffic through this section of the route. During mixed traffic operations, the BRT buses will travel along the same lanes as other vehicular traffic. The flow of traffic will be the same as it is today.

This station is in a key location to serve the existing Rosemont Community as well as the future Magnolia Development site.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Mt Pleasant Street Station (Future HOP Lot)

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The location will be a key LCRT station and will be adjacent to CARTA’s Hospitality-on-Peninsula, or HOP, park-and-ride facility.

The Mount Pleasant Street station will serve as a major multi-modal hub on the approach to downtown Charleston.

The location will be a key LCRT station will will be adjacent to the CARTA Hospitality-on-Peninsula, or HOP, park-and-ride facility that is already under development. This station will also serving as a major connection point between LCRT and the future Lowcountry Lowline linear park (https://lowcountrylowline.org/).

After the Mt. Pleasant Street station, the LCRT corridor will transition from King Street Extension to Meeting Street.

Did you know?

Streetcars and electric trolleys formed the first mass transit in Charleston from 1866 until the early 1930s when they were replaced with diesel buses and the wide-spread availability of personal automobiles. At its height, the streetcar system could carry passengers from the Battery to North Charleston in 45 minutes for a total fare of five cents.

A look back in time:

Once the gateway to Charleston the area around Mt. Pleasant Street has a rich history of uses, once an area for hotels it now houses Joseph Floyd Manner and will see growth in the coming years.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Huger Street Station

Planned look for Huger Street Legend for rendering Planned look for Huger Street Planned look for Huger Street

The LCRT station at Huger Street is proposing a station located on each side of Meeting Street to serve passengers traveling either north or south.

All the stations in Downtown Charleston will be located along the curb, on the side of the street – but will share many of the same features as center median stations elsewhere in the corridor.

The curbside design fits best with the current Downtown streetscape, while also providing the benefits of premium transit service.

Riders will be able to easily tell the difference between an LCRT station and a CARTA bus stop.

The use of curbside stations in downtown Charleston requires buses to stop in the outside travel while passengers board. At the interchange of Meeting Street with the US 17 and I-26 ramps, it is proposed the project proposes to remove the currently unsignalized southbound left turn from Meeting Street onto US 17 heading west over the Cooper River and relocate the ramp to the existing signalized intersection. Removal of this unsignalized turn lane prevents vehicles from backing up the inside travel lane while buses are servicing the transit stop. This will result in improved traffic operations for both the bus and general traffic.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

John Street Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The LCRT station at John Street is proposing a station located on each side of Meeting Street to serve passengers traveling either north or south. This station is also the location of the Charleston Visitors Center and a transfer point for the CARTA transit center at Mary Street.

All the signals along the LCRT corridor in Downtown Charleston will be upgraded to include transit signal priority (TSP). Sidewalks in the areas of the stations will also be improved and upgraded for ADA compliance.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Coming Street Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

Pedestrian scrambles will be added at two intersections on Calhoun including King Street and St. Phillips Street.

The LCRT stop at Coming Street and Calhoun Street is proposing a station located on each side of Calhoun Street to serve passengers traveling either north or south.

Pedestrian improvements will also be made along Calhoun.

Sidewalks will be upgraded to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This helps address sloping and broken sidewalks, makes them stable and slip-resistant, and includes ADA curb ramps at crosswalks.

Pedestrian scrambles will be added at two intersections on Calhoun including King Street and St. Phillips Street.

A pedestrian scramble stops traffic at all corners and allows pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the intersection in every direction at the same time.

This feature helps improve local mobility and safety as it allows for a safe and effective opportunity to move about a busy intersection.

A look back in time:

Located on the College of Charleston's campus the Orvin Inn was a popular destination for travelers until the college purchased the building in the 1990s to house students. The site is now the School of Sciences and Mathematics and will be served by the Coming Street Station.

Historical photo

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Johnathan Lucas Street Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The LCRT station at Johnathan Lucas Street is proposing a station located on each side of Calhoun Street to serve passengers traveling either north or south. This station will primarily serve those accessing the Charleston Medical District, one of the region's largest employment and health centers.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Courtenay Drive and Doughty Street Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The LCRT station at Doughty Street is proposing a station on each side of Courtenay Drive to serve passengers traveling either north or south. This station will primarily serve those accessing the Charleston Medical District, one of the region's largest employment centers.

Did you know?
The Charleston Medical District

Officially founded in 1824, MUSC has a long history in this area and played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the area and Charleston.

Roper St. Francis has also played a major role in the landscape of Downtown Charleston and has operated in the medical district since 1906.

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center has been serving over 75,000 veterans in 21 counties since it opened its doors in 1966.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Line St and Hagood Ave Station

Birds eye view Legend for rendering

The Line Street and Hagood Avenue stop will serve as the other end of line for the LCRT corridor.

The Line Street and Hagood Avenue stop will serve as the southernmost point for the LCRT corridor. There will be two stations at this location. One will be an end of line station with a charging platform for the vehicle. The other will be a pickup station to begin the return route north.

This station will serve the Gadsden Green Community, the mixed-use development of WestEdge, and will also serve as a park-and-ride facility for surrounding communities and employers.

Additional Details

Click on the button below to download a detailed design plan of this area.

Download Now

Transit Oriented Development

Promoting Livable Communities

Part of the LCRT project includes an in depth Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study. TOD is a planning strategy focused on thoughtfully creating livable, walkable communities centered around public transit stations. As South Carolina’s first bus rapid transit system comes to the Lowcountry, we have an opportunity to protect and improve quality of life for communities and residents.

Explore the Website

Public Workshops

Through a series of workshops, we are actively working to understand the vision for the future of various communities along the route through the eyes of our stakeholders and the public. Our studies are nearly complete, but now we need your help to finalize bold policy recommendations that would transform the Lowcountry into a more livable, walkable and connected region.

We want to hear your feedback! As part of our Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study being conducted in support of the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project, we hosted two workshops for you to have a say in station area planning. These two virtual workshops focused on future station areas in North Charleston and Summerville. Watch these videos to get caught up on the details and let us know your feedback!

Virtual Public Workshop North Charleston Station Areas - 04/22/2021

Watch video

Virtual Public Workshop Summerville Station Area - 04/22/2021

Watch video

Leave A Comment

Next Steps

In the meantime, our immediate next steps include:

Collecting, responding to and evaluating public comments

Finalizing the conceptual design based on public input and funding requirements

Finalizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process

Finalizing station architecture and operational brand materials

Submitting the Engineering Application to the Federal Transit Administration in Fall 2021

Thank you!

We appreciate you taking the time to view this online meeting. Your continued participation helps ensure the success of this project. Please consider leaving a comment and exploring the new website.

Exit the Meeting

Click on the button below to leave the online meeting.

Exit Meeting