10-06-2025
Folly Beach City Council to vote on new transportation and traffic safety action plan
FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCBD) – Officials are expected to present the Folly Beach safety action plan to city council, after a year in the making.
The city has been working with consultants at Kimley-Horn since June 2024, to address growing safety concerns on the island. The transportation and traffic safety action plan highlights four main goals – encourage safer speeds, maintain the city's culture, improve communication and coordination, and serve a diverse population.
'This is the first time we've had a comprehensive plan that shows the areas we need to target on the entire island – to make the island safer,' Jenna Stephens, zoning administrator of Folly Beach, said.
The engineers analyzed data from 2017-2023 and found the city averages around 85 crashes per year. According to the study, a majority of the crashes included pedestrians and bicyclists. Though most of them were non-fatal, the city plans to address this issue.
Folly Beach held two public input meetings open to residents and people who visit the island regularly. Around 250 people participated, with many saying they felt uncomfortable traveling around by foot or on a bike. Transportation advocacy groups like the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) and Charleston Moves also attended.
In a support letter sent to the city, Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves, said the organization supports the plan and two resolutions to adopt it.
'Charleston Moves has appreciated the opportunities to participate in both the development of the City's Safety Action Plan, as well as the stakeholder meetings and data collection for the Arctic Avenue Plan,' Zimmerman wrote. 'Our region is one of the deadliest in the nation for vulnerable road users, with disproportionate impacts to senior citizens and Black communities. We support your efforts towards a safe and healthy city with a goal of eliminating fatalities and severe injuries from traffic collisions.'
City council will vote to approve the safety action plan and to amend a contract to scope out the Arctic Avenue project. The next steps will include applying for the federal 'Safe Streets For All' grant.
'The problems is funding – this plan allows us to qualify for some federal grants and that is the plan right now. To use the safety action plan to apply for the 'Safe Streets For All' grant and to help fund some of our Arctic Avenue infrastructure proposals,' said Stephens.
City council will meet at 7 p.m. on June 10. They are expected to vote on two resolutions involving the safety action plan.
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