The LSCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Regional Plan:

- Provides local and regional goals for

improving bicycling and walking (chapter 1)

- Presents an in-depth analysis of existing

conditions for walking and bicycling (chapter 2)

- Investigates safety issues, future demand,

and potential benefits of increased bicycle and

pedestrian use (chapter 2)

- Presents systematic bicycle and pedestrian

improvements aimed at a variety of users (chapter 3)

- Recommends programs, policies, and partner organizations to help

encourage and grow walking and bicycling in

the region (chapter 4)

- Identifies potential funding sources

and strategies for implementation

(chapter 5)

- Provides region-specific design guidelines for

improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the

region (appendix E)

Project overview The Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG), with funding provided in part by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Guideshare Program, commissioned this plan to provide a strong foundation for the development of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, policies and programs in the LSCOG region.

The Lower Savannah Region is located in the southwestern part of South Carolina and consists of six counties: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg. The six-county region comprises a total area of 3,981 square miles and contains a population in excess of 300,000. Bicycle and Walk Friendly Action Plans were prepared for the Cities of Barnwell and Orangeburg as separate elements of this planning effort.

Executive Summary

LSCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Regional Plan Vision Statement:

“The LSCOG Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Plan envisions a six-county network of safe communities, facilities, and programs for bicycling and walking that equitably support multi-modal travel, healthy lifestyles, and improved quality of life for all citizens, businesses, and visitors of the region.”

LSCOG BiCyCLe AnD PeDeSTRiAn ReGiOnAL PLAn: exeCuTive SummARy | 1

Future benefits of Walking and Bicycling in the LSCOG Region

Current estimated Daily Walking Trips 60,691

est. 2025 Daily Walking Trips 197,630

Current estimated Daily Bicycling Trips 3,862

est. 2025 Daily Bicycling Trips 28,324

yearly vehicle miles reduced 23,967,840

Dollar Figure of Quantified Benefits (Thousands) $69,724,801

Opportunities determined from field work and stakeholder input:

Connections to schools

Connections to parks, recreation

Connections to public transit system

Regional desire for bicycling and walking opportunities

Opportunity to address childhood obesity

many existing road facilities could be improved with sidewalks and intersection improvements.

many roads exist that are excessively wide and can reconfigured for bike lanes.

LSCOG Regional Bicycle Facility RecommendationsExisting Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities in the LSCOG Region

Facility Type Total MilesShared-use paths/Greenways

59.9 mi

State Bike Routes (6 total)

244.3 mi

The Palmetto Trail 20.5 miSoft Surface Trails 102.4 miBlueways (1 total) 27.9 mi

Plan Proposed Facilities Totals

Facility Type Total Miles2’ Shoulders 49.654’ Shoulders 158.326’ Shoulders 997.82Bike Friendly Roadways excluding BFRs that are shoulder projects

1400

Shared use Paths and Greenways

76.91

Rail with Trail 50.06

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LSCOG Priority Bike/Ped ProjectsProject Street/Intersection Closest City Recommended Improvement1 uS 78/ Heritage Hwy Connects Bamberg and

Denmark6-Ft Bike Lane/Paved Shoulder

2 uS 601/magnolia St Orangeburg 6-Ft Bike Lane/Paved Shoulder

3 uS 178/Charleston Hwy

Orangeburg and Bowman 6-Ft Bike Lane/Paved Shoulder

4 uS 21/Rowesville Rd Orangeburg 6-Ft Bike Lane/Paved Shoulder

5 SC 33/Russell St east of Orangeburg 4-Ft Bike Lane/Paved Shoulder

6 uS 78 and SC 39 Williston, SC intersection realignment

7 uS 15 and SC 6 Santee, SC Pedestrian crossing enhancements

8 Lemon Park to Fuller Park

Barnwell, SC Greenway

9 uS 278/ellenton St Barnwell, SC Add sidewalks and other pedestrian improvements

10 uS 178/21/ Whitaker Parkway

Orangeburg, SC Add sidewalk

11 edisto Gardens Greenway

Orangeburg, SC extension of Greenway north up north Fork of the edisto River

12 uS 78/ Heritage Hwy Williston, SC to Denmark, SC

Construct greenway along rail corridor connecting the Cities

LSCOG Regional Bicycle Facility Recommendations

LSCOG BiCyCLe AnD PeDeSTRiAn ReGiOnAL PLAn: exeCuTive SummARy | 3

Facility Example - Signed Bicycle Route: These routes are recommended on roadways

where bikeway signage and markings are used to increase

driver awareness of bicycles on the roadway.

Top Right: Specific recommenda-tions were made for several high-pri-ority areas across the LSCOG region. As a component of this Plan, Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Ac-tion Plans were created to specifically address the needs of the Cities of Orangeburg and Barnwell, SC.

Plan recommendationsResearch has shown that a comprehensive approach to bicycle and walk-friendy communities is more effective than an approach that only addresses infrastructure issues. This Plan utilizes a multi-faced “Six e’s” approach to creating bicycle and walk friendly communities based on the recommendations of the national Bicycle Friendly Community program, administered by the League of American Bicyclists, and the Walk Friendly Community program, administered by the national Center for Walking and Bicycling. The six “e’s” include: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, and equity.

enGineeRinG ReCOmmenDATiOn exAmPLeS

On-Road Bicycle Facilities:paved shoulders, shared lane markings (sharrows), bike lanes, and signed bicycle routes

Off-Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities:shared use paths and greenways, sidepaths, and sidewalks

Ancillary Improvements:bicycle parking, speed limit reduction, bicycle and pedestrian access to transit, intersections and crossings

nOn-inFRASTRuCTuRe ReCOmmenDATiOn exAmPLeS

Education: professional development courses, adult cycle skills training

Encouragement: Safe Routes to School, walk and bike for health program

Enforcement: bicycle patrol unit, bicycle light enforcement, crosswalk enforcement

Evaluation & Planning: bicycle and pedestrian counts, on-going crash analysis

4 | LSCOG BiCyCLe AnD PeDeSTRiAn ReGiOnAL PLAn: exeCuTive SummARy

Project Stakeholders:

Project Contact:Amanda J. SieversLSCOG Planning ManagerBox 850, Aiken, SC, 29802P: (803) 649-7981E: asievers@lscog.org

Consultant Team:

in association with Wilbur Smith Associates and Sprague & Sprague

Consulting Engineers

Proposed Crossing Improvements: Geathers Street at South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC

Facility Example - Paved Shoul-ders: roadways with striped shoulders (2’ or greater) wide enough for bicycle travel.

Safe Routes to School Programs encour-age walking and biking and help keep children active and fit.