COLUMBIA, S.C. — As you travel Assembly Street on the east side of downtown Columbia, there are plenty of things to distract drivers, from businesses and government buildings to restaurants and the heart of the USC campus.
However, one of the more significant concerns is pedestrians, especially when school is back in session. A recent study found 45 crashes on Assembly Street during the study period.
Thanks to a federal program, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is set to spend over $10 million on improvements to Assembly Street that should make it safer for pedestrians.
On Thursday, the SCDOT held a public information session to discuss potential ideas for making Assembly Street safer.
Program Manager Shawn Salley said the department wants to hear the public’s ideas.
“This project was initiated from a federal study by the highway safety improvement program,” Salley said. "From that study, recommendations were provided to improve pedestrian safety along this corridor. Based on the comments we get today, we’ll move forward; we’ll evaluate those comments, make any adjustments we need to make and then we’ll develop this concept into a full-fledged construction project."
Salley said the project will help connect Williams-Brice Stadium and the fairgrounds to downtown. It is estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million, and construction is projected to begin in 2026.
“So the intention of the project is to have connectivity and pick up where sidewalks stop and carry [them] out to Rosewood [Drive]. The good thing is that funding is already identified because this project is part of a federally-funded program,” Salley explained.
The project would include upgrades to signs and signals, median improvements, pedestrian crossing improvements, curb extensions, and sidewalk improvements, all of which would make the area more walkable.
Residents representing various interests came out Thursday to get their first look at the proposed improvements.
Chris Dorsey is with a group working to restore Capitol City Stadium.
“I was so impressed that the sidewalk’s going to take you all the way from Wheat Street, go straight past Capital City Park, and it’s going to go straight into Williams-Brice Stadium and over there. So, it’s going to make it safe,” Dorsey said.
Regan Freeman is with the COLA Town Bike Collective. He likes the way the proposed changes will keep everyone safer.
“And what gets me so excited is we’re essentially weaving the city back together. You got to play Frogger when you’re crossing this road right now, and so fixing that and making it safer when you’re going to walk your dog, or you’re on a run, or you’re riding a bike, that’s the stuff that makes the city better. It’s just nice to have less chance of death on Assembly Street, I’ll say that,“ Freeman said.
The SCDOT will accept public input regarding the project until September 5th. To submit your comments, visit the project's page on SCDOT's website here.