COLUMBIA, S.C. — In Downtown Columbia, local transportation leaders plan to present alternatives to current downtown train track crossings to the public in about two weeks.
This is all apart of a nearly $300M project called the "Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project."
As any local to Columbia knows, it's no shocker that sometimes downtown Columbia traffic means stopping for a train, or two, or three.
"Everybody that lives right here and on down, they deal with it every once in a while," Tylik Gantt, Columbia resident said.
Gantt lives off Assembly Street and said the traffic back ups can be an inconvenience.
"Sometimes like when you go to work, and sometimes when you're going somewhere important, the train just stops, and it just be for hours and hours and hours," Gantt said.
"Everybody understands and immediately knows what you're talking about when you bring up this rail crossing elimination and the inconvenience that's there," said Clint Shealy, assistant city manager of Columbia Water.
Shealy said this is a nearly $300M project the city has been working on with SCDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration for quite some time now.
They're still navigating federal, state and city grant funding sources, with Shealy adding that the new penny tax will help.
In an upcoming SCDOT meeting, members of the public will be able to help give their input on the preferred alternative to the existing railroad tracks.
According to Shealy, rail over road is the leading candidate compared to say road over rail.
"That means road below rail track. So no at grade crossings trying to eliminate as many of those as possible," Shealy said.
Car and train traffic will just continue to grow, Shealy said, so it needs to be addressed.
"This is the crossroads of our state. We're right here in Columbia and so much activity, the university, the statehouse and the center of commerce for the Midlands," Shealy said.
He's hopeful the project will get grant approvals in the new year. SCDOT said on the project's website that they expect to have a decision on federal backing by May of next year.
SCDOT is holding an in-person meeting on December 11, 2024 at 701 Whaley so the public can review this project and make comments.
You can also give feedback online at SCDOT's website until January 11, 2024.