COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and officials from the Richland County Council held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Wednesday for the remodeled intersection at Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street.
The changes include new turning lanes that the County Council says will help with traffic flow and make the intersection safer for pedestrians. It's a part of a years-long effort to revitalize the historic Bull Street District.
“We have restaurants here, new housing and apartments coming up, scout motors just located here as well," said Richland County Councilwoman Jesica Mackey. "We know more folks are gonna come here to live work and play, so to have this intersection completed is really going to be an improved travel experience in this area."
According to county officials, the changes have already reduced wait time at the intersection by 6%. The project also included new pedestrians crossings, improved drainage and resurfacing the roads and lines.
Funding for the project came from the Richland County Transportation Penny Tax, which funds transportation related projects like roads improvement and the public bus system. At the ceremony, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann touted the Penny tax for helping make these improvements happen.
"That penny can improve projects, roads, transportation, sustain our bus system, are important," said Rickenmann.
Richland County residents will have the option to renew the Penny Tax on the ballot in November of this year. Rickenmann urged them to vote for it.
"I hope that citizens will get engaged. I hope they will take part in looking and listening to what's being proposed and this is a way for us to make our community better one penny at a time," Rickenmann said.
If the tax doesn't get renewed, it's projected to end when it reaches the allotment amount of $1.07 billion dollars. According to the Transportation Penny's website, that's forecasted to happen in 2026.