'In Lower Richland, it's a dirt road situation'

Some residents skeptical of preliminary transportation proposal

By DAWN HINSHAW - dhinshaw@thestate.com

In 17 years, John C. Anderson can think of only two dirt roads that have been paved.

That’s a drop in the bucket in a county with hundreds of miles of dirt roads, said Anderson, who lives on a dead-end road in Lower Richland that he would eventually like to see paved.

“They gave us some gravel about five years ago, six years ago, and that’s all going away,” said Anderson, who drives a 2008 Mazda SUV.

“In the wintertime, especially when it rains, you’ve got clay dirt on your car and you’re slipping. In the summertime, dust gets in your house.”

Anderson said a preliminary transportation plan aired last week didn’t offer much to him and his neighbors.

The citizen-driven proposal — which goes to Richland County Council for review May 20 — includes $1 million a year to pave dirt roads, doubling the county’s current allocation.

The $394 million plan sets out priorities for road improvements, bus service and bike lanes, greenways and sidewalks.

“In Lower Richland, it’s a dirt road situation,” Anderson said.

“They talked about bicycle trails and all that, which is good, but my basic concern is the dirt roads.”

Anderson, 73, drives a chartered bus for a living.

He’s receptive to the idea of paying an extra penny sales tax to pay for transportation — even though he knows his road, Condale Lane, isn’t going to be paved anytime soon.

“If that’s going to solve the problem that we’re having, hey, I feel good about it.”

Reach Hinshaw at (803) 771-8641.