Columbia’s $60M greenway plan, Irmo commute ranks among nation’s worst, CAE parking guide
Columbia drivers and travelers have a lot to track this spring, from a major downtown trail expansion to a new ranking of the area’s most exhausting commutes. Here’s a roundup of recent transportation news from the Midlands.
Here are key takeaways:
• $60 million greenway push: Columbia is advancing three new downtown greenway projects, including a $40 million Waterfront Park Trail between the Blossom and Gervais street bridges, a $10 million Vista Greenway Spur connecting to the Columbia Canal and a $7 million extension linking the Vista to North Main Street and the BullStreet District, according to The State. City leaders hope to tap Richland County’s penny tax to help cover costs.
• Irmo ranked among nation’s worst commutes: A Mission for Michael survey of more than 3,000 drivers placed Irmo at No. 52 on a list of 150 suburbs with the most burnout-inducing commutes, The State reported. North Charleston came in at No. 25 and Mauldin at No. 73, with rush-hour congestion between Irmo and Columbia cited as the main culprit.
• Columbia airport parking rates: Drive-up garage parking at CAE starts at $3 per half hour with a $17 daily maximum, while the surface lot caps at $12 a day and valet runs $25 per day, per The State. Frequent flyers can buy a Premier Parking annual membership for $1,000. June pre-bookings are blocked because of solar panel construction on the garage’s third floor.
• SCDOT overhaul before May 14 deadline: South Carolina lawmakers have days left to pass legislation, including a major bill to make the state Department of Transportation more efficient by allowing private contracting, optional toll lanes and federal environmental permitting takeover. The bill is headed to conference committee.
• Headphones and AirPods while driving: No South Carolina statute specifically bans wearing headphones behind the wheel, but drivers can be cited if the devices contributed to a crash, according to The State. The state’s new Hands Free law has already produced 3,400 citations in its first month, with fines of $100 for a first offense.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.