Our Opportunity: New Ideas or Old Politics?

Senator Davis’s new approach for the 278 Corridor provides us on Hilton Head with a tremendous opportunity to solve our congestion problems, while maintaining the beauty and tranquility of our community.

There are several ways to accomplish this. Each have pros, cons and tradeoffs. For example: How much throughput do we tradeoff for Stoney land? How many traffic lights do we want? Can an attractive method be found for an Express path between Bluffton and the CIP to keep through traffic off our local streets, etc. 

In the past, SCDOT and Beaufort County produced (and appeared to force on us) a plan (A) which included a 125’ wide bridge, 3 traffic lights, impacted 21 Stoney properties, had 2 new large intersections, and ignored efficient CIP links. Fortunatly, that died due to funding issues.

Residents provided other detailed plans (B1, B2, B3) which bypassed the lights, reduced the amount of Stoney land needed, and provided an Express path to the CIP. We have roughly $40 million available, and a funding idea for more was also provided. (See figure)  

Which is best, and are even better plans possible? The Hilton Head Master Plan needs to figure this out transparently and scientifically, not politically as has been the case in the past. In doing this, I urge that maps and quantitative detail be provided for each idea and then compared, without the prejudicial pre-selection that has derailed many good ideas in the past. One new idea: Let the engineers answer direct questions from residents.

Only after equivalent data is compared for each plan, can we decide which is best, and why. This is extremely important since there are interactions and tradeoffs between plans, and a plan that looks good by one rating, may be terrible by another. 

Although time is short, we have never had this opportunity of quantitative plan analysis and comparison before. Since 2020, a ruling Junta in County Council, cut off ideas, rigged studies, and steered us only in the direction they wanted.

Our opportunities are large. The Mayor and Town Council need to lead this effort fairly, scientifically and transparently, and not become shills to the County and growth interests, as has been the pattern in the past. 

The next Town Council Workshop is Monday January 27, 2025 at 1 PM at Town Hall. All should attend and be heard.