Improve Safety on Virginia Avenue

Recent signers:
William taylor and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in improving safety along Virginia Avenue, particularly between East Montague and Alamo.

I’ve been a proud resident of Park Circle for over 15 years and have watched our wonderful community grow and thrive. With that growth, however, has come a steady increase in traffic and safety concerns — especially along Virginia Avenue. Earlier this week, one of our longtime neighbors experienced a heartbreaking loss when their dog was struck and killed on Virginia.

Over the past few years, Virginia has started to feel more like a highway than a neighborhood street. Cars frequently miss the East Montague turn and make U-turns in the middle of the road. With the continued beautification of Riverfront Park and the success of our local festivals, traffic and speed has only increased — creating potentially unsafe conditions for children, families, visitors, pedestrians, and pets.

To help protect our community, we are requesting that the City of North Charleston & SCDOT consider:

  1. Installing a stoplight at the corner of Virginia and East Montague
  2. Adding a crosswalk for pedestrians at Virginia and East Montague 
  3. Lowering the speed limit in the residential stretch between East Montague and Alamo

These changes would calm traffic, improve safety, and ensure that our neighborhood continues to be a safe, walkable place for everyone who calls Park Circle home as well as pedestrian traffic.

If you support these efforts, please sign this petition by November 14th. We will present our community support to the City, Councilman Michael Brown, and other local officials to prioritize this safety measure.

If you have any concerns or additional input that should be considered, please don’t hesitate to reach out — our goal is to make sure every voice in our community is heard.

Thank you for helping keep Park Circle safe, connected, and family-friendly.

avatar of the starter
Rebecca GuthriePetition Starter
Media inquiries

265

Recent signers:
William taylor and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in improving safety along Virginia Avenue, particularly between East Montague and Alamo.

I’ve been a proud resident of Park Circle for over 15 years and have watched our wonderful community grow and thrive. With that growth, however, has come a steady increase in traffic and safety concerns — especially along Virginia Avenue. Earlier this week, one of our longtime neighbors experienced a heartbreaking loss when their dog was struck and killed on Virginia.

Over the past few years, Virginia has started to feel more like a highway than a neighborhood street. Cars frequently miss the East Montague turn and make U-turns in the middle of the road. With the continued beautification of Riverfront Park and the success of our local festivals, traffic and speed has only increased — creating potentially unsafe conditions for children, families, visitors, pedestrians, and pets.

To help protect our community, we are requesting that the City of North Charleston & SCDOT consider:

  1. Installing a stoplight at the corner of Virginia and East Montague
  2. Adding a crosswalk for pedestrians at Virginia and East Montague 
  3. Lowering the speed limit in the residential stretch between East Montague and Alamo

These changes would calm traffic, improve safety, and ensure that our neighborhood continues to be a safe, walkable place for everyone who calls Park Circle home as well as pedestrian traffic.

If you support these efforts, please sign this petition by November 14th. We will present our community support to the City, Councilman Michael Brown, and other local officials to prioritize this safety measure.

If you have any concerns or additional input that should be considered, please don’t hesitate to reach out — our goal is to make sure every voice in our community is heard.

Thank you for helping keep Park Circle safe, connected, and family-friendly.

avatar of the starter
Rebecca GuthriePetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

North Charleston City Council
8 Members
1 Responded
Brandon Hudson
Brandon Hudson
North Charleston City Council - District 8
“Virginia Avenue is in District 10, which is represented by Councilman Michael Brown. He would be the best point of contact for residents in that area. My family and I frequently deal with the dangers of Virginia when crossing over to access the Riverfront area, and agree that any safety improvements we can get for the road would be a benefit to the community. As a councilor, I have supported our Staff working with SCDOT and advocating for traffic concerns not only on Virginia, but throughout the area. This is something the City is well aware of, especially as the Naval Base Redevelopment begins to move forward in the coming years. I spoke with our Staff for an update on the long term plan. The City completed a feasibility study for the Virginia/Noisette intersection several years ago, and we have been engaged with SCDOT and the Ports Authority to look at improvements for that intersection as well as along Virginia in a way that continues to support the existing (and future) industrial and train traffic while creating safe connectivity between Park Circle and the Noisette/Riverfront area. These types of changes often take many years to plan and execute. Advocacy from residents is a critical component in amplifying the voice of our City with the State, and I encourage residents to continue to support these improvements, as well as voice their concerns with SCDOT and their State Representatives. We are also working with SCDOT to find solutions to truck traffic on the Durant and N Rhett area, and after a City funded traffic study last year, have gotten some positive feedback that may allow us to exercise more control over these areas. This progress is the result, in no small part, of public input from our Citizens. The roadway, like many in the region, is owned and maintained by the SCDOT. That means that any significant traffic or safety changes must go through them for review and approval. The state has very strict standards for modifications on state-owned roads, particularly those designated as truck routes. Virginia Avenue provides direct access to industrial areas, the Navy base, Ports, and the interstate, and has been designed to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic and is considered a key transit route. Making major changes here will take many years, but the City is committed to a successful outcome for our citizens. I hope our continued unified voice will help see improvements. Thanks, Brandon Hudson District 8 City Councilman”
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
North Charleston City Council - District 10
Charmaine Palmer-Roberts
Charmaine Palmer-Roberts
North Charleston City Council - District 4
Dr. Stephanie Ganaway-Pasley
Dr. Stephanie Ganaway-Pasley
North Charleston City Council - District 3
Responded
“Good afternoon, Thank you for reaching out and for laying out these concerns so clearly. I hear you, and I share your worries about what’s happening along Virginia Avenue. When a street in a neighborhood starts to feel like a highway, that’s a signal we cannot ignore, especially when it has already resulted in the tragic loss of a family pet and ongoing risks to children, seniors, and everyday walkers in Park Circle. Your suggestions are reasonable, community-centered, and absolutely worth serious consideration. A stoplight, a clearly marked pedestrian crosswalk, and a reduced speed limit are all proven ways to slow traffic and make residential areas safer. With the growth of Riverfront Park and the increased foot traffic from festivals and events, these measures feel not just helpful but necessary to protect residents and visitors. I appreciate the time you and your neighbors have taken to organize around this issue, and I respect the love and pride you have for your community. Please know that I will review the petition, listen closely to the concerns raised, and work with city staff and SCDOT to determine the best path forward. Safety has to remain a top priority Councilwoman Dr. Ganaway-Pasley District 3”
Reggie Burgess
Reggie Burgess
North Charleston City Mayor

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Petition created on November 6, 2025