Do something now on growing Beaufort County traffic woes
As a 12-year resident of the Lowcountry, I have observed the traffic situation worsen year after year. This is unacceptable and needs attention now.
Excessive speed, tailgating and reckless driving are the norm while traveling on U.S. 278 or other local roadways.
The primary factor contributing to this problem is the rapid growth experienced in both the commercial and residential sectors of Beaufort County economy in the past 15 years.
Enforcement of speed limits and other traffic laws appears to increase as horrific accidents occur, or letters to the editor increase.
If we continue to develop large commercial plots without conducting comprehensive zoning and traffic studies, the problem will compound until yet another accident spurs a rushed response.
Point me to the strategic plan to address the projected growth of Beaufort County in the next 10 years. Do we have a plan?
As a grandparent of a young driver in the Bluffton area, I’m calling upon our elected officials to do something now to address this situation.
The short-term answer is to hire more police officers dedicated to traffic enforcement, with a focus on U.S. 278. The long-term solution is to review zoning, traffic studies and strategic planning to ensure our infrastructure can support the increase in population and traffic that will occur in the future.
The alternative is to suffer the woes of Atlanta or Charleston during rush hour. The return on investment will make us all safer.
Michael Akey Sr.
Bluffton
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This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Do something now on growing Beaufort County traffic woes."