Lower Savannah COG COVID19 update

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To our clients, partners, board members and communities:

In the continuing COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Lower Savannah Council of Governments is being vigilant as we continue to provide services while keeping our staff, clients and partners safe. Currently, our office is following the operational protocol of Accelerate SC (the Governor's COVID-19 advisory team). We are in the first phase of reentry with COG staff working half their time in the office and half their time at home. Please note that the organization will not hold. and the staff will limit attendance, at public meetings, trainings, workshops or community meetings until further notice. The wearing of masks and social distancing is required in the building. We are always available by phone and email communications. Finally, the office is closed to visitors, volunteers and others.

We are paying careful attention to the number of COVID cases and deaths in the state of South Carolina, in the Lower Savannah Region and in our six counties. We are also keeping abreast of how the state reopens under the Accelerate SC guidelines. It is our hope that we will move to the second phase of reopening over the summer. However, this will depend upon the number of cases in the region and Accelerate SC protocol.

During the last three months, the doors of the SC Works Centers across the region were closed but staff maned the offices and services were available to the public on an as needed or 1-to-1 basis. Beginning this month, the Centers in Aiken, Orangeburg and Barnwell will be open. The opening of the remaining three Centers is in the planning phase. Our other programs are continuing to provide services in the same manner as we have been over the last three months.

The LSCOG has institute the ongoing measures to protect our staff and the public. As the situation changes, some or all of these policies may change based on new federal or state guidelines. These changes will be posted on our website - www.lscog.org

Download PDF of the Letter from the Executive Director

Download CDC COVID19 Information

Transportation Advisory Committee Request

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At the 7/16/2019, and reconfirmed at the 11/19/2019 Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, the TAC approved the following:

1. The removal of four (4) projects from the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and place them back into the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) project list to be ranked with the others in the LRTP:

• PO30113 SC 33 (Russell Street) from US 178 (Chestnut Street) to S-470 (Old Elloree Road)

• PO30120 US 301 (Five Chop Road) from Woodbine Drive to US 21 BP/US 178 BP (Joe Jeffords Highway)- Segment I. And US 301 (John C. Calhoun Drive) from US 601 Magnolia Street) to US 301 (Five Chop Road)- Segment II.

• PO30132 US 178 (Charleston Highway) from US 21 BP/US 178 BP (Joe Jeffords Highway) to US 601 (Magnolia Street)

• PO30131 US 21 (Freedom Road) from US 78 (Dorange Road) to S-353 (Orange Street). US 21 (Freedom Road) from S-353 (Orange Street) to SC 210 (Bowman Branch Highway). US 21 (Freedom Road) from US 78 (Dorange Road) to US 78 (Edwards Street).

2. Move the US 21 (Joe Jeffords Highway) Corridor Improvements from US 178 to US 301, from the unconstrained to the constrained LRTP with SCOOT cost estimates for the entire project (all phases) into the LRTP.

3. Rank the US 21 (Joe Jeffords Highway) project as the #1 corridor improvement/widening project in the region.

The updated cost estimate for the four removed projects is $9,090,000.

The cost of US 21 (Joe Jeffords Highway) is $10,485,000 and broken down as follows:

Preliminary Engineering - $1,250,000 (FY 2020)
Right of Way - ­$500,000 (FY 2022)
Construction - $8,735,000 (FY 2024)

TAC: Fast Act Funds Map

Project List

LSCOG proposed TIP changes

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The Lower Savannah Council of Government’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is providing a 21-day notice of the following proposed Amendments to the LSCOG’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for Orangeburg County.

The addition of Joe Jeffords Highway from US 178 to US 301 as a funded project in the TIP.  The $10,484,000 project cost breakdown is as follows: PE - $1,250,000; ROW - $500,000; Construction - $8,735,000.

The project phases are as follows: Preliminary Engineering – FY 2020; Right of Way Acquisition – FY 2022; Construction – FY 2024.

The following projects will be removed from the TIP and placed back into the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) as unfunded projects:

·         SC 33 (Russell Street) from US 178 (Chestnut Street) to S-470 (Old Ellorree Road)

·         US 301 (Five Chop Road) from Woodbine Drive to US 21 BP/US 178 BP (Joe Jeffords Highway) Segment I

·         US 301 (John C. Calhoun Drive) from US 601 (Magnolia Street) to US 301 (Five Chop Road) Segment II

·         US 178 (Charleston Highway) from US 21 BP/US 178 BP (Joe Jeffords Highway) to US 601 (Magnolia Street)

·         US 21 Freedom Road: 1) from US 78 (Dorange Road) to S-353 (Orange Street); 2) from S-353 (Orange Street to SC 210 (Bowman Branch Highway); 3) From US 78 (Dorange Road) to US 78 (Edwards Street); 4) US 78 (Edwards Street) from Barton Street to US 78 (Freedom Road)

·         SC 210 @ S-80, Intersection Improvement

Please forward any questions or concerns to Dr. William Molnar at wmolnar@lsocog.org

LSCOG announces winners of Transportation Survey

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The Lower Savannah Council of Governments thanks everyone who took the time to complete the Long-Range Transportation Plan survey and is pleased to announce the two winners of a $50 Amazon gift card. Congratulations to Josh West and Jennifer Jackson!

“We were very pleased with the input we received from the citizens of the COG. The information given was valuable and will help us put together a long range plan that will help us meet the needs of all the citizens across the COG.”   - Michael Dennis, Ramey Kemp & Associates

LSCOG seeks solutions from public on transportation plan

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A regional transportation survey is kicking off today, gathering insights from the travelling public about individual travel behaviors and the level of satisfaction with infrastructure and transportation services across six counties. The survey is being fielded by the Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG) as part of its 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan project.

The purpose of the 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan project is to set priorities for federal dollar spending on transportation projects in the region by assessing existing conditions, forecasting mobility needs of the region’s population 20 years into the future and capturing the vision and goals of the community. The information gathered will be incorporated into the decision-making process as short-term and long-term mobility solutions are evaluated.

The online survey is available today through August 1, 2019 at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LSCOGTransportationSurvey 

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About Lower Savannah Council of Governments: Lower Savannah Council of Governments is a regional quasi-governmental organization serving Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties. The organization strives to improve the quality of life for residents and create a sustainable future for the Lower Savannah Region.