This election season, Mount Pleasant and Charleston County residents have the chance to take bold action and shape the future by voting Yes on the Transportation Sales Tax (TST) Referendum. For Mount Pleasant residents, this is a unique opportunity to drive real, lasting improvements that will enhance everyday life. By voting Yes on November 5, we can create a safer, more connected community and secure a brighter future for the Town of Mount Pleasant and all of Charleston County.
The TST Referendum: A Brief Overview
The Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax Referendum provides a path to making roads safer, reducing traffic, enhancing public transit and protecting our beautiful greenspaces. If passed, it will fund vital infrastructure, transit and greenspace projects across the county.
A critical point to understand is that this referendum won’t increase taxes. It’s simply a way for us to direct resources toward completing crucial projects that will enhance the safety of our roads, including improvements to I-526 and other key infrastructure investments that will benefit everyone.
How Voting Yes Will Impact Mount Pleasant
The TST Referendum will bring key traffic and safety improvements to Mount Pleasant, including capacity enhancements along Johnnie Dodds and vital flood mitigation on Long Point Road, where high tides and heavy rain frequently lead to dangerous driving conditions and traffic delays. These projects will make commutes safer and more reliable.
Additionally, the realignment of Darrell Creek Trail will enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety, creating better walking and biking routes for the community.
Beyond Mount Pleasant, the referendum supports projects across Charleston County, including the Mark Clark Expressway extension, which will reduce congestion. These upgrades mean less time in traffic, more time with family and safer roads with quicker emergency response times.
What’s at Stake if This Doesn’t Pass?
If funding through this referendum is not secured, there’s no alternative plan to support the Greenbelt and transit projects that our county desperately needs. Without this crucial investment, our roads will continue to be overwhelmed, our green spaces could be at risk of overdevelopment and we’ll lose the opportunity to create a more connected, sustainable future.
Major Projects That Will Improve Mount Pleasant
Several high-impact projects are planned to benefit Mount Pleasant directly:
- Johnnie Dodds Corridor: Capacity enhancements along Johnnie Dodds between Houston Northcutt and Bowman, that includes an overpass at Houston Northcutt Blvd.
- Mount Pleasant Way Bike & Pedestrian Improvements: Multi-use paths will connect recreational facilities, parks, schools, neighborhoods and commercial areas, linking key parts of the town.
- Long Point Road Corridor: Improvements along Long Point Road from Whipple Road to US-17 to reduce closures during heavy rain and high tides.
- Darrell Creek Trail: Realigning the Darrell Creek Trail to intersect with Lieben Road and connecting Darrell Creek Trail to the Tupelo Forest neighborhood.
- Chuck Dawley, Coleman and Ben Sawyer Blvd. Intersection Improvements: Reconstruction of the intersection at Chuck Dawley Boulevard and Coleman/Ben Sawyer Blvd. to improve traffic efficiency.
How You Can Help: Vote Yes
To ensure the success of these projects, it’s essential to vote Yes on Question 1 and Question 2. Question 1 secures the necessary funding for these projects and Question 2 allows work to start as soon as possible. Together, they are the key to unlocking a brighter future for Mount Pleasant.
Be sure to view the entire ballot. These questions will be at the end under the Local Questions section and will look similar to the image below.
By voting Yes, you’ll help us create safer roads, reduce traffic and protect our natural spaces. Charleston County residents share this precious opportunity to make our region a better place to live, work and play.
For additional information on the TST Referendum, visit these resources:
Want to help with funding to ensure the TST Referendum gets passed? Contact Michael Mule at michael.mule@upstrategies.com to donate.
