this is just the beginning…

In February 2021, City of Folly Beach Council authorized staff to begin studying traffic and parking along Arctic Avenue. Specifically, the City wants to evaluate ways to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility. The study has now reached the planning phase, where a team of roadway, traffic, and drainage engineers will assess the existing conditions of Arctic Avenue and make suggestions on ways to improve the street.

Once the team has identified ways to enhance Arctic Avenue, the City will present the possible design solutions to the public for feedback.

the plan will address

  • safety

    Increase visibility and create designated facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians.

  • mobility

    Add multimodal accommodations while maintaining traffic flow.

  • accessibility

    Improve connections and ADA ramps.

To develop a plan that best serves those who use Arctic Avenue, we have divided Arctic Avenue into two distinct districts:

The commercial district includes:

  • City Hall & Public Services Offices

  • Vacation Rental Offices

  • Charleston County Park & Folly Beach Pier

  • Restaurants/Bars

  • Hotels

  • Retail

  • Parking Lots

  • Apartments & Condos

the commercial district

2nd Street West to 2nd Street East

the residential district

2nd Street East to 12th Street East and

West Arctic Avenue from 2nd Street West to 3rd Street West

The residential district includes:

  • Single Family Homes

  • Public Beach Access

  • Street Parking

 

timeline

plan development

Throughout the process, we will involve stakeholders to gain a clear understanding of how to best improve Arctic Avenue. Key stakeholders will include:

  • Elected Officials

  • City of Folly Beach

  • Folly Beach Public Safety

  • Charleston County Government

  • Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission

  • South Carolina Department of Transportation

  • Local Business Leaders

  • Tides Folly Beach

  • Vacation Rental Companies

  • Battery 2 Beach

  • Charleston Moves

1. existing conditions

Our team will begin the study by collecting information about the commercial and residential districts. Traffic counts during peak and off-peak seasons, crash data, and pedestrian/bicyclist observations can indicate the type of improvement options best suited for Arctic Avenue.

2. walking audit

Once we have a better understanding of the existing conditions, the team will complete a walking audit. Our design engineers and stakeholders will walk the street to observe pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort firsthand.

3. design options

Now that our team has collected data regarding Arctic Avenue’s environment, they can begin looking at ways to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility. These options could include upgrades to cross walks, installation of sidewalks and multi-use paths, or dedicated travel lanes for multimodal traffic.

4. public involvement

After developing possible design alternatives to improve Artic Avenue, we will present the improvement options to the public for feedback. The City will host an in-person and virtual meeting where the community can provide input on the proposed plan. Public involvement will ensure any upgrades meet the needs of those who use Artic Avenue. We will consider all comments and suggestions, and work to include them in the final design where possible.