Moving
South
Carolina
Forward
Welcome to Momentum 2050, the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) plan for moving South Carolina forward. Momentum 2050 is SCDOT’s plan for the future of the state’s multimodal transportation network. The document is a statewide plan for all users, all modes, and any area that has a role in South Carolina’s transportation system.
SCDOT evaluates the transportation system, what is changing, and how to improve it over the next decades. Momentum 2050 does not choose specific projects or decide what will be built where, but rather produces strategies and policies that will help SCDOT prioritize projects that will help achieve its vision. SCDOT updates the plan every five years as the agency makes progress toward its goals and as conditions change.
From
the Secretary
Momentum 2050 is more than a plan – it is a road map to South Carolina’s future. South Carolina’s transportation network supports the movement of people and freight across our state. South Carolina’s future depends on keeping these critical arteries flowing. We also recognize that growth isn’t coming to South Carolina: it’s here and it is here to stay. People have discovered what we already know – South Carolina is a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. At the time this plan is published, we are one of the fastest growing states in the nation. That growth has a tremendous impact on our public infrastructure.
Public participation played a key role in the development of this plan, and we intend to keep you informed every step of the way. This is not just the work of the South Carolina Department of Transportation – this is an effort by everyone on Team South Carolina. We worked closely with key stakeholders like the Ports Authority, Department of Commerce, and the railroads to develop this plan, and we will continue that collaboration into the future. We also involved officials in your local communities and asked for input from a variety of partners.
I encourage you to read this plan and get involved. The road forward is going to require our continued diligent work and investment. I want you to know that the proud team at the South Carolina Department of Transportation is committed to building the future for the people of South Carolina.
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell
Momentum 2050, managed by the Office of Planning of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), builds upon the previous 2040 SMTP. This new plan incorporates recent public outreach and stakeholder involvement efforts, an updated vision, new goals and objectives, environmental and cultural resource documentation, and a new plan for emerging technologies. Additionally, it leverages recent data analytics to assess performance-based needs and develop investment strategies. The culmination of these efforts is presented in the Momentum 2050 SMTP.
Momentum 2050 offers long-term guidance for the development of transportation programs and establishes strategies to achieve South Carolina’s transportation goals over a 25-year period.
The statewide multimodal transportation plan is updated every five years to reflect the latest information on travel and growth trends, goals and objectives, infrastructure conditions, future deficiencies, and estimated funding.
Key
Priorities
SCDOT researched and focused on several important transportation priorities, which are a focus of the plan. These priorities include:
Improving
Safety
SCDOT aims to make roads safer for everyone who uses them, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers in cities, towns, and the countryside.
Preserving State-Owned Highways
SCDOT maintains over 41,000 miles of roads, which is the fourth largest system of state-owned roads in the country. Maintaining the state’s existing roads that South Carolinians use every day is a priority.
Investing in
Interstate Highways
SCDOT invests in key roads, bridges, and highway interchanges to create new economic opportunities and support the jobs and businesses that are there now.
Preserving State-Owned Bridges
SCDOT owns, operates, and maintains over 8,000 bridges. Properly caring for these bridges not only protects taxpayers’ investment, but also improves resilience for such natural disasters as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.