2004/34

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR ROADS IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR ROADS IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

WHEREAS, by resolution dated April 12, 2004, and pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. §6-1-

910, et seq., (Cum Supp. 2003), County Council directed the Beaufort County planning

commission to conduct the necessary studies to formulate a capital improvements plan for roads

in the area of Beaufort County north of the Broad River (Northern Beaufort County), and to

make recommendations to Council regarding said plan and the adoption of an ordinance

imposing impact fees in Northern Beaufort County to fund some or all of the costs ofthe system

improvements identified by said plan; and

WHEREAS, the planning commission has recommended for consideration by County

Council a Capital Improvements Plan for Roads in Northern Beaufort County dated as of May

26, 2004, and has further recommended the adoption of an ordinance imposing impact fees as set

forth in the aforementioned plan as a funding mechanism for the capital projects identified in the

plan; and

WHEREAS, at its meeting held on August 16, 2004, the Land Management Committee

considered the recommendation of the planning commission and that of staff and determined to

recommend to the County Council the Capital Improvements Plan for Northern Beaufort County

dated as of May 26,2004, Revised August 6, 2004; and

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II

I 1

WHEREAS, County Council conducted a public hearing on the Capital Improvements

Plan for Roads for Northern Beaufort County on October 11, 2004, after notice thereof in

accordance with S.C. Code Ann. §6-1-190 (Cum Supp. 2003) was run in a newspaper of general

circulation in the County; and

WHEREAS, County Council had determined to adopt, as and for the capital

improvements plan for roadway facilities in Northern Beaufort County, the Capital

Improvements Plan for Roads in Northern Beaufort County dated as of May 26 2004, revised

August 6, 2004.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the County Council of Beaufort County,

South Carolina:

Section 1: The Capital Improvements Plan for Roads in Northern Beaufort County dated as

of May 26, 2004, Revised August 6, 2004, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein

by reference, is hereby adopted as and for the plan for capital road projects in Northern Beaufort

County.

Section 2: To the extent that any other County capital improvement plans for roads in

Northern Beaufort County conflicts or is consistent with the provisions of the Capital

Improvement Plan for Roads in Northern Beaufort County adopted by this ordinance, the

provisions of the Plan adopted by this ordinance shall control.

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II

ADOPTED this 11th day of October, 2004, by a positive majority of the County Council.

REVIEWED BY:

ATTEST:

~1..«& ~~lA Suzanne M. Rainey, Clerk to Council

First Reading: August 23, 2004

Second Reading: September 13, 2004

Public Hearing: October 11, 2004

Third and Final Reading: October 11, 2004

COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH jfROLINA

By: !/;~,II~J/1;(: Wm. Westot? J. Newton, Chairman

Page 3 of3

Beaufort County Council Capital Improvement Plan

For Roads =Northern Beaufort County=

Beaufort, SC

May 26,2004 Revised August 6, 2004

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1

EXISTING CONDITIONS .................................................................................................................... 1 Service Area ................................................................................................................................ 1 Existing Road Network ............................................................................................................... 4 Existing Conditions Data ............................................................................................................. 4

FUTURE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS 6 Anticipated Growth/Land Use Assumptions ............................................................................... 6 Future Impacts ............................................................................................................................. 8 Capital Roadway Projects ............................................................................................................ 8

CAPITAL PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS .............................................................................................. 12

CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING ......................................................................................................... 15 Funding ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Methodology of Maximum Allowable Fee Calculations ............................................................ 15 Rate Structure .............................................................................................................................. 15

CONCLUSTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 18

TABLES

Number

1

2

3

4

5

6

FIGURES

Number

1 2

Title

Northern Growth in Beaufort County, 1980-2000

Northern Beaufort County Growth Projections, 2000-2025

Northern Beaufort County Growth, 2004-2025

Initial Impact Fee Project List

Eligible Projects for Traffic Impact Fee Program

Northern Beaufort County Maximum Impact Fee Rates

Title

Northern Beaufort County Service Area Northern Beaufort County Road Functional Classification Map

Page

6

7

7

9

11

18

3 5

INTRODUCTION

Northern Beaufort County, the area of the County lying north of the Broad River, has been experiencing rapid growth, which is projected to continue over the next 20 years. Between 2004 and 2025, northern Beaufort County can expect the following growth trends:

• An increase of35,600 persons (a 50% increase)

• An increase of 13,335 housing units (a 42% increase)

• An increase of over 2.75 million square feet of nonresidential floor area (a 30% increase).

An inherent by-product of this growth will be increased use of and demand on the transportation system. In order to determine what impacts this additional development will have on the transportation system in northern Beaufort County, the County's TRANPLAN model was used to project future travel demand and the need for new or modified road links necessary to accommodate this projected growth. Results of the TRANPLAN analysis showed that unless improvements are made to accommodate future growth, the capacity of Beaufort County's roadway network will be increasingly threatened by traffic related to emerging new development. This, in tum, will adversely affect not just traffic flow and safety, but detrimentally affect the quality of life in northern Beaufort County.

The benefits of a safe and efficient roadway system can only be realized when future traffic created by new development is accommodated. Although funding to make needed improvements is generally limited, impact fees are a tool authorized by state law which permits new development to be assessed the costs, in whole or in part, of capital improvements that are required because of such new development. Impact fees are designed to impose a fair share of the cost of roadway facilities needed due to new development on new development in proportion to the demand created by such development, as measured by an adopted level of service standard and as identified in an adopted capital improvements plan. In this manner, impact fees will be generated as growth occurs and expended to provide road facilities to serve the new residents of northern Beaufort County.

The capital improvements plan presented in this report determines where projected growth will affect the roadway network, identifies improvements that will be necessitated by growth, and studies the feasibility of using impact fees to fund such road projects. The adoption of this plan will constitute acknowledgement that the Beaufort County roadway system will require improvements as traffic generated by new development places additional demand on the transportation system. The adoption of this plan will provide a frame of reference for residents, landowners, developers and government officials as to where and when such improvements should be implemented.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Service Area Beaufort County is geographically divided into northern and southern halves by the Broad River (see Figure 1 ). S.C. Hwy. 170 interconnects these areas, forming a vital transportation link between population centers in northern Beaufort County and employment and shopping centers in southern Beaufort County. Projected growth over the next twenty years in the area north of the Broad River is expected to have a direct and pronounced impact on this transportation corridor, as well as those

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roadways that generally serve only northern Beaufort County. As a result, this plan seeks to quantify the growth expected in northern Beaufort County in order to assess the impacts this future growth will have on the roadway network. The plan includes all incorporated and unincorporated areas of northern Beaufort County and the roadway network lying therein.

For planning purposes, northern Beaufort County can be further subdivided into the following four geographic areas, as shown in Figure 1:

• Sheldon Township - Sheldon Township includes all lands north of the Whale Branch River, bounded by the Combahee River and the adjacent counties of Hampton and Jasper. It also includes a portion of the Town of Yemassee. Lands north of the Whale Branch River are chiefly used for agriculture, forestry and residences at a low density. Nearly all of the area can be said to be a rural, scattered settlement pattern with a few suburban areas and crossroad concentrations, and no genuinely urban areas.

• Port Royal Island - This area encompasses Port Royal Island and adjacent smaller islands, bounded by the Whale Branch River to the north, the Beaufort River to the east and south, and the Broad River to the west. The City of Beaufort and the Town ofPort Royal, along with the county's military installations (Parris Island MCRD and MCAS Beaufort), are on Port Royal Island. Port Royal Island has historica11y been the most urban of areas within Beaufort County, as it contains the two incorporated municipalities and the military bases and housing areas. A portion of the island, however, remains in rural or low-density suburban uses, despite the greater availability of infrastructure in many areas. As the market focal point of the County, the City of Beaufort has continued to grow and expand its borders, and the Town of Port Royal is also experiencing revitalization efforts as well as expansion.

• Lady's Island- This area includes Lady's Island and all smaller islands between the Beaufort River to the west, Chowan Creek to the east, and the Coosaw River to the north. Lady's Island has experienced significant growth during the past ten years. Once considered a low-density suburban residential "bedroom" community for the City of Beaufort, this area is gradually becoming more urbanized.

• St. Helena Township - St. Helena Township includes St. Helena Island, Dataw Island, Harbor Island, Fripp Island, and all smaller islands east of Chowan Creek to the Atlantic Ocean. There exists a wide range of communities in St. Helena Township. The culturally significant communities on rural St. Helena Island have evolved from the plantation era and continue to be socially diverse and gradual in their growth. In contrast, Dataw Island and the barrier islands further east feature planned, gated communities that are nearing build-out.

The roadway network addressed by this report is solely within Beaufort County; however, the municipal boundaries of the City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal are interspersed within the network. Traffic growth on the roadway network does not follow any particular municipal boundary, thus the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) must addresses roadway deficiencies that occur in both incorporated and unincorporated areas north ofthe Broad River if it is to be effective.

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Northern Beaufort Co n ty Service Area

Soot rn B ufort Co ty

Figure: 1

........, North Beaufort County

.__. Pl11nning Are~t~s

Munic lpllllty

S R n

Existing Road Network The Northern Beaufort County roadway network is composed of primarily local, collector and arterial routes. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) has been developed primarily on the analysis of collector and arterial routes utilizing the County's TRANPLAN travel demand model along with more specific studies. Collectors and arterial routes primarily serve through traffic or provide access to residential streets and/or major destinations. A total of 158 roadway miles were identified based on collector and arterial class routes within northern Beaufort County, which corresponds with the County's TRANPLAN travel demand model. Figure 2 illustrates the Beaufort County Functional Classification Map of the roadway network.

Existing Conditions Data Assessment of the condition ofthe current roadway network included the use of preceding year (2003) traffic volumes collected through the South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT) annual count program and supplemental traffic count data from the County's TRANPLAN model, which has a base year of 1999. Capacities for each roadway segment were determined based on SCDOT accepted standards utilizing roadway functional classification and laneage.

Any roadway segment which currently operates at a deficient level-of-service (LOS) is ineligible to be considered for major improvements under an impact fee program. LOS is typically reported on a scale ranging from "A" to "F" with LOS A conditions typified by free-flow conditions with very low traffic volumes and LOS F conditions indicative of "grid-lock" congestion with long delays. The County­wide acceptable standard, LOS D, was considered the minimal acceptable level of service. This level of service is consistent with widely accepted transportation planning standards for urban and suburban areas nationwide.

Traffic volume data collected for inclusion in the County's TRANPLAN travel demand modeling process and supplemental data collected for use from additional studies were utilized to determine theoretical LOS D capacities based on guidelines outlined in the Highway Capacity Manual and refined for application by SCDOT. The following supplemental studies and documentation provide additional analysis of the County's TRANPLAN model and of existing conditions:

• Northern Beaufort County Impact Fee Analysis, Wilbur Smith Associates, 2003; • Application of Access Management Standards for Robert Smalls Parkway, Day Wilburn

Associates, 2003; • An Analysis of US 17, SRS Engineering, 2004; • Transportation Modeling Needs, Impact Fees, SRS Engineering, 2004

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Figure 2:

Northern Beaufort County Road

Functional Classification Map

Pnnc1pal Arterial

Minor Arterial

....................... Major Collector

Mmor Collector

A TtllliiT i t OCII!Aii

Specific roadway segments and/or intersections with existing traffic volumes greater than the calculated LOS D capacity have been identified. No roadway improvement projects directly located on these facilities were considered eligible for inclusion in the impact fee evaluation. The following corridors have been determined ineligible based on 2003 data:

• SC 802 (Lady's Island Drive) from Ribaut Road to US 21 on Lady's Island • US 21 (St. Helena Island) from Chowan Creek Bridge to Harbor River Bridge • US 21 Business (Woods Memorial Bridge) from Bay Street to Meridian Road • US 21 Business (Boundary Street) from Ribaut Road to Hamar Street • Intersection ofRibaut Road at East Paris Avenue

Improvements to these corridors have been identified. Anticipated funding sources are the Statewide· Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and possibly, the Countywide Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum in November 2004.

FUTURE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

Anticipated Growth/Land Use Assumptions Population figures from the 2000 U.S. Census show that between 1990 and 2000, the population of Beaufort County grew by 40% from 86,425 to 120,937. During this period, Beaufort County experienced the fastest rate of population growth of any county in South Carolina. During that same decade, southern Beaufort County grew by 73%, while northern Beaufort County grew by 21.5%. Despite this disparity in the rate of growth between the northern and southern portions of the County, a majority of residents continue to reside north of the Broad River. Table 1 identifies historical growth population in Beaufort County between 1980 and 2000.

Table 1: Population Growth in Beaufort County, 1980-2000

1980 1990 2000 Northern Beaufort County 50,196 55,529 67,486

Southern Beaufort County 15,068 30,896 53,451

Beaufort County Total 65,264 86,425 120,937

Total10 Year Growth Rates 32% 40%

Source: U.S. Census

Among the sub-areas in northern Beaufort County, Port Royal Island is the largest with two-thirds of the population of northern Beaufort County residing there in 2000. The second most populous area is St. Helena's Township, with 14 percent of the population of northern Beaufort County in 2000. Lady's Island was a close third, with 13.8 percent of the population; however, Lady's Island was the fastest growing area of northern Beaufort County, growing nearly 30 percent between 1990 and 2000. Sheldon Township is the least populated area of northern Beaufort County, with just six percent of the population in 2000.

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The Beaufort County Planning Department developed growth projections for northern Beaufort County for use in the TRANPLAN model. Growth projections to 2025 were based on population trends from the U.S. Census, existing development patterns and future development potential under current zoning districts. Table 2 illustrates Northern Beaufort County growth rate projections by geographic areas.

Table 2: Northern Beaufort County Growth Projections, 2000 - 2025

2000 2020 2025 Annual Growth Rate

Sheldon Township 4,116 5,597 5,967 1.8

Port Royal Island 44,563 59,914 63,752 1.7

Lady's Island 9,321 18,181 20,396 4.7

St. Helena Township 9,486 17,700 19,754 4.3

Northern Beaufort County Total 67,486 101,392 109,869 2.5

Source: U.S. Census & Beaufort County Planning Division

In order to determine probable traffic volumes along the roadway network through the year 2025, results of the TRANPLAN travel demand model provided estimates of the total number of trips that will be added to the network in future years. Underlying trip generation data based on residential households, total employment and retail employment, and school attendance were used within the model to calculate productions and attractions for each Traffic Analysis Zone (T AZ) in Beaufort County. This data was developed by the County planning staff based on the population projections shown in Table 2, zoning and known and likely development activity occurring throughout the area. Table 3 identifies overall future growth in northern Beaufort County anticipated to occur over a 20-year period between 2004 and 2025.

Table 3: Northern Beaufort County Growth, 2004-2025

Increase: 1999 2004 2025 2004-2025

Residential Households 29,164 32,274 45,334 13,060

Total Employment 19,138 20,685 27,183 6,498

Retail Employment 4,586 4,663 6,286 1,623

SchoolP.ttendance 14,834 16,200 21,939 5,739

Source: Beaufort County Planning Division,

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The number of generated trips in Northern Beaufort County was derived by reviewing the number of productions and attractions within each Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) in the northern geographic area of the County. The County's 1999 TRANPLAN model was calibrated against existing traffic volumes and found to be within acceptable limits. The County's model indicated 163,044 trip ends in 2004 (determined by taking the sum of productions and attractions across all TAZ's in northern Beaufort County) and 278,518 trip ends in 2025. This results in 115,474 new trip ends on the roadway network between 2004 and 2025.

Future Impacts Based on the impact of future land uses on the County's travel demand model, future capacity constraints have been determined along the County's roadway network. It should be noted the TRANPLAN model reflects any capacity upgrades already programmed, such as the widening of US 21 on St. Helena Island and SC 170. The following roadway segments were identified to likely fail by 2025:

• US 21 from Harbor River Bridge to Fripp Island; • SC 802 from Ribaut Road to US 21 (Lady's Island); • US 21 Business (Woods Memorial Bridge) from Bay Street to SC 802 (Lady's Island); • US 21 (Boundary Street) from SC 170 to Hamar Street; • Bellamy Curve (Boundary Street at Carteret Street); • Bay Street from West Street to US 21 Business (Carteret Street); • Joe Frazier Road from Broad River Road to Possum Hill Road; • Broad River Road in the vicinity of Joe Frazier Road; and • US 1 7 from Gardens Corner to the Colleton County line

Capital Roadway Projects A series of improvement options were reviewed jointly by officials of Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal to potentially address their potential to address deficiencies on eligible network segments. Table 4 provides the initial list of recommended projects by Beaufort County, Town of Port Royal and the City of Beaufort for further study to determine need and urgency over the next 20 years in accommodating new development.

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Table 4: Initial lmP,Dct Fee Project List*

1. Boundary Street Capacity Improvements 2. Boundary Street Connectivity Plan Implementation 3. Intersection Improvements at East Paris A venue and Ribaut Road 4. Intersection Improvements at Ribaut Road and Vaigneur Road/Edinburgh Road 5. Resurface Richmond A venue 6. Resurface Ribaut Road 7. Intersection Improvements at SC 802 and Midtown Avenue 8. Beaufort Northern By-Pass 9. Beaufort Western By-Pass 10. SC 802/US 21 By-Pass (Lady's Island)

* Capital projects identified for future study and analysis

Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA) was commissioned to review this list of projects, evaluate their present need and identify estimated costs of construction. Utilizing available data, including the County's TRANPLAN travel demand model, WSA produced the previously indicated report, Northern Beaufort County Impact Fee Analysis, August 2003. The following nine capital projects were identified as potential impact fee projects based on existing deficiencies and future needs. Cost estimates for each of the nine projects were also estimated by WSA based on typically accepted construction and engineering costs in this region.

Projects Selected: 1. Boundary Street Capacity Improvements 2. Boundary Street Connectivity Plan Implementation 3. Intersection Improvements at Ribaut Road and Vaigneur Road/Edinburgh Road 4. Richmond Avenue Improvements 5. Ribaut Road Improvements 6. Intersection Improvements at SC 802 and Midtown A venue 7. Beaufort Northern By-Pass 8. Beaufort Western By-Pass 9. SC 802/US 21 By-Pass (Lady's Island)

A second study was being completed by Day Wilburn Associates (DW A) during the same time period of the WSA study. Application of Access Management Standards for Robert Smalls Parkway, December 2003 analyzed the impact of probable development along the recently widened SC 1 70 highway between the Broad River Bridge and SC 280. The study determined that while the existing conditions of Robert Smalls Parkway provide a LOS B, future development over the next 20 years along this corridor will increase traffic loads to a failing condition. An access management plan was developed to maintain the thru-put capacity of Robert Smalls Parkway and still provide access to developable land. The access management plan calls for frontage roadways, back access roads and inter-parcel connectivity in order to resolve future deficiencies of this corridor.

In addition to these two previous study efforts, Beaufort County commissioned SRS Engineering to complete a study of the existing and future service levels of US 17 between Garden's Comer and the Colleton County line. This study, An Analysis of US 17, April 2004, determined the existing conditions

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are acceptable and under capacity, but future conditions due to growth and of development in Beaufort County would necessitate capacity improvements of this roadway as a capital improvement. The analysis also indicated that 4 7 percent of the roadway users had either trip productions and/or trip attractions in Beaufort County.

Based on these studies that determined future needs due to projected growth, constructability of project alternatives and the financial feasibility of constructing the recommended projects, 13 projects were determined to be eligible as Northern Beaufort County Capital Road Projects funded through a traffic impact fee program for implementation through the 2025. Table 5 provides a synopsis of each project, attributed costs to impact fees and projected completion dates.

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TABLES ELIGlBLE PROJECTS FOR TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE PROGRAM

ITEM#

l

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

II

12

13

PROJECT DESCRIPTION TOTAL COST ATTRIBUTED ATTRIBUTED PERCENT COST

Boundary Street Capacity $3,750,500 100% $3,750,500

Improvements

Boundary Street Connectivity Plan $4,550,000 100% $4,550,000

Implementation

Intersection Improvements at Ribaut Rd $217,000 24% $52,000 and Vaigneur Rd/Edinburgh 1

Ribaut Road Improvements $949,000 100% $949,000

Intersection Improvements at SC 802 and $214,500 100% $214,500

Midtown Avenue

US 21/SC 802 By-Pass, Lady's Island $3,952,000 100% $3,952,000

Northern By-Pass Study $118,000,000 0% $104,000 Phase 3 (OlD Study)' (<!%)

Intersection Improvements at 3 Locations $253,500 100% $253,500

Along SC 280 (Broad River, Grober Hill,

Mink Point)

Intersection Improvements at Sam's Point $84,500 100% $84,500

Road and Brickyard/Holly Hall

Intersection Improvements at Shanklin Rd $84,500 100% $84,500

and Laurel Bay Road (SC I 16)

Robert Smalls Parkway Frontage Roads $2,600,000 100% $2,600,000

and Back Access Roadways

US 17 Widening2 $44,000,000 5% $2,000,000

Western By-Pass (SC 170 to US 21 Burton)2 $31,540,000 0% $0

TOTALS $210,195,500 $18,594,500

Notes: I. Balance of Project 3 is anticipated to be funded through Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum.

2. Projects 7, 12 and 13, totaling $193,540,000 are not to be funded entirely with Impact Fees.

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7/25/04 FY COMPLETION

DATE

2009

2009

2007

2006

2007

2012

N/A

2010

2011

2012

2015

NIA

N/A

CAPITAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Boundary Street Capacity Improvements The limits of this project are from SC 170 to Ribaut Road. As indicated by WSA, this roadway segment is currently under capacity; however, projected future development within the study area is anticipated and future volumes should exceed 45,000 trips per day. The anticipated future traffic on this roadway segment will create a future deficiency. As proposed, access management improvements through the installation of a raised median, purchase of property in order to close/consolidate access points and signalized intersection improvements, will provide additional vehicular capacity. This project was developed through a City of Beaufort planning effort that is detailed in the City of Beaufort Entrance Corridors Planning Charrette, March 2002.

Boundary Street Connectivity Plan Implementation The limits of this project are from SC 170 and Palmetto Drive to Sycamore Street along the north side of Boundary Street. The connectivity plan addresses future additional capacity needs for Boundary Street and should be completed with the Boundary Street Capacity Improvement Project as a single project. This project will construct a new roadway parallel to Boundary Street to serve as a collector road providing improved access to development on the north side of Boundary Street and serving future capacity needs in this corridor.

Intersection Improvements at Ribaut Road and Vaigneur Road/Edinburgh Intersection improvements are planned to address future capacity constraints at the intersection by realigning the V aigneur Road and Edinburgh approaches and improved channelization of turning movements. Intersection realignment will facilitate the installation of traffic signal control which is anticipated to be warranted based on projected growth in traffic. As detailed in the WSA report, this intersection currently operates acceptable. Impact fees are scheduled to fund 20 percent of the improvement costs with the remaining to be funded through other sources (perhaps the anticipated Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum, if it should pass).

Ribaut Road Improvements A detailed analysis by WSA indicated future growth of traffic on this roadway will result in the necessity of structural improvements to the roadway surface along with additional capacity improvements to this roadway. Future growth is anticipated to continue at approximately 2.5 percent annually. Planned improvements include resurfacing the roadway to provide structural stability, improved signalization through coordination of signals and turn-lane additions/improvements. The limits of the project are between Bell Bridge (across Battery Creek) and Lady's Island Drive (US 21/SC 802). This project should provide the necessary capacity improvements for acceptable service levels based on the growth projection of the TRANPLAN model.

Intersection Improvements at SC 802 and Midtown Avenue Improvements at this intersection include improved channelization of turning movements and installation of traffic signal control when warranted based on the anticipated commercial and residential growth within developments on both sides of SC 802. ·Currently, traffic signal growth is not warranted but is anticipated within the next two years.

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US 21/SC 802 By-Pass, Lady's Island This project is indicated in the County's Comprehensive Plan and is intended to provide additional roadway capacity for projected traffic growth on St. Helena and the other sea islands that is anticipated to cause deficiencies on Sea Island Parkway (US 21 ). This new roadway would be constructed between SC 802 (Lady's Island Drive) eastward to Sea Island Parkway (US 21) and serve as a two­lane collector roadway with tum-lanes and signals at the terminus points. Planned intersection improvements at the US 21/SC 802 intersection with the SC 802 widening, should alleviate any existing deficiencies, however, future development will warrant additional capacity improvements provided with the by-pass project.

Northern By-Pass Study Phase 3 (0/D study) This project is indicated in the County's Comprehensive Plan and is intended to provide an alternative route to Lady's Island and the sea islands, which allows through traffic to avoid congested roadways in. downtown Beaufort. This new roadway would be constructed from US 21 (north of the Marine Air Station, Beaufort) to Brickyard Road on Lady's Island. The Task 1 feasibility study indicates a three­lane roadway is anticipated to carry 9,300 vehicles per day. An origin/destination study (0/D study) will be completed in Phase 3 to verify traffic volume projections to determine roadway design characteristics.

Intersection Improvements at Three (3) Locations Along SC 280 This project involves providing traffic signal control and turn lane improvements as needed at the intersections of Broad River, Grober Hill and Mink Point to be installed when future growth of traffic volumes warrant based on capacity deficiencies.

Intersection Improvements at Sam's Point Road, Brickyard and Holly Hall This project involves providing traffic signal control improvements as needed at the intersection to be installed when future growth of traffic volumes warrant based on capacity deficiencies.

Intersection Improvements at Shanklin Road and Laurel Bay Road This project involves providing traffic signal control and tum lane improvements as needed at the intersection to be installed when future growth of traffic volumes warrant based on capacity deficiencies.

Robert Smalls Parkway Frontage Roads and Back Access Roadways This project implements Phase 1 of the Robert Smalls Parkway Plan to install frontage or back access roadways of approximately two miles in total length on SC 170 between SC 802 and SC 280. This roadway currently operates acceptably at a LOS B based on study and evaluation by DW A. However, as indicated in its report to Beaufort County, projected growth of currently undeveloped land along this corridor will quickly utilize all available capacity and create deficiencies that must be corrected. The access management plan to control access locations onto Robert Smalls Parkway coupled with the Phase 1 frontage or back access roadway plan will provide sufficient available capacity of the anticipated demand.

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US 17 Widening This project is indicated in the County's Comprehensive Plan and includes widening the existing two­lane highway between Gardens Corner and the Colleton County line to a four-lane divided roadway. The new widened roadway should provide additional capacity to serve continued growth demands of Beaufort County. Impact fees of$2,000,000 and proposed one-cent sales tax referendum allocation of $5,000,000 will provide the local match for the total cost of$44,000,000 to complete the project. Additional funding to be supplied by state and federal sources.

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CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING

Funding Funding options available for capital road properties are limited. Neither federal nor state highway monies can be relied on as a consistent funding source, and needed major projects that have been identified, but which are not recommended as part of this plan will have to be addressed through other sources of funds, like a capital project sales tax.

As noted in Table 5, the estimated total cost of the Northern Beaufort County Transportation Improvement Program is the sum of the individual project costs. The total cost for eligible projects included in Table 5 is $210,195,500.00. This includes three projects totaling $193,540,000.00 which are not proposed to be funded entirely with impact fees at this time. These projects include the Northern

Beaufort By-Pass, US 17 Widening and the Western Beaufort By-Pass. The total cost of all projects to be funded by impact fees is $18,759,500.00. It should be noted that all costs are in constant year 2004 dollars. The impact fee structure will be periodically updated and appropriate adjustments to project costs can be made at that time.

As previously discussed, an improvement program consisting of various roadway capital projects and their costs was developed to mitigate future system-wide capacity deficiencies in 2025. The set of eligible projects has been identified for inclusion in the impact fee calculations and excludes projects which resolve pre-existing deficiencies.

Methodology of Maximum Allowable Fee Calculation The total allocated cost of eligible projects is divided by the total number of trip ends (or one-way trips) generated by development over the analysis period. The result is the maximum allowable fee per one-way trip that the County can legally charge developers under an impact fee program.

Utilizing the total allocated cost of eligible projects, as revised, at $18,594,500.00and the total trips generated by development over a 20-year period to the year 2025, the maximum allowable impact fee should be set at $161 per one-way trip.

Rate Structure The per trip impact fee is multiplied by the average daily trip generation rate obtained from the latest edition of the ITE Trip Generation Manual to arrive at the rate structure. County Council, at its discretion, may set the rate at a defined lower percent of the maximum allowable amount. This is frequently done to be conservative in calculation of impact fees due to differences in methodology between travel demand models and the Trip Generation Manual. A rate of 50 percent of the maximum allowable would provide a reasonable factor of safety and maintain an acceptable fee for residential and commercial development without negatively impacting future growth. Table 6 provides the recommended fees (with 50 percent reduction included), which can be assessed by Beaufort County on various developments.

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The existing rate structure provides an allowance that accounts for captured "pass-by" trips. These are trips, which already exist on the network and are merely diverted from other destinations (attractions), rather than entirely new trips. Capture rates vary significantly depending on the land use and should be applied based on the ITE accepted data. Table 6 reflects current ITE pass-by rates for commercial development.

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···~·· ....... ----~---

TABLE6

NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY RECOMMENDED IMPACT FEE RATES

······~ ,_ .. _. .....

~--· ..

ITE Land-Use Daily Per Pass-By Code Trips 1

· Rate'

110 GenerafLight Industrial (SF) 0.00697 Sq. Ft. NIA 120 General Heavy Industrial (SF) 0.0015 Sq. Ft. NIA 150 Warehousing (SF) 0.00496 Sq. Ft. NIA 151 Mini-Wharehouse 0.0025 Sq. Ft. NIA 210 Single-Family (DU) 9.57 DU N/A 220 Apartment (Multi-Family) (DU) 6.63 DU N/A

230 Residential Condominium/Townhouse (DU) 5.86 DU N/A 250 Retirement Community (Occupied DU) 3.5 DU N/A

252 Congregate Care Facility (DU) 2.15 DU N/A

253 Elderly Housing - Attached 3.48 DU NIA 260 Recreational Homes 3.16 DU N/A

310 Hotel (rooms) 8.92 Room NIA

320 Motel (rooms) 9.11 Room NIA

330 Resort Hotel (rooms) 5 Room N/A

430 Golf Course (holes) 35.74 Hole NIA 444 Movie Theater with Matinee (screens) 153.33 Screen N/A

520 Elementary School (students) 1.02 Students N/A

522 Middle School/Junior High School (students) 1.45 Students N/A

530 High School (students) 1.79 Students N/A

550 University/College (students) 2.38 Students N/A

560 Church (SF) 0.00911 Sq. Ft. N/A

565 Daycare (SF) 0.07926 Sq. Ft. N/A

610 Hospital (SF) 0.01678 Sq. Ft. N/A

610 Hospital (beds) 0.01678 Sq. Ft. N/A

630 Clinic (employees) 0.03145 Sq. Ft. NIA

710 General Office Building (SF) 0.01102 Sq. Ft. N/A

720 Medical-Dental Office Building (SF) 0.03613 Sq. Ft. N/A

750 Office Park (SF) 0.01142 Sq. Ft. N/A

770 Business Park (SF) 0.01276 Sq. Ft. N/A

813 Free-Standing Discount Superstore (SF) 0.04696 Sq. Ft. 17%

814 Specialty Retail Center (SF) 0.04067 Sq. Ft. N/A

815 Free-Standing Discount Store (SF) 0.05663 Sq. Ft. 17%

820 Shopping Center(SF) 0.04292 Sq. Ft. 34%

823 Factory Outlet Center (SF) 0.02659 Sq. Ft. N/A

1. S:>urce: Trip Generation Manual, 6th Ei:/ition by the Institute of Transportation 81gineers 2. S)urce: Trip Generation Handbook by the Institute of Transportation 81gineers

Page 17

July 27, 2004 -~-

Fee Rate

$0.56

$0.12

$0.40

$0.20

$775.17

$537.03

$474.66

$283.50

$174.15

$281.88

$255.96

$722.52

$737.91

$405.00

$2,894.94

$12,419.73

$82.62

$117.45

$144.99

$192.78

$0.74

$6.42

$1.36

$1.36

$2.55

$0.89

$2.93

$0.93

$1.03

$3.16

$3.29

$3.81

$2.29

$2.15

~

TABLE6

NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY RECOMMENDED IMPACT FEE RATES

"' "~'·-·- -

ITE Land-Use Daily Per Pass-By Code Trips' Rate'

- ~ ------------"·········· ................. ". . ............ ··-·· -···· -···· --·· -- -· 831 Quality Restaurant (SF) 0.08995 Sq. Ft. 44%

832 High-Turnover Restaurant (SF) 0.13034 Sq. Ft. 43%

834 Fast-Food Rest. w/ Drive-Thru (SF) 0.4%12 Sq. Ft. 49%

845 Gas/Service Stn w/ Conv Market (veh. fuel. pos.) 162.78 Pump 56%

850 Supermarket (SF) 0.11151 Sq. Ft. 36%

851 Convenience Market (open 24 hours) (SF) 0.73799 Sq. Ft. 61%

861 Discount Club (SF) 0.0418 Sq. Ft. NIA

862 Home Improvement Superstore (SF) 0.03505 Sq. Ft. 48%

881 Pharmacy/Drugstore w/ Drive-Through Window 0.08816 Sq. Ft. 49%

912 Drive-In Bank (SF) 0.26521 Sq. Ft. 47%

1. S::>urce: Trip Generation Manual, 6th 8:/ition by the Institute of Transportation Blgineers 2. S::>urce: Trip Generation Handbook by the Institute of Transportation 81gineers

CONCLUSIONS

July 27, 2004 OHOU

Fee Rate

-· $4.08

$6.02

$20.49

$5,801.48

$5.78

$23.31

$3.39

$1.48

$3.64

$11.39

The roadway network in Northern Beaufort County will be impacted by expected future growth and development in this part of the County over the next 20 years. Development impact fees for roads is a potential source of funding for some of the improvements that will be necessitated by virtue thereof.

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