York County Approves $3.1 Million in Transportation Funds for District Road Improvements

The York County Transportation Committee (CTC) convened on March 17, 2025, to discuss the allocation of $3.1 million in transportation funding. The Council reviewed three potential options: distributing the funds equally among districts, applying them toward a $20 million statewide infrastructure commitment, or using them to address critical road needs identified by the county and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). After a thorough discussion, the Council unanimously voted to distribute the funds equally across all districts, with each receiving approximately $450,000 to address local road projects.

During the meeting, Council reviewed the county’s road condition rankings, noting that York County maintains 1,800 roads, with the worst-ranked roads (scoring below 50) requiring immediate reconstruction or resurfacing. A full report on county road conditions and estimated repair costs was requested to help guide future decisions. Council also received an update on the Penny’s 5 transportation program, which is progressing on schedule. The first $15 million resurfacing package is expected to go out for bid this spring, with an overall project completion timeline extending to 2032.

A new interactive road mapping system was introduced to improve transparency and public access to road project information. This system will display county, municipal, and Penny’s project roads, detailing road conditions, funding sources, and repair timelines. Council requested that SCDOT’s road project data be integrated into this system to enhance planning efforts. Additionally, discussions emphasized the need for better coordination with SCDOT and local municipalities to optimize road funding and ensure efficient infrastructure improvements. Council members suggested that municipalities share in road assessment costs to help balance resources.

The meeting concluded with an executive session, though no details were disclosed regarding its content. Moving forward, York County will continue refining its long-term transportation strategy, including securing additional state funding, finalizing road repair priorities, and enhancing collaboration with state and local agencies.

CTC Fund Allocation Discussion

The Council reviewed three options for the allocation of the $3.1 million in CTC funds:

Equal Distribution: Each Council District would receive approximately $450,000.
SI Commitment: Apply the entire amount toward the existing $20 million commitment for statewide infrastructure projects.
Critical Needs Roads: Fund high-priority roads from the critical needs list and roads identified by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).

A handout was provided listing critical needs roads and state-recommended projects. The Council reviewed cost estimates and discussed recent $8 million allocations ($1 million per district).

Council Debate on Fund Allocation

Some supported district-based allocation, arguing it empowers districts to tackle urgent road needs.
Others preferred a countywide approach, funding the worst roads first regardless of location.
Concerns were raised about short roads with few residents getting priority over high-traffic roads.
The final decision: Unanimous approval for equal distribution to each district.

County Road Rankings & Repair Priorities

Council received an overview of York County’s road system:

1,800 County-maintained roads exist.
Roads are ranked from worst (score 30) to best (score 95).
The worst roads (score below 50) qualify for reconstruction or resurfacing.
Full county road list, including traffic data and home impact, will be provided in future meetings.

Total Road Repair Costs

County roads: Estimated $144 million for full repairs.
State roads: Cost estimates pending further data from SCDOT.

A follow-up report was requested to determine the total estimated cost of repairing all roads.

Retreat Planning & Long-Term Strategy

Council acknowledged that road funding discussions would continue at the upcoming retreat. The goal is to develop a strategic plan to:

Improve the CTC fund distribution process.
Address long-term county road repairs.
Balance state and municipal road responsibilities.

Penny’s Project Update

Council received an update on the Penny’s 5 program:

All consultants for design work have been selected.
The first resurfacing package ($15 million) is set to go to bid this spring.
The Penny’s project timeline runs until 2032.
Council emphasized the need for regular updates to ensure:
- Projects are completed within budget.
- Roadwork stays on schedule.

Council also discussed improving transparency by ensuring residents can track Penny’s projects.

New Interactive Road Map for Transparency

An interactive mapping system was introduced to track County, Municipal, and Penny’s projects. Features include:

Color-coded road markers for different funding sources.
Road condition data and project status.
Zoom-in features for detailed views.

SCDOT data will be added once received. Council feedback was requested on how much detail to include in the map.

Future Road Funding & State Coordination

Council discussed better collaboration with:

Municipalities: To share costs for road assessments.
SCDOT: To improve road project coordination.
State delegation: To advocate for additional funding.

Council also emphasized the need for a clearer five- and ten-year state road plan.

Key Takeaways:

$3.1 million in CTC funds will be split equally among districts.
A strategic plan for road funding will be discussed at the retreat.
The Penny’s 5 resurfacing project is moving forward, with a $15 million bid expected this spring.
A new interactive map will enhance public transparency on road projects.
Council will push for better coordination with SCDOT and municipalities.