The Impact of the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax
Since 2004, Charleston County voters have twice approved a half-cent sales tax for transportation. This small investment has generated $4.56 billion for roads, bridges, transit, and green spaces — improving everyday life for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
$3.4 Billion
in funding since 2004
$1.17 Billion
in matching funds and grants leveraged
$4.56 Billion
in total funding
Matching Funds
- 30% of Sales Tax Fundsare generated by non-Charleston County residents
- 48% of the total funds generated $2.19 billion, comes from visitors and state and federal funding sources.
2004 & 2016 Allocations
Greenbelt Program
2016 (10%): $210,000,000
2004 (17%): $221,000,000
Infrastructure
2016 (61%): $1,281,000,000
2004 (65%): $845,000,000
Public Transit
2016 (29%): $609,000,000
2004 (18%): $234,000,000
Building Roads, Bridges, and Connections
The half-penny has funded:
895 miles
of resurfacing and local road paving
69 intersection
improvements
49 miles
of bike, pedestrian, and multi-use paths
Protecting What Makes Charleston Special
Beyond roads, the program has directly protected 26,170 acres of greenspace, contributing to the preservation of 284,000 acres overall—nearly half of Charleston County’s total land area. These investments safeguard natural resources, preserve scenic beauty, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Moving People Forward
About a quarter of all half-penny funds support CARTA, Charleston’s public transit system.
125+ new buses and paratransit vehicles
146 shelters and benches installed
Real-time tracking, WiFi, and electronic payment
Since 2005, CARTA has provided 66.7 million trips — traveling nearly 319 million passenger miles
Transformative Investments Across Charleston County
Featured Projects are the most prominent elements of the sales tax program. These large-scale infrastructure initiatives are transformative in scope. Examples include:
-
Bee Street at Courtenay
MUSC area improvements
-
Bees Ferry Road widening
Widening from US Route 17 to Ashley River Road
-
Camp at Folly Road Intersection
-
Glenn McConnell Parkway
Widening from 4 to 6 lanes
-
Harborview Road widening
-
Hwy 61 at SC 7 Intersection
-
Lowcountry Rapid Transit
A 21.3-mile modern system providing a safe, reliable new connection between North Charleston and Charleston
-
Main Road Segment A
Reduce congestion/improve capacity at the intersection of US 17 and Main Road
-
Maybank at Folly Intersection
-
Palmetto Commerce Interchange
Construction of a new interchange connecting I-26 to Weber Blvd. between US 78 and Ashley Phosphate Road
-
Palmetto Commerce Parkway Phase 2
-
US Route 17/Johnnie Dodds Boulevard
Widening and improvements from the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge to the Interstate I-526
Overpass -
West Ashley Circle
Your Penny at Work
Every dollar of Charleston County’s half-cent Transportation Sales Tax is invested with accountability and transparency. Over the last 20 years, these projects have improved safety, expanded opportunity, and enhanced the quality of life for residents across the region.
