COG grant to fund transit hub on Upper Peninsula

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Funding for a new park-and-ride facility and transit hub on the Upper Peninsula has been awarded to Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments. The funding will be used to provide transportation options for hospitality workers, tourists and those traveling to the Medical District, a news release said.

The project — which will be on Mount Pleasant Street at the juncture of King and Meeting streets — will add 115 parking spaces, transit shelters, bike racks and parking meter kiosks.

Estimated to take 12 months, the construction of the 1.65-acre facility will be funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which awarded the COG $2.78 million.

From the hub, commuters can park and connect to the free HOP, Downtown Area Shuttle and King Street 20 routes, which are operated by the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority.

Real-time signage will help residents and tourists manage bus routes and navigate detour details, such as when roads are closed to flooding. By providing accessible transportation options, especially for tourists and hospitality workers, the hub could play a vital role in supporting the Charleston-area’s $7.3 billion tourism industry, according to CARTA board chairman and City Councilman Mike Seekings.

“The HOP transit hub is located at a critical junction in the city and will serve as the multimodal linchpin in a rapidly growing area along one of our region’s most essential transit corridors,” Seekings said in the release. “Its location and the resources being invested will significantly increase access and mobility options for the community.”

Daniel Brock, regional strategist for COG, said, “It really is located at the center of a quickly growing area. All the business and growth will really make this transit hub an attractive feature for the area.”

Other planned projects in the area include a “flatiron-style” building across the street and a 300-unit multifamily housing project, according to Brock. The hub will serve as a gateway to the Upper Peninsula and the Charleston Peninsula, as well as the Lowcountry Lowline — a proposed 1.7-mile linear park for biking and walking. The HOP also will offer multimodal connections to the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit system when it’s completed.

Ron Mitchum, executive director of the council of governments, said the funding will help make a “tangible and positive” change for the region’s transportation infrastructure.

Overall, the FTA awarded $464 million in transit infrastructure grants nationwide, funding 96 projects in 49 states and territories.