Share your concerns now before the projects are on the ballot in November.
Your voice matters!
The proposed road project list for Horry County is not yet final. This comment period is your chance to have your opinions heard on where your tax dollars should go for the next 25 years.
Commenting is easy!
Horry County will be collecting comment cards at each meeting or you can submit our form template directly.
You can also email your own comments to [email protected] or mail them to Horry County Government, c/o RIDE Program, 4401 Privetts Road, Conway, SC 29526. Comments will be accepted through February 18, 2024.
Below you’ll find background information and talking points.
RIDE 4
- Horry County Council is considering a 25-year transportation tax to replace the RIDE 3 penny sales tax (8-year capital project sales tax) that is set to expire next year.
- Horry County will be committed to the final list of road projects and only those projects for the lifespan of the tax. With the county growing so quickly, it’s hard to predict where the need will be 20 years from now.
- The RIDE penny sales tax (capital project sales tax) termed at 8 years instead of 25 years allows for more frequent re-evaluation of the county’s needs.
- The county’s most pressing needs right now are for improvements to existing roads and bridges. Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storm Idalia, and the recent winter storms that closed more than 20 roads, and schools as a result, are perfect examples of why we need improvements to reduce flooding before building new highways.
SC Highway 22 Extension
- The project used to be called the Southern Evacuation Lifeline (SELL). US Army Corps has changed the name because it is not truly an evacuation route.
- This would be a 28-mile, 4-lane highway with price tag of $1.5-2.5 billion.
- The route is still undecided, but it was originally planned to connect SC Hwy 22 to US 701 South to SC Hwy 707 or US 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet area. There are 16 possible routes with all but 6 routes proposed through Bucksport.
- The likely route would have a bridge connecting Bucksport to Burgess at SC Hwy 707 near Salem Rd/Freewoods Farm area.
- This highway would induce sprawl in western Horry County, especially in the historic and culturally significant communities of Bucksport and Burgess, and the larger Pee Dee Highway area, similar to the explosion of growth along Hwy 90 corridor after the widening of International Drive. Yet, International Drive was only 5 miles of a four-lane highway.
- There could be impacts on hundreds of acres of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, wetlands, streams, and Waccamaw River which pose serious ramifications for area that already sees repetitive major flooding.
- There is a proposed alternative river crossing called the Lake Busbee Bypass that would connect US 701 in Sandridge to SC Hwy 544, estimated at $362 million. This road may alleviate local traffic issues versus serving only tourists and development.
I-73
- The same results could be achieved with cheaper upgrades to SC 38 and US 501.
- I-73 would cost over the $2 billion and would run alongside existing roads but cut through family farms and hundreds of acres of pristine freshwater wetlands along the Little Pee Dee River.
- Roads it would bypass aren’t crowded: US 501 north of Marion is 4 lanes with “at grade” intersection (no stoplights or stop signs).
RIDE 4 Sales Tax Commission Announces Public Information Meetings
- Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the City of North Myrtle Beach City Hall Atrium (1018 2nd Ave. S., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582)
- Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Academy for Technology & Academics (5639 Hwy. 701, Conway, SC 29526)
- Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the South Strand Recreation Center Multipurpose Room (9650 Scipio Ln., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588)
- Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the James R Frazier Community Center Multipurpose Room (1370 Bucksport Rd., Bucksport SC 29527)
- Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the City of Myrtle Beach Train Depot (851 Broadway St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577)
- Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center Multipurpose Room (2254 Carolina Forest Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577)
The public information meetings will be open-house style with displays and handouts for viewing.
Citizens will have the opportunity to speak with local and state government representatives and to provide written comments regarding the projects.
For those that cannot attend in person, project information, including meeting displays and handouts, will be available on the project website.
Questions/Comments:
For additional information, visit www.horrycountysc.gov
Written comments can be provided in the following ways:
- E-mail your comment card to [email protected]
- Fill out a comment card and drop it in the comment box at the Public Information Meeting
- Mail Comment Card to:
Horry County Government, c/o RIDE Program, 4401 Privetts Road, Conway, SC 29526
Comments will be accepted through Feb. 18, 2024.