Sullivan's Island Magazine Summer/Fall 2018

10 www.SullivansIslandMagazine.com | www.SullivansIslandHomes.com A s the tri-county continues to witness explosive growth, parking and traffic concerns in its municipalities will grow as well, and the town of Sullivan’s Island is no exception. Its beach offers a popular attraction luring locals and tourists alike, and, as anyone who has driven along Middle Street’s commercial hub during the summer months can attest, the area is prone to bottlenecks. In 2016, the town hired a traffic consultant to examine its specific parking and traffic situation. The impetus for the study was public-safety issues, explained Town Administrator Andy Benke. People parking on both sides of residential streets, often with their wheels jutting out onto the pavement, made navigating the narrow roads difficult not only for residents of the island but for fire trucks and ambulances. What if these emergency personnel had to respond to a drowning or a house fire? Every second lost could mean the difference between life and death. After more than six months of studying the problem, they arrived at a solution, and the town submitted its plan to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for approval. In spring 2017, new parking rules were implemented in the residential areas that restricted parking to one side of the road and prohibited wheels on the pavement. The other side was left unobstructed for clear first-responder access to homes and the beach, reducing the number of available parking spaces from roughly 4,700 to around 2,800. Benke said the change has helped address the public- safety issue while not exacerbating the parking situation for visitors. “Two summers under our belt, I have to say I think it’s working pretty well. Now we can get first responders to where they need to be. Supply (of parking ‘Parking It’ on the Beach By Colin McCandless Safety Issues Prompt Parking Changes Photo by Helen Harris.