Commuter and light rail discussed as alternatives to I-26

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Monday night was the first step of a project trying to fix traffic on I-26.

The Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester council of governments are teaming up to find an alternative to I-26 to move people between Charleston and Summerville.

Right now, the three main options being discussed are a commuter rail system, a light rail system, which is like an above-ground subway, and an improved bus system with right-of-way lanes, but there are 12 total options including monorails and magnetic levitation trains.

Monday night, people got the chance to explain their problems with transportation give their options as well as weigh in on how the project should be paid for.

" I think increased transportation to and from the airport would be great," Rutledge Baker, who lives on the peninsula says. "Having more frequent, more publicized and more efficient routes through the bus system would be great."

The input from Monday's meeting will go in a proposal to the Federal Transit Authority. If the FTA approves the proposal, it could pay up to 60 percent of the cost for the project which could be in the tens of millions of dollars.

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