SCLCA Coalition Members Speak to the Commission

OCT 28, 2019, by Chris Clark

This month Phil Ford, Executive Director of East Smart Move More South Carolina, and Sheree Muse, Associate State Director for AARP South Carolina, both members of the Livable Streets Coalition, spoke to the commission about the importance of implementing a statewide multimodal safe streets policy.

One of AARP’s core focus areas is ensuring people can age in place. Sheree Muse shared stories of how people need to be able to remain active and access services even if they choose not to drive a car. “We believe that instituting a Complete Streets policy at the state level is an essential complement to localized work of building livable and age-friendly communities,” said Ms. Muse.

Phil Ford discussed the struggles residents face in Orangeburg. He invited the commissioners to join him to see the route people there have to take to get to the local WalMart grocery store. “They have to walk in grass and weeds that have grown above their knees,” he said. Ford went on to urge the Department to pass a multimodal policy to address the challenges of people who are not driving. The Livable Streets Alliance continues to advocate to SCDOT for a statewide complete streets policy. If you or your organization are interested in letting the Commission know why you support complete streets please contact [email protected] to find out more.