BASIC INFORMATION

ABOUT YOUR TRANSIT USE

TRANSIT CONCEPTS

This section highlights several short and long-term ideas for improving TCL service. Each concept is optional, so you only need to respond to the ones that interest you, and remember, these are early ideas for community feedback, not confirmed future services.

Short-Term Transit Concepts (within 3 years)

The short-term concepts are ideas to improve TCL service with approximately the same amount of funding they receive now.

1. Rural Dial-A-Ride (DART) Transportation Zones are brand new pick-up and drop-off zones designed to replace existing low-frequency TCL service and expand the reach of TCL in rural regions of Berkeley and Charleston Counties. Riders can be picked up and dropped off anywhere within the zone, including bus stops, by making a reservation 24 hours in advance. This approach provides more convenient access for people who live far from fixed-route transit or in areas with limited service. It reduces the need to walk long distances to bus stops, offers more direct connections to key destinations, and ensures reliable transportation in communities where regular bus routes are not feasible. Ideas for improving service are:

• The new West Berkeley County DART zone is designed to replace existing routes B102 and portions of existing routes B101 and B104. It would operate from 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on weekdays.
• The new North Berkeley County DART zone is designed to replace existing route B101 service along US 17 to and from Jamestown. It would operate from 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on weekdays.
• The new East Charleston County DART zone is designed to replace existing route B105. It would operate from 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on weekdays.
• The new West Charleston County DART zone is designed to replace existing routes C201and C202. It would operate from 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on weekdays.

2. Five rural flex routes are designed to provide long-distance rush hour-only flex service between rural areas and popular urban destinations. Flex routes allow riders to be picked up and dropped off within a 3/4 mile radius of the route. Ideas for improving service are:

• Route D306 would operate one round-trip in the morning and one round-trip in the afternoon on weekdays between Summerville and St. George.
• Route B101 would be shortened to operate a more direct loop around Lake Moultrie, replacing existing route B104 service. It would operate one round-trip in the morning and one round-trip in the afternoon on weekdays.
• Route D305 would be shortened to operate between only Summerville and Moncks Corner with one round-trip in the morning and one round-trip in the afternoon on weekdays.
• Route C203 would operate one round-trip in the morning and one round-trip in the afternoon between Awendaw and the Market at Oakland Walmart.
• Route C204 would provide service every two hours on weekdays between James Island and Freshfields Village in southern Johns Island

3. Two Commuter Routes would operate more reliably every 45 minutes (Route CS2) and 60 minutes (Route CS1) on weekdays from 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM between Rivers Avenue Park & Ride and either Moncks Corner (Route CS1) or Summerville (Route CS2). Ideas for improving service are:

• Route CS1 would operate every 60 minutes between Moncks Corner and the Rivers Avenue Park-and-Ride from 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on weekdays. It would be redesigned to provide additional service to Creekside Center Shopping Mall in Goose Creek.
• Route CS2 would operate every 45 minutes between Summerville and the Rivers Avenue Park-and-Ride. The first and last trip of the day would also travel west of Summerville to Jedburg Road.

4. Three microtransit zones would operate in Summerville and Moncks Corner to expand transit in urban areas and help increase mobility where there is strong demand but limited sidewalks. Microtransit is a flexible shuttle service booked by app or phone that will pick up or drop off anywhere within the zone and doesn’t follow a fixed route. The ride comes to you and takes you where you need to go within the service area. Ideas for improving service are:

• The existing Link2Lunch Zone in Moncks Corner would be renamed to the Moncks Corner Connector and operate the same hours that it does today (10:45 AM to 1 PM). It would continue to operate as an on-demand pick-up and drop-off service for anyone within the zone.
• The zone in West Summerville would operate from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and allow for on-demand pick-up and drop-off service for anyone within the zone, which includes downtown Summerville, Walmart on US17/Main Street, and most of the Orangeburg Road corridor.
• The zone in East Summerville/Ladson would operate from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and allow for on-demand pick up and drop off service for anyone within the zone, which includes Old Trolley Road, Downtown Summerville, the Walmart on US17/Main St., and Trident Medical Center.

Long-Term Transit Concepts (within 10 years)

The long-term concepts are ideas to improve TCL service with additional funding. Funding and coordination with regional partners will shape how the following long-term concepts could be implemented. 

1. Four Countywide Rural Dial-A-Ride Transportation Zones would expand to cover the entire rural region within Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties.

• Four dial-a-ride transportation zones would expand to reach all rural areas within the Tri-County region.  Riders can be picked up and dropped off anywhere within the zone, including bus stops, by making a reservation 24 hours in advance. This approach provides more convenient access for people who live far from fixed-route transit or in areas with limited service. It reduces the need to walk long distances to bus stops, offers more direct connections to key destinations, and ensures reliable transportation in communities where regular bus routes are not feasible.

2. Four rural flex routes are designed to provide long-distance flex service between rural places and popular urban destinations. Flex routes allow riders to be picked up and dropped off within a 3/4 mile radius of the route. Select routes would operate with additional frequency and on weekends. Ideas for improving service are:

• Route D306 would continue to operate one round trip in the morning and one round trip in the afternoon between Summerville and St. George.
• B104 would be reintroduced and operate one round trip in the morning and one round trip in the afternoon on weekdays between Moncks Corner and St Stephen.
• Route C204 would operate one round-trip in the morning and one round-trip in the afternoon between James Island and Johns Island. It would operate every two hours all day on weekends.
• Route C203 would operate between the Market at Oakland Walmart and Awendaw. The schedule would expand to 7 days a week and operate all day on weekdays from 5:30 AM - 7:30 PM with hourly service. On Saturdays, it would operate from 9 AM - 5 PM every two hours, and on Sundays from 10 AM - 3 PM every two hours. 

3. A well-connected urban area bus system would serve new marked bus stops and connect the most popular destinations in Summerville, Moncks Corner, and other rapidly growing regions in Dorchester and Berkeley County. Ideas for improving service are:

• A new D307 route would connect Monks Corner to Summerville with one hour or faster frequency, all day, and seven days a week. It would serve new marked bus stops on US 17/N. Main St.
• The new CS3 route would connect the Cane Bay community to LCRT service every hour, all day, seven days a week. It would serve new marked bus stops and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital.
• The CS1 would be more frequent and operate every 30 to 60 minutes, all day, seven days a week. It would serve new marked bus stops on US-52.
• The CS2 would be more frequent and operate every 15 to 30 minutes between Summerville and the LCRT. The service would branch West of Summerville and provide service every 30 to 60 minutes to either Jedburg Road or Old Dairy Road and serve new marked bus stops.
• The D305 would be reintroduced and provide service every 30 to 60 minutes, all day, seven days a week, between Summerville and the LCRT via Old Trolley Rd., Summerville Medical Center, and Ladson Road.
• By 2035, the Low Country Rapid Transit (LCRT) line will provide frequent, all-day, seven-day-a-week service between Ladson and MUSC in downtown Charleston. It will offer fast, reliable travel using dedicated bus lanes along Rivers Avenue.

4. Three new microtransit zones (shown in light green, orange, and dark green) would expand the reach of on-demand pick-up and drop-off service in the Summerville region. Each zone would operate most of the day, 7 days a week. These zones will expand transit and help increase mobility where there is strong demand but limited sidewalks. Microtransit is a flexible shuttle service booked by app or phone that will pick up or drop off anywhere within the zone and doesn’t follow a fixed route. The ride comes to you and takes you where you need to go within the service area.

5. A new frequent downtown circulator in Moncks Corner would link the most important destinations in the Moncks Corner area with an all-day weekday frequent service. This route would serve new marked bus stops.

6. New hourly service on Maybank Highway in Charleston County and a new on-demand microtransit zone serving the Maybank Highway area in Johns Island will operate 7 days a week. Ideas for improving service include:

• A new on-demand, micro transit zone to expand access to TCL for residents and businesses along and near the Maybank Highway corridor
• A new version of the C204 would provide hourly service on weekdays between James Island and Fenwick Crossroads via Maybank Highway.

FUNDING

TCL is funded by federal, state, and local funds. To provide more frequent service, longer hours, or new routes, additional local funding will be needed. 

ABOUT YOU

Please tell us about yourself to help us make sure we are reaching a representative group of respondents.

STAY INVOLVED

Visit our project website at ridetricountylink.com/transitstudy

Thank you for helping shape TCL’s future service!