Obstacle course at North Charleston Coliseum to provide stern test

If you think driving in Charleston traffic is hard, try doing it in a 40-foot bus. Thats what a quartet of notable Charlestonians will be tasked with when they join Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) drivers in the transit systems annual Bus Roadeo at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

This years celebrity drivers are:

• Matt Lee of the Lee Bros. (Defending Champion)

• Leyla Gulen, Anchor/Host, FOX 24

• Charlie James, Radio Host, WTMA

• Jamee Haley, Executive Director, Lowcountry Local First

Our drivers are highly skilled and this is a chance for them to showcase their talent, said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. At the same time, the notable residents illustrate what a true challenge it is to operate these vehicles in an open parking lot, much less the crowded streets and highways of Charleston.

Obstacle stations include: Offset Street, Right/Left Turn, Right/Left Reverse, Passenger Pickup, the ominous-sounding Serpentine, and crowd favorite Diminishing Clearance.

CARTA drivers will be competing for a berth in the statewide Roadeo in early 2019. For the non-pros, eternal glory is up for grabs. The event is open to the media and the public. The first buses roll at 8 a.m. in the North Charleston Coliseum E parking lot. Celebrity competition kicks off at 10 a.m.

Win Big While Helping the Environment and Reducing Traffic

Lowcountry residents who trade in driving alone for a more sustainable commute could win tasty prizes in October. Thats when the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) Lowcountry Go commuter services program is sponsoring the first-ever LowGoTober challenge. The event, which takes place Oct. 22-26, is aimed at encouraging commuters to try sustainable options for traveling to and from work by way of carpool, vanpool, transit, bike, walk, or telecommuting.

Participating in LowGoTober is easy:

• Register with Lowcountry Go by visiting lowcountrygo.com or downloading the Lowcountry Go app on Apple or Android devices.

• Track trips each day (up to two, one-way trips daily) for a chance to win daily prizes. All trips must be logged by 8 a.m. the following day to be entered in daily drawings.

• Keep an eye on the live leader board at ridelowgo.com. The top LowGoTober challengers will be chosen at the end of the week for bigger prizes!

The LowcountryGo program connects real commuters with real solutions, and now there is extra incentive to get started on a smarter commute, said BCDCOG executive director Ron Mitchum. The goal of this event is not just to encourage sustainable commuting, but to also cut down on overall traffic. We invite all residents to take the LowGoTober challenge during the week of Oct. 22-26 to help reduce congestion and be entered for great prizes.

Prizes on offer as of Oct. 1, with list to be updated throughout the month:

• Gift cards:
  • Xiao Bao Biscuit ($50)
  • Harris Teeter
  • Whole Foods
  • Triangle Restaurant
  • Ye Olde Fashioned
• CARTA 30-day passes
• Gas cards

Businesses interested in offering incentives and anyone looking for further information should contact BCDCOG mobility manager Vonie Gilreath at vonieg@bcdcog.com.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION VALUES UP BY NEARLY $32M IN Q2

Total construction permit values in the tri-county area increased by $31.6 million, or about four percent, to $737 million during the second quarter of 2018, according to data recently released by the by the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG).

Other key takeaways from the Council of Governments Q2 Construction Quarterly report include:

• Commercial construction permit values increased by 46% ($73 million)
• New construction permit values increased 3% ($21.9 million)
• Single Family permit values increased 14% ($57.7 million)

Construction Quarterly provides a detailed analysis of the construction trends in the region. Sectors analyzed include commercial, single family, single-family attached, multi-family, and renovation construction.

“We continue to see positive growth in permit values across most types of construction in the region, which is a sign of ongoing economic momentum,” said BCDCOG planning director Kathryn Basha.

The full report can be viewed here.