Advisory committee recommends setting aside 25% of pedestrian fund for countywide infill sidewalks

The Richland County Transportation Penny Advisory Committee voted by voice to recommend that 25% of the pedestrian safety and access fund be allocated to countywide infill sidewalks, while retaining 75% for larger, high‑scoring projects.

The motion was moved by Mr. Scoville and seconded by Chris Kefir. Committee discussion before the vote centered on the difficulty small sidewalk infill projects face under the existing scoring system, which favors larger projects with higher pedestrian counts or crash histories. Committee members urged a two‑tier approach and suggested alternative metrics — including pedestrian crashes and community access needs — to identify ‘‘infill’’ candidates that improve safety and access in unserved neighborhoods.

Supporters cited Eastover and Hopkins as examples of areas with limited walking access where small, targeted sidewalk investments could improve safety and connectivity. Opponents or skeptical members asked whether the 25% requirement would be applied countywide or by district; the committee clarified the recommendation is a countywide allocation and that a minimum funding floor per district had been discussed in committee comments.

The motion passed by voice vote; the meeting transcript records multiple audible affirmations of approval and no recorded opposition or abstentions. The committee directed staff to forward the recommendation to the transportation ad hoc committee and to return with implementation details, including how projects would be defined, scored, and distributed across districts.

The committee recorded this as a recommendation to the ad hoc committee; any binding allocation would require subsequent action by the ad hoc process and county council.