Understanding Highway Policy

SCDOT is responsible for 62% of South Carolina Roads

State vs. Local Ownership of Highways

Every state in the nation has a highway agency. These agencies hold varying degrees of responsibility for the construction and maintenance of public highways.

Nationally, 19% of all public roads are state-owned. County or municipal government locally owns the other 81% of the roads in America. Here in South Carolina, 62% of the road miles are state-owned and 38% are locally owned.

This means that SCDOT controls and maintains three times the number of miles as in other states.

National System

South Carolina

This situation evolved over an eighty-year period. Most of it occurred prior to the "home rule" form of government in South Carolina. Fortunately, this resulted in several advantages for South Carolina. With more roads under ownership of a central agency, there is greater opportunity for uniform highway design, coordination of planning, and lower overhead costs. But, these advantages assume that state government will provide funding consistent with the agency's high level of responsibilities. This has not been the case in South Carolina.

Highway Policy in South Carolina

Highway Policy

Funding

Planning

Safety

Facts and Recommendations

Understanding Highway Policy in South Carolina
07highway_policy.pdf (150Kb)

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