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The Future of Greenville’s Public Transportation
The federal government has awarded Greenville County a portion of $16 million that will go to study a possible elevated fixed-rail system that follows a similar path to an extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail along Laurens Road.
The Federal Transportation Administration said the county will receive $355,000 to plan for transit-oriented development “along a high capacity transit project being planned for the Laurens Road corridor between downtown Greenville and Mauldin.”
The project to be studied will be a proposed fixed-rail system that would connect the two downtowns in about 30 minutes, County Councilman Fred Payne said. These pods would run on a track elevated off the ground and sit six people + standing room for up to 10.
How would it work though?
It’s actually pretty simple. You head to the nearest station, which would be much closer than any current bus stops. You put in your location, pay a very small fare (~$1.50 which would pay for the construction + capital costs). Not to mention, little to no wait times (4 minutes at most).
Transportation problems we currently face: congestion, pollution, access, connectivity, danger with infrastructure, weather, truck drivers, cost, comfort (potholes), convenience, land use, distracted drivers, service area, trip time, quality of life
Solutions GreenPods could bring:
No damages to roads + less traffic
Minimal pollution
Congestion: Bypasses stations for direct trips (hello Target, goodbye Woodruff Road traffic)
Less collisions: West Virginia University has their own rapid transit network, which has been in service since 1975. It’s never once had a collision (think of all the crashes that block I-85 + the number of lives that could be saved). Watch a video of it here.
Trip time: Goes over traffic, therefore bypassing congestion + stop lights
Transportation for all, service area + a better quality of life: While Greenlink is working to provide more routes, better schedules and more buses, GreenPods would provide transportation across a larger space at a price point and time point that is feasible for all.
Special Thanks to Eric Connor and Anna B. Mitchell for article content.
2 Comments
We shouldn’t be thinking about putting a fixed rail line in that will cost significant amounts of $$ when we have a bus system that is pitiful. Greenlink “is working to provide more routes, better schedules and more buses”????? This is where our focus should be. Try catching a bus from Travelers Rest to somewhere off of 291 — first of all, bus service stops at Furman. So a person I know in TR who doesn’t own a car has to walk two or three miles to Furman to catch a bus. Then he has to wait for the bus, then take the bus to downtown Greenville, wait for another bus that travels out onto 291. Do you realize how awful this system is???? The Greenville area is way behind with its bus system and we are wanting to show how futuristic we are by putting in a mini-pod fixed line system from Greenville to Mauldin???? Wow!!!
Thank you for your comments. The GADC and the Greenville Chamber are working with Greenlink to survey employers in different parts of the county to help improve service.
You may consider sharing any concerns and ideas at one of the county’s upcoming comprehensive plan meetings. Visit https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ComprehensivePlanBlog/Blog.aspx?id=2 to learn more.