HWY 278 - The New (Proposed) Toll

They couldn't get their local option sales tax so they want to get the workers coming on the island? Let me repeat this theme, say it to your friends, write your representatives: Bed Tax. Tax those who make the traffic not those who must go to work in the morning. Taxing commuters is a good way to grow Bluffton business!! Maybe one of the readers can go to this and spy for me. I'll be working. No new taxes for locals!

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Forum

US 278 -- The Challenge To Finance Change
The Crowne Plaza, Shipyard Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 (9:30 am to 3:00 pm)

Sponsored by Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Island Committee and The Beaufort County Council.

Morning Session(9:30 to 12:00 Noon)

9:30. Attendees may review Long Range Traffic Planning Study Illustrations (Arial Photographs, Maps and Drawings). Planning Department and Traffic Engineers will be available to answer questions.

10:00 (5 min.) Moderator - Forum Schedule and Procedures - Andrew B. Shapiro, Chairman, Transportation Sub Committee, Greater Island Committee

10:05 (5 min.) Welcome - Weston Newton, Chairman, Beaufort County Council

Technical Presentations

10:10 (15 min.) The bistory of previous 278 improvements and traffic counts - Colin Kinton, Beaufort County Traffic and Transportation Engineer.

10:25 (15 min.) SCDOT Requests Proposals for Innovative Public Private Partnerships - A New Approach to Finance Critical Transportation Improvements, together with an update on the approved 278-widening project. Rocque Kneece, SCDOT Regional Director.

10:40 (35 min.) Design Options. The Free Flow and Express Lane concepts - Stewart Rodman and Robert Probst, The LPA Group

11: 15 (30 min.) Toll calculations and income projections for 278. The potential financial benefits of reducing the Cross Island Parkway Tolls and contributing 6 million dollars to complete the construction of the Bluffton Parkway. Arthur Goldberg, Vice President Transportation Planning, URS Corp.

11:45 (15 min.) Technical questions and answers.

Lunch (12:00 to 1:00)

Informal discussions will continue during lunch with attendees encouraged to sit with presenters and panelists. Tables for lunch will be reserved in the Crowne Plaza Restaurant (advanced reservations not required). The cost of lunch will be at each attendee's expense.

Traffic Planning Documents will continue to be available for review (see 9:30 above).

Afternoon Session (1:00 to 3:00)

Panel Discussion and Public Comment

Community Panelists: 1:00 (50 min.)
Each panelist will be given 5 minutes for a brief presentation.

1. Barry Connor Chairman, Bluffton-Okatie Business Council
2. Tom DeMint Sperry Van Ness, Bosley DeMint Realty LLC
3. James Mitchell Director, Native Island Business and Community Affairs Assoc. 4. Joe Fraser Director, Heritage Foundation
5. Andy Twisdale Hilton Head Area Hospitality Assoc.
6. Rochelle Ferguson Exec. Dir. Lowcountry Regional Transportation Author. 7. P.J. Tanner Sheriff, Beaufort County
8. Kim Schembra General Manager, Tanger Outlet Center
9. Bob Bartlett Former Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Highways
10. Rece Morgan President of Real Estate, Stafford Properties

Technical Panelists:
This panel will answer technical questions from the 1100r during the Comments and Debate
period.

1. Arthur Goldberg 2. Rocque Kneece 3. Robert Probst 4. Stewart Rodman

2:00 (60 min.) Questions, Comments and Debate from Forum Attendees.

3:00. Forum Adjournment.

The public is encouraged to attend this important Forum. Stay for 15 minutes or the entire day. Opinion Ballots, regarding the Toll Road question, will be available to all who attend, no matter the length of their stay.

For additional information contact Andrew Shapiro, Forum Moderator, 686-6868