MANY OF US TAKE BUS SERVICE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY FOR GRANTED, BUT THE ISLAND PACKET IS REPORTING THAT PALMETTO BREEZE TRANSIT IS ASKING LOCAL TOWNS AND COUNTIES TO PONY UP 350-THOUSAND DOLLARS BEFORE THE END OF FEBRUARY, OR SERVICE CUTS COULD JEOPARDIZE THE ABILITY OF RESORT AND HOTEL WORKERS TO GET AROUND DURING THE PEAK SUMMER SEASON. HILTON HEAD’S FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED FOR NEARLY HALF THE FUNDS NEEDED TO COVER THE GAP IN THE PALMETTO BREEZE BUDGET. BUS SERVICE LEADERS SAY A VAST MAJORITY OF RIDERS ON COMMUTER ROUTES ARE HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND LANDSCAPERS. HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON HAVE LARGER FUNDING IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET, BUT BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE LARGEST FUNDING SOURCE FOR BUS SERVICE, DID NOT INCREASE ITS FUNDING FOR THE COMING YEAR. SO FAR, HILTON HEAD’S TROLLEY SERVICE IS REMAINING FREE FOR NEXT SUMMER, BUT A ONE-DOLLAR FARE IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE SUMMER OF ’26.
EVEN WITH RECENT INCREASES IN THE STATE GAS TAX TO BUILD AND REPAIR THE STATE’S HIGHWAYS, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS IT’LL STILL NEED TO RAISE A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR EXTRA TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND, AND BEAUFORT STATE REP SHANNON ERICKSON SAYS RAISING THE GAS TAX ANY MORE IS LIKELY OFF-THE-TABLE. THAT MEANS THERE’LL HAVE TO BE A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO FUNDING HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS. POPULATION GROWTH AND TOURISM MEANS MORE REVENUE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO MEANS MORE CONGESTION AND WEAR-AND-TEAR ON THE ROADS. THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 41-THOUSAND MILES OF STATE ROADWAYS AND CURREN REVENUES CAN’T KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT INSTRUCTIONS SOON ON HOW TO ABIDE BY ITS NEW GOLF CART LAW THAT KICKS IN WHEN WE TURN THE CALENDAR TO 2026. UNDER THE NEW LAW, EVERYONE IN A GOLF CART WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A SEAT BELT AND THE DRIVER MUST HAVE A LEGAL DRIVER’S LICENSE. CARTS WILL ALSO NOT BE ALLOWED ON ROADS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS ABOVE 35 MILES AN HOUR, OR THROUGH TRAFFIC CIRCLES. THE NEW LAW WILL ALLOW GOLF CARTS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IF THEY’VE GOT THE PROPER LIGHTING AND TURN SIGNALS. THE TOWN WILL SHARE INFORMATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PRINTED MATERIALS AND OUTREACH THROUGH GOLF CART DEALERS. SINCE 2024, THERE’VE BEEN SIX REPORTED GOLF CART ACCIDENTS IN BLUFFTON, MANY OF THOSE INVOLVING SERIOUS INJURIES.
GOT FRIENDS IN CHICAGO OR AN INTEREST IN VISITING THE WINDY CITY NEXT SPRING AND SUMMER? UNITED AIRLINES IS EXPANDING ITS SEASONAL SCHEDULE TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S AIRPORT, OFFERING SATURDAY FLIGHTS TO-AND-FROM CHICAGO O’HARE BEGINNING IN MARCH AND THEN DAILY FLIGHTS BEGINNING IN APRIL AND RUNNING THROUGH MID-AUGUST. HILTON HEAD’S AIRPORT HOPES TO OPEN ITS NEW TERMINAL IN MID-APRIL, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT OPERATION.