The CONSULTANT will utilize the 2050 Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan (SMTP) (Momentum 2050) as the foundational document to prepare the Statewide Transit Plan and Intercity Bus Consultation (STP). The purpose of the plan is to establish a coordinated vision for public transportation across the state, addressing current needs and future challenges for both public transit and intercity bus services, ensuring they effectively meet the transportation needs of residents across rural and urban areas within the state. It is the mission of SCDOT to ensure a safe, accessible and sustainable transportation service network for the citizens of South Carolina. South Carolina’s transportation network is a vital component of the state’s economy, health, and quality of life. With twenty-seven (27) urban and rural transit agencies serving various communities— from the Lowcountry to the Upstate—SCDOT recognizes the need for a modern, comprehensive, and strategic transit roadmap. The last comprehensive statewide transit plan was completed in 2014; since then, shifts in demographics, commuting behavior, and technological advancement have created a pressing need for an updated statewide transit vision. The CONSULTANT will provide recommendations that are compliant with federal requirements, including but not limited to 49 USC §5303, §5304 and §5306, 23 CFR §450, align with SCDOT's Multimodal Transportation Plan (Momentum 2050), and reflect South Carolina's focus on workforce investment, economic development, transit accessibility, and sustainability. The STP is not intended to supplant or replace local agency or regional Transit Development Plans (TDPs). Rather, it provides a framework to help guide these local plans in a manner consistent with Federal, State and regional policy and priorities.
