Bill 535

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    535
Primary Sponsor:                Elliott
Type of Legislation:            CR
Subject:                        Grand Strand area traffic
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19930331
Computer Document Number:       NO5/8984BD.93
Introduced Date:                19930311
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              19930331
Last History Type:              Received from House
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Elliott
                                Rankin
                                Greg Smith
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent
                                Resolution

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

535   Senate  19930331      Received from House
535   House   19930331      Adopted, returned to Senate,
                            by a division vote of 40 to 27
535   House   19930331      Reconsidered vote whereby
                            rejected, by a divison vote
                            of 44 to 13
535   House   19930331      Rejected by a division vote
                            of 9 to 12
535   House   19930324      Committee Report: Favorable     24
535   House   19930317      Introduced, referred to         24
                            Committee
535   Senate  19930316      Adopted, sent to House
535   Senate  19930311      Introduced, placed on
                            Calendar without reference

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 24, 1993

S. 535

Introduced by SENATORS Elliott, Rankin and Greg Smith

S. Printed 3/24/93--H.

Read the first time March 17, 1993.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 535), to request the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation to provide additional traffic control support to the Grand Strand area, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DEWITT WILLIAMS, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CONTROL SUPPORT TO THE GRAND STRAND AREA UNTIL BETTER ACCESS IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM SERVING THE GRAND STRAND AREA.

Whereas, the Grand Strand area provides a disproportionate share of state revenue due to the collection of sales tax, accommodations taxes, and other revenue-raising measures from more than ten million tourists visiting the area each year contributing substantially to the state's economy and to state tourism-generated tax revenues totalling $249,700,000; and

Whereas, the continued growth of this revenue for the State is being threatened by the lack of sufficient and adequate access on the highways of this State to the Grand Strand area, and the sister states of North Carolina and Georgia are providing direct access to beach tourist areas; and

Whereas, delays are now extremely common in all the areas leading into the Grand Strand area causing frustration and decisions not to return to the Grand Strand area for vacation by out-of-state tourists; and

Whereas, even if projects to improve access to the Grand Strand area are expedited, there still will be a substantial delay until improvements are completed; and

Whereas, more than forty thousand South Carolinians are employed in the Grand Strand's tourism industry, which accounts for nearly forty percent of the state's tourism industry; and

Whereas, the continued growth of employment and this revenue for the State is being threatened by lack of sufficient and adequate access on highways of this State to the Grand Strand area; and

Whereas, it is essential the State take all steps possible to upgrade traffic control into the Grand Strand area under the existing highway conditions. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation is requested to provide immediately traffic control support to the Grand Strand area, including, but not limited to, additional highway patrolmen during the busiest hours of access and departure from the Grand Strand area, coordination of traffic signal mechanisms to make the flow of traffic as efficient as possible on existing highways, and short-term improvements necessary to assist in reducing the congestion in and around the Conway area and other areas of access to the Grand Strand.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Governor, and the Chairman of the State Development Board.