S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley has given the state of South Carolina a powerful incentive to abuse its eminent domain powers under a massive borrowing bill signed this week.
Here’s the relevant section of the $500 million highway borrowing bill signed by Haley …
The (S.C. Department of Transportation) may transfer from the state highway secondary system any road under its jurisdiction, determined by the department to be of low traffic importance, to one of the parties indicated in this section if mutual consent is reached between the department and the party that the road is being transferred to:
(a) a county or municipality;
(b) a school;
(c) a governmental agency;
(d) a nongovernmental entity; or
(e) a person.
Wait … a person?
We’re all for the privatization of government functions but this sounds all sorts of sketchy … particularly given the ability of the SCDOT to obtain property for nickels on the dollar if it “deems” it for public use.
In fact it strikes us as a recipe for abuse …
The goal of this particular section of the law is to reduce South Carolina’s sprawling network of state-maintained roads. Despite ranking fortieth nationally in size, the Palmetto State maintains the nation’s fourth largest network of state-maintained roads – which is one reason taxpayers spend so much money on infrastructure costs. Stung by these costs, lawmakers who have been approving unnecessary projects and gobbling up roadways in recent years now want to pass off the responsibility for maintaining these roads to local governments.
That’s a good idea in theory, but South Carolina leaders cannot trample on private property rights as they take the first tentative steps toward a more manageable highway system.
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14 comments
Just sent an email to DOT for Section of I-26 from mile marker 172 to mile marker 232 to be transferred to my ownership
Justification for transfer:
DOT doesn’t repair the bridges
DOT doesn’t patch the pot holes
DOT doesn’t keep visible lane lines
DOT doesn’t cut shoulders to drain water
DOT doesn’t cut the grass
Bottom line is that DOT is too damn busy with conferences, power lunches and kissing cockroach ass to retain ownership
Hopefully my request will be considered before Lt. Governor McConnell’s. That little fucker has asked for the Ravenel Bridge
Follow up on this, and see if you can make it a toll road.
Maybe a Toal road?
Just sent an email to DOT for Section of I-26 from mile marker 172 to mile marker 232 to be transferred to my ownership
Justification for transfer:
DOT doesn’t repair the bridges
DOT doesn’t patch the pot holes
DOT doesn’t keep visible lane lines
DOT doesn’t cut shoulders to drain water
DOT doesn’t cut the grass
Bottom line is that DOT is too damn busy with conferences, power lunches and kissing cockroach ass to retain ownership
Hopefully my request will be considered before Lt. Governor McConnell’s. That little fucker has asked for the Ravenel Bridge
Follow up on this, and see if you can make it a toll road.
Maybe a Toal road?
Does Mark Sanford have any say on thls? He is on the transportation and infrastructure committee.
Does Mark Sanford have any say on thls? He is on the transportation and infrastructure committee.
Andre Baurer can assist you with getting more money for your property. It worked for him when he as “SC2”.
Andre Baurer can assist you with getting more money for your property. It worked for him when he as “SC2”.
Who determines what “low traffic importance” means?
Appears to me that certain favored individuals may be given their private access roads (including the rights-of-way) at no cost to them. This could be very interesting if true. You could say “it’s a great day to be a favored cockroach.”
Who determines what “low traffic importance” means?
Appears to me that certain favored individuals may be given their private access roads (including the rights-of-way) at no cost to them. This could be very interesting if true. You could say “it’s a great day to be a favored cockroach.”
Non story. If DOT transfers the road to another parties name, free of charge, the state no longer pays to maintain it. How is any of this bad? Less mileage to maintain. I know of several stretches of road, state maintained dirt roads, that lead to one or two houses.
In Blythewood, our driveway was 1/4 mile long. It served 3 houses. Why should the county maintain it?
Non story. If DOT transfers the road to another parties name, free of charge, the state no longer pays to maintain it. How is any of this bad? Less mileage to maintain. I know of several stretches of road, state maintained dirt roads, that lead to one or two houses.
In Blythewood, our driveway was 1/4 mile long. It served 3 houses. Why should the county maintain it?