Purpose
Enhance the quality of life for residents and improve the visitor experience by identifying optimal parking and traffic solutions given increasing tourism and population growth.
Vision
By June 2026 Isle of Palms will have an updated Beach Visitor Parking Study, with a thorough and forward-thinking approach to beach visitor parking. This plan would be aimed at improving parking efficiency and traffic flow while adhering to an updated parking count as outlined in the Local Comprehensive Beach Management Plan (LCBMP). The plan would identify immediate changes that can be implemented quickly while ensuring they align with the broader, longer-term plans outlined in the study.
View Summary: priorities and goals
Priority: Parking
Ensure a sustainable plan for the future which addresses visitor demand and rising costs associated with increasing visitor growth.
Successfully welcoming day visitors to the beach and ensuring everyone's enjoyment of the island's natural resources begins with safe and effective traffic flow. Given rapid population growth in Charleston County and recent holiday traffic counts surpassing 25,000 vehicle trips, evaluation of current traffic patterns are needed to avoid traffic gridlock on high season days (ie, July 4th, Memorial Day, etc).
Our parking expense far outweighs the income from parking, given both direct (maintenance of SCDOT property) and indirect costs (public safety personnel, increased garbage collection, etc.). While SCDOT owns and controls the majority of roads on Isle of Palms, the city is responsible for maintenance.
[1] Mt. Pleasant’s population in 2024 is 96,600, a 42.39% growth rate since 2010; projected population for 2029 is 103,200. Charleston County’s population in 2024 is 429,384, a 22.33% growth rate since 2010; projected population for 2029 is 455,323, assuming a 1.18%/yr. growth rate.
Goal 1: Explore Solutions
Identify and develop near-term solutions and ongoing processes which protect residential neighborhoods and provide an enjoyable experience for residents and visitors alike.
- Update the outdated 2013 Stantec Beach Visitor Parking Study.
- Engage Charleston County for help with the increasing expenses of tourism resulting from population growth, increased demand for beach access, and the finite land mass of the island.
- Lobby the state Legislature to assist coastal municipalities with the increasingly burdensome impacts of tourism.
- Develop a plan for the city to acquire residential roads from the South Carolina Department of Transportation ("SCDOT").
Goal 2: Accurate Data and Reporting
Formally recognize parking spaces and encroachments that are not included in the current LCBMP.
- Determine the number of spaces and, where appropriate, formally add the following free spaces to the Parking Plan when the LCBMP is updated:
- Public right of way adjacent to the IOP Post Office
- Unregulated public right of way at IOP Recreation Center on Hartnett Boulevard between 28th and 29th Avenues
- Designate a certain number of spaces for IOP Recreation Center use ensure adequate spaces for visitors and residents using the Recreation Center.
Goal 3: Parking Optimization
Provide efficient, safe parking that steers visitors toward the city’s Front Beach lots and other designated visitor parking spaces on the island to accommodate seasonal visitor access and community preference.
- Hire a consultant to develop a plan which may include:
- Adjusting parking footprint that optimizes both the number of spaces in the LCBMP and traffic flow
- Registered/monitored parking along state highway - if feasible and supported by the community - which satisfies state law and does not add to the traffic or congestion issues in the neighborhoods
- Free beach parking in a city lot to encourage parking at Front Beach
Goal 4: Palm Boulevard
Expedite the parking process for visitors by establishing intentional, managed parking along Palm Boulevard to enable drivers to readily identify a parking space.
- Revisit the Palm Boulevard streetscape proposal.
- Request SCDOT fulfill its commitment to replace the “temporary” concrete markers on the landward side of Palm Boulevard with aesthetically-pleasing, low-profile markers.
- Clearly delineate the spaces on the Seaward side of Palm Boulevard.
- Continue maintaining the 4' chalk parking line along Palm Boulevard each week, and ideally reapply after a significant rain event during high season.
- Continue supporting the SCDOT-approved Parking Plan, especially the residential parking zones.
Goal 5: Communication
Effectively communicate parking availability for residents and visitors during the high season.
- Provide real-time data on parking availability via parking registrations/payment
- Promote parking resources through Sunnie, Beach Reach app, and https://parkiop.org.
- Continue to promote alternative means for driving to the beach: use of the Beach Shuttle from Mount Pleasant or cycling, for example.
Priority: Traffic
Ensure optimal flow of traffic which meets demands of accelerating visitor growth
Goal 1: Isle of Palms Connector
Efficiently move traffic on the Isle of Palms Connector (SC-517), especially during high-demand periods such as weekends and holidays.
- Manage traffic on the Isle of Palms Connector during specific time periods within the course of the year with seasonal police personnel for traffic management.
- Investigate the possibility of re-striping the Isle of Palms Connector to accommodate:
- Two lanes of traffic exiting the island
- Dedicated Bike lane on one side
- A pedestrian lane that is compliant with SCDOT standards; any additions to the bridge structure should preserve the views that exist today.
- Ensure traffic lights at Palm and Rifle Range are timed correctly during high volume times/days.
- Continue to build relationships with surrounding municipalities and state leaders to effectively manage parking and traffic challenges.
Goal 2: Routing Traffic
Efficiently route traffic to available parking island wide to keep traffic flowing.
- Hire a consultant to develop a plan which may include:
- Adjusting parking footprint that optimizes both the number of spaces in the LCBMP and traffic flow
- Registered/monitored parking along state highway - if feasible and supported by the community - which satisfies state law and does not add to the traffic or congestion issues in the neighborhoods
- Free beach parking in a city lot to encourage parking at Front Beach
Goal 3: Long-Range Plan
Develop a long-range plan given the greater Charleston area’s growth and impact to the island.
- Annual review of identified “opportunity areas.”
- Continue working with a traffic engineer consultant to devise solutions to manage traffic efficiently, minimize congestion, and support funding and implementation of priority recommendations.
Goal 4: Real-Time Communication
Communicate parking and traffic conditions in real time for residents and visitors, especially for high season, high demand days/weekends/holidays.
- Ensure promoting of traffic resources through use of Sunnie, Beach Reach app, and https://parkiop.org.
- Consider a “Text to Park” model.
- Utilize technology to monitor parking availability.
- Communicate parking alternatives, such as the Beach Shuttle, when approaching full capacity.
- Establish a parking webpage that offers interactive maps and clear information including, but not limited to, available parking lots and parking areas, number of spaces, prices (seasonal and regular, if applicable), and violations.
Examples:- Wrightsville Beach website for navigation and content
- North Myrtle Beach website for an interactive map