Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments
Transportation Planning

The Grand Strand Area Transportation Study (GSATS) Policy Committee is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Myrtle Beach Urbanized Area. Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Planning Section are designated as the MPO staff. The Council provides a Transportation Planning staff, through Federal and local (Horry and Georgetown Counties) funding, to administer the transportation programs, collect and compile land use data and gather any additional planning data required. The Council also provides transportation planning for the rural areas of Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties.

The transportation staff works with local governments, the GSATS Policy Committee, SCDOT, Waccamaw Regional Board of Directors and the Federal Highway Administration in the implementation of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the Rural Planning Grant.

For FY 2006 through FY 2008, the GSATS Policy Committee approved a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that included 18 roadway projects and 15 transportation enhancement projects. The budget for the roadway and enhancement projects for the three year period is in excess of $13 million. In FY 2005, the transportation staff concluded its work with local planning staffs on finalizing the GSATS 30 Year Long Range Plan.

The transportation staff continues to work with the SCDOT Planning Section on a regional level for transportation improvements for rural areas of the three county region.

Related Information:

GSATS Draft 2008-2010 Transportation Improvement Program (PDF) Kings Highway Corridor Study - Executive Summary (PDF) - Final Presentation (PDF) GSATS Public Participation Process (PDF) GSATS 2006-08 Transportation Improvement Program (PDF) GSATS Long Range Plan Executive Summary (PDF) SC Department of Transportation East Coast Greenway

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