Road Improvement and Development Effort
Encyclopedia
Road Improvement and Development Effort or RIDE is a plan for road projects in Horry County, South Carolina
, including Carolina Bays Parkway, Veterans Highway and Robert Grissom Parkway
. The first phase, costing $1.1 billion, is being paid for by hospitality taxes
. The second phase, called RIDE 2, is being paid for through a one-cent sales tax
approved
by Horry County voters November 7, 2006.
Commission chairman, started the State Infrastructure Bank. Commission member Gary Loftus
became the first chairman of RIDE, which came up with the list of Horry County projects to use money from the bank. In the years 1995 through 2002, the state completed 27 years worth of road projects at a cost of $5 billion, including the RIDE projects. The Fantasy Harbour Bridge
, opened in July 2009, was the last RIDE project.
A 2.5 percent accommodations tax, and a 1.5 percent prepared foods tax, funds the first phase of RIDE. Three-fifths of the tax goes to RIDE projects, with the remainder for public safety
, public works
and infrastructure
relating to tourism
.
The Horry County Council created the RIDE II Committee on April 17, 2001. It included 11 voting members plus the chairman of the S.C. DOT. The committee's purpose is to advise the county and state of road needs, study funding methods, and review projects under construction.
The original list of projects included the northern section of Carolina Bays Parkway but did not provide funding for the southern section. The first list for RIDE 2 released in April 2006, included 10 projects. After the approval of a one-cent sales tax on November 7, 2006, the list included 15 projects totalling $425 million. The biggest of these were an interchange
on U.S. Highway 17 next to the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
, the widening of S.C. 707, and a bypass for Aynor
. Also included was the paving of International Drive from Grissom Parkway to S.C. 90
, providing an alternate route to Carolina Forest.
The One-Cent Capital Projects Sales Tax began on May 1, 2007 and will last up to seven years, generating $425,307,500; if the tax produces that amount before the seven years end, it will be dropped.
On November 7, 2011, Myrtle Beach city council member Wayne Gray asked area elected officials to consider using RIDE funds to pay for a portion of I-73
. One possibility was to continue the RIDE I tax past 2023.
Horry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
, including Carolina Bays Parkway, Veterans Highway and Robert Grissom Parkway
Robert Grissom Parkway
Robert M. Grissom Parkway, locally known as Grissom Parkway, is a major four-lane connector highway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The road begins at Harrelson Boulevard near Myrtle Beach International Airport and terminates in Carolina Forest, South Carolina at SC Highway 31 and International...
. The first phase, costing $1.1 billion, is being paid for by hospitality taxes
Transient occupancy tax
Transient Occupancy Tax is charged in California when occupying a room or rooms or other living space in a hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel or other lodging for a period of 30 days or more....
. The second phase, called RIDE 2, is being paid for through a one-cent sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
approved
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
by Horry County voters November 7, 2006.
History
In 1996, South Carolina voters turned down a one-cent sales tax for roads, and Buck Limehouse, the state's first DOTSouth Carolina Department of Transportation
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is a government agency in the US state of South Carolina. Its mission is to build and maintain roads and bridges and administer mass transit services....
Commission chairman, started the State Infrastructure Bank. Commission member Gary Loftus
Gary Loftus
Gary M. Loftus is the director of the Coastal Federal Center for Economic and Community Development. The Center is housed in Coastal Carolina University's E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration....
became the first chairman of RIDE, which came up with the list of Horry County projects to use money from the bank. In the years 1995 through 2002, the state completed 27 years worth of road projects at a cost of $5 billion, including the RIDE projects. The Fantasy Harbour Bridge
Harrelson Boulevard
Harrelson Boulevard is a four lane highway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It starts at George Bishop Parkway, crosses the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. 17 and goes to Myrtle Beach International Airport and runs near Coastal Grand Mall. The highway is also the southern terminus for Grissom Parkway...
, opened in July 2009, was the last RIDE project.
A 2.5 percent accommodations tax, and a 1.5 percent prepared foods tax, funds the first phase of RIDE. Three-fifths of the tax goes to RIDE projects, with the remainder for public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
, public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
and infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
relating to tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
The Horry County Council created the RIDE II Committee on April 17, 2001. It included 11 voting members plus the chairman of the S.C. DOT. The committee's purpose is to advise the county and state of road needs, study funding methods, and review projects under construction.
The original list of projects included the northern section of Carolina Bays Parkway but did not provide funding for the southern section. The first list for RIDE 2 released in April 2006, included 10 projects. After the approval of a one-cent sales tax on November 7, 2006, the list included 15 projects totalling $425 million. The biggest of these were an interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
on U.S. Highway 17 next to the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force facility, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was established in 1940 as a World War II training base and was also used for coastal patrols during the war...
, the widening of S.C. 707, and a bypass for Aynor
Aynor, South Carolina
Aynor is a town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 647 in September 2011. The surrounding Aynor area of Galivants Ferry has a population of 5,429 as of September 2011.-Geography:Aynor is located at ....
. Also included was the paving of International Drive from Grissom Parkway to S.C. 90
South Carolina Highway 90
South Carolina Highway 90 is a two-lane highway from in Horry County going from Red Hill to Little River. It provides a direct connection from Conway to the North Strand in Little River....
, providing an alternate route to Carolina Forest.
The One-Cent Capital Projects Sales Tax began on May 1, 2007 and will last up to seven years, generating $425,307,500; if the tax produces that amount before the seven years end, it will be dropped.
On November 7, 2011, Myrtle Beach city council member Wayne Gray asked area elected officials to consider using RIDE funds to pay for a portion of I-73
Interstate 73
Interstate 73 is a main route of the Interstate Highway System, currently located entirely within the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of a longer planned corridor, defined by various Federal laws to run from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Grayling, Michigan, but only the part south of...
. One possibility was to continue the RIDE I tax past 2023.