On Thursday, the Senate Transportation Subcommittee advanced S. 831, the South Carolina Department of Transportation Modernization bill, following a series of five hearings since January.
The legislation is part of a broader effort to streamline SC DOT operations, improve project planning and strengthen coordination across state and local transportation entities.
During Thursday’s committee hearing, the subcommittee adopted a significant amendment that removes several provisions, including:
Congestion mitigation fees.
Electric vehicle fees.
Language permitting a county council to serve as the County Transportation Committee.
With these items removed, the bill now focuses more on SCDOT planning responsibilities and internal modernization - aligning with the broader legislative push to speed up highway project delivery.
The bill updates the state’s outdated toll statute and enables SCDOT to take on more federal environmental permitting responsibility, as allowed by USDOT, which should enable SCDOT to move projects to construction more quickly.
The full Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider S. 831 next Wednesday, March 4. Depending on committee action, the bill could move quickly to the Senate floor for debate.
The House is also considering a similar bill, H. 5071.
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