![[devinemap.png]] *12.15.2025* Devine Street is one of Columbia’s most important corridors, but it has also become one of the most stressful and dangerous streets to navigate. The City of Columbia and SCDOT are currently studying options to improve safety along Devine, and public input matters at this stage. Cola Town Bike Collective, partnering with groups like Palmetto Walk Bike, Soda POP, and other community mobility orgs, has submitted a formal comment and shared it with local businesses and neighborhood associations. Simply put, we are supporting alternatives that reduce speeding, improve crossings, and make Devine Street safer for everyone who uses it. Driving, Walking, Biking, rolling... however you get around! :) While one of the proposed concepts includes a bike lane, **we do not believe it is the right solution for Devine Street because an unprotected, high stress facility would not meaningfully improve safety.** Instead, we support investments that calm traffic, narrow lanes, and improve crossings so the corridor works safely for everyone. You can review the project materials, alternatives, and maps here: [https://projectportal.scdot.org/DevineStreetCorridorStudy/devine-street-corridor-study-PIM](https://projectportal.scdot.org/DevineStreetCorridorStudy/devine-street-corridor-study-PIM) ## Great! How can I help? Public support matters. If you’ve read through our full comment in the next section and agree, **you can click or tap the copy icon in the corner of the black box, and paste in the feedback form linked below. THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A COMMENT IS FRIDAY 12/19/25!!!** *Click or tap the copy icon in the corner to copy the text below! * :) I support the Cola Town Bike Collective recommendations for Devine Street, including Alternative 1 in Area A and Alternative 1B in Area B. Please consider ten foot travel lanes across the corridor, along with adding more mid block pedestrian crossings and further research into making the Millwood and Devine intersection as safe as possible. While we support the current concept shown at the public meeting, a roundabout may ultimately be the safest long term option and should continue to be evaluated. Thank you. Submit your comment here! [https://projectportal.scdot.org/DevineStreetCorridorStudy/feedback](https://projectportal.scdot.org/DevineStreetCorridorStudy/feedback). ## Our Full Comment Thank you to Rep Rose, the City of Columbia, HDR, and SCDOT for moving this project forward. Devine is one of the most important corridors in our city, but speeding and crashes have made it unsafe for people who live, work, drive, walk, and bike here. We appreciate the alternatives that include bike lanes, **but we do _not_ support facilities that are unprotected and high stress.** The best outcome for all road users is a calmer street with ten foot driving lanes, safer places for people to cross, and pedestrian level lighting. **In Area A we support Alternative 1, and in Area B we support Alternative 1B**. Narrower lanes and a center turn lane help calm traffic and reduce sideswipes. We encourage you to consider ten foot lanes in Area A, just as you have in Area B, since research shows narrower lanes improve safety and help drivers maintain safer speeds. It’s great to see upgraded intersections with high vis crossings and curb bulb outs. Many people walk and run across and along Devine at all times of day. However, after Sims Street there are no signalized crossings until Millwood Avenue. People cross throughout this stretch and often dash across the road, but this is not safe and should be improved. Please consider Amherst for a mid block pedestrian crossing to reconnect both sides over Devine for pedestrian safety. This will serve the neighborhoods and the large number of students who walk or bike to Dreher High School. A mid-block crossing at Chatham and Devine should also be considered, since Outspokin Bike Shop generates steady foot and bike traffic from customers, employees (walking to/from lunch), and community rides. We also support the Millwood and Devine intersection concept shown as part of this project. It is stronger than the Millwood RSA version shown a few months ago. While our preference would be a roundabout, (which would require some right of way acquisition but offer long term savings, improved safety, more access, reduced congestion, a 90% reduction in fatal accidents vs a regular intersection, and should be considered if more funding is sourced) the design shown today is the better option if a roundabout cannot be pursued.