Cogswell Recommends $1M for Pedestrian Safety
Charleston's recommended 2027 city budget sets aside $1 million for pedestrian safety projects funded locally.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in City Hall
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Charleston Mayor William Cogswell has recommended $1 million for pedestrian safety projects in the city's 2027 budget. The funding comes from the City of Charleston's own budget rather than a state or federal grant.
Why it matters
The recommendation follows the mayor's promise to parents and neighborhood leaders to find the money in the budget. It builds on a transportation sales tax voters approved that provides $22 million over its lifetime for bike and pedestrian improvements.
The recommended 2027 budget allocates $1 million to pedestrian safety, funded entirely by city revenue without state or federal grants. Final project selections and whether City Council approves the full amount remain pending.
The players
William Cogswell
Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, who recommended the pedestrian safety funding and has pledged to continue it in future years.
The details
Mayor Cogswell's office reviewed the budget line by line to identify the $1 million. The 2027 budget funds projects for the first year, with the program intended to continue in future years.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: City officials announce the recommended pedestrian safety funding.
November 17, 2026: The recommended budget goes before City Council.
December 1, 2026: First reading of the budget.
December 15, 2026: Second reading of the budget.
City Hall Context
The recommended pedestrian funding sits alongside the voter-approved transportation sales tax, which provides $22 million over its lifetime for bike and pedestrian improvements in Charleston. Council's review of the 2027 budget will determine whether the city's locally funded safety commitment is adopted as recommended.
Charleston residents would see locally funded pedestrian safety projects, selected using crash data and safety needs near schools, if Council adopts the budget. The $1 million is a first-year allocation intended to continue in future budgets.
The takeaway
Watch the City Council budget readings in December to see whether the pedestrian safety funding is approved as recommended and which projects are selected.
What happens next
The recommended budget goes before City Council on November 17, with first reading on December 1 and second reading on December 15, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more on City Hall coverage of Charleston budget decisions.
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Do you think your local government is doing enough to make walking safe?
