Mount Pleasant officials are weighing mini-roundabouts for the Old Village after years of resident complaints about speeding through the historic neighborhood’s narrow streets.

Town Council will review the traffic calming proposal at its next meeting, following a traffic study that documented vehicles traveling up to 45 mph in areas with 25 mph speed limits. The roundabouts would be installed at key intersections along Pitt Street and Venning Street.

“I’ve seen speeders through these streets forever,” said Michael Maginn, an Old Village resident. “One friend of mine nearly got hit walking her dog last month.”

The proposed roundabouts would cost an estimated $180,000 each, according to preliminary engineering reports. Town staff identified four potential locations based on accident data and traffic volume studies conducted over the past 18 months.

Mount Pleasant’s traffic engineering department recorded 23 accidents in the Old Village area between January 2022 and September 2024. Seventeen involved vehicles traveling above the posted speed limit, according to police reports.

The mini-roundabouts measure roughly 20 feet in diameter and force drivers to slow down while navigating around a raised center island. Unlike full-size roundabouts, the smaller versions allow emergency vehicles and large trucks to drive over the center when necessary.

“We’re not trying to stop traffic, just slow it down,” said Town Administrator Eric DeMoura during Tuesday’s public meeting. “These neighborhoods were built for horse-drawn carriages, not SUVs doing 40 mph.”

The Old Village sits on a peninsula jutting into Charleston Harbor, with most streets dating to the 1800s. The area’s historic designation limits the town’s options for traditional traffic calming measures like speed bumps or wider sidewalks.

Resident opposition centers on concerns about emergency vehicle access and the visual impact on the historic streetscape. The Old Village Historic District Commission must approve any design changes before installation can begin.

“Fire trucks already have trouble navigating some of these streets,” said longtime resident Patricia Hendricks. “Adding obstacles seems counterproductive.”

Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Ronald Cronin said his department reviewed the roundabout locations and found them acceptable, provided the center islands remain mountable for emergency vehicles.

The town’s traffic study showed average daily vehicle counts of 2,400 cars on Pitt Street and 1,800 on Venning Street. Peak speeds occurred during morning and evening commute hours when drivers use Old Village streets to avoid congestion on Coleman Boulevard.

Councilman Jake Rambo, who represents the Old Village district, said he supports the roundabouts but wants additional community input before voting.

“This affects people’s daily lives,” Rambo said. “We need to get it right the first time.”

Similar roundabouts installed in other Charleston-area historic neighborhoods have shown mixed results. Politics & Government coverage of traffic calming measures across the region shows success rates vary depending on local compliance and enforcement.

The town plans two more public meetings before Council votes on the proposal. Engineering consultants will present detailed designs and answer questions about construction timelines and traffic impacts.

Funding for the project would come from the town’s transportation improvement fund, which receives revenue from state gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. No property tax increase would be required.

Construction could begin as early as spring 2025 if approved, though historic preservation reviews may extend the timeline into summer. Each roundabout would take approximately two weeks to complete, requiring temporary street closures during work hours.

The proposal reflects broader Mount Pleasant TV elephant’s hidden life revealed after 50 years efforts by town officials to balance growth with quality of life concerns in established neighborhoods.

Town staff will collect public comments through December 15 before finalizing recommendations for Council consideration. Residents can submit feedback online or attend the November 28 public meeting at Town Hall.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for November 14 at 6 p.m.