Charleston · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Charleston public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Handicapped parking on Quarrier Street
Bill No. 8093 would create handicapped parking zones on the south side of Quarrier Street east of Ruffner Avenue.
Stop intersection at Bridge and Walnut Roads
Bill No. 8094 would make Bridge Road and Walnut Road a stop intersection, with the Bridge Road southerly approach holding the right-of-way — a change aimed at traffic safety.
Street and alley closure notice requirements
Bill No. 8099 would require more notice before anyone permanently closes or abandons a public street, alley or right-of-way — giving residents a bigger heads-up when public space is at stake.
Proposed all-way stop at Venable Ave SE and 44th Street
Neighbors sought an all-way stop at Venable Avenue and 44th Street, but the committee declined to advance the bill because traffic data doesn't support it.
Traffic control at Bridge Road and Walnut Road
Stop signs at Bridge Road and Walnut Road are being formally codified - drivers shouldn't notice any change since the signs are already in place.
Notice requirements for street and alley closures
Anyone trying to permanently close a public street, alley, or right-of-way will face updated, increased notice requirements, giving residents more of a heads-up.
Quarrier Street handicapped parking zone
Three parking changes were floated: new metered parking in the 700 block of Bigley Avenue and short-term meters on Capitol Street and Quarrier Street. No action is recorded from this meeting.
West Side crosswalk safety
Councilwoman Faegre has waited two years for crosswalks at Washington Street/Park Avenue and Central Avenue/Park Avenue near West Side Middle School, and blames the state, not the city.
Neighborhood Traffic Safety Measures
Council passed a no-parking zone on Main Street to fix a truck parking problem blocking a business, and cut Cook Drive's speed limit to 20 mph to slow neighborhood speeders.
Patrick Street corridor and citywide bike plan studies
The city is putting up $100,000 to unlock over $450,000 in federal engineering and economic studies for the Patrick Street corridor, plus a citywide bike plan. Councilwoman Faegre urged attention to crosswalk safety at 7th Avenue and Patrick Street and to the needs of West Side residents.
Lower speed limit on Cook Drive
Neighbors on Cook Drive wanted the 25 mph limit cut to 20 mph for safety. The committee approved the reduction from Cantley Drive to the end of the street.
No-parking zone on Main Street near Florida Street
A business owner on Main Street asked the city to ban parking in front of his shop because delivery trucks were tying up the curb. The committee approved the no-parking-anytime zone, which now goes to City Council.
Flood-Damaged Street Repairs
West Virginia Paving is repairing streets hit by recent flooding — Edgewood, Ivy and Chandler are done; Camden Market and Westmoreland are queued — under an added change order of about $40,000. Councilmember Faegre flagged leftover debris the contractor left on Edgewood.
Garrison Avenue no-parking extension
Cars parked at a steep, blind curve on Garrison Avenue force drivers into the oncoming lane, and one resident reported a mailbox run over recently. The extended no-parking area lets police finally write tickets in that stretch.
Street Sweeper Replacement
The street department gets a new $303,815.20 Pelican sweeper to replace unit 79; retired vehicles go to government auction.
Oakwood Road paving partnership
The city will pay about $160,000 — half the cost — to pave Oakwood Road with the state DOH, prompting debate about why the city funds repairs on a state road while Mount Alpha Road goes unfixed.
Citywide Sidewalk Improvements
$2.5 million project (mostly federal money) fixes sidewalks on the busiest walking corridors downtown and toward Smith Street, including brick sidewalks like Capitol Street's. Some members flagged that residential neighborhoods still have bad sidewalks — there's a separate ~$700,000 sidewalk fund members want to plan around.
Paving of Federal Aid Non-State (FANS) Roads
Federal money covers $1.14 million of the cost to repave 4.6 miles of city-owned roads that qualify, including part of Chesterfield Road from 31st to 39th. The city's match is $284,800 from the paving budget — a strong 80/20 deal.
$3.4M in state road, sidewalk and lighting funding
Three resolutions bring in $252,000 for downtown lighting, $2 million for sidewalk repairs (with a $500k city match), and $1.14 million to pave 4.6 miles of FANS routes (with a $284,800 match). Councilwoman Faegre repeatedly pressed that the state Division of Highways should maintain its own roads and rights-of-way.
Stop signs at Staunton Avenue SE and 44th Street SE
A four-block stretch of Staunton Avenue SE had no stop signs, raising safety concerns for kids walking to middle school. The bill removes the through-street designation and adds stops in both directions.
Annual cement purchase contract
The city locked in a year of concrete prices for street and other department work via competitive bid — Smith Concrete came in lowest at rates around $195.90 to $204.90 per ton.
Additional road salt funding for winter storm response
Water runs across a 10-foot section of Oakridge Road most of the year, causing ice, two bus wrecks, a hit gas line, and at least five more accidents. Snodgrass has asked engineering to fix it for three years and escalated it publicly tonight.
Crosswalk Safety on 7th Avenue
Councilman Jones asked the city to press the state Division of Highways for crosswalks on 7th Avenue to the recreation center, where kids cross a four-lane, 40-mph highway with no marked crossing.
West Side neighborhood conditions
Councilmember Faegre flagged the United Dairy site, a pothole on Edgewood Drive (Mountain Air Gas's responsibility), an unmaintained state Division of Highways office area, loose dogs, and drug activity at basketball courts on Beatrice and Washington.
Staunton Avenue S.E. through-street removal
A bill from Councilmembers Pepper and King would end Staunton Avenue Southeast's 'through' street status, likely to calm cut-through traffic.
Street Department and citywide fleet replacements
Council bought a police van, two dump trucks, and seven trucks for street, parks, grounds and cemetery work — locking in prices before expected increases.
2026 Asphalt Street Resurfacing Program
The city is spending $3.15 million to repave city-owned and maintained streets. West Virginia Paving beat out three other bidders for the annual contract.
Stormwater flooding on Crestlyn Drive
Residents on Crestlyn Drive have dealt with runoff and yard flooding for over a year, made worse after a new school was built on the hillside, with no storm drains above Earl Street. Dawn Ashworth asked for a round-table with the city engineer to settle who is responsible for a fix.
Edgewood Drive speeding and deer safety
Councilwoman Faegre flagged dangerous speeding on Edgewood Drive, hidden driveways, and deer being put down by police — whose gunshots frighten residents. She's requesting signage and relief.
Hunters Ridge Road parking zone
The 15-minute parking zone on Hunters Ridge Road shifted 100 feet so it no longer sits on a curve — a fix the neighborhood itself requested.
Annual road marking paint purchase
The city buys its yellow and white traffic paint every year, and this time it's costing $47,267.55 for 69 barrels from Allstate Coatings, the low competitive bidder. That paint ends up on crosswalks and lane lines around town.
Annual traffic marking paint purchase
The city is buying its yearly supply of yellow and white street paint — the stuff that keeps lane lines and crosswalks visible — for $47,267.55.
Capitol Connector project funding gap
The road project now costs about $26 million but the federal grant caps at $25 million. Council covered the gap by sweeping leftover sinking fund money — no new taxes, but the city is on the hook for overruns.
2026 Infrastructure and Public Safety Investments
The Mayor's State of the City laid out 2026 plans: a $20 million Public Safety Center, $5 million in fire/EMS station renovations, the $25 million Capital Connector riverfront project, and $5 million for road repairs — a $2 million increase.