PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Beaufort County’s One Cent Sales Tax Referendum was approved by voters in November 2018 and tax collection for County improvement projects began on May 1, 2019. The 2018 Penny Referendum allocated money for three main project areas:

• $80 Million for US 278 Corridor Traffic Improvements
• $30 Million for Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic Improvements
• $10 Million for Sidewalks and Multi-use Pathways

For this program, SCDOT in association with the County is responsible for the management of the US 278 Corridor Traffic Improvements. For the other two projects, the County through a RFQ process selected the J. Bragg Consulting Team to perform program/construction management and construction engineering and inspection service, and a contract was awarded in September 2020. The J. Bragg Consulting Team is responsible for overall project delivery of the Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic Improvements consisting of 9 projects and the Sidewalks and Multi-use Pathways consisting of 24 projects. The County has also prioritized 14 of the 24 Sidewalks and Multi-use Pathways due to funding constraints. 

Prior to J. Bragg Consulting, the County through on-call contracts and the small purchase program performed initial design work on a few projects and final design/construction plans for one project, SC 802 (Sam’s Point) Right Turn Lane, a traffic improvement project on Lady’s Island. The County had also selected and awarded a design contract to one consultant for the sidewalks and multi-use pathways project.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The J. Bragg Consulting Team is providing Program Management, Construction Management/Construction Engineering and Inspection, Grant Coordination, QA/QC, and Public Involvement/Relations.

The overall program management consists of: the selection of two consultant teams for the Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic project which included the scope and fee negotiations; management of all consultant contracts which includes monthly meetings; financial reporting for the program and projects; creation of standard program branding materials; producing a monthly report; performing QA/QC; oversight of the website development and management of website material; etc. 

J. Bragg Consulting is performing public involvement/relations.  Due to the pandemic, traditional in-person public meetings have not been conducted, and J. Bragg Consulting has developed virtual public meetings hosted on the website.  Virtual Townhall meetings have also been conducted in association with the virtual public meeting.  Other items include press releases, public comment summary, postcard mailers, program signs, program newsletter, etc.  Other project specific stakeholders meetings are in progress or will be conducted.

During the construction process, the firm reviewed contractors’ press releases and provided comments as needed, coordinated with the county for internal press releases in regard to on-going construction activities, and updated the website for on-going construction activities. The firm has provided conceptual designs for updated alternatives or cost analysis for review of alternatives in order to address public comments.

J. Bragg Consulting has also coordinated with the Lowcountry COG in assisting the County with updates to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and to facilitate grant applications. 

The team is also performing Construction Management and Construction Engineering and Inspection.  J. Bragg Consulting is performing oversight of this work and team member F&ME Consultants is performing the daily construction management/construction engineering and inspection of the contractor to verify compliance with SCDOT’s policies and procedures.