The question of whether it is feasible to locate a public transit hub at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been answered in the affirmative, according to a study released by the Upstate Mobility Alliance May 9.
The study was conducted by Sam Schwartz, a New York-based transportation consulting firm, and funded in part by a $100,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Transportation to determine the feasibility of locating a transit hub at GSP.
Regional connectivity
With the airport’s central location and key role as an economic driver in the 10 counties of the Upstate, the study determined there is potential for up to 1,000 daily riders for bus service that could connect Clemson, Greenville and Spartanburg.
“I’m really proud of this report,” said GP McLeer, UMA’s director and the mayor of Fountain Inn. “This study helps incentivize investment.”
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With the transit hub feasibility question answered, the challenge now becomes how to implement the study’s recommendations, according to Dean Hybl, executive director for Ten at the Top, which launched the Upstate Mobility Alliance in 2019.
“This is the beginning, not the end,” Hybl said. “Now is the hard part of finding the funding to implement.”
The study determined there is widespread support for boosting cooperation and connectivity between regional transit systems and that such connectivity could enhance economic opportunities for residents and boost tourism.
Phased approach
According to the study, the best first step in establishing GSP as a transit hub would involve connecting the airport to Greenville via Greer through a new route by Greenlink, the city of Greenville’s public transit system.
This “Greer Connector” was already identified for future service through Greenlink’s 2021 Transit Development Plan.
The route could be implemented quickly if and when funding becomes available, according to James Keel, Greenville’s director of public transit.
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Phase II of making GSP a regional transit hub would involve connecting Clemson to the airport via Easley through a collaboration between Clemson University, CATbus and Greenlink.
Phase III would involve connecting Spartanburg to GSP via SPARTA.
McLeer said a GSP transit hub would be an important development in creating better regional connectivity, and the next step in realizing that vision will be to mobilize local and state political support for the effort.
3 recommended phases to a GSP transit hub:
- Phase I — Greenville to GSP via Greer; $1.1 million estimated annual operating cost
- Phase II — Clemson to Greenville to GSP via Easley; $2.2 million estimated annual operating cost
- Phase III — Clemson to Greenville to GSP to Spartanburg network; $3.3 million estimated annual operating cost
