Providing Financial Oversight of a $700 Million Program to Fund Major Road Projects in South Carolina

• Interactive dashboard pulling real-time financial data from the County system to support public transparency 
• Grant support securing more than $45 million in federal and regional funding
• Design-build delivery bundling three bridge replacements to accelerate construction

Dorchester County, one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing regions, is investing in mobility, safety, economic opportunity and quality of life. In 2022, voters prioritized road improvements to address growing transportation needs. With their approval, the County imposed a 1% sales tax for up to 15 years or until $735 million is collected. Of that total, $700 million is dedicated to funding transportation improvements to reduce congestion, improve safety and address capacity along the region’s major commuting corridors.

As Dorchester County’s program management consultant since 2023, we support the County in delivering a coordinated and transparent program. Our team provides program and construction management, financial tracking and reporting, public engagement, grant support, design oversight, and procurement coordination. Together, these services help the County manage a complex portfolio of projects while maintaining accountability and clear communication.

Visualizing Financial Transparency

With accountability to taxpayers a top priority of the County, we developed Power BI dashboards with dynamic visualizations that provide a clear, accessible view of program progress and spending. Rather than relying on static reports or periodic updates, this tool pulls data directly from the County’s financial system, reducing errors, creating consistency and translating complex financial information into an intuitive public-facing format.

For residents, the dashboards show where revenue is going and how projects are advancing. For County leadership and elected officials, they support consistent reporting to inform policy decisions, funding strategies and public communication. Project teams use them to track budgets, expenditures, schedules and risks across the entire program.

By connecting financial data, project status and communication, we are helping the County reduce the risk of inconsistent data, build public trust and reinforce responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Accelerating Bridge Delivery

Three structurally deficient bridges are being replaced as part of the transportation sales tax program. Our team supported the County in moving this forward via a design-build project delivery method, rarely used by local agencies in South Carolina. The approach’s focus on collaboration and coordination is expected to shorten schedules, and it bundled the replacement of bridges at Deer Run Road, Summers Drive and Pointer Drive, into a single contract.

We have supported every stage of this effort by defining project requirements, overseeing performance, tracking progress and maintaining clear and consistent communication with stakeholders. Our team also provided engineering and inspection oversight to maintain alignment with expectations. This has led to a coordinated delivery that has reduced gaps between design and construction, improved constructability and shortened the project schedule.

Two bridges have been completed, with the remaining bridge on track for completion in fall 2026.

Securing Grant Funding

Our grant-writing has played a central role in helping the County with pursuing state and federal funding opportunities to supplement local funding and advance project delivery.

We have supported multiple successful applications, including a $1.25 million Transportation Alternatives set-aside grant to extend a multi-use path, followed by a $25 million USDOT RAISE grant to support construction costs of the US Highway 78 Phase 3A project.

We also supported a partnership with the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council of Governments, the region’s planning organization, to pursue and secure another $20 million for County projects.

Delivering Accountability and Results

While the program is only a few years into its 15-year timeline, six projects have been completed as of September 2026, with an additional ten scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2027.

For Dorchester County, the program supports safer roads, improved mobility and continued growth. It also reflects a broader strength in delivering complex programs with clarity, discipline and flexibility. We are helping the County deliver a transportation program that is visible, accountable and responsive to community needs.