GPATS Horizon 2050 Long-range Transportation Plan Virtual Meeting

Household Auto Availability

Planning efforts that improve access to employment centers, reduce long-distance commuting demand, and enhance peak-period system efficiency will be critical to supporting future mobility needs. This map highlights higher concentrations in the urban core and select municipal areas where travel needs may rely more heavily on transit, walking, biking, or shared mobility options.

Street Network Functional Classification

Functional classifications are defined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and used by policymakers, planners, engineers, and citizens to designate the characteristics and purposes of roadways within a system. The functional classification system categorizes streets along a general hierarchy that is used to identify each roadway’s importance to the overall transportation system for planning purposes. GPATS does not own or maintain roads but plans and allocates funding.

Congestion Heat Map

GPATS system reliability performance measures relate to the reliability of interstate and non-interstate routes and are focused on both passenger and freight traffic. The reliability measure evaluates the consistency of a corridor's travel times by comparing the day-to-day variance in observed travel times recorded at the same time each day. The higher the travel time variation, the less reliable the corridor is. The reliability metric is an effective tool for understanding travel conditions along corridors. Corridors that experience recurring congestion can be considered reliable if travelers are able to anticipate this congestion and build delay into their trip planning.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is an emerging trend within the GPATS area, supported by the gradual expansion of publicly accessible alternative fuel stations. The South Carolina National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program will further strengthen charging availability by deploying DC fast chargers along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, including key interstates serving the region. Alternative fuel stations are distributed throughout the GPATS boundary, with concentrations near major municipalities and along key corridors.

Greenlink Transit Routes

Bus systems like Greenlink provide important mobility for some residents. Public transportation coverage and frequency remain limited compared with larger metropolitan regions, meaning that most residents continue to rely heavily on automobiles for daily travel.

Freight Network

Freight transportation plays a critical role in the economy of the GPATS region in Upstate South Carolina. The movement of goods supports the area’s strong manufacturing, logistics, and distribution sectors. Freight activity in the region occurs primarily through trucking on major highways, but it is also supported by rail service, air cargo facilities, and connections to nearby inland and seaport terminals.

Traffic Collision Heat Map

GPATS safety performance measures relate to traffic fatalities and severe injuries for both motorized and non-motorized users. SCDOT established the current targets in August 2024 to increase safety of all roadways users across the State and work towards an eventual goal of zero fatalities. The targets are based on a five-year rolling average of historic crash data, and these targets were adopted by the GPATS Policy Committee in October 2024.

Bike and Pedestrian Facilities Map

Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the region includes sidewalk networks, on-street bicycle lanes, greenways, and shared-use paths designed to improve safety and provide alternatives to automobile travel. Many of these facilities are concentrated in urban areas such as Greenville, Travelers Rest, Easley, and Pickens where higher population densities support walking and cycling. Trails and multi-use paths often connect residential neighborhoods with parks, schools, and downtown areas.

Overall, bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the GPATS region are still developing but are becoming a larger focus of regional transportation planning.