Columbia - general (Charleston, Greenville, Sumter: big house, damage, travel)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by carolinagarnet

One difference might be the out-of-state to in-state conversion rate. USC has one of the higher out-of-state student percentages in the country and many recent grads establish residency for in-state tuition or once they get a job locally post-grad.

That's a good point and is probably a contributing factor.

Edit: Apparently half of USC's freshmen class is from out of state. Didn't know it was quite that high. https://graphiq-stories.graphiq.com/...freshmen#Intro

[waccamatt]

College students are counted in the population where they live on the census date, which is in April for the regular census.

[carolinagarnet]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

That's a good point and is probably a contributing factor.

Edit: Apparently half of USC's freshmen class is from out of state. Didn't know it was quite that high. https://graphiq-stories.graphiq.com/...freshmen#Intro

It's actually even higher now- the 2016 class was 53.1% out of state.

Online Fact Book - Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics | University of South Carolina

College students are counted in the population where they live on the census date, which is in April for the regular census.

That is true on paper, but they were often double counted at their college address and their permanent home. The census added a clarifying question in 2010 since it was become a big problem with so many students choosing colleges in other states.

[Growingup15]

A little birdie told me that CSX is planning to abandon their tracks here in Columbia in the next few years. Also CSX announce they are selling a lot of their tracks 8000+ miles to be exact.

I wonder if the city knew about this and that's why they were saying that they are going to be about to use these tracks very soon for Commuter Rail services.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Growingup15

A little birdie told me that CSX is planning to abandon their tracks here in Columbia in the next few years. Also CSX announce they are selling a lot of their tracks 8000+ miles to be exact.

I wonder if the city knew about this and that's why they were saying that they are going to be about to use these tracks very soon for Commuter Rail services.

Interesting.. I would be surprised if it will be any of the routes in Columbia would be affected.. If you see the attached map.. I could see them abandoning many of these spur lines especially ones going to plants or factories that have downsized or no longer need rail.. Also connector lines like the one from Greenwood via Chester to Monroe NC.. could likely go away.

Columbia has major yard operations and is a connection to two major ports in Charleston and Savannah for points NW.. That said, if a line were to go out of service it would likely be the one that Amtrak uses the runs NE of the City to Camden.. If it does fold.. Amtrak Service to Columbia would be history.. unless it came in from Charlotte.. which would be better in my opinion and lend itself to regional rail. I could see them nixing the Camden Route all the way to Raleigh.. Amtrak Service there could still continue via the Carolinian and the Crescent and if someone wanted to go to Florida from Raleigh.. it would be a quick drive over to Selma Smithfield or Wilson to get the Silver Meteor.. In fact the Silver Star could be re routed via Raleigh Charlotte Columbia and then resume its regular route to Denmark and Savannah.. The only cities to suffer would be Camden, Hamlet, NC, and Southern Pines, NC...which isn't saying much given that Raleigh and Charlotte would gain a third interstate train service AND you would connect Charlotte with Florida which is currently not an option via Amtrak. I could see that being more profitable for families going to see the Mouse or Universal Studios (from Charlotte) which may be cheaper than flying and less hectic than driving


https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/custom...sx-system-map/

[Woodlands]

I read that this project only includes the three anchor stores which are individually owned and not the "mall" itself? That seems odd.. No wonder that mall was in bad shape.. who would buy into that set up because if whomever owns the anchors is just sitting on them and moth balling them.. then that impacts the person that owns the "mall" since the anchors are what drives foot traffic... I guess they will either let the "mall" stay and hope that the COunty's presence increases foot traffic and business or they will buy that too and tear it down and create somewhat of a "courtyard" in between the three anchor stores and have a true government complex and civic center for "downtown richland county"

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by Growingup15

A little birdie told me that CSX is planning to abandon their tracks here in Columbia in the next few years. Also CSX announce they are selling a lot of their tracks 8000+ miles to be exact.

I wonder if the city knew about this and that's why they were saying that they are going to be about to use these tracks very soon for Commuter Rail services.

I thought you were going to say they would be converted to Rails to Trails!

[Growingup15]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

I thought you were going to say they would be converted to Rails to Trails!

Oh God ew i hope they don't do that. I hope they add trails best to the track though especially if it's gonna be commuter rail running on it.

[Growingup15]

Ok so they've cut down all the trees along 277 I'm curious what they are doing. There's a lot of equipment out there like they are about to do a widening project or something.

[SCSUfan]

Originally Posted by Growingup15

Ok so they've cut down all the trees along 277 I'm curious what they are doing. There's a lot of equipment out there like they are about to do a widening project or something.

They’ve been clearing trees for safety with the new added money. They’ve been doing that’s along a lot of highways around the state.