A Safer Step Forward on Mathis Ferry Road
This week, we celebrated a milestone for pedestrian safety in Mount Pleasant with the installation of a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at the crosswalk on Mathis Ferry and Milldenhall. And this wasn’t just another infrastructure upgrade—it was a true community-driven success story.
From Citizen Idea to Reality
The inspiration for this project came from a Mount Pleasant resident, Brian Catalana, who reached out with the idea to improve this intersection. His input—and continued advocacy—helped move this important project forward.
Being that Mathis Ferry is a state-owned road, navigating the approval and implementation process wasn’t easy. But thanks to the perseverance of our Town staff and the clear voice of the community, we made it happen.
âś… Citizen idea
âś… Town action
âś… Safety improvement delivered
This is exactly how local government should work.
Honoring a Local Hero: Ms. Richardine Alston
The moment was made even more meaningful by the presence of Ms. Richardine Alston, who served as the crossing guard at this exact location for over 20 years.
Years ago, Ms. Richardine was struck by a car while helping children cross this road. Yesterday, she returned as our honored guest, walking safely across the new crosswalk—Abbey Road style—and pressing the inaugural button.
It was more than symbolic. It was a moment of progress…
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠.
About RRFBs: Why They Matter
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are highly visible, user-activated signals that help alert drivers to pedestrians at crosswalks. These safety upgrades are part of the Town’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation Projects, and they are specifically chosen based on community feedback and areas of concern.
They’re especially useful on roads like Mathis Ferry where traffic volume is high, and pedestrians need extra visibility to cross safely.
Keep the Ideas Coming
This project is proof that your voice matters. When residents speak up, we listen—and we act.
If you know of an area in town that needs attention, reach out to me directly:
📧 jiacofano@tompsc.com
Let’s keep building a safer, stronger Mount Pleasant—together.
#CommunityDriven #MountPleasantSC #PedestrianSafety #RRFBs #ThankYouCatalana’s #PublicSafety #LocalLeadership
Hi John. These RRFBs are great, but the next step is to find a way to ensure that all drivers actually stop for them. I live in Park West and have to cross PW Blvd every day in order to walk to the Rec Center and other areas and every day I encounter drivers who don’t stop, whether because they’re distracted or just simply inconsiderate. I’ve even seen cars behind a stopped/slowing car pull around, pass the car, and blow through the crosswalk. As a pedestrian, it’s a risky proposition crossing the road, even with the flashing lights signaling cars to stop. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets hurt, or worse, at one of these crosswalks, even with the signals in place. I’d be curious what our Traffic Safety folks think. Thanks.
I agree with you Larry, the town has a campaign to post about the RRFB’s, there purpose and what to do. The traffic team says that you still have to be aware entering the crosswalk. I could only hope that people begin to pay attention. We will continue to educate the citizens and continue to make the town safe. John