SC Ports Accountability Project

When port routing becomes a public highway problem

Wando-centric decision-making keeps containers at Wando, regardless of the downstream cost to roads, bridges, and taxpayers.
Primary sources: statutes, board materials, agency records Focus: avoidable public cost + accountability Updated for the 2026 legislative session

This accountability problem has real-world consequences

Charleston’s container system pushes rail-bound freight onto public roads, concentrates truck flows over the Don Holt Bridge, and drives mounting pressure for massive I-526 spending. This site documents the decisions, the costs, and the alternatives— using the Authority’s own records and the statutes that govern it.

Start Here

Wando → I-526 → the $6–$7B bill

Why a rail-deficient terminal operating at scale turns port operations into permanent highway congestion—and why the public is being asked to fund the fix.

See the geography and the costs →
The Exit Ramp

Leatherman + NBIF: the underused solution

A rail-served system exists—terminal, access road, and intermodal yard. When utilization remains low, the public pays anyway.

Read the stranded-asset case →
Documented

The $822,000 payout — and what the record shows

The payout is a clear test of statutory governance. The record shows how major decisions can move forward without transparent, accountable public process.

Read the case file →