Press Release
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) has been nationally recognized for its work spearheading the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) Shuttle.
BCDCOG recently received the 2018 Aliceann Wohlbruck Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). The awards program recognizes regional development organizations for improving economic and community competitiveness.
Launched in April of this year via a partnership between the BCDCOG, CARTA, the City of Charleston, Charleston County and the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the HOP is the first park-and-ride offering on the Charleston peninsula. The service was developed to assist workers in the hospitality and food and beverage industries who were faced with rising parking meter costs, though the $5-per-day lot and free shuttle are open to anyone.
A recent survey of HOP riders found that 70 percent park their vehicles in the HOP lot, with a majority previously paying an average of $10 per day for parking. To date, 60,0000-plus riders from across the tri-county region have used the service, saving money and obtaining safe, reliable transportation to and from work in the process.
“The HOP showcases what can be accomplished through regional planning and cooperation,” said BCDCOG executive director Ron Mitchum. “Working closely with our partners allowed this innovative service to become a reality and a platform for future success.”
BCDCOG and the HOP were recognized at NADO's 2018 Annual Training Conference, held in Charlotte, N.C., in October.
“The Aliceann Wohlbruck Innovation Awards program recognizes the important and wide-ranging work of regional development organizations in communities across the country,” said 2017-2018 NADO president Doug Elliott, executive director of the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, located in Cedar Rapids. “These awards demonstrate the value of regional development organizations and highlight their critical role in promoting economic development for the nation's rural and small metropolitan communities.”
NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies strengthening local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies.
ABOUT BCDCOG
The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG's purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit www.bcdcog.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @BCDCOG.
ABOUT NADO
Since 1967 the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) has provided advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic, and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.
