Infrastructure

Utilities
North Charleston is served by a few major companies in meeting utility needs:

• Electric and natural gas needs served by South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G).
• Variety of ample water sources served by Charleston  Commissioners of Public Water and Dorchester County Water & Sewer.
• Sewer services provided by the North Charleston Sewer District and Dorchester County Water & Sewer.
• Modern treatment facilities have been planned for expansion.
• Other utilities include Santee Cooper, Berkeley Electric Co-Op.and Dorchester County Water and Sewer.

Transportation
The City is always looking for ways to improve community living and traffic is one the City is addressing. But relief is close by with plans to construct a four-lane highway linking Ladson and Ashley Phosphate Roads. Not only will the route encourage an alternate route to the overcrowded Ashley Phosphate Road, but also it will stimulate economic growth by opening up an entire new area for office and commercial interests to prosper. Stretching three miles long, the highway is currently in the planning stages.

Following are some of the other transportation methods in the area:

• Airlines - centrally located near the intersection of Interstates 26 and 526 in North Charleston, Charleston International Airport provides commercial and military air service for the region. The airport currently serves more than 1.4 million passengers annually.

• Motor Freight - the Trident area is served by approximately 100 motor carriers servicing routes throughout the U.S.

• Port Facilities - the S.C. State Ports Authority has six intermodal facilities, two of which are located in North Charleston. Each facility handles container, bulk and break bulk cargo. With more than two million square feet of warehouse and storage space, the port terminals can accommodate more than 17 vessels at a time.

• Interstates/State Highways - Interstate highways include I-26 (east/west), I-95 (north/south) and I-526 (east/west). The area is also served by four major U.S. highways and seven primary state highways.

• Railroads - Amtrak, Norfolk-Southern, the CSX System and the S.C. Railroad Commission serve the region. A major Multimodal Center for the tri-county region is expected to be completed in early 2006. The center, to be located in the hub of North Charleston, will house Amtrak, bus lines, a light rail and other transit systems under one roof. Retail stores, concessions, a transportation museum and other amenities are planned to complement this facility.

• CARTA - The Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA) is the public transit provider in Charleston. CARTA bus transportation has been the region's only mass transit.