🔑 Creating A Safer Island: Persistence is Key

Dear Island Neighbors –
I’m pleased to announce that the Town of Hilton Head will begin long-awaited improvements to pedestrian safety along William Hilton Parkway between Beach City and Dillon Roads, work has commenced and will run through October 31. These enhancements will lower the speed limit, improve crosswalks, update signage, and add pathway lighting, making the area safer for everyone, including those with disabilities.

This project is deeply personal to me. In 2018, before I ran for Town Council, I stood at this very spot with leadership from our community. We came early in the morning, to witness the conditions as children were sent off to school and to allow leaders to realize the dangerous conditions firsthand—high speeds, poor signage, unsignalized intersections, and a lack of enforcement. I recently found the photos from that day – and want to recognize the efforts of Frank Babel, pictured in the yellow vest. He has led the charge on bicycle and pedestrian safety through advocacy efforts with Bike/Walk Hilton Head Island and his work on safety matters to our community. Over the years, we’ve lost dozens of pedestrians and cyclists. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent lives tragically lost and families forever changed and it’s time to do better.

This is about more than fixing crosswalks; it’s about ensuring that everyone—parents, kids, workers, and visitors—can move safely across our Island. Public safety is our highest responsibility, and together we can make Hilton Head Island a place where everyone thrives.

This could have not happened without many people coming together as a united front to help make our island safer for everyone. One of these allies is in the right photo above, he’s standing right next to me, Peter Kristian. Peter ended up running against me for the Ward 1 seat in 2020. We both ran an issues based campaign that led to great outcomes for Ward 1 and he and I continue to enjoy a relationship built on mutual respect to this day. That’s what our shared Island is all about.

When we are connected, persistent, and committed to each other, we all win. Thank you for your patience as we take these important steps forward.

As a reminder, please join me this Friday September 20th at 4:30pm for our Community Conversation at Squire Pope Community Park. We are beginning a half hour earlier to ensure we all make it to Friday nights HHI Jams concert over at Lowcountry Celebration Park. Our topics this Friday will include the LMO, Roadway Safety and Short Term Rental changes which were discussed at our workshop this week.

If I can be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks for all you do to lift up our community.

Alex

Ward 1 Town Councilman

Chairman, Finance & Administrative Committee

AlexB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov

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