The head of the South Carolina Department of Transportation will share his perspective on how the agency can work together with cities and towns on the development and maintenance of the state’s infrastructure during Hometown Legislative Action Day. The Municipal Association’s annual legislative conference will take place Tuesday, January 20, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Justin Powell was appointed as the state’s 17th secretary of transportation in 2024. He previously served as chief operating officer of the SCDOT, and before that as chief of staff under former Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall. Powell has extensive experience in local government operations, having previously worked for both counties and cities.
The SC Department of Transportation has been involved in major road upgrades around the since the 2017 passage of the SC Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act, which phased in new revenues for roads through an increase in gasoline taxes and other fees. A SCDOT report from March 2025 counted 9,385 miles of the state’s highway system repaved in the seven years afterward. It also reported work either taking place or already completed on 111 miles of the state’s interstate highways.
The Association’s Hometown Legislative Action Day draws local officials from all over the state to Columbia to receive updates on current legislative issues and visit their local legislators at the State House.