Plus, explore the Reconstruction History Trail with a new digital pass.
 
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🚗 What’s driving climate impact in Cola?

How does your city rank on the transportation climate index?
Gervais St. -8500.jpg

Cars zip by on Gervais Street in front of the State House. | Photo by COLAtoday

Streetlight released its 2024 US Transportation Climate Impact Index, which ranks the top 100 most populated metros across eight key climate impact factors. We’re breaking down the numbers + diving into Cola’s ranking.

Behind the methodology

Each of the eight climate factors — vehicle miles traveled (VMT), fuel economy, transit ridership, EV penetration (number of electric vehicles per 100 people), biking activity, pedestrian activity, truck miles traveled, and VMT change — were assigned a weight “based on their relative climate impact.” Utilizing the ranking results for each factor, cities were then given an overall ranking.

Learn more about how each climate factor was measured.

Key themes

  • Vehicle miles traveled — the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels — bounced back since taking a dip in 2020.
  • Biking sustained popularity, but pedestrian activity “dropped significantly.”
  • The number of electric vehicles per 100 people is still relatively low. Read: We’re still not seeing a large saturation of EVs; most cities saw fewer than one EV per 100 people.
In addition to discovering key themes, the data can aid in identifying where improvements are needed and where current efforts are making an impact in each city.

How we ranked

Soda City received a ranking of 98 out of 100. Here are the key factor rankings that helped determine this overall ranking:
  • VMT: No. 95
  • Fuel economy: No. 89
  • Transit ridership: No. 87
  • EV penetration: No. 90
  • Biking activity: No. 95
  • Pedestrian activity: No. 73
  • Truck miles traveled: No. 80
  • VMT change: No. 80
No city is perfect. The Capital City could improve its ranking on the transportation climate index with a few extra efforts. The City of Columbia has included public feedback and a focus on pedestrian and bicycle experience in its new master plan for the future of the downtown area. This, along with the Climate Reality Project and the rise of EV production across the state could improve the metro area’s ranking across several key climate factors.
See how other cities ranked
Asked

Which of the eight key climate factors is the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels?

A. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
B. Fuel economy
C. Transit ridership
D. Other
Take a guess
 
Events
Thursday, June 20
  • Broadway In Columbia Presents: Shrek the Musical | Thursday, June 20-Friday, June 21 | Times vary | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $22-$75 | Enjoy the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey.
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Carolina Mudcats | Thursday, June 20 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | Quench your thirst with $1 sodas, $2 domestic draft beers, and $3 craft beers + cocktails.*
Friday, June 21
  • Make Music Day 2024 | Friday, June 21 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Free | Celebrate music with more than 1,000 around the world with a “Ruckus Hour” and music lessons.
  • Mai Serenity 2nd Annual Jewelry Show | Friday, June 21 | 6:15-8:30 p.m. | Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands, 1107 Williams St., Columbia | $15-$100 | See beautiful custom jewelry pieces while enjoying performances, games, music, fundraising, and light refreshments.
Saturday, June 22
  • Columbia’s 8th Shrimp and Grits Fest | Saturday, June 22 | Seawell’s Food Caterers, Inc, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $25-$45 | Area restaurants will compete in Columbia’s 8th Shrimp and Grits Fest and one restaurant will be named Columbia’s best.
Calendar events here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Eat

Doctors’ Orders: Another healthy serving of eating well at Duke’s Pad Thai
A white plate of shrimp pad thai on a green table.
Thai food combines fresh produce, lean proteins, and tangy sauces to create dishes bursting with big flavors and nutrients. | Photo via Pexels
We’re heading back to Duke’s Pad Thai for another round of Doctors’ Orders — a series in which Midlands physicians weigh in on what to eat at some of our favorite local restaurants. Yup, the craving hit hard.

This time, we’re dining with Dr. Benjamin White of the South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center.

“Thai cuisine is full of bright and vibrant flavors without being dense in calories,” Dr. White said. “Eat your meal slowly, savor it, and quit when you’re full, no matter how delicious it is. This is good advice for any carb-heavy meal, like noodles, pasta, or rice. "

His order? The fresh, spicy, and tangy papaya salad to share + the shrimp pad thai loaded up with extra herbs and bean sprouts. “It’s a street food classic for a reason — it’s delicious and filling,” he said.

“If you’re watching your carbs or calories, Bangkok Chicken Basil is a great choice, but hold the rice.”
More healthy eating tips
News Notes
Closing
  • FedEx announced that it will close its distribution center at 150 Queen Pkwy. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, along with locations in Florence and Myrtle Beach. The center currently employs over 100 residents in West Columbia. (WLTX)
Announced
  • R&B + soul singer Sunshine Anderson will headline the 46th annual Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture on Saturday, Sept. 21. The free community celebration will also feature a food court, vendors, artist demonstrations, and 14 main stage performers.
History
  • A new digital pass by Experience Columbia SC gives history buffs a convenient way to explore the Reconstruction History Trail. Access the pass on your mobile device and check in at locations like Benedict College and the South Carolina State House — no app required.
Active
  • NBA Champion Stephen Curry’s “UNDERRATED Golf Tour,” promoting equity + access in golf, comes to the Old Barnwell course in Aiken tomorrow, June 21 through Sunday, June 23. The top 24 junior golfers will move on to try for the Curry Cup in September.
Show
Sports
  • With 72 days left until kickoff, it’s time to start making your predictions for the upcoming Clemson Tigers season with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Eat
     
    Development

    Dorm life, but with a jumbotron

    800-bed student housing community to go up near William-Brice Stadium
    Williams Brice
    In “The Program,” many football scenes were filmed at the Williams-Brice Stadium. | Photo by @sc_drone
    A new 826-bed student housing development is coming to a 67-acre lot at 1050 Idlewild Blvd., near Williams-Brice Stadium + 1.3 miles from the USC campus.

    Landmark Properties — the development company behind The Standard at Columbia — described the project as a “cottage-style student housing community” with amenities including a 24-hour fitness center, resort-style outdoor pool complex, and Jumbotron. On the residential side, 126 fully furnished units will offer two- to six-bedroom options.

    The site is adjacent to USC’s coming $1 billion Stadium Project, a venture that hopes to modernize the area around Williams-Brice Stadium with entertainment, retail, and commercial options, as well as additional athletic facilities. Small update on this project — USC will begin to solicit proposals from private companies for developing ~900 acres.

    The new student housing community is slated to open by August 2026.
    The Buy

    The Buy 6.20.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
    A dependable, comfortable running short — like Lululemon’s Hotty Hot High-Rised Lined Shorts (are those fun summer colors we see?).
     
    The Wrap
     
    Dayten Rose

    Today’s edition by:
    Dayten
    From the editor
    Hi there — in case we haven’t met, I’m your Kansas City-based National Content Editor, here helping out while Editor David is away. Good to meet you.
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