Brownfields Targeted As Sites For Future Commuter Rail Stations

"The Central Midlands Council of Governments has identified 22 possible rail station sites that could serve three future commuter rail and high-speed transit lines: Columbia to Newberry, Columbia to Camden and Columbia to Batesburg-Leesville."

"While building such a system is still at least two decades away, council officials say reusing 'brownfields' — abandoned, idle or underused industrial and commercial facilities that might be contaminated but can be cleaned up — could bring costs down."

"Central Midlands is doing preliminary work on transportation alternatives. Its recent commuter rail study estimated a 43 percent population jump between 2000 and 2035 — to 844,880 — in the counties the group oversees, including Richland and Lexington."