WILMAPCO News 

    

Delmarva Goods Movement Taskforce
The Delmarva Goods Movement Task Force winter meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 15th from 9am to noon at the Duncan Center, 500 Loockerman St., Dover, DE. This taskforce is comprised of area DOTs, economic development groups, private sector representatives, county officials, ports, and members of the public. It is charged with overseeing and helping implement future actions and policy recommendations that result from the WILMAPCO Freight and Goods Movement Analysis. The meeting is open to all trucking, railroad, port, airport, shipper, freight logistics, economic development, and community representatives. To register, please visit www.wilmapco.org/delmarva.

Member Agency News

 

Delaware Approves U.S. 301 Toll Road for Construction

According to a DelDOT release, "DelDOT announced construction to commence in January on the new U.S. 301 toll road in southern New Castle County. In awarding the $69.842 million contract, DelDOT said it expects to complete final financing for the approximately $470 million project, including closing on a direct, federally-backed loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation not to exceed $211.35 million under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA), and the initiation of approximately $240 million public offering of toll-backed revenue bonds.

As the start of construction nears, DelDOT will convene a Construction Information Meeting on December 9 at the Middletown Fire Hall at 27 West Green Street from 4 to 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the various phases and impacts of the construction project throughout its expected three-year duration."  For more information, please visit http://www.deldot.gov/home/newsroom/release.shtml?id=5802.

DelDOT will hold a Public Workshop to present proposed roadway improvements to SR 299 from Catherine Street to SR 1. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at Brick Mill Elementary School, 378 Brick Mill Road, Middletown.  The public is invited to attend anytime between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Proposed improvements include the reconstruction of SR 299 to address present operational and safety issues. As part of these proposed improvements SR 299 will be widened to two lanes in each direction separated by a raised median from SR 1 to Cleaver Farm Road, a two way center turn lane section will be added between Cleaver Farm Road and Catherine Street, and a multi-use path extending the entire length of the project along the south side will also be constructed.  For more information, please visit www.deldot.gov/information/publicevents/publicworkshops/workshop.shtml?id=6279. DelDOT Public Workshop - SR 273 and Harmony Road Intersection Improvements
DelDOT has announced a public workshop for proposed improvements to the SR 273 and Harmony Road intersection. The workshop will be held on Thursday, December 3 at the Gallaher Elementary School at 800 N. Brownleaf Road, Newark. The public is invited to attend any time between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The purpose of this project is to improve the safety and operational function of the SR 273 corridor in the vicinity of the SR 273 and Harmony Road intersection, including the weave condition along the I-95 southbound off-ramp onto SR 273. This is the second workshop associated with this project. Using feedback from the first, the number of alternatives was reduced and further analysis of those alternatives was performed. This workshop is to present the remaining refined alternatives for public comment. For more information, please visit www.deldot.gov/information/publicevents/publicworkshops/workshop.shtml?id=6280.

DelDOT Public Workshop - Mill Creek Road and Stoney Batter Road
DelDOT is holding a Public Workshop to present refined proposed roadway improvement alternatives to the Mill Creek Road and Stoney Batter Road intersection. The workshop will be held at Thomas McKean High School, 301 McKennans Church Road, Wilmington on Tuesday, December 8.  The public is invited to attend anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.

The purpose of this workshop is to present design refinements and alternatives to previously presented proposed improvements that included the reconstruction of the Stoney Batter Road and Mill Creek Road intersection to address operational and safety issues.  For more information, please visit www.deldot.gov/information/publicevents/publicworkshops/workshop.shtml?id=6338.

Local News 

 

The University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration (IPA) has announced the new training course Walk this Way! Creating ADA-Accessible Communities with Walk Appeal ("Planning 202"). Planning 202 highlights the benefits and barriers to walkable communities and presents IPA's Walkability Assessment Tool for evaluating your community's pedestrian friendliness.

DelDOT's ADA Coordinator John McNeal will explain why ADA matters. Matt Carter will provide an overview of the ADA Title II requirements and the legal implications of failing to design, construct, or maintain pedestrian facilities for accessibility. Weather permitting, participants will go outside to evaluate the walkability and ADA accessibility of nearby pedestrian facilities in downtown Dover.

The course will take place on Friday, December 4 at the Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Meeting Room A, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  To view the course flyer, please visit www.ipa.udel.edu/localgovt/training/program_fliers/planning202-2015.pdf.  To register, please visit https://commerce.cashnet.com/UDELIPLG .

The Delaware Chapter of the American Planning Assocation (APA) will hold its annual meeting on December 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at Frazier's Restaurant, 9E Loockerman Street, in Dover, DE. The meeting will include dinner and a year end summary.   Speakers will include Sarah M. Pragg, Policy Specialist, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, who will discuss the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox; and Lewis D. Schiliro, J.D., former Secretary, Department of Safety and Homeland Security, who will discuss Planning for Large Event s .  For more information, please visit http://delawareapa.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ed4dc2de1b5d47944ab963bbb&id=6f9cc54353&e=f15f837ab1.

National News