Transportation
E-News from the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO)
March 2015
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WILMAPCO Meetings
All meetings are open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the WILMAPCO Conference Room.
In case of inclement weather, please call (302) 737-6205, or toll free from Cecil County at (888) 808-7088 for cancellations or postponements.
Data and Demographics Subcommittee
March 9, 10 a.m.
Air Quality Subcommittee
March 12, 10 a.m.
Meeting Tentative
Congestion Management Subcommittee
March 12, 1 p.m.
WILMAPCO Council
March 12, 6:30 p.m.
Technical Advisory Committee
March 19, 10 a.m.
Other Events
March 4, 6 - 8 p.m., Executive Banquet and Conference Center, 205 Executive Drive, NewarkCecil County Route 40 Transportation Vision Plan CharettesMarch 16 and 24, 4 - 6 p.m., Cecil College 1 Seahawk Drive, North East, MD
For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit www.wilmapco.org.
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In this issue...
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WILMAPCO News
Member Agency News
Local News
National News
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 WILMAPCO News  WILMAPCO Invites Comments on Draft TIP Through March 3
WILMAPCO invites community feedback on the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which includes more than $1.6 billion of anticipated transportation projects. The public comment period extends through March 3. The TIP is a four-year listing of road, transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and details expected timing and funding for projects. Learn more and comment online at www.wilmapco.org/tip or at WILMAPCO's office, 850 Library Avenue, Newark, DE during business hours. Comments may also be submitted in writing to Wilmington Area Planning Council, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19711, faxed to 302-737-9584, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Glasgow Avenue Planning Study - Community Workshop
WILMAPCO, New Castle County and DelDOT are hosting a Community Workshop for the Glasgow Avenue Planning Study. Glasgow Avenue is a 1.3 mile, two-lane, collector road between US 40 and SR 896. With new development planned for the area, Glasgow Avenue will continue to face many mobility and safety issues. The study will create a "Main Street" vision plan to guide transportation improvements and land use along Glasgow Avenue.
To allow the public the opportunity to influence the study, a series of community workshops are being held. The first workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 4, at the Executive Banquet and Conference Center, 205 Executive Drive, Pencader Corporate Center, off 896 in South Newark. Attendees may stop by anytime between 6 and 8 p.m. During the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to share experience on Glasgow Avenue and discuss how the corridor should look and function in the future. For more information, please visit www.wilmapco.org/glasgow.
Cecil County Route 40 Transportation Vision Plan
The Route 40 corridor, in Cecil County, continues to face many challenges including limited sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, new development and increased congestion, and unsafe bicycling conditions. The Cecil County Route 40 Transportation Vision Plan seeks to develop and implement alternatives to address the transportation needs of the corridor. To begin this process, WILMAPCO will hold two interactive charrettes to answer the question: How do we want the corridor to look and function in the future?
The charettes are being held on March 16 and 24 at Cecil College, 1 Seahawk Drive, North East, MD from 4 to 7 p.m. During the first charette, WILMAPCO will present best practices while participants will have the opportunity to share their ideas for the future of the corridor. To learn more, please visit www.wilmapco.org/cecil40.
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Member Agency News 
Maryland Planning Secretary Resigns After Two Decades of State Service
According to a Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) release, "Secretary of Planning Richard E. Hall announced his resignation. A Maryland native who served for two terms in Governor Martin O'Malley's Cabinet, Hall rose through the ranks of the agency from an entry-level staffer to become secretary. Hall will be replaced by former Harford County Executive David R. Craig." To view the source article, please visit http://planning.maryland.gov/PDF/Press/2015-0121-press-release-reh-resigns.pdf?utm_source=Release+RHall+resigns&utm_campaign=pr-REH-resigns-2015-0121&utm_medium=email.
DART Kicks Off 15th Annual Transit Poster Contest According to a Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) release, "DART, Moving Forward is the theme for DART's 15th Annual Transit Poster Contest. Open to school-age children grades 6 through 12, the contest is designed to encourage students to learn more about public transportation and its benefits, as well as the chance to see their artwork featured by DART in various advertisements, promotions, or displays. Posters must be submitted by March 31, to DART Poster Contest; Marketing Dept.; 119 Lower Beech Street; Wilmington, DE 19805. Prizes and certificates will be provided by DART and its business partners." For more information and contest instructions, please call (302) 576-6016, or visit www.DartFirstState.com.
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 Local News Delaware Aims to be First with Digital Driver's Licenses
According to a News Journal article, "Delaware is aiming to be the first state to offer virtual driver's licenses accessed through a secure smartphone app. The Legislature last week adopted a resolution directing the DMV to study and consider digital licenses for motorists." To view the source article, please visit www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/01/28/delaware-aims-to-be-1st-with-digital-drivers-licenses/22449899/.
Video Highlights Needed Cycle Track on Delaware Avenue
According to a Newark Post article, "Kirsten Jones is no stranger to the perilous Delaware Avenue bicycle lane. The
University of Delaware graduate student uses her bike as her primary means of travel around Newark and estimates she treks down Delaware Avenue at least five times a week. Recently, Jones strapped a camera on her bike to create a video documenting the obstacles cyclists face on Newark's main west-to-east route. It was part of a study Jones did looking at the feasibility of building a two-way cycle track on Delaware Avenue." To view the video and source article, please visit www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_d78f6d86-6938-5ec8-a97a-a8dc1c1c6f91.html.
$600 Million Worth of Projects Delayed According to a News Journal article, "State officials said without new revenues, $600 million worth of highway and bridge projects will be delayed over the next six years. Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan said, 'Without a revenue increase, we're looking at a $140 million annual capital program for the next several years.' Among the delayed projects are the new Christina River Bridge connecting U.S. 13 to the Wilmington Riverfront; the widening of Del. 1 from the Roth Bridge to Del. 273; and the relocation of Georgetown's Park Avenue to allow for an extension of the airport runway there." To view the source article, please visit www.delawareonline.com/story/news/traffic/2015/02/12/deldot-million-worth-projects-delayed/23330753/. |
 National News U.S. Transportation Secretary Unveils $94.7 Billion BudgetAccording to a U.S. DOT release, "U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced President Obama's $94.7 billion Fiscal Year 2016 Budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation. The proposal makes investments in infrastructure needed to promote long-term economic growth, enhance safety and efficiency, and support jobs for the 21st century." For more information, please visit http://www.dot.gov/mission/budget/fiscal-year-2016-budget-highlights. US DOT Issues 30-Year Outlook for How the Transportation System Might DevelopAccording to the AASHTO Journal, "U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled a very-long-term study on how the national transportation network might look in the next 30 years, as a guide to policymakers trying to plan projects and funding. Foxx said that 'Beyond Traffic' study is also designed to help trigger a national conversation on infrastructure needs, and his Department of Transportation is inviting public comment to shape a final report that will come out later this year." To view the source article, please visit www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/020615usdot30-yr.aspx. November U.S. Automobile Travel Data ReleasedAccording to a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) release, "FHWA recently released its eleventh monthly report for 2014 on U.S. automobile traffic volumes, which indicates road travel is up 1.1 percent (2.5 billion vehicle miles) at 241 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for November 2014, compared to 238.5 billion VMT in November 2013." For more information, please visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/travel_monitoring/14novtvt. The Sad State of America's Roads According to CBS news, "America's transportation system is at risk of falling into disrepair and gridlock, according to a report published from the U.S. Department of Transportation. While the country once built a gleaming interstate highway system, the quality of America's roads is now ranked No. 16 in the world, behind countries such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal." To view the source article, please visit www.cbsnews.com/news/the-sad-state-of-americas-roads/. |
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About Us
The Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) is the regional transportation planning agency for New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland. As the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), WILMAPCO is charged with planning and coordinating transportation investments for the region based on federal policy, local input, technical analysis, and best practices. For more information, please visit our website at www.wilmapco.org.
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