Transportation
 E-News from the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO)

January 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. 
 
January 15, 10 a.m.
 
For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit www.wilmapco.org.

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In this issue...
WILMAPCO News walker

 

TIPFY 2016 Transportation Improvement Program Public Comment Period Has Begun 

WILMAPCO's Council has released for public review and comment more than $1.6 billion of anticipated transportation projects proposed in a new draft transportation program.  

 

To solicit public feedback, WILMAPCO will host a public workshop on Monday, February 23, 2015 at the Newark Free Library, 750 Library Ave, Newark. Attendees are welcome to stop by anytime between 4 and 6:30pm. WILMAPCO and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) representatives will be available during the workshop to answer questions. Information about the draft Delmarva Freight Plan will also be displayed during the workshop.

 

The draft FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland is a four-year listing of federally-funded transportation projects. Projects encompass road, transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. This proposal includes a seven percent decrease in funds.

 

Due to the decrease in funds, many projects will have all or most of their funding removed. The proposed TIP eliminates funding from 15 projects including:

  • Transit improvements at the Boyds Corner Park and Ride, and Claymont and Fairplay Train Stations, and funds for the creation of a Wilmington Transit Hub.
  • Roadway improvements on Cedar Lane Road; SR 9 in the City of New Castle, New Castle County and South Wilmington; Possum Park Road at Old Possum Park Road; Tyler McConnell Bridge; US 13 in the Smyrna area; and 4th Street in the City of Wilmington.
  • Bridge and culvert preservation at US 13 over Drawyers Creek, Old Corbitt Road near Odessa, and Pyles Ford Road.
  • Pedestrian improvements on Grubb Road.

Information can be viewed and commented upon 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, by

fax to 302-737-9584, or by e-mail to wilmapco@wilmapco.org. Print versions of the documents are available at WILMAPCO's office or can be mailed upon request. Comments will be accepted through March 3, 2015.

 

Member Agency News bike

 

BhattTransportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt is Leaving Delaware

According to a January 5 News Journal article, "Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt is Leaving Delaware after 3 1/2 years to head the Colorado Department of Transportation, starting in mid-February. Gov. Jack Markell said Monday afternoon he's nominating Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Director Jennifer Cohan to succeed Bhatt, pending confirmation by the state Senate." To view the source article, please visit http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/01/05/deldots-bhatt-leaving-colorado-agency/21284923/.  

 

DARTChanges to DART Bus Service in New Castle County have been Approved
According to a December 16 Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) release, "John Sisson, Chief Executive Officer of DTC announced that proposed changes to DART's Fixed Route Bus Service in New Castle County have been approved and will  become effective Sunday, January 18, 2015." To view the list of routes changes, including new routes and increased frequencies, please visit http://www.dartfirststate.com/dtc.ejs?command=PublicDTCPressReleaseDisplay&id=5391.

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Local News 

 

TransActionRegistration for the 2015 New Jersey TransAction Transportation Conference is Open 
According to a TransConference email, "The 39th Annual New Jersey Transportation Conference & Expo - TransAction 2015 will be held on April 21, 22, 23, 2015 at the Tropicana Hotel, Casino & Conference Center in Atlantic City, NJ.  TransAction 2015 will feature over 73 workshop sessions specializing in bus, rail, roads, bridges, goods movement, pedestrian/bicycle, paratransit, community transportation, ports, and more."  To register, please visit http://www.njtransaction.com/.
 
SEPTASEPTA Adds more Rail Trips to Delaware Stations 
According to a December 15 News Journal article, "SEPTA is extending more commuter rail trips to Delaware, starting Monday. The new train schedule closes a two-hour gap between trains leaving Center City, Philadelphia, and running to Delaware stations after 7:45 p.m. on weekday evenings. Commuters will also have a new inbound option leaving Newark at 9:15 p.m. A new afternoon express train will depart Center City shortly after 3 p.m., serving all four stations in Delaware. A local train leaving Philly at 3:21 p.m. will also terminate in Wilmington, rather than Marcus Hook. The increase in trips in part resulted from suggestions made by Delaware commuters in a petition."  To view the source article, please visit http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/traffic/2014/12/14/septa-adds-rail-trips-delaware-stations/20407863/.  
 
GasTaxMaryland Gas Tax Increased 3 cents on Jan. 1
According to a Cape Gazette article, "The state gasoline tax is slated to increase by 3 cents on Jan. 1 - thanks to a 2013 change in state law that tied the tax to the consumer price index and the average retail price of gas."  For more information, please visit http://www.capitalgazette.com/.

SLRNew and Improved Sea Level Rise Interactive Map for Delaware

According to a Delaware Sea Level Rise Newsletter article, "Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is pleased to announce that the viewer has been upgraded and improved. The mapping screen is bigger, and a slider bar is now available so you can easily see 'before' and 'after.' We have also changed the color scheme. The map now features shades of blue to represent each of our planning scenarios (0.5 meters, 1.0 meter and 1.5 meters). You can also put in your address to zoom right to the area you are most interested in."  To view the map, please visit http://firstmap.gis.delaware.gov/inundation/.

 

car graphic
National News
 
USBikeRoutesU.S. Bike Route System Tops 8,000 Miles
According to a December 16 release, "Adventure Cycling Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced that AASHTO's Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering has approved 1,253 miles of new U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBRs): USBR 1 in Massachusetts and Florida, USBR 10 in Michigan, USBR 11 in Maryland, and USBR 90 in Florida. Realignments were also approved for USBR 76 and USBR 1 in Virginia, which were originally designated in 1982. The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) now encompasses 8,042 miles of routes in 16 states and the District of Columbia."  For more information, please visit http://www.adventurecycling.org/about-us/media/press-releases/u-s-bicycle-route-system-grows-to-over-8-000-miles/.

WalkabilityInnovative Communities Walkability Case Studies 
According to a November 24 America Walks article, "America Walks is excited to launch its newest publication on the innovative approaches local leaders are taking to address the issue of walkability. Recognizing the importance that local leaders play in making meaningful community change, America Walks has produced case studies showcasing four local elected officials and their personal campaigns to improve walkability and increase walking in their home towns."  To view the source article, please visit http://americawalks.org/america-walks-launches-new-case-studies/.

AutoDataU.S. Automobile Travel Data Released

According to a Washington Newsline article, "The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released its ninth monthly report for 2014 on U.S. automobile traffic volumes, which indicates road travel is up 2.3 percent (5.6 billion vehicle miles) at 246.6 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for September 2014, compared to 241 billion VMT in September 2013."  To view the report, please visit http://www.artba.org/newsline/2014/12/08/september-2014-us-automobile-travel-data-released/.

EPAEPA Proposes Stricter Ozone Standards

According to a November 26 New York Times article, "The Obama administration has announced a long-delayed environmental regulation to curb emissions of ozone, a smog-causing pollutant linked to asthma, heart disease and premature death. The sweeping regulation, which are aimed at smog caused by power plants and factories across the country, particularly in the Midwest, is the latest in a series of Environmental Protection Agency controls on air pollution that wafts from smokestacks and tailpipes."  To view the source article, please visit www.nytimes.com/2014/11/27/us/epa-ozone-limits-divide-industry-and-environmentalists.html?_r=0.

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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