June 2017
WILMAPCO Meetings

All meetings are open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the WILMAPCO Conference Room.

Nonmotorized Transportation Working Group
June 6, 3 p.m.

Air Quality Subcommittee - Conference Call Meeting
June 8, 10 a.m.

Congestion Management Subcommittee
June 8, 1 p.m.

June 15, 10 a.m.

June 12, 6:30 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, please call (302) 737-6205, or toll free from Cecil County at (888) 808-7088 for cancellations or postponements.

For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit www.wilmapco.org.

  Like us on Facebook
WILMAPCO E-News 
Transportation news and events from the
Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO). 
WILMAPCO News
car graphic
FreightSummitDelmarva Freight Summit  
You are invited to attend the Delmarva Freight Summit on Wednesday, June 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 
The Executive Banquet & Conference Center, 205 Executive Dr, Newark, DE 19702. The agenda features reviews of regional freight rail dynamics and efforts to prioritize final mile freight system improvements, along with a spotlight on supply chain and goods movement associated with Delaware's brewing, distilling, and winemaking industries. Public and private sector representatives with an interest in freight and goods movement are encouraged to attend. Two CM credits are pending.  To register, please visit  http://us2.forward-to-friend1.com/forward/show?u=52c762204cc63479f4cbd7d57&id=9283fe7927.
 
WIWorkshopWilmington Initiatives Public Workshop  
Please join us for an Open House Public Workshop on Wednesday, June 21 at the Wilmington Public Library, 1 0 E 10th Street, Wilmington. Attendees are welcome to stop by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. The workshop will highlight several transportation projects proposed for the City of Wilmington, including:  
 
Christina River Bridge:
This project proposes to construct a new crossing over the Christina River to add another access point to the Wilmington Riverfront attractions and to improve access to US 13, I-495 and I-95. Updates will include the final alignment, proposed extension of S. Madison Street, and project schedule.

Walnut Street Sweep Removal:
This project will add a second left-turn lane from Front St to Walnut St, and also remove the "sweep" between Front/French Streets to 2nd/Walnut Streets. This will normalize the street grid in this area and help to mitigate additional traffic during the I-95 Viaduct Rehabilitation.

I-95 Viaduct Rehabilitation :
This project will rehabilitate the I-95 roadway and related structures from the I-495 interchange to just north of the Brandywine River, and will include 19 bridge structures.

Other highlighted projects will include:
  • Pennsylvania Ave ADA Improvement Project
  • Union St Reconfiguration
  • Maryland Ave Pave & Rehab
  • Orange & King Sts Transit Improvement Project
  • 4th St Transit Corridor Improvement Project
  • Wilmington Bike Plan Update
To learn more, please visit:

GlasgowGlasgow Avenue Planning Study
WILMAPCO, DelDOT, and New Castle County are seeking your feedback on a transportation and land use study for Glasgow Avenue, between US 40 and SR 896/Porter Road (about 1.3 miles). The study is intended to create a vision plan to guide transportation improvements and future land use changes along Glasgow Avenue. Speeding traffic and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people driving vehicles characterize the current roadway.  With development activity planned, this corridor will continue to face mobility and safety challenges. If you live, work, or play in the Glasgow area, then we need to hear from you! To complete a brief survey and review project information, please visit
www.wilmapco.org/glasgow. 

DEBikePlanSeeking Feedback on Bicycling in Delaware
DelDOT is working with WILMAPCO and other organizations on a bicycle policy plan to support the development of a safe, connected, and equitable network of bicycle facilities throughout the state. Your input will help planners better understand where people want to bike and problematic locations and corridors for people trying to bike. Visit wikimapping.net/wikimap/Delaware-Bike-Plan.html to share information about the route you bike and locations that are barriers to bicycling. Information will also inform the development of a New Castle County bicycle master plan later this year.
   
Rt9CMPRoute 9 Corridor Master Plan is Endorsed  
WILMAPCO's Council has endorsed the Route 9 Corridor Master Plan. The Plan outlines strategies for revitalizing the Route 9 Corridor and its adjacent communities near Wilmington. The work has been guided by civic leaders, state and county government, community organizations, and an extensive public outreach process. Recommendations include:
  • Rezoning to separate industrial from residential uses
  • Developing new truck routes
  • Road diets and redesigning key intersections to improve traffic flow and safety
  • Creating pedestrian and bicycle connections between neighborhoods
To learn more, please visit  www.wilmapco.org/route9.   
 
Local News
bike
PumpDumpRideShare Delaware Encourages you to Dump the Pump 
"Dump the Pump Day" is a nationwide event created to highlight how public transit enhances our quality of life. Did you know that a two person household can save over $9,000 a year by downsizing to one car? Also by switching to transit based commute, you can take 4800 pounds of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. From June 12th to June 18th, RideShare Delaware and DART First State encourage you take public transit or carpool for your daily commute, and record your trips on RideShare Delaware's commute calendar to be entered to win a $50 gift card. For more information and to record your clean commute, visit http://ridesharedelaware.org/help-delaware-go-green-and-dump-the-pump/.

Environmentalists2017 Young Environmentalists 
Do you know a Delaware student who's working to protect the environment through an innovative project, promoting public awareness or otherwise demonstrating concern for our natural world? If so, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) wants to hear about that student - and you can nominate him or her for the 2017 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. Nominations from teachers, classmates, parents, club or group leaders and other individuals will be accepted through June 23, 2017. The awards will be presented on Governors Day, July 27, during the 2017 Delaware State Fair, which is set for July 20 - 29. Winners will receive a certificate, gift card and prize pack. For an application or more information, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov, or 
contact Joanna Wilson in the Office of Public Affairs at joanna.wilson@state.de.us or 302-739-9902.

DARTPosterDART Announces Winners of
17th Annual Statewide Transit Poster Contest 
According to a DART release, "Over 85 students from schools or after-school programs participated in the contest, depicting their vision of this year's theme, ' DART & Technology, Traveling into the Future .'  This year's Grand Prize Winner is Sarah Ding, an 8th Grader from Cab Calloway School of the Arts.  Sarah's artwork will be placed on all DART First State buses statewide and also be featured on our website www.DartFirstState.com and social media platforms.  
 

National News
PedFat
train
Delaware Leads Nation in Pedestrian Deaths    
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association's Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, Delaware leads the nation in pedestrian fatalities per capita. According to the report, " This report offers a first look at state-by-state trends in pedestrian traffic fatalities for 2016, using preliminary data provided by all 50 State Highway Safety Offices and the District of Columbia."  To learn more, visit http://www.ghsa.org/resources/spotlight-peds17.

UberUber Integrates with Transit app to Better Connect Users with Public Transportation 
According to GeekWire, "Uber announced it is integrating with the Transit app in more than 50 cities across the U.S. When an Uber rider marks a transit stop as a final destination, a card will pop up showing departure times for various modes of transportation."  To learn more, visit www.geekwire.com/2017/uber-announces-new-integration-with-transit-app-on-android-to-better-connect-with-public-transportation/.

STEPSafe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP)
According to FHWA's EDC News, "The Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) program includes five pedestrian safety countermeasures to get pedestrians safely across the road at uncontrolled crossing locations:
  1. Crosswalk visibility enhancements, such as crosswalk lighting and enhanced signing and marking, help drivers detect pedestrians.
  2. Raised crosswalks are a traffic-calming technique that can reduce vehicle speeds and encourage drivers to yield to pedestrians.
  3. Pedestrian refuge islands provide a safer place for pedestrians to stop at the midpoint of the road before crossing the remaining distance, which is particularly helpful for pedestrians with limited mobility.
  4. Pedestrian hybrid beacons provide a stop control treatment at locations where pedestrian volumes aren't high enough to warrant a traffic signal. They are a useful device for higher speed multilane roads.
  5. Road diets reconfigure a roadway cross-section to better accommodate all users' needs. It can reduce vehicle speeds and the number of lanes pedestrians need to cross and create space to add new pedestrian facilities."