September 2018
WILMAPCO Meetings

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

Labor Day
Sept. 3
WILMAPCO Closed

Sept. 13, 10 a.m.

Sept. 13, 1 p.m.

Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 20, 10 a.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 . 
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WILMAPCO E-News 
Transportation news and events from the
Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO). 
WILMAPCO News
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TIPDraft List of Transportation Projects for New Castle and Cecil Counties is Available for Public Review and Comment
WILMAPCO has released draft amendments to the FY 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for public review and comment through September 13. Funding the region's transportation projects, the TIP prioritizes and details $2.4 billion in planned transportation projects including roads, buses, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements.

WILMAPCO and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) will hold a public workshop to discuss the planned projects on Wednesday, September 5 at the Newark Free Library (750 Library Avenue, Newark, DE). Attendees are invited to stop by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.

The amended version of the TIP contains 10% more funding than the TIP approved in March 2018. 
New projects include:
  • $500,000 to purchase two University of Delaware Autonomous Vehicle Shuttle Buses for transit use and research
  • $5 million to fund a Subdivision Paving Pilot program that will prioritize and repave subdivision streets
  • Two bridge replacements: $600,000 for one on Caldwell Corner Road over a tributary of the Sassafras River, and $5.9 million for one on SR 7/Limestone Road over the CSX railroad
Major continuing transit projects include:
  • New rail and bus transit centers in Newark, Claymont, and Wilmington
  • Bus transit park & rides near Christiana Mall and Middletown
Continuing roadway projects include:
  • Several bridge preservation and safety projects in Cecil and New Castle counties
  • Highway projects, including I-295 westbound and US 301
  • Multimodal projects, including US 40, Elkton Road, southern New Castle County roads, and City of Wilmington streets
Bicycle and pedestrian highlights include:
  • New Castle-Wilmington Jack Markell Trail completion
  • Pedestrian improvements on US 13 and US 40 
For more information, please visit www.wilmapco.org/tip or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/224135438416564/.

Local News
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LOSNew Castle County Level of Service Forum
The New Castle County Department of Land Use will host a Level of Service (LOS) Forum on September 18, 2018 from 6-8 pm in the James H. Gilliam Multipurpose Room located at 67 Reads Way in New Castle. The Department, with input from WILMAPCO, the community, and DelDOT have been examining how travel capacity is reviewed and how its guidelines and regulations are applied. Registration is required.  To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/level-of-service-los-forum-new-castle-county-dept-of-land-use.

DARTDART Public Hearing Workshops
Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) will conduct Public Hearing Workshops to gain feedback and public comment on proposed changes to DART statewide fixed route bus services to become effective December 9, 2018, as well on fare payment options. New Castle County Workshops will be held at the following locations and times: 
 
Route 9 Library & Innovation Center, Room B
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wilmington Public Library, The Commons
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 

DEAPADelaware APA Regional Conference
The 2018 Delaware American Planning Association (APA) Regional Conference will be held in Rehoboth Beach on October 23 and 24, 2018.  The theme for the conference is  Planning 360: Economy, Environment and Health. The two-day conference will feature exemplary planning efforts in Delaware, the surrounding region, and beyond.  To learn more, please visit  http://2014conference.delawareapa.org or click to view the conference flyer.

MDTourMaryland Department of Transportation Officials to Visit for Annual Tour Meeting
Maryland Department of Transportation officials will visit Cecil County on September 25 to discuss the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), which details the draft six-year capital transportation budget. The annual CTP Tour Meeting will be held at 10 a.m.  in the Cecil County Administrative Building, 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, MD 21921. MDOT will brief local officials and the public on planned Cecil County transportation investments, and discuss the County's concerns and priorities. Each fall, MDOT presents its draft six-year capital program to every county and Baltimore City for review and comment. Following input from the 24 local jurisdictions, MDOT prepares a final budget to present to the General Assembly in January. Learn more about the Tour and CTP at www.mdot.maryland.gov/newMDOT/Planning.
 
MobilePaymentDART Launches Mobile Payment Option for Statewide Bus Services
According to a DART release, "Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan and Delaware Transit Corporation CEO John Sisson announced the release of DART Pass, the innovative mobile fare payment option. The app displays a digital pass on the phone's screen, eliminating the need for a paper ticket or cash. This new mobile payment, now available on the enhanced free DelDOT app, is convenient, easy to use and allows for faster boarding, enhancing the customer experience." For more information, please visit www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART.
 
SurveyDART First State's Mobility in Motion Initiative 
The state of Delaware recognizes the importance of personal mobility for all Delawareans and transportation-disadvantaged individuals. The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC), operating DART statewide public transportation services, has launched Mobility in Motion. This initiative invites Delawareans to envision and provide critical input on the future of mobility in Delaware. To learn more, or take a shorty survey and be entered to win $25 gift card, please visit  www.MobilityDE.org.
 
TrailfestTrailfest 
Join bicycling, hiking, and nature enthusiasts on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in celebrating the completion of Delaware's newest trail connecting the Wilmington Riverfront and Historic New Castle. To learn more, please visit www.trailfestde.com
National News
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CAFEU.S. EPA and DOT Propose Lower Fuel Economy Standards
According to an article in the Washington Post, "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOT are seeking feedback on a proposed rollback of fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. The proposal, driven by a new analysis prepared by the Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), marks a sharp reversal from the findings NHTSA and the EPA reached a year and a half ago." EPA and NHTSA are seeking public feedback on the proposal. To learn more, please visit www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NHTSA-2018-0067 or to view the source article, please visit www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science
  
UberUber, Lyft and Traffic Congestion
According to CityLab, "Some people want to lay the blame for urban traffic congestion on the growing popularity of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, and a recent report by transportation consultant Bruce Schaller shows that, over the past six years, ride-sharing services have added 5.7 billion vehicle miles traveled and increased trips by 241 percent in nine major U.S. cities. Many riders, 60 percent, Schaller notes, are using ride-hailing services instead of more sustainable modes of transport, like public transit, walking, or bicycling." To the source article, please visit www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/07/dont-blame-ride-hailing-for-traffic-congestion/566222.
 
WalkingResearch Says Walking This Much Per Week Extends Your Life
According to Blue Zones, "A study from the American Cancer Society, that followed 140,000 older adults, reported that those who walked six hours per week had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer than those who were not active, but that walking even as little as two hours per week could begin to reduce the risk of disease and help you live a longer, healthier life."  To learn more, please visit www.bluezones.com/2018/07/research-says-walking-this-much-per-week-extends-your-life/.
 
TrafficU.S. Traffic Fatalities Rise While International Numbers Improve
According to State Smart Transportation Initiatives, "A new report by the International Forum highlights how the United States is losing the battle to reduce traffic fatalities, while other countries improve their safety records. Out of 41 countries, most reported a reduction in traffic fatalities between 2010 and 2016. The U.S. was in the small group that had an increase, with only Columbia and Jamaica reporting higher percent increases during that time period."  To learn more, please visit www.ssti.us/2018/08/u-s-traffic-fatalities-rise-while-international-numbers-improve/