WILMAPCO Meetings
In case of inclement weather, please call (302) 737-6205, or toll free from Cecil County at (888) 808-7088 for cancellations or postponements.
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For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit
www.wilmapco.org.
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Transportation news and events from the
Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO).
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 WILMAPCO's Public Opinion Survey of Cecil County Residents
Each year WILMAPCO conducts a telephone survey of a random sample of 600 residents of Cecil County. The purpose of the survey is to gather information on the transportation choices made by residents and to gauge their perceptions and thoughts regarding transportation. Those interviewed were asked how well they felt the current transportation system meets their travel needs. Four in five of respondents reported that their transportation needs were "somewhat" or "very" well met in 2015, the highest proportion since surveying began. About one in four survey participants said they were familiar with WILMAPCO, a proportion that has been growing during the survey years. To learn more please visit
www.wilmapco.org/survey-results.
Route 9 Corridor Master Plan
A corridor-wide master plan along the Route 9 corridor has begun. The plan, which kicked off in January, will identify the best redevelopment and reinvestment strategies for the corridor - roughly defined as extending from US 13 in the west to the Delaware River in the east in unincorporated New Castle County. Focus will be directed towards creating and better accessing jobs, healthy foods, recreation and community services, affordable housing, and mitigating environmental and health concerns. Public outreach will begin this spring, with two public workshops. A final report identifying preferred redevelopment strategies, along with transportation improvements is expected in the fall.
This study is being guided by WILMAPCO, the State of Delaware, New Castle County, local residents, and key stakeholders. For more information, please visit
www.wilmapco.org/route9
or follow the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Route9MasterPlan.
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$14 Million Maryland Grant Funding Available for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
As part of continuing efforts to expand bicycling and walking opportunities in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and MDOT's State Highway Administration (SHA) announce $14 million in reimbursable grant funding will be available in 2016 for projects that enhance walking, biking, and recreational trail access statewide. In March, two workshops will take place to provide local governments and non-profit organizations the opportunity to gather information on state-funded Bikeways, Transportation Alternatives, and Recreational Trails programs. At the workshops, MDOT officials will provide information on funding sources, project eligibility/requirements and funding cycles. The free workshops will be held on the following dates at these locations:
- Thursday, March 3, 2016, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Historic London Town & Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-mdot-bikepedestriantrail-funding-programs-londontownanne-arundel-county-tickets-21219607417?utm_term=eventurl_text
- Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-mdot-bikepedestriantrail-funding-programs-rockville-tickets-21220611420
MDOT is making state and federal funding available to support enhancements to Maryland's bicycle and pedestrian network through the following programs: Maryland's Bikeways, Safe Routes to School, Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails. Information regarding eligibility and submission deadlines for these programs is available at the following sites:
The presentation slides from the 2015 workshops are available online, and the 2016 presentations will be added soon at www.mdot.maryland.gov/newMDOT/Planning/Bike/Cycle_Maryland.html.
Bicyclists Given Green Light to Cross Hatem Bridge
According to a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) release, "At the Annual Bike Maryland Bicycle Symposium in Annapolis, Transportation Secretary and Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Chairman Pete K. Rahn announced bicyclists will be allowed to ride across the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40) starting July 1, 2016. For years, bicyclists have complained that the Hatem Bridge over the Susquehanna River has been a chokepoint for people attempting to ride the 9/11 Memorial Trail and use the East Coast Greenways from Maine to Florida. Since there are no shoulders on the Hatem Bridge, the plan will allow bicyclists to share the right travel lanes with motorists. A full implementation plan will be developed between now and July 1." To view the release, please visit
www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/Releases2016/2016_Feb_10_SecRahn_Announces_Hatem_Bike_Acc
ess.
Planning for Complete Communities in Delaware: The Low-Stress Bikeability Assessment Tool
The University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration's (IPA) new resource
tool is designed to guide local governments in evaluating the extent to which average bicycle riders can easily access low-stress areas. The downloadable document can be found online within the
Low-Stress Bikeability section of the
Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox.
The Low-Stress Bicycling Assessment Tool is designed for use in a facilitated workshop setting to engage stakeholders. To prepare workshop participants for an in-field assessment, IPA has prepared a narrated presentation entitled, "Conducting a Low-Stress Bikeability Assessment: An Overview of What to Look for." This presentation is available in the following formats:
DART Kicks Off 16th Annual Transit Poster Contest
According to a DART release, "Ride More. Save More. Do More" is the theme for DART's 16th 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, 2016, 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 details and contest instructions, please call (302) 576.6016, or visit DART's website at
www.DartFirstState.com.
Ceremony Marks Construction Start for Delaware Project to Remake US 301 Corridor
According to the AASHTO Journal, "Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan and Federal Highway Administrator Greg Nadeau joined the state's congressional delegation and other local and federal officials to officially break ground Feb. 5 on a
project to remake the US 301 corridor
in that state. The project will create a 13-mile, four-lane toll road from the Maryland-Delaware line to Delaware's Route 1 and Interstate 95. The new 301 mainline will have two lanes in each direction of an electronically tolled, limited access roadway. The goal is to have the roadway open for traffic by the end of calendar year 2018.
The Federal Highway Administration said
it is a $635 million overall project that draws on a $211 million federal TIFIA loan, a $125 million GARVEE bond and more than $53 million in other federal-aid funding." To view the source article, please visit
www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/021216dela.aspx
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UD team may help put algae in gas tanks
According to the News Journal, "Microbiologist Jennifer Stewart and her team of University of Delaware researchers have set some lofty goals. 'We're looking at solving the issue of global climate change,' the scientist said. To tackle those massively complex issues, Stewart is turning to algae, one of the smallest and simplest forms of plant life on the planet.
Scientists have been working for decades to turn algae into a commercially viable source of 'biofuel' that could someday replace gasoline, diesel and kerosene.
Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels derived from organic matter are renewable since the crops used to create them can be regrown year after year
." To view the source article, please visit www.delawareonline.com/story/money/industries/2016/02/15/university-delaware-scientist-may-help-put-algae-your-fuel-tank/80377704/.
10-Cent Delaware Gas Tax Increase Back on the Table
According to the News Journal, "
Delaware lawmakers are again seeking to raise the state gas tax by 10 cents a gallon, arguing it would allow the state to make critical improvements to roads and bridges. The proposal from state Rep. Sean Matthews, D-Talleyville, and Rep. Michael Mulrooney, D-Pennwood, is different from the failed attempt made in 2014 because it would expire after a year, allowing lawmakers to take stock of where oil prices stand and decide whether or not to renew it." To view the source article, please visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/travel_monitoring/tvt.cfm.
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US Driving Tops 3.1 Trillion Miles in 2015, New Federal Data Shows
According to a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) release,
"New data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) show that U.S. driving reached 3.148 trillion miles by the end of 2015, beating the previous record of 3.003 trillion miles in 2007. The new data, published in FHWA's latest 'Traffic Volume Trends' report - a monthly estimate of U.S. road travel, show that more than 264.2 billion miles were driven in December alone. To review the VMT data in FHWA's "
Traffic Volume Trends
" reports, visit
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/travel_monitoring/tvt.cfm.
Amtrak Welcoming Small Pets Aboard Most Northeast Trains According to WCVB TV, "Amtrak is
expanding a pilot program permitting travelers to bring aboard small pets on many Northeast Corridor trains serving Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Washington and other cities. The railroad will began allowing small dogs and cats to accompany their owners on most long-distance routes, and small pets will be allowed on Acela Express high-speed trains on weekends only. Amtrak travelers will have to pay a $25 surcharge, and the pet and its carrier won't be able to exceed a combined 20 pounds. Service animals will continue to ride for free." To view the source article, please visit
www.wcvb.com/news/amtrak-welcoming-small-pets-aboard-most-northeast-trains/38053030.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces $500 Million in Eighth Round of TIGER Funding
According to a U.S. DOT release, "U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced $500 million will be made available for transportation projects across the country under an eighth round of the highly successful Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program. The TIGER program funds vital transportation projects that provide real benefits to communities all across the country." For more information, please visit
www.transportation.gov/TIGER.
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