Transportation news and events from the
Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO).
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WILMAPCO has released the Draft Regional Transportation Update for Public Review and Comment |
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get around in New Castle County, Delaware or Cecil County, Maryland in the next twenty years? How congested will it be? Will you be able to walk or bike safely, and use public transportation? These are the types of questions at the heart of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) 2023 Update, which has been released for public review and comment through March 6, 2023.
The Regional Transportation Plan is the foundational transportation planning document that identifies the long-term needs and the shorter-term projects which seek to address them.
WILMAPCO is providing an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the Draft RTP during Our Town. Our Town will be held in person at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Newark on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Featured keynote speakers include Rebecca Higgins, Senior Policy Advisor at US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works who will discuss funding an equitable system; and Todd Litman, founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. Litman, whose research and books have been used worldwide for transportation planning and policy analysis, will share best practices in planning for a transportation system that meets the future needs of all.
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The Draft RTP and Draft Air Quality Conformity may also be reviewed on WILMAPCO’s website at www.wilmapco.org/rtp or office at 100 Discovery Blvd, Suite 800, Newark, DE 19713. Written comments may be submitted to WILMAPCO at this address or emailed to rnovakoff@wilmapco.org. The public comment and review period will extend through March 6, 2023.
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Connecting with the Ardens Transportation Plan Public Workshop & Youth Engagement Session |
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The next Connecting with the Ardens Transportation Plan Public Meeting being held on Wednesday, February 15 from 6-8pm at the Buzz Ware Village Center. Childcare and light refreshments will be provided. A special workshop for school age children will also be held beforehand from 5-5:30pm at the same location.
Please join us to share your thoughts on potential ideas for improving the safety of all who walk, bike, take public transportation, and drive in and through the Ardens. To learn more please visit, www.wilmapco.org/ardens or call (302) 737-6205.
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APA DE 2023 Winter Forum: Parking Problems and Innovative Management Solutions
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This forum features speaker and author Todd Litman, founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Litman will explore various innovative solutions to parking problems. Efficient parking management can extract more value from each parking facility so fewer spaces are needed to serve motorists’ demands. These strategies can help achieve housing affordability, traffic management, community livability, local economic development and environmental goals.
He will be joined by Mike Fortner, AICP, Senior Planner, Newark Planning and Development Department, who will discuss municipal efforts to address these challenges with innovative solutions.
The event will be held on February 8th, from 10am to 12pm in-person at the Buena Vista Conference center and online.
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Check out WILMAPCO's Winter Transporter Newsletter |
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Want to learn more about local transportation plans and projects? Check out WILMAPCO's latest Transporter Newsletter. The winter edition features the Regional Transportation Plan, the fundamental transportation planning document for New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland; which is currently available for public review and comment.
The newsletter also features the Southbridge Transportation Action Plan, which is seeking to find safer solutions for those traveling in and through South Wilmington; and the I95 Cap Feasibility Study, which concluded that a "cap" over I95 in the City of Wilmington, that would create 12 acres of new public space, is feasible and desired by many in the city. In addition, the newsletter highlights the innovative solutions developed by planners and residents in Charlestown to improve walk and bikeability there.
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Delaware to Adopt Zero Emission Vehicle Regulation |
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Governor John Carney announced that Delaware will join 13 other states in adopting California’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations. Managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the ZEV program is designed to accelerate the commercialization of battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles. The regulations mandate that a certain percentage of the vehicles delivered for sale in a state are ZEV vehicles. Advancing these strategies will reduce carbon pollution, improve air quality and help support fuel savings for the average consumer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, switching to an electric vehicle could save a household approximately $500 to $1,000 on fuel costs per year. Electric vehicles also tend to have lower maintenance costs than gasoline cars, which also reduces ownership costs.
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Dangerous driving behaviors rise in Delaware |
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As reported by Delaware Public media, "A AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Survey found a startling change in driver behavior since 2021 - and it’s not for the good. The survey found the top three most risky behaviors are driving after consuming alcohol, driving within an hour of consuming cannabis, and driving 15 mph over the speed limit. Delaware State Police note that 39 people died on First State roads in 2021; up 18-percent from 2020. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says there are nearly 43,000 fatal crashes nationwide every year." |
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Claymont Regional Transportation Center renamed for Harris McDowell |
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As reported in the Delaware Public Media, "Gov. John Carney, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, and Sen. Tom Carper were among those celebrating the renaming of the Claymont Regional Transportation Center after former State Sen. Harris McDowell. Gov. Carney already signed the bill in October making the name change official, but did it again just down the road from the still under construction transportation center as friends, family, and other legislators joined the celebration. The station will replace the SEPTA station in Claymont, and it will have a new station building, new platforms, bicycle amenities, bus and trail connections, and more parking."
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Delaware DMV Unveils New Virtual Lobby |
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The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) invites customers to utilize its newest feature, the DMV virtual lobby. The virtual lobby can be accessed via Plan & Scan mobile ticketing. Customers interested in waiting in their vehicles can simply scan the QR code upon arrival. QR codes can be found on signs throughout the parking lot, on the front doors, on the sidewalks, and inside the lobby. Anyone interested in waiting in the new virtual lobby can utilize Plan & Scan mobile ticketing from the parking lot of all four DMV locations: Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover, and Georgetown. The feature is accessible via any smart device, but before using customers must turn on the "locations" setting. |
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As reported in the Cecil Daily, "Advance work began in 2019, and construction began in the summer of 2020. The $25 million Elkton Road project was intended to provide a more permanent solution to the potholes and rough road surface that had plagued the highway for several years. The most noticeable change is the addition of a third northbound travel lane between Otts Chapel Road and Christina Parkway in order to accommodate increased traffic. Other upgrades include a second turn lane from Christina Parkway onto Elkton Road, new traffic signals, new pedestrian crossings, upgraded lighting and new sidewalks. Next up is a massive project to rebuild the Interstate 95/Del. 896 interchange. That work is expected to begin this spring and take two years to complete."
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Newly Released Visuals Offer Glimpse Into Amtrak’s State-Of-The-Art Trains |
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As reported by First State Update, "Built for the future, visuals of Amtrak’s newest trains reveal a modern customer experience. The new trains, Amtrak Airo, will start debuting in 2026 and operate on routes throughout the country. Amtrak’s move to the future also includes major infrastructure projects, service expansion, station upgrades, modernization efforts and improved track capacity along the Northeast Corridor. A share of Amtrak’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding will support the procurement of Amtrak Airo." |
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Wilmington Area Planning Council
(WILMAPCO)
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The Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) is the regional transportation planning agency for New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland. As a 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. |
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You are invited to participate in the transportation planning process, regardless of your race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), religion, creed, gender, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status, or background. To request special accommodations, or if you need this information in another language, please contact WILMAPCO at (302) 737-6205 or dvoss@wilmapco.org.
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