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Transportation
News from the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO)
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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.
March 11, 10
a.m.
Air Quality Subcommittee
March 14, 10 a.m.
March 21, 10 a.m.
WILMAPCO will be closed on March 29th for Good Friday.
For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings,
please visit www.wilmapco.org.
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 WILMAPCO News
 Comments Sought on
Planned Transportation Projects
WILMAPCO is
seeking public comment on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
and its associated air quality analysis. The TIP for New Castle County,
Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland lists federally funded
transportation projects including highway, bus, rail, pedestrian,
bicycle, and multimodal improvements for the region. The public
comment period will extend through March 7.
The draft TIP
shows a 32 percent decrease in funding from $2.6 billion in the
previously approved version, to $1.6 billion in the new draft version.
Many projects have been deferred based on available revenue and
DelDOT's goal to reduce the amount of debt.
Comments about the
TIP may be submitted online at www.wilmapco.org/tip,
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.
Transportation
Alternatives Program FY 13 and FY 14 Application Solicitation for Cecil
County
State Highway
Administration (SHA) will be accepting applications for FY 13 and FY 14
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) from March 1through May 15.
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), authorized under MAP-21,
provides funding for programs and small projects defined as
transportation alternatives, including on- and off road pedestrian and
bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver
access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community
improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational
trail program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects
for the planning, design or construction of boulevards and other
roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes
or other divided highways. Sponsors must be able to provide a minimum
of a twenty percent funding match. Project submissions will be
evaluated using WILMAPCO's project prioritization process, and other
factors as determined by WILMAPCO's Council. For information about
Maryland's TAP program, phone 410-545-5675 or email jsilwick@sha.state.md.us.
Learn more at http://www.roads.maryland.gov/index.aspx?pageid=144.
Bicycle
Parking Webinar #3, Bicycle Parking and Transit
The Association of
Pedestrian and Bicycle Professional (APBP) presents the 3rd in a series
of four webinars that covers all aspects of bicycle parking, sponsored
locally by WILMAPCO. This webinar introduces and describes techniques
and programs used by transit agencies to encourage and accommodate high
levels of bicycle access to a variety of transit modes. Bicycle parking
will be examined as a means to leverage other transit and bicycle
infrastructure development through thoughtfully designed and managed
parking programs. The session will also cover design, layout, and
management of lockers; bike stations; and adapting bicycle parking to
specific transit modes. The webinar will be held on March 13, from 3:00
p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at WILMAPCO. Registration is not necessary. For more
information, please visit http://www.apbp.org/events/event_details.asp?id=287568&group=.
APA Delaware Ethics
Webcast
Join the Delaware
Chapter of the American Planning Association for a webcast on March 22,
from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Chapter's Planning Thespians have
recorded a pair of radio skits featuring fictional planners faced with
tough ethical dilemmas. Live reaction and commentary from veteran
planners in Delaware will follow. Registration is free, and open to
everyone. To register, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/390956090.
You can participate from your own computer, or join this national
broadcast from the WILMAPCO office. (1.5 Ethics CM) For
information about APA Delaware membership, please visit www.delawareapa.org.
Former WILMAPCO Council
Chairperson Nelson K. Bolender Dies at 77
Nelson K. Bolender
of Elkton, Maryland was 77 years old when he passed away on February
14. Mr. Bolender served as WILMAPCO's Council chairperson for two years
from 2005 - 2007. Bolender had a long and distinguished career and
retired as an administrator with Cecil County Public Schools. He served
on many boards including the Board of Cecil County Commissioners, where
he was president. He also served on the Cecil County Social Services
Board, the Board of Trustees for Local Government Insurance Trust, the
Commission to Study Local Maintenance, and many others. To view Mr.
Bolender's full obituary, please visit http://www.cecildaily.com/obituaries/article_07ec8dce-76eb-11e2-a3d7-0019bb2963f4.html.
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 Member Agency News
Public Meeting Regarding
the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update
Your input is
needed! The Maryland Department of Transportation invites you to attend
a public meeting on March 21 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the
University of Baltimore William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 West
Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD for the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian
Plan Update. The goal of the Plan is to support cycling and walking as
integral modes of Maryland's transportation network. This will be the
first of three public meetings held to gather input for this Plan. You
may also join the meeting remotely via an online meeting and/or call-in
phone number. Details, instructions, and a link to the online
meeting will be available prior to the meeting at: www.mdot.maryland.gov/bikewalkplan.
Grant Funding Available
for Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning and Research
According to a
DNREC press release, "Grant funding is now available for local and
state governments, and non-profit organizations to increase Delaware's
coastal resiliency through sea level rise adaptation planning and
research." Proposals are due to the Delaware Coastal Programs
Office no later than 3 p.m., on March 15. Additional information,
including the Request for Proposals and application cover page, are
located at http://de.gov/coastalgrants.
For more information, please contact Bonnie Arvay at Bonnie.Arvay@state.de.us, or Robert Scarborough at Bob.Scarborough@state.de.us, Delaware Coastal Programs,
phone 302-739-9283.
DelDOT Public Workshops
and Meetings
The Delaware
Department of Transportation is holding three public workshops or
meetings in New Castle County this month. The meetings or
workshops include:
- SR 273, Appleby
Road to Airport Road - March 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at
DelDOT Canal District Office, Basement Conference Room, 250 Bear
Christiana Road, Bear
- Howell School Road
Project - March 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Olive B.
Loss Elementary School, 200 Brennan Blvd., Bear
- SR 72 McCoy Road to
SR 71 - March 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Kathleen H. Wilbur
Elementary School, 3942 Wrangle Hill Road, Bear
For more
information, please visit http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicWorkshops&month=3&year=2013.
MARC Growth and
Investment Plan
The MARC Growth
and Investment Plan is a multi-phased, multi-year plan to triple the
capacity of MARC, Maryland's commuter rail system. The MARC Growth and
Investment Plan, developed in 2007, is being updated and proposes new
objectives, including: increasing ridership, improving service,
maintaining a state of good repair, and enhancing the customer experience.
To learn more, please visit http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/marcplanfull.pdf.
Livability
Discussion Board & FHWA's Livability Website
FHWA's Livable
Communities Discussion Board is an online public forum for users to
participate in discussion threads and engage in questions and ideas on
livability related topics. In addition to the Livability Discussion
Board, several pages on the FHWA's Livability website have been
reorganized to make navigation easier. New case studies have been added
and reorganized by the six livability principles and the resource page
has been updated and reorganized to make resources more readily
available. For more information or to register for the discussion
board, please visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability.
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 Local News
Climate
Preparedness and Adaptation Training for Delaware communities
According to a February 25 DNREC press release, "
The Delaware Coastal Training Program and Delaware Sea
Grant are offering Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Training from
March 26 through 28 for Delaware communities. The training will be held
each day, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts
Hummock Road, in Dover. Trainers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Center, along with local
speakers experienced in Delaware-specific issues and topics, are
presenting this intensive and interactive three-day course. Space is
limited. The registration fee is $45. Registration is required by
March 18. To register, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/climatetraining.
For more information, please visit http://de.gov/dectp or contact Kelly
Valenick, Delaware Coastal Programs, at Kelly.valencik@state.de.us,
or call 302-739-3436.
Study
Finds that Kids Who Walk or Bike to School Concentrate Better
According to a
February 19 News Journal article,
"Fewer than
11 percent of Delaware kids walk to school and just over half a percent
ride a bike, a 2010 University of Delaware survey of 1,300 Delaware
families across the state showed. But some Delaware families might want
to reconsider how their children get to school. A study of nearly
20,000 Danish children showed those kids who walked, biked, or got to
school in a physically active way performed better on tests of focus
than their peers. The study, called Mass Experiment 2012, joins a
growing body of scientific evidence linking exercise with enhanced
learning, memory, and concentration." To view the source
article, please visit http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130219/HEALTH/302190010/Children-who-walk-bike-school-do-better-tests-studies-find.
University of Delaware
Researches Complete Communities
According to an
article in the Delaware Center for Transportation Newsletter, "The
University of Delaware (UD) Institute for Public Administration (IPA)
is currently working on a project to develop an initiative to plan for
Complete Communities. The first phase of IPA's Complete Communities
project included a focused literature review of Delaware planning
initiatives and national best practices, work with two pilot
communities in Delaware, and the development of a comprehensive
outreach strategy-including launch of a Planning for Complete
Communities website." For more information, please visit http://completecommunitiesde.org.
City
of New Castle to Receive Technical Assistance from the EPA
According to an
EPA press release, "EPA announced that 43 communities across the
country (including the City of New Castle) will receive technical
assistance from the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities
program. The program provides tools to help communities achieve their
development goals, improve the quality of life, and become more
economically and environmentally sustainable. EPA staff and national
experts will conduct one- to two-day workshops that focus on a specific
sustainability tool the community chose. For more information on the
Building Blocks program, please visit www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm.
Economic Forecasting,
Data Analytics, and Policy Analysis Seminar
According to a
Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) email announcement, REMI will
hold a free seminar in Dover, Delaware on March 5, from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Seminar topics will include:
- The Role
of Policy Analysis in Evaluating Competing Economic Visions
- Evaluating
State Tax Reformation Efforts
- eREMI:
An Introduction to the New Online Forecast Database
- REMI
TranSight: Transportation and the Economy
- Tampa
Bay Disaster Resiliency Study
- Hands-on
Demonstration of REMI Model (please bring laptop)
To register, please visit www.remi.com/events/dover-de.
As
Gas Prices Rise, Savings for Public Transit Riders Increases
As stated in a
press release from the American Public Transit Association (APTA),
"According to the February Transit Savings APTA Report,
Philadelphia area individuals who ride public transportation instead of
driving can save, on average, more than $981 this month, and $11,768
annually. These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public
transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle,
which includes the February average national gas price ($3.60 per
gallon-reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking
rate." For more information, please visit http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/2013/Pages/130212_Transit-Savings.aspx.
New Online Tool For
Parents of New Teen Drivers
According to the
Delaware Office of State Planning website, "The Graduated Driver
License (GDL) Parent Orientation Program (POP) is now available online
at www.ohs.delaware.gov/OHSGDL/story.html
for all parents and sponsors of new teen drivers in Delaware. This
program explains why the GDL law was implemented in Delaware, gives
them teaching and educational resources to help educate and teach their
new drivers how to drive safely, and what responsibilities and
liabilities the parent or sponsor assumes with a newly licensed
driver."
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 National News
U.S.
House Transportation Committee has Released its Work Program
The U.S. House of Representatives Highways and Transit Subcommittee of
the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released its work
plan for 2013-2014. The House Transportation Committee has agreed that
the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will work on the following
issues:
- Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act (MAP-21) Implementation
- Sustainability of Surface Transportation
Programs
- Innovative Financing
- Transportation Planning and Major
Construction Projects
- Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program
- Hours of Service (limits on the number of
hours commercial drivers may be on duty)
- Highway Safety and Traffic Fatalities and
Injuries
- Innovative Technologies
- Research Structure at the Department of
Transportation
For more details,
please visit http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/read-the-2013-14-workplan-for-house-subcommittee-on-highways-and-transit/.
Report:
Metropolitan Area Transportation Planning for Healthy Communities
The U.S. DOT's
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in cooperation with FHWA's
Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty has produced the report,
"Metropolitan Area Transportation Planning for Healthy
Communities." This report is the first of two white papers
highlighting best practices of State Departments of Transportation
(State DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and their
partners to successfully consider health throughout the transportation
planning process. The research focuses on broadly based approaches to
health, including safety, air quality, physical activity from walking
and bicycling, and access to health related destinations, and considers
all stages of transportation planning. For more information, please
visit www.planning.dot.gov/healthy_communities_desc.asp.
New
Health in Transportation Website
The U.S. DOT's
Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty has announced a new Health
in Transportation Website. The web site will serve as a one stop shop
for all Health and Transportation information, case studies, training
opportunities, and other resources. For more information, please
visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/health_in_transportation.
Effectiveness
of Bike Lanes
According to a
December Washington University news release, "A new study out of
Washington University in St. Louis is one of the first to use
technology to effectively measure the use of built environments as a
means to improve public health. The study, 'Emerging Technologies:
Webcams and Crowd-Sourcing to Identify Active Transportation,' is
published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The research
was conducted in a novel way, using publicly available outdoor webcams
and crowd-sourcing to count people, bikes, and cars, in rainy, foggy,
or crowded conditions where automatic methods fail." For
more information, please visit
https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24718.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter+-+Issue+16,+Jan+2013&utm_campaign=Newsletter+-+Issue+16,+Jan+2013&utm_medium=email.
Where Your Gas Money Goes
According to an article from the Union of Concerned
Scientists (UCS), "Every year Americans spend hundreds of billions
of dollars at the gas pump, but where does that money go? To find the
answer, UCS examined how drivers' gas dollars are distributed among all
the stakeholders involved. The results are clear. Most of the money
spent at the pump goes directly to oil companies." UCS found that:
- Out of
the more than $22,000 spent on gas over the lifetime of an average
vehicle bought in 2011, oil companies take in about $15,000
- Of the
remainder, 14 percent of the money spent on gasoline goes to taxes
that help pay for roads and transportation services, 10 percent to
refining costs, and 8 percent to distribution and marketing
- Gas
stations average only three to five cents of profit from each
gallon of gasoline sold
How you drive and
take care of your vehicle can have a big effect on how much fuel you use.
To learn about simple tips to reduce your car's impact on your wallet
and the environment, please visit http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/smart-transportation-solutions/better-fuel-efficiency/how-to-maximize-your.html.
Find
It, Fund It Charts Federal Bike and Pedestrian Funding Sources
According to a February 11 American Bicyclist Update
email, "The Find It, Fund It chart shows you the federal funding
sources for which your bike or pedestrian project is eligible. The
table has been updated for the new transportation law,
MAP-21." To view the chart, please visit www.advocacyadvance.org/site_images/content/Find_It_Fund_It_chart.pdf.
Does Transit Build
Stronger Communities?
According to Planetizen, "The results of a new poll conducted for
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution show that transit riders have a
stronger connection to their neighborhoods and the larger region. A
poll of residents in 10 Georgia counties has found that 51 percent of
those who had ridden Atlanta's transit service at least once in the
past six months said they had a strong connection to the Atlanta
region, versus 23 percent of nonriders." For more
information, please visit http://www.planetizen.com/node/60450.
Study
Predicts $365 Billion Highway Fund Shortfall
According to Better Roads, "As automobile fuel economy increases,
the federal highway program's fiscal position will become ever more
precarious, a new study by researchers at the College of William and Mary
finds. The team from William and Mary's Thomas Jefferson Program in
Public Policy (TJPPP) forecasts that during the next 23 years, as
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards rise, gasoline
consumption will decline. This will lead to a drop in gas tax payments
to the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF), the highway program's primary
funding source. Failing to change the existing tax structure while
maintaining current investment will cause the HTF's account to incur a
$365.5 billion deficit during the next 23 years, the study
concludes." For more information, please visit www.betterroads.com/study-predicts-365-billion-highway-fund-shortfall.
National Bike to School Day
Registration Now Open
According to a National Center for Safe Routes to School press release,
"National Bike to School Day registration is now open. Nearly 950
schools across the country participated in the inaugural national event
in 2012. As excitement for the event builds, participation is expected
to increase for the 2013 celebration on May 8." Schools, community
members, and parents can register a Bike to School Day event now at www.walkbiketoschool.org.
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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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