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Transportation
News from the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO)
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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.
For updates or
more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit www.wilmapco.org.
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 WILMAPCO
News
 WILMAPCO Public Workshop
- Transportation Improvement Program
WILMAPCO is
proposing more than $1.8 billion for federally-funded transportation
projects in New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland over
the next four years in its FY 2015-18 Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP). Public comments are being accepted through Tuesday,
March 4. A corresponding analysis of the on-road air quality impacts of
projects was also completed for New Castle County, and is also
available for comment.
Review and comment
on the proposed TIP and its associated air quality analysis at a Public Open House on Monday,
February 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Open House is being
hosted jointly by WILMAPCO and DelDOT.
The draft
documents and open house materials are also available online at www.wilmapco.org/tip.
Comments may be submitted online at www.wilmapco.org/tip,
mailed to Wilmington Area Planning Council, 850 Library Avenue, Suite
100, Newark, DE 19711, by fax to (302) 737-9584, or emailed to wilmapco@wilmapco.org. For more information, please
email Heather Dunigan at hdunigan@wilmapco.org, or
call (302) 737-6205 ext. 118.
 Registration
is Open for Heels & Wheels: Delaware Walk/Bike Summit 2014
Heels & Wheels: Delaware Walk/Bike Summit 2014,
organized by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT),
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
(DNREC), Dover/Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization, and WILMAPCO, will
take place on Friday, March 21 at the University of Delaware, John M.
Clayton Hall in Newark. Heels & Wheels will provide the opportunity
for trail users, walking and biking commuters, planners, land managers,
advocacy groups, trail and pathway builders, decision makers, and
walking and biking enthusiasts to network and learn collectively what
has been achieved in recent years, new opportunities, and current
issues.
Dan Burden, a
nationally recognized authority on livability, Smart Growth, and
bicycling and pedestrian design, is the keynote speaker. Burden has
helped hundreds of communities in North America become more pedestrian
and bicycle friendly.
The Summit is
free, and continental breakfast and lunch are included, but
registration is required. To learn more or to register, please
visit www.wilmapco.org/heelsandwheels.
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Member Agency News 
$16
Million Available For Bike and Ped Projects in Maryland - Upcoming
Workshops to Discuss Details
According to a Maryland Department of Transportation release,
"MDOT and State Highway Administration (SHA) will hold regional
workshops to detail four programs that provide funding for bicycling,
pedestrian, and recreational trail projects throughout Maryland:
Bikeways, Safe Routes to School, Transportation Alternatives, Federal
Lands Access Program, and Recreational Trails. In 2014, $16 million in
reimbursable grant funding will be available for projects that enhance
walking, biking, pedestrian safety, and recreational trail and federal
lands access. MDOT and SHA officials will discuss available funding
sources, project eligibility, requirements, and funding cycles.
The free workshops are geared toward local governments and non-profit
organizations and will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on at the
following dates and locations:
- February
13 at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Headquarters, Auditorium, 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD.
To RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/1iGWS7o
- February
20 at the Harford County Council Chamber, 212 South Bond Street,
1st Floor, Bel Air, MD. To RSVP, go to: http://bit.ly/1cpNp0D
- February
27 at the Queen Anne's County Department of Planning and Zoning,
160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD. To RSVP, go to: http://bit.ly/Lk9wuO
- March 5
at the Browning Building, located in Pinecliff Park, 8350
Pinecliff Park Road, Frederick, MD. To RSVP, go to: http://bit.ly/1f7RUfR
For more information on the Bikeways, Safe Routes to
School, Transportation Alternatives, Federal Lands Access, and
Recreational Trails programs, please visit the following sites:
Transit Changes in
Delaware Postponed
According to a Dover Post article, "The Delaware
Transit Corporation (DTC) announced that many of the changes to
Delaware's transit system proposed earlier this year will be postponed
until the fall. During a string of public forums held by the transit
corporation the public was presented with a list of proposed changes
including fare increases. Due to feedback received, the transit
corporation will hold off on implementing those changes, with the
exception of fare increases, until September 2014." To view
the source article, please visit www.doverpost.com. The fare
increase will be effective on February 9. To view fare changes,
please visit www.dartfirststate.com/rightfit/pdf/AccessibleFareDetails1-10-14.pdf
or visit www.dartfirststate.com/rightfit/index.shtml
for more information.
MDOT
Announces Release of Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
According to an
email from Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), "MDOT is
pleased to announce the release of the Twenty-Year Maryland Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
establishes a 20-year vision to support cycling and walking as modes of
transportation in Maryland. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan supports
the Maryland Transportation Plan (MTP) and other key statewide planning
efforts." To view the Plan, please visit www.mdot.maryland.gov/bikewalkplan.
Maryland's SHA Uses Audio
and Video Social Media to Share the Latest Road Information
According to a January 6 Talking Transportation blog post,
"Maryland State Highway Association (SHA) is using a combination
of SoundCloud, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to tightly integrate
its safety messaging. While many state DOTs and other transportation
agencies have actively utilized Twitter and Facebook for several years,
video services like Instagram and Vine, which allow smartphone users to
record short video messages, are still emerging tools. SoundCloud, an
audio hosting service, is popular with musicians but remains relatively
unknown in transportation circles. SoundCloud is a rapidly growing tool
that helps SHA disseminate critical information, particularly during
winter weather events." To view the source article, please
visit http://talkingtransportation.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/brrr-audio-video-social-media-tools-help-marylands-sha-share-the-latest-road-information.
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 Local News
Deadline Extended for Regional
Planning Conference Call for Presentations
Organizers of the 2014 Delaware/Maryland Regional Planning
Conference, "Planning for Healthy & Sustainable Places,"
have extended their search for conference sessions and presentations
through February 10. The two-day event, co-sponsored by Nemours, will
be held at the Embassy Suites in Newark, Delaware on October 28
and 29, 2014. To learn more or submit an idea, please visit http://delawareapa.wordpress.com/2014-conference/Proposals.
Proposals must be received by February 10.
New Cecil County
Connector Bus Route Announced
According to a
CecilDaily.com article, "Cecil Transit announced it will begin a
new Mid-County Connector bus route for all citizens to ride. The new
route will connect the towns of Charlestown, Elkton, North East, and
Perryville to Cecil College's main campus. The new route will provide
three loops daily Monday through Friday to start. Riders must have
exact change or a Cecil Transit bus pass. The general public can ride
the bus for $2 each way, or they can buy a pass for $20 that gives them
12 rides. Anyone 60 years old or older can ride for $1 each way, or buy
a pass for $10 that gives them 12 rides. Students can buy a 20-ride
pass for $20 with a student identification card. Student passes must be
purchased at Cecil College." For additional information, call
(410) 996-5295 ext. 2, or visit www.ceciltransit.com.
To view the source article, please visit http://www.cecildaily.com/news/local_news/article_18e6d68a-cbaa-5632-9b9e-2a4fcb3effe7.html.
DNR
is Seeking Public Input on a Proposed Recreation Plan for State Lands
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) webpage,
"Maryland DNR is seeking public input on the final draft of the
Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, developed to enhance recreation
areas and services on State lands. The proposed Plan helps to guide
land conservation and the development of outdoor recreation
opportunities over the next five years." To review and
comment on the Plan, please visit www.dnr.state.md.us/land/Stewardship.
Comments can be emailed to LPRP@dnr.state.md.us, but
must be received by February 14, 2014.
New Delaware Climate
Report Projects Increasing Temperatures and Heavier Precipitation
According to a
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
(DNREC) release, "A new statewide report produced at the direction
of DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara and DNREC's Division of Energy and
Climate, 'Climate Change Projections and Indicators for Delaware,'
projects increasing temperatures, more extreme heat days, and more
frequent heavy rain events through the year 2100." To view
the full report, please visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/Pages/Climate.aspx.
Delaware's Sea Level Rise
Adaptation Plan Released
According to the
Delaware Sea Level Rise Newsletter, "Delaware's sea level rise
adaptation plan 'Preparing for Tomorrow's High Tide: Recommendations
for Adapting to Sea Level Rise in Delaware' is now available. This
document highlights 55 actions that should be taken to better prepare
Delaware for the wide-ranging effects of sea level rise. It also
describes sea level rise adaptation strategies, highlights several case
studies of adaptation, and includes a list of resources and tools for
those wishing to start adapting homes, businesses, or
communities." The adaptation plan is available at http://de.gov/slradaptplan
or by calling the Delaware Coastal Programs Office at (302)
739-9283.
Showcase Delaware
Community's Efforts in Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
According to a Delaware Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Coalition
email, "Delaware Recognition for Community Health Promotion
Program will be accepting applications in March 2014. The program
highlights the efforts of Delaware's municipalities that incorporate
health-promoting options as an integral part of their services and
infrastructure. Community leaders, coalitions, municipal staff, and
others are eligible to complete the application
(with review and signature of a municipal official). Being part of this
program is a great way to promote health, economic development, and
other vitality goals in your community." For more
information, please visit the DE HEAL website, at www.deheal.org.
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 National News
2014
National Bike Summit
According to the National Bike Summit webpage, "The 2014 National
Bike Summit will be held March 3 through 5 in Washington, D.C. The 2014
Summit will unite the voices of bicyclists on Capitol Hill to advance
bicycle safety, funding, and equity. Join more than 700 participants
from all 50 states to build momentum in Congress for a Bicycle Friendly
America." For more information, please visit http://www.bikeleague.org/summit.
MIT
Report On the State of Health and Urban Planning
According to an
MIT News article, "A newly published research report from MIT's
Center for Advanced Urbanism (CAU) examines an array of public health
matters in eight major metropolitan areas in the United States, and
suggests a wide array of possible remedies, from better mass transit to
extensive tree-planting." To learn more, please visit http://cau.mit.edu/news/report-state-health-urbanism.
Transportation
Project Climate Change Adaptation Guide
According to the introduction of a recently released FHWA report,
Assessment of the Body of Knowledge on Incorporating Climate Change
Adaptation Measures into Transportation Projects, "This report
highlights adaptation actions that transportation agencies around the
world are already pursuing and articulates a growing set of best
practices for implementing adaptation. The report also discusses
strategies, examples, and best practices for evaluating the costs and
benefits of adaptation. The purpose of the report is to provide
transportation practitioners with a guide to the current 'state of
practice' in this field." To learn more, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/climate_change/adaptation/resources_and_publications/transportation_projects/page01.cfm.
US DOT Study Finds
Digital Billboards Don't Distract Drivers
According to a
blog post on The Hill, "Drivers are not distracted by digital
billboards alongside roads, according to a study conducted by the
Department of Transportation (DOT). The study, which was released by
the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), found that drivers are not
any more likely to be distracted by digital billboards than stationary
signs. On average, the drivers in this study devoted between 73 and 85
percent of their visual attention to the road ahead for both Commercial
Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS) and standard billboards. The
presence of CEVMS did not appear to be related to a decrease in looking
toward the road ahead." To view the source blog post, please visit
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/highways-bridges-and-roads/194654-dot-study-finds-digital-billboard-dont.
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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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