Delaware Recreation & Parks Society, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, Department of Transportation, Dover/Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization, and WILMAPCO invite you to Heels & Wheels: Delaware Walk and Bike Summit 2014. Join us on March 21, at the University of Delaware's John M. Clayton Hall in Newark for Delaware's premiere walking and biking conference.

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 learn what has been achieved in recent years and how we can make Delaware a better place to walk and bike.

Dan Burden, a nationally recognized authority on livability, Smart Growth, and bicycling and pedestrian design, is the keynote speaker. Burden has helped hundreds of places in North America create pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities.

Other highlights include a joint presentation on the Delaware Trails and Pathways Initiative by the Secretaries of DNREC and DelDOT, a map room featuring statewide walking and biking networks and opportunities for input, presentations from bicycle and pedestrian safety experts, and much more.

The Summit is free. Continental breakfast and lunch are included, but space is limited. For more information or to register, please visit www.wilmapco.org/heelsandwheels.

Member Agency News bike

Try the Wilmington Trolley
According to Delaware Transit Corporation's Getting There newsletter, "In collaboration with City business partners, the Wilmington Trolley, Route 32 will be extended to serve the Riverfront and Delaware Avenue at Jefferson Street. Starting February 10 you can ride the Trolley, weekdays from 10:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., operating every 20 minutes. The special fare is $1.00 each trip." For more information, please visit www.DartFirstState.com.

Maryland Upgrades 511

According to a Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) release, "SHA has announced new upgrades to its 511 travel information service, helping Maryland drivers to Know 'Even More' Before They Go. For drivers who rely most on the State's roadways, Maryland 511 features a 'Commercial Vehicle Operator' section designed for professional drivers. Truckers can customize 511 accounts specifically for commercial trips that can include multiple stops along a delivery route. The enhanced 511 system provides a one-stop shop with information about route restrictions, Truck Weigh and Inspection Stations and winter storm emergency truck parking." For more information, please visit www.md511.org.

State of Delaware and University of Delaware Partner to Create Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network

According to a DNREC release, "Charging stations for electric vehicles will be strategically placed at key locations in Delaware to enable long trips in the state by next year, through a new collaborative research agreement between the University of Delaware (UD) and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)." For more information, please visit www.udel.edu/udaily/2014/feb/ev-charging-stations-021914.html.

Local News

See You Outside Kickoff Party

According to the Delaware Greenways e-News, "The Second Annual See You Outside Challenge will begin next month - help Delaware Greenways celebrate by attending the See You Outside Kickoff Party at the Delaware Museum of Natural History on Thursday, March 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy food, music, refreshments, and a preview of outdoor activities, community festivals, concerts, and special events throughout the First State. Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased at the door or online." For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E157717&id=8.

New Chesapeake Bay Draft Watershed Agreement
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, "Chesapeake Bay Program partners and jurisdictions are seeking public input on the draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Agreement outlines a new plan for collaboration across the Bay's political boundaries and clarifies the Bay Program's vision and values." Bay Program partners welcome input on the draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement through March 17. Interested parties can offer input in three ways:

Submitting an in-person comment at the March 13 meeting of the Management Board, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Joe Macknis Memorial Conference Room (Fish Shack)
Submitting an online comment below (up to 750 words)
Submitting an email to agreement@chesapeakebay.net

In addition, a public listening sessions will be held at:

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Tuesday, March 4, from 3 to 8 p.m., in the Francis Scott Key Auditorium in Mellon Hall at St. John's College (60 College Avenue, Annapolis). Contact: Christopher R. Becraft (cbecraft@dnr.state.md.us or 410-260-8734).

For more information, please visit www.chesapeakebay.net/chesapeakebaywatershedagreement/page.

IPA Launches Online Delaware Complete Communities Planning

According to TransSearch, "The Institute for Public Administration (IPA) at the University of Delaware has launched the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox on its Complete Communities website. The online Toolbox is designed to build local government's capacity to develop complete-communities planning approaches, implementation tools, and community engagement strategies." For more information, please visit www.completecommunities.org.

National News

National Bike to School Day 2014 Registration Now Open

According to a National Center for Safe Routes to School Release, "The National Center for Safe Routes to School has announced National Bike to School Day registration is now open. Bike to School Day is a national event that gives communities across the country the opportunity to join together in bicycling to school on the same day. It is part of the movement for year-round safe routes to school and encourages bicycling to school as a healthy way for kids and families to make their school commute." For more information, please visit www.walkbiketoschool.org.

U.S. Department of Transportation Uses V2V Technologies to Improve Highway Safety
According to GCN.com article, "The Department of Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced this month it would begin to take the steps necessary to enable new vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technologies in light cars and trucks. The new V2V technologies would help vehicles avoid crashes by allowing them to "talk" to one another to exchange safety data, including vehicle speed and positioning information, through a combination of roadside data-gathering sensors and in-vehicle devices. To view the source article, please visit http://gcn.com/Articles/2014/02/10/connected-vehicles.aspx.

U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Comment on Whether to Ban Mobile Device Voice Communications on Flights

According to a U.S. Department of Transportation release, "The DOT has announced it is seeking public comment on whether it should propose a rule to ban voice communications on passengers' mobile wireless devices on flights within, to, and from the United States. The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Use of Mobile Wireless Devices for Voice Calls on Aircraft provides the public with 30 days to offer comments on whether or not a rule should be proposed." Comments on the ANPRM must be received by March 14. The ANPRM can be found at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2014-0002-0001.

CTAA Announces the Launch of RideShareNation

According to a Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) email, "CTAA is excited to announce the launch of RideShareNation, a site dedicated to news, resources, finance, and discussion about connecting all forms of ride sharing into a cohesive network that builds mobility options, reduces congestion, and improves the environment." For more information, please contact Caryn Souza, RideShareNation Director or visit www.ridesharenation.com.

ULI Global Awards for Excellence

According to an Urban Land Institute (ULI) email, "If you're proud of your work, why not apply to the 2014 ULI Global Awards for Excellence? In its 36th year the program is the centerpiece of ULI's efforts to identify and promote best practices in all types of real estate development. The awards define the standard for real estate development practice worldwide." For more information, please visit http://uli.org/programs/awards-competitions/uli-global-award-for-excellence/.

Submissions are due March 3, 2014. If you have any specific questions, contact Daniel Lobo, manager of ULI awards, at awards@uli.org or 202-624-7101.

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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