DOVER/KENT COUNTY MPO ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Date Posted: Wednesday, December 16th, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/11/2020 For more information, please contact Helen Wiles at Helen.Wiles@doverkentmpo.org DOVER KENT COUNTY MPO ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOVER, DE—Mayor and MPO Council Chair Robin Christiansen announced today that Marilyn J. Smith has been named the new Executive Director of the Dover/Kent County MPO. “We are thrilled to announce Marilyn Smith as our new Executive Director for the Dover/Kent MPO,” Christiansen said. “Marilyn’s years of leadership and economic development experience were important factors in her selection but even more important to us was her obvious love and appreciation for the people and communities that make Dover and Kent County such a special place. The board and I are confident that she and our capable MPO staff will build on the great work Reed Macmillan has done and will help bring our community’s vision for transportation improvement and sustainable business growth to life.” Smith’s 30-year career has included prominent roles in public, private, and nonprofit leadership and economic development, with project management experience building public-private partnerships, leading strategic planning initiatives, and visioning for community development. Helen Wiles, MPO public outreach manager, endorsed the hire saying, “Marilyn is going to be instrumental in taking the MPO to the next level.” Smith is hitting the ground running and will spend her first 30 days on the job working side-by-side with retiring Executive Director Reed Macmillan. Macmillan has served as Executive Director since October of 2017 and announced last month that he would be stepping down at the end of the year. “I have enjoyed my past three years working as your Executive Director and now look forward to enjoying my military retirement,” he said. For her part, Smith says she is eager to build on the MPO’s successes and planning already in place. “I’m excited to work with our exceptional staff, Council, and committees to build on their many successes, especially in the development and implementation of Innovation 2045. Our region will continue to face challenges as our nation navigates the hardship of a global pandemic. But this community is strong, our leaders are honest and capable, and our businesses and employees are extraordinary. Together, we can rise to this and any occasion and achieve the vision we share for Dover and Kent County’s bright future.” Smith is relocating to Delaware from Johnstown, New York. She points to a personal visit to Delaware for a family celebration in 2018 as the spark that ignited her love for the state. “I went back to New York, but my heart stayed here,” she said. Smith has a B.S. in Political Science from Weber State University and an MPA from the University of Utah. She is an adjunct faculty member at Excelsior College and Purdue Global University. Her past roles include Senior Economic Development Advisor for U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko from 2012 to 2020 and Executive Director for Cornell University Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties from 2000 to 2012. Smith and her team […]
Read More...
Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization TIP Amendment Now Open For Public Comment
Date Posted: Friday, November 20th, 2020Media Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager 302-387-6026 helen.wiles@doverkentmpo Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization TIP Amendment Now Open For Public Comment The Dover/Kent County MPO is proposing to amend the FY20-22 TIP to include solar panels on canopies over the bus parking lot at the Dover Operations and Administration Facility. DTC received a $2.5 million discretionary grant from FTA specifically for this purpose. The total cost will be $3.1 million to be spent in FY21-22. The draft of the amended TIP is now published on the MPO’s website (www.doverkentmpo.org) and is open for public comment until January 6, 2021 when it will be voted on by the MPO Council for adoption. Any comments or concerns that people have can be sent to Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager for the MPO. Ms Wiles can be reached by phone at 302-387-6026 or email at helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org. The public participation process for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will also meet the public participation requirements for DTC’s Program of Projects (POP). The TIP also considers effects upon low income and minority residents. The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization is a federally funded not-for-profit that works with local, state and federal governments along with local transportation organizations to ensure that transportation planning and projects are done in compliance with Federal mandates to include the Federal Clean Air Act and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST). For more information on the Dover/Kent County MPO, please visit www.doverkentmpo.org or call Helen Wiles at 302-387-6026.
Read More...
DOVER/KENT MPO ANNOUNCES PAC and TAC MEETINGS
Date Posted: Friday, November 20th, 2020Media Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager 302-387-6026 helen.wiles@doverkentmpo DOVER/KENT MPO ANNOUNCES PAC and TAC MEETINGS The Dover/Kent MPO will be holding a joint Public Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee meeting virtually on December 3 at 6pm. Due to constrictions for a virtual meeting, the MPO requires registration for this meeting. Please call 302-387-6030 or email helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org to register. The full agenda is available on the MPO website. All MPO meetings are open to the public. The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization is a Federally mandated not-for-profit that works with local, state and federal governments along with local transportation organizations to ensure that transportation planning and projects are done in compliance with Federal mandates to include the Federal Clean Air Act and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST). For more information on the Dover/Kent County MPO, please visit www.doverkentmpo.org or call Helen Wiles at 302-387-6026.
Read More...
Dover Freight Study Virtual Public Workshop
Date Posted: Friday, October 23rd, 202010 28 20 Workshop Flyer
Read More...
DOVER/KENT COUNTY MPO ANNOUNCES DRAFT OF AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY REPORT
Date Posted: Thursday, September 24th, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information please contact Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager at 302-387-6026 or helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org DOVER/KENT COUNTY MPO ANNOUNCES DRAFT OF AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY REPORT The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization has announced the draft of its new air quality conformity report is now online for public review and comment. This report is part of the MTP Update, Innovation 2045. Air Quality is an important factor in all new transportation projects. The air quality conformity report establishes that any new projects will not negatively affect air quality within Kent County. The long-range plan, called an MTP or Metropolitan Transportation Plan, includes is a list of transportation projects put together from the municipalities, Kent County, DelDOT, and the public. It also incorporates goals and objectives to implement those projects. The MTP is updated every four years. The Innovation 2045 draft plan is available at www.innovation2045.com. The Air Quality Conformity Report is listed as an Appendix to the update. The comment period will be open until October 24, 2020. The plan will then go to the Technical and Public advisory committees for recommendations to the MPO Council. The Council will vote to adopt the plan in January of 2021. For more information or to make comments on the plan, please contact Helen Wiles at helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org. The Dover/Kent County MPO is the federally designated agency responsible for coordinating transportation planning and programming in Kent County, Delaware. Plans and programs adopted by the MPO outline how federal transportation funds will be spent and must comply with federal laws governing clean air, environmental justice, and transportation performance measurement.
Read More...
MPO Announces the MTP Update now open for Public Comment!
Date Posted: Thursday, September 24th, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information please contact Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager at 302-387-6026 or helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org DOVER/KENT COUNTY MPO ANNOUNCES DRAFT OF NEW LONG RANGE PLAN The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization has announced the draft of its new long-range plan, titled Innovation 2045 is now online for public review and comment. “This has been a year-long endeavor, starting with the public, when we were doing surveys around Kent County.” Said Public Outreach Manager Helen Wiles. “The Covid-19 crisis caused some of our outreach efforts to go virtual, but the work never stopped.” The long-range plan, called an MTP or Metropolitan Transportation Plan, includes is a list of transportation projects put together from the municipalities, Kent County, DelDOT, and the public. It also incorporates goals and objectives to implement those projects. The MTP is updated every four years. The Innovation 2045 draft plan is available at www.innovation2045.com. There is also a link to a project map that shows all 72 proposed projects for the next 25 years. The comment period will be open until October 24, 2020. The plan will then go to the Technical and Public advisory committees for recommendations to the MPO Council. The Council will vote to adopt the plan in January of 2021. For more information or to make comments on the plan, please contact Helen Wiles at helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org. The Dover/Kent County MPO is the federally designated agency responsible for coordinating transportation planning and programming in Kent County, Delaware. Plans and programs adopted by the MPO outline how federal transportation funds will be spent and must comply with federal laws governing clean air, environmental justice, and transportation performance measurement.
Read More...
MPO ANNOUNCES PUBLIC WORKSHOP FOR MTP UPDATE!
Date Posted: Friday, September 4th, 2020CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR ONLINE PUBLIC WORKSHOP!
Read More...
MPO ANNOUNCES TIP AMENDMENTS
Date Posted: Friday, July 31st, 2020For Immediate Release 7/30/20 For more information, please contact: Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager, Dover/Kent MPO helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org MPO ANNOUNCES TIP AMENDMENTS Dover, DE: The MPO created an FY2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that was approved by the MPO Council on May 1, 2019, with the anticipation that 1) it would be a two-year TIP per the DelDOT change in Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) publication policies and 2) any significant changes in the TIP projects, as defined in the STIP Modification procedures of January 2011, would be amended into the document. There were substantial changes in the projects identified in the second year of the TIP. The Projects with significant changes that require the amendment process are: From DelDOT: Rt 13 Walnut Shade Road to Lochmeath Way: The budget was doubled from the previous CTP, and it was well over the minimum change. The 2 Camden Bypass projects, named initially North and South, was renamed to East/West w/ new elements, limits, and budgets. Not really a change in projects but recategorization of projects. The Crawford Carroll Road project was suspended as DSU continued to use the involved and adjacent properties for instruction The Duck Creek Road project was added The N. Main St. Smyrna project was added The Peach Tree Run (all) project was added, from Voshell Mill Road to Irish Hill Road From DTC: The Dover Facility Renovation Budget was substantially increased (2) 30’ buses were added (7) 29’ LF buses were added The MPO is required to amend the FY2020-2023 and add the FY2021-2024 projects to align with the DelDOT CTP. The changes in the project names and limits require the amendment to also clarify the changes in the TIP documents. The MPO will amend the TIP for presentation at the next round of committee meetings leading to Council consideration for adoption on September 2, 2020.
Read More...
UPWP Amendment
Date Posted: Monday, June 29th, 2020Here is a copy of the UPWP Amendment. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email Helen at helen.wiles@doverkentmpo.org. FY21 UPWP Amendment 1 24 June 20
Read More...
DOVER KENT MPO ANNOUNCES SPECIAL MEETING
Date Posted: Thursday, June 11th, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/11/20 For more information contact: Helen Wiles, Public Outreach Manager helen.wiles@dverkentmpo.org DOVER KENT MPO ANNOUNCES SPECIAL MEETING A “special” D/KC MPO Public Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting scheduled tentatively for Monday, July 6, at 6:00 pm to discuss one action item to amend the FY21 UPWP and PL Agreement. Specifically, the D/KC MPO has four transportation planning studies, which began in FY20 (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020) and which will need to continue into FY21 (which begins on July 1, 2020). The funding for these four transportation studies must be formally “rolled over” from FY20 into FY21, and we need to amend our FY21 UPWP and PL Agreement to account for these four studies. After the July 6 PAC meeting, the action item will be discussed during a special Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting the next day on July 7 before being heard during the regularly scheduled D/KC MPO Council on July 8. Meeting agendas and proposed text changes to the FY21 UPWP and PL Agreement will post on the website before these special meetings. The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization is a Federally mandated not-for-profit that works with local, state and federal governments along with local transportation organizations to ensure that transportation planning and projects are done in compliance with Federal mandates to include the Federal Clean Air Act and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST). For more information on the Dover/Kent County MPO, please visit www.doverkentmpo.org or call Helen Wiles at 302-387-6026.
Read More...
