Dover/Kent County MPO

Public Comment Period for 2016-2019 TIP runs through Sept. 2

CAMDEN — The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization has proposed three amendments to its FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program. These proposed changes warrant a public comment period, which is running from now through Sept. 2. The first proposed amendment involves the proposed addition of a third lane in both the northbound and southbound directions of U.S. 13. This amendment involves the section of highway that runs from Lochmeath Way in Camden to Walnut Shade Road near Woodside. In addition to the roadway widening, work would involve storm water management facilities, multiple intersection redesigns, traffic signal reconfigurations and improvements for multiple transportation modes. The justification for the project is, the corridor has repeatedly been cited for safety improvements. Design for the $17.5 million project is scheduled for fiscal year 2018. The second proposed amendment involves the Camden Bypass, from South Street to Rising Sun Road. The project would provide a connection on new alignment from South Street to a new signalized intersection at U.S. 13, and extending to State Route 10. The road would align Rising Sun Road with Route 10 and maintain the signal at Camden-Wyoming Avenue and U.S. 13. The rationale for the $13.2 million project is, the project is part of the Camden Bypass Study that was adopted in to the Town of Camden’s comprehensive plan. The intent of the project is to provide a bypass alternative to relieve congestion and heavy vehicles from downtown Camden. Project design is scheduled to start in fiscal year 2017. The third proposed amendment involves road improvements to Walnut Shade road, starting at the intersection of Walnut Shade and U.S. 13 to Peachtree Run Road. Work would include upgrading the road to accommodate traffic as well as build in walking and bicycling amenities. Estimated cost for the project is nearly $12 million. Project design is expected to start in fiscal year 2019. 07 30 15 CTP FY 15 Camden Bypass, South Street to Rising Sun Road 14-00029 KC 07 30 15 CTP FY 15 HEP KC, US13 Walnut Shade Rd. to Lochmeath Way 15-00013 KC 07 30 15 CTP FY 15 Walnut Shade Road, US13 to Peachtree Run Road 14-00030 KC

MPO Council approves FY 2016-2019 TIP

CAMDEN — Council members for the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Wednesday unanimously approved the MPO’s FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP represents the first three-to-four years of the MPO’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Projects in the TIP are ones for which the Delaware Department of Transportation wants to secure federal funding. The TIP also serves as a budgetary guide for how much money will be spent on each project. The MPO held a public comment period for the TIP between March 30 and April 30. MPO Council member Drew Boyce said the unanimous MPO Council vote was an indication that “projects that are moving forward are consistent with the council’s vision for Kent County.” “Moving forward, a lot of big infrastructure projects are happening, which is great for Kent County,” Boyce said. “And we’re going to continue to support projects that move the county in the right direction with safety, mobility and as much as we can, this economic component.” MPO Chairman Brad Eaby said the MPO did its part on Wednesday in the planning process. “It was a constructive exercise that we went through last time,” Eaby said, referring to delays that the council went through last year before approving the FY 2015-2018 TIP. “But I think it made the process stronger in the long run, and made the parties work together even more cohesively in the future.” There are many projects in the FY 2016-2019 TIP, including ones that have been on the docket for some time. Some of those projects have already started, such as the West Dover Connector and the grade-separated intersection at Rt. 1 and Thompsonville Road, and are scheduled to continue in the just-approved TIP. “We are finally starting to see the result of all that hard work in the actual moving of dirt and laying concrete and getting these projects in the ground, because as long and hard as we work on them there’s really no public benefit until they’re done.” Some highlight projects in the FY 2016-2018 TIP include: • Continued construction of the West Dover Connector and the Route 1/Thompsonville Road grade-separated intersection • Start of construction for the improvements to Route 1/Little Heaven and the Route 1/South Frederica grade-separated intersections • Safety improvements along Glenwood Avenue in Smyrna • Construction of a roundabout at Route 10/Route 15 Design projects include: • U.S. 13 widening (from the Puncheon Run connector to Lochmeath Way) • Kenton Road (Route 8 to Walker Road) • Crawford Carroll Road extension • Loockerman Street/Forest Street improvements

There’s still time to comment on the MPO’s draft FY 2016-2019 TIP

CAMDEN – There’s still time for the public to comment on the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s draft FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. The public comment period that started on March 30 will run through April 30. The TIP, which represents the first three-to-four years of the MPO’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan, includes more than $150 million over the next four years of road, bridge, and transit expansion projects in Kent County. Projects in the TIP are ones for which the Delaware Department of Transportation wants to secure federal funding. The TIP also serves as a budgetary guide for how much money will be spent on each project. A copy of the draft TIP can be viewed as FY2016-2019 TIP FULL DRAFT 5-6-2015 V2 or by going to the homepage and clicking on the TIP under the Publications menu. To submit a comment, write to: kate.layton@doverkentmpo.org, or call 302-387-6030.

MPO opens comment period on updated FY 2015-18 TIP

2015-2018 TIP FULL DRAFT 9-3-2014 Dover/Kent County MPO opens public comment period for an updated FY 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program CAMDEN – Earlier this year, the Dover/Kent County MPO held a public comment period for its draft FY 2015-18 Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. Since then, the Delaware Department of Transportation, which builds many of the state’s roads, saw some budgetary and project prioritization changes. These changes impacted some transportation project timelines, which therefore also impacted the MPO’s TIP. There are still a number of road projects on the horizon within Kent County. Due to the changes, the MPO has revised its draft TIP for FY 2015-18 to reflect the budgetary and prioritization changes. This also means the MPO is issuing a new 30-day public comment period for the revised TIP that will start July 23 and end Aug. 22. The TIP represents the first few years of the MPO’s long range Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Projects in the TIP are ones for which the Delaware Department of Transportation wants to secure federal funding. The TIP also serves as a budgetary guide for how much money will be spent on each project. Some project highlights of the proposed TIP include: • Design for the widening of U.S. 13 from two lanes to three lanes on both sides of the divided highway. The widening would occur between the Puncheon Run Connector in Dover and Walnut Shade Road in Woodside. • The construction of the West Dover Connector. • Grade-separated intersections along, Rt. 1 and Thompsonville Road (with construction scheduled for FY 15), Rt. 1 in Little Heaven (with construction scheduled for FY 16) and Rt. 1 in South Frederica (with construction scheduled for FY 17). • Several safety projects, such as improvements at Glenwood Avenue in Smyrna. • A roundabout at the Route 10/15 intersection west of Camden. • Bridge rehabilitation projects throughout the county. • The TIP includes additional transit vehicle purchases and replacements.  

Special MPO Council Meeting set for June 18

The Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold a second special meeting regarding the MPO’s draft FY 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 in the council chambers of Camden Town Hall, 1783 Friends Way, Camden. Council at that time is scheduled to discuss and vote upon the MPO’s draft FY 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program. The TIP represents the first few years of the long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Transportation-related projects must be included in the TIP, or else they cannot be funded with federal money. At its regular May 7 meeting, the council could not reach a consensus about the document and called for a special meeting that was held on May 28. At the May 28 meeting, much of the council’s discussion focused on the South Frederica grade-separated intersection, a line item in the TIP. Council did not vote on the TIP, but asked the Delaware Department of Transportation to prepare a draft FY 2015-2020 Capital Transportation Program (CTP) using the scenario of the South Frederica grade-separated intersection project as the number one priority for Kent County. Under that scenario, DelDOT would then reprioritize the balance of its Kent County projects so that council can review the impact of repositioning the projects at the June 18 special meeting. In addition to transportation projects having to be included in the TIP to receive federal funds, an MPO-approved TIP and DelDOT’s CTP must agree with one another in order for Delaware projects to receive federal approval and funding. The council meeting is open to the public, which is encouraged to attend. Camden Town Hall is located just off Voshell’s Mill Road and is visible from U.S. 13 across the highway from B&B Music. For more information, call the MPO at (302) 387-6026 or (302) 387-6030.

TIP

A draft of the 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program is available to view. Go to the Programs menu on the homepage to view the document and maps of local projects in the document.