SPRING 2017 Quarterly newsletter of the Wilmington Area Planning Council TRANSPORTER

WILMAPCO Partners with Local Bicycle Nonprofits

icycle collectives, cooperatives, students to nature, Band community bike shops are and expose them to often not-for-profit organizations bicycle riding for that provide a venue for people to transportation and learn about bicycling while building recreation. Students community around promoting learn about bicycle sustainable transportation. Our region safety and refurbish is home to two such organizations: used bikes, which they Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, keep upon graduating founded in 2006, and Newark Bike from the program. Older Project, founded in 2011. students get to go on a Urban Bike Project (UBP) bicycle ride the last day of supports Wilmington communities class, while younger students by providing access to bicycling enjoy a bicycle rodeo. as a healthy, affordable, and The Newark Bike Project (NBP) practical means of transportation serves the greater Newark and is open to children ages 10 to and recreation. With its East Side University of areas. Each 14. The youth learn about bike neighborhood location, UBP month, volunteers repurpose more safety/maintenance and engage in provides a safe venue for community than 50 donated bikes and assist with community service and leadership youth to gather while learning approximately 100 walk-in repairs. training. Bicycle rides throughout bicycle safety and maintenance, and NBP graduates a dozen or so new the community are another highlight earning their own bicycles. mechanics from its training program and promote physical activity and WILMAPCO provides funding each season. They also give away free health. support to the UBP Earn-A-Bike bicycles, including a lock, helmet, Program. The program began in and lights, based upon referrals from Learn more about UBP at 2010 and has served hundreds of a social service agency. NBP also www.urbanbikeproject.com and youth. It gives a hands-on learning hosts regular music and performing NBP at newarkbikeproject.org. opportunity for youth, with a focus arts events, a youth program, and on the 19801 zip code. UBP also discussion groups. partners with schools and youth Like at UBP, WILMAPCO also organizations to teach bicycle supports a youth program at NBP . mechanics and safe riding, connect The Youth Empowerment Program WILMAPCO’s 2016 Our Town: The Future of Transportation

igist Zegeye, WILMAPCO She said, “DelDOT is moving most preparing to update our Long TExecutive Director, welcomed of its services online, and we are Range Transportation Plan, which 80 elected of¿cials, public agency constantly working on expanding is updated every four years, DVRPC staff, planners, engineers, and the our app that provides real-time hosted a meeting of experts on public at the 2016 WILMAPCO traf¿c information, mapping layers, “Future Forces.” Our Town forum, “The Future of the status of road construction, and During that meeting, we identi¿ed Transportation.” The event, held snowstorm-tracking information.” ¿ve future forces that impact at Wilmington’s Chase Center on She added, “It is a very exciting transportation, including “enduring September 2, featured panel time to be part of transportation, and urbanism,” which means we need discussions to help attendees think the possibilities are endless.” to invest in more complete streets differently about transportation, The emcee, Edward O’Donnell, and transit service; a “free agent including such topics as self-driving Senior Fellow and Instructor, economy,” as a result of people vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle , said, working at multiple jobs; a “U.S. communications, UBER and Lyft “The future of transportation energy boom,” due to the abundance (car-lending systems), unmanned promises to change our landscape of domestically produced energy aerial systems (drones), and other and our travel behavior.” As an that keeps costs low; “severe climate technical advancements. example, he discussed the ¿rst-ever changes,” creating a need to improve During her opening remarks, commercial self-driving shipment emergency preparedness; and Nicole Majeski, Deputy Secretary, by UBER of 50,000 cans of “transportation-on-demand,” such as DelDOT, said, “‘The Future of Budweiser beer, which traveled 120 smart phones, apps, and real-time Transportation’ is a ¿tting theme, miles in a truck named Otto, from information. Boyer said, “Trends in with all of the innovations we are Fort Collins, Colorado, to Colorado digital transportation are more about seeing today in transportation and Springs. accessibility than mobility where how people are traveling.” As a Panel member Michael Boyer, information is the key.” result, DelDOT created a Division Associate Director for Planning, Another panel member, Morgan of Technology and Innovation to Delaware Valley Regional Ellis, DNREC, said the national look at ways to take advantage of Planning Commission (DVRPC) Coalition on Clean Cities is focused advancements and innovations. in Pennsylvania, said that while on reducing the use of foreign

Page 2 petroleum products, which includes (ITMS), using technology to use the car,” Ms. Haberkam said. deploying alternative-fuel vehicles. communicate with other vehicles.” In addition, garage designs could Delaware’s Coalition on Clean Vehicle to Infrastructure alter dramatically and be built to Cities’ efforts are primarily focused Interaction (V2I) and fully 17 or 18 feet for repurposing. There on deploying these vehicles. One connected interactive travelers could also be 30–50% less need for major fuel used in Delaware is are the next wave of the future. parking spaces, and the cost of urban propane, which is a by-product of The general dates for these construction could drop by 10–20%. natural gas. It is used for school advancements are: early automated Other effects of digitization could buses, vans, and mid-sized vehicles. (2016); limited V2V (2016–2020); reduce car, energy, petroleum, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is self-driving (2020–2035); and full auto parts manufacturing and reduce another option available to À eets. It V2V (2018–2030). In addition, the need for insurance, hotels, public consists predominantly of methane DelDOT’s Unmanned Aerial parking lots, public transportation, and is considered a domestic fuel. Vehicles, or drones, which require airlines, and mobility drivers. It works well for heavy-duty trucks, the users to have À ight training and A brief question-and-answer passenger cars, school buses, waste- certi¿ cation, have multiple uses, session followed the panel management trucks, and DNREC including infrastructure inspection discussion. One attendee asked if trucks. of bridges, utilities, communication self-driving cars and AVs would Delaware’s Clean Vehicle towers, pipelines, land¿ lls, open work well in Southern New Rebate Program features rebates mines and quarries, and raw material Jersey, which is mostly rural and of $3,500 for electric vehicles, stockpiles. is economically depressed. Ms. $1,500 for plug-in hybrids, $1,500 Renata Haberkam, Director Haberkam responded, “In the for dedicated propane vehicles, of Business Development, The future, individuals would not be and $1,500 for dedicated natural Traffic Group, Baltimore, said, purchasing self-driving vehicles gas vehicles. Additional rebate “The adoption of self-driving and because economically it would be programs provide incentive amounts Autonomous Vehicles (AV) may better to order one from a À eet that that go toward the purchase of an cause major changes to land use. The would run constantly everywhere.” electric-vehicle charging station, disruption and transformation of including at the workplace, up to cities could be enormous, including For more information regarding $5,000; commercial, up to $2,500; substantial reduction in revenue WILMAPCO’s Our Town event and to view the speakers’ presentations, please and residential, up to $500. The U.S. for municipalities.” The demand visit www.wilmapco.org/ourtown. now has 37,000 charging stations. for Transit Oriented Development Delaware has 61 charging stations (TOD) may be reduced, suburban at 26 locations. residences could increase, and Gene Donaldson, DelDOT there may be better uses for roads Transportation Management Center without needing to widen them. (TMC) Operations Coordinator, Long commutes could emphasized the statewide electronic become easier in rural monitoring network, which uses areas, and there may be video monitoring, a Roadway substantial reductions Weather Information System, in pedestrian and auto and signal system loop detectors. accidents. Traveler information is available A À eet of AVs through the WTMC-1380 AM radio could provide access station, the DelDOT website, Twitter to jobs, schools, and Facebook, in a smartphone app, and shopping at a on interactive maps, through live fraction of the cost traf¿ c cameras, and on electronic of owning a car. changeable message signs. He said, “Today, cars sit 95% “Connected and automated vehicles of the time; however, it are the next phase of the Integrated would be cheaper to pay Technology Management System for the time you actually

Page 3 More Than $2 Billion Proposed for Transportation Improvement Program

ore than $2.1 billion in road, ride lot(s) in southern Mtransit, rail, multimodal, New Castle County, bicycle, and pedestrian projects likely near the future were proposed in WILMAPCO’s interchanges of the new Transportation Improvement Program U.S. 301. (TIP). • Old Capitol Trail, Newport The TIP, which includes New Road to Stanton Road: Castle County, Delaware, and This project aims to slow Cecil County, Maryland, is a four- • SR896 at Bethel Church Road traf¿ c and improve safety along the year listing of federally funded Interchange: Village of Marshallton. Changes transportation investments. Projects Part of the improvements identi¿ ed include new roundabouts, for U.S. 301 to address crash range from preserving our existing drainage improvements, new issues in the area, the project will infrastructure to building brand-new sidewalks, and pedestrian soften the sharp curve and remove facilities. upgrades. the signal. New projects include: • SR4 at Harmony Road Intersection State funding matches are provided • BR 1-295 on Providence Drive over and SR4, Ogletown Stanton Roads/ by the Delaware and Maryland Tributary to Christina: SR7, Christiana Stanton Phase I, Bond Bills. Some projects also Bridge maintenance project. Stanton Split: include matching funds from local • Denny Road and Lexington Parkway Transportation projects to address governments or developers. We Intersection Improvements: the growth and congestion in anticipate amendments to the TIP Intersection improvements to the Churchmans Crossing area. will be available for public comment address neighborhood safety, Improvements to other modes, from mid-July through August based including consideration of a including pedestrians, bicyclists, on the Delaware Bond Bill. roundabout. and transit riders, continue to need For more information on the TIP or to • Middletown Park and Rides: to be addressed to support a range view an interactive map of projects, Development of new park and of transportation choices. please visit www.wilmapco.org/tip.

Page 4 Route 9 Corridor Master Plan Outlines Strategies for Revitalization

he Route 9 Corridor Master Plan detached houses, and senior three needs as: eliminating chronic Tis nearly complete. The plan will housing. crime, supporting education and outline strategies for revitalizing a • Proposed road diets, including job access, and enhancing existing three-mile stretch of Route 9 near redesigning key intersections and community amenities. On December Wilmington, including the highway’s interchanges, to improve traf¿ c 1 , WILMAPCO staff had the adjacent communities. Requested by À ow and safety on Route 9 and opportunity to present the plan to New Castle County, the work has Memorial Drive. a class of engineering students at been guided by a steering committee • Creating pedestrian and McCullough Middle School. The composed of civic leaders, state and bicycle connections between students expressed enthusiasm county government, and community neighborhoods to increase and shared their vision for the organizations. sustainable transportation options area’s future. According to the The plan has been guided by an and provide safer and more direct students, the top three community extensive outreach process to ensure routes between neighborhoods needs are better bus, walking, and that every community member has than arterial roads. bicycling transportation; enhancing a voice in the plan’s development. WILMAPCO hosted the second existing community amenities; and After a summer in which residents Public Visioning Workshop eliminating chronic crime. of all ages and neighborhoods on November 29, where these A draft of the plan is currently contributed their thoughts at local recommendations were presented. being written. It will be made events and mobile workshops, and Approximately 70 residents, available for further public comment considering ¿ ndings from a market workers, and business owners this spring, before we seek adoption analysis and traf¿ c studies, we attended the workshop and by our Council. developed a series of broad and expressed their preferences on For more information, visit detailed draft recommendations. various development scenarios www.wilmapco.org/Route9 or follow Broad, corridor-wide and strategies for the corridor. the project on Facebook at recommendations include: The community prioritized its top www.facebook.com/Route9MasterPlan. • Rezoning to separate industrial from residential uses, which will protect public health and improve quality of life. • New truck routes to better manage freight traf¿ c and direct trucks off of residential streets. • Proposed zoning changes to allow mixed-use residential and commercial development, creating a more walkable corridor. • Focusing new development into centers, beginning with the Innovation District, to create areas of activity within walking distance of neighborhoods. The Innovation District is an area targeted for mixed-use development, centering on a technology center, that would incorporate a mix of housing types, including apartments, The plan envisions a suburban center developing around townhouses, single-family the new technology center during the next 20 years.

Page 5 Election Brings Several Changes to WILMAPCO’s Council

ith the state and local elections Alcohol Council, the Upper Wbehind us, WILMAPCO has Shore Regional Council, the seen changes to its Council . Town Council of Chesapeake City, and the Maryland Rural Development Council. County Executive McCarthy’s goals are to bring economic development, employment opportunities, and the balanced development of infrastructure in the growth corridor that conserves the county’s rich resources.

a diplomat in Iraq, an economic advisor to Governor Jack Markell, and the founder of two successful businesses. In 2003, Meyer was the Cecil County Executive recipient of the Samuel S. Beard Dr. Alan McCarthy Award for Outstanding Public Service 35 years and under. Dr. Alan McCarthy won the Cecil County Executive seat in November 2016. He was previously the Vice President of the Cecil County Council. Dr. McCarthy was selected to serve as Vice President of the Council in 2012 and reappointed in New Castle County Executive 2014. Matthew Meyer Dr. McCarthy earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of County Executive Matthew S. Maryland and received his doctorate Meyer, a relative newcomer to in veterinary medicine from the politics, was sworn in on January 3, University of Georgia, College of 2017. He is a native of New Castle Veterinary Medicine. Dr. McCarthy County who grew up in Wilmington established and built ¿ ve independent and attended Brandywine School small animal practices in Maryland District schools before graduating Mayor Mike Purzycki, and Delaware. Additionally, he from Wilmington Friends School. City of Wilmington established an independent real County Executive Meyer attended Mike Purzycki was sworn in estate company that sells and and graduated from Brown as the 56th Mayor of the City of rents residential and commercial University, where he studied Wilmington on January 3, 2017. properties in both states. political and computer science, and Mayor Purzycki was born in County Executive McCarthy went on to get his law degree from Newark, in 1945. He serves or has served with many Michigan Law School. Prior to graduated from Seton Hall Prep organizations, including the Clean becoming County Executive, Meyer in 1963 and earned a football Chesapeake Coalition, the Drug and was a math teacher, an attorney, scholarship to the University of

Page 6

Page 7 Page

Marcus Gula Christian Gerry Jacob Guise Jacob Gerry Christian Gula Marcus

prison back into the community. the into back prison

men successfully transition from from transition successfully men

that helps formerly incarcerated incarcerated formerly helps that

Center, a groundbreaking program program groundbreaking a Center,

2014 opening of the Achievement Achievement the of opening 2014

Commission, where he oversaw the the oversaw he where Commission,

Chairman of the Wilmington Hope Hope Wilmington the of Chairman

He was most recently the the recently most was He

cultural, and social hub of the city. the of hub social and cultural,

area, turning it into the economic, economic, the into it turning area,

reinvented and reinvigorated the the reinvigorated and reinvented

thought was impossible — they they — impossible was thought

He and his team did what many many what did team his and He

the blighted industrial wasteland. wasteland. industrial blighted the

the challenging job of resurrecting resurrecting of job challenging the

Corporation and was tasked with with tasked was and Corporation

head the Riverfront Development Development Riverfront the head

In 1996, Purzycki was tapped to to tapped was Purzycki 1996, In University of Delaware. He hails hails He Delaware. of University

rst ethics law. ethics rst ¿ a civil engineering major at the the at major engineering civil a video games, and going to the gym. gym. the to going and games, video

legislation that created the state’s state’s the created that legislation Christian Gerry is a junior with with junior a is Gerry Christian enjoys playing tennis, ping pong, pong, ping tennis, playing enjoys

Finance Committee and wrote the the wrote and Committee Finance programming. programming. freight work. In his spare time, he he time, spare his In work. freight

Chairman of the County Council’s Council’s County the of Chairman website and has done some computer computer some done has and website in WILMAPCO’s air quality and and quality air WILMAPCO’s in

Council. He served for nine years as as years nine for served He Council. skills to help with WILMAPCO’s WILMAPCO’s with help to skills and would like to get more involved involved more get to like would and

elected to the New Castle County County Castle New the to elected the opportunity to use his computer computer his use to opportunity the Jacob is working on GIS mapping mapping GIS on working is Jacob

ce in 1982 and was was and 1982 in ce ¿ of public for related projects. He has also had had also has He projects. related biological and chemical processes. processes. chemical and biological

rst ran ran rst ¿ Mike decade. a than more continues to work on similar GIS- similar on work to continues engineering with a concentration in in concentration a with engineering

Senate and then practiced law for for law practiced then and Senate web-mapping applications. He He applications. web-mapping Delaware, studying environmental environmental studying Delaware,

attorney for the Delaware State State Delaware the for attorney 2015 with a focus on interactive interactive on focus a with 2015 He is a junior at the University of of University the at junior a is He

to the Delaware bar and served as as served and bar Delaware the to WILMAPCO in the summer of of summer the in WILMAPCO in Middletown with his family. family. his with Middletown in

from law school, he was admitted admitted was he school, law from Marcus began his internship with with internship his began Marcus Delawarean. He currently resides resides currently He Delawarean.

School at night. After graduating graduating After night. at School the last three consecutive semesters. semesters. consecutive three last the Jacob Guise is a native native a is Guise Jacob

day and attended Delaware Law Law Delaware attended and day been named to the Dean’s List for for List Dean’s the to named been transportation engineering is about.” is engineering transportation

sales and development during the the during development and sales a minor in computer science. He has has He science. computer in minor a cally what what cally ¿ speci and lives everyday

Purzycki worked in real estate estate real in worked Purzycki major in computer engineering and and engineering computer in major how engineering can affect our our affect can engineering how

permanent home. permanent University of Delaware, with a a with Delaware, of University rst internship, but also “learn “learn also but internship, rst ¿ his is

in 1968, he made Delaware his his Delaware made he 1968, in Marcus Gula is a senior at the the at senior a is Gula Marcus knowledge in engineering,” as this this as engineering,” in knowledge

love of Delaware continued, and, and, continued, Delaware of love working at WILMAPCO. WILMAPCO. at working He “hopes to not only gain some some gain only not to “hopes He

professional football career. His His career. football professional There are currently three interns interns three currently are There concentrate on transportation. transportation. on concentrate

season, but an injury sidelined his his sidelined injury an but season, which provides student interns. interns. student provides which on GIS/Planning projects, which which projects, GIS/Planning on

football team for the 1967–1968 1967–1968 the for team football with the Univeristy of Delaware, Delaware, of Univeristy the with in January. Christian is working working is Christian January. in

F

contract with the New York Giants Giants York New the with contract WILMAPCO has partnered partnered has WILMAPCO began interning with WILMAPCO WILMAPCO with interning began

with a degree in history, he signed a a signed he history, in degree a with or the past several years, years, several past the or from Hillsborough, New Jersey. He He Jersey. New Hillsborough, from

receiving record. After graduating graduating After record. receiving

four years and set every Blue Hen Hen Blue every set and years four

WILMAPCO Interns Hard at Work at Hard Interns WILMAPCO Delaware, where he played for for played he where Delaware, PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEWARK, DE PERMIT NO. 190

Transporter Newsletter Spring 2017

WILMAPCO PUBLIC MEETINGS Unless specifi ed, meetings will be held at WILMAPCO, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 100, Newark, Delaware. Your participation at these meetings is appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact us at (302) 737-6205 or toll free from Cecil County at (888) 808-7088. During inclement weather, please call to verify meetings. APRIL MAY JUNE Nonmotorized Transportation Nonmotorized Transportation Air Quality Subcommittee Working Group Working Group May 11, 10 a.m. April 4, 3 p.m. June 6, 3 p.m. Air Quality Subcommittee WILMAPCO Council Air Quality Subcommittee April 13, 10 a.m. May 11, 6:30 p.m. June 8, 10 a.m.

Public Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Committee Public Advisory Committee April 17, 6:30 p.m. May 18, 10 a.m. June 12, 6:30 p.m.

Technical Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Committee April 20, 10 a.m. June 15, 10 a.m.

MAY IS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH. TO LEARN ABOUT BIKE MONTH EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR REGION, VISIT WWW.WILMAPCO.ORG/BIKEMONTH.