TRANSPORTATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Transportation Review Committee met on March 9, 2004 at 12:00 noon, at the Delaware Transit Administration Building, with Chairman Ruane presiding. Members present were Councilman Pitts and Mr. Asay. Councilman Ritter and Mr. Ornauer were absent.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS

Mr. Gary Laing, DelDOT Municipal Liaison, requested the addition of item #3-B - White Oak Road Utility Poles.

There being no objections, the agenda as amended, was approved.

TOUR - DELAWARE TRANSIT CORPORATION (DART SERVICES)

During the committee meeting of February 10, 2004, a presentation was made by Mr. Ray Miller, Director of Delaware Transit Administration, regarding the coordination of Fixed Routes and Paratransit Services in Kent County. To better understand the operations, members were invited to tour the facility.

Members participated in a tour of the Delaware Transit Administration facility and observed the operations of the AVL (A Vehicle Locator)/GPS System.

MPO - TAC/PAC

Mr. Peter Owusu-Donkor provided members an update on recent action of the MPO - TAC/PAC. He advised members that the draft FY2005 Unified Planning Work Program was tabled by the MPO Council due to concerns from DelDOT regarding several projects listed. Since the Scarborough Road issue has been resolved, the MPO Council approved a notice to be sent which requires designated anticipation of fund sharing. The MPO Council voted to approve supporting Delaware Route 9 as a Scenic and Historic Byway. In reviewing the FY2006 TIP list, Mr. Owusu-Donkor stated that currently two (2) projects have been received from the City.

For clarification, Mr. Koenig responded that the Wyoming Mill Road Realignment and Kenton Road Upgrade had been requested for the FY2006 TIP.

Mr. Ruane noted that the Kenton Road Corridor Upgrade Project is now much larger than the original submission. He advised members that City Council adopted a Resolution requesting funding, as recommended by the committee. Mr. Laing was requested to check on the status of the Resolution adopted by City Council and sent to Secretary Hayward.

Mr. Laing stated that DelDOT has included funding for the Crawford Carroll Avenue Project and the Kenton Road/Route 8 Safety Improvement Project for this year.

Members discussed and questioned the status of additional projects, as follows: 1) Wyoming Mill Roadway; 2) Kenton Road Corridor Upgrade; 3) Tar Ditch/Water Street Flooding; 4) Division Street Project; 5) Completion of Sidewalks; and 6) Bicycle Legislation.

Mr. Asay moved to recommend that DelDOT’s Bicycle Coordinator be requested to attend a future meeting, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.

Members requested that an update on the Wyoming Mill Road Project be listed on the next committee agenda for further discussion.

DOVER PARKING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR SUPPORT/PROPOSED ADDENDUM TO THE PARKING STUDY - AREA OF WESLEY COLLEGE

Members received a copy of a potential Addendum to the Parking Study relative to the area immediately adjacent to Wesley College. Mr. Koenig reviewed and explained the purpose of the addendum, which would be for the review of specific parking conditions in the Wesley College area, as well as a review of Campus Community School for its impact in relation to Wesley College.

The Addendum, provided by Kise Straw & Kolodner, proposes a cost of $11,000. Mr. Koenig stated that the Dover Parking Authority has approved the project for fiscal year 2005 and hopes to obtain funding assistance from the City of Dover and Wesley College. He advised members that it has been suggested that the evaluation be conducted in the fall rather than spring to account for a higher number of registered students. The delay would also provide the City the opportunity to include funding in their budget to assist in this project.

Mr. Asay moved to recommend that the Director of Planning and Inspections include $4,000 in the budget for next fiscal year to share in the cost for the Addendum to the Parking Study as presented by Kise Straw & Kolodner. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.

Mr. Koenig advised members that the Parking Authority will be scheduling a meeting and inviting interested parties for a presentation of the Parking Study. City Clerk’s Office Note: A meeting has been scheduled for this presentation on April 1, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Responding to Mr. Ruane, Mr. Galvin stated that he would contact the president of Wesley College and schedule a meeting to discuss parking improvements, including the possibility of a garage.

WHITE OAK ROAD UTILITY POLES

Mr. Laing advised members that DelDOT will grant permission to install utility poles in the right-of-way along White Oak Road; however, the Route 1 crossing may or may not be approved and approval of the installation of utility poles should not be construed as approval of the Route 1 crossing.

Mr. Ruane suggested that Mr. Laing discuss this matter further with the City Manager after the meeting.

UPDATES

Members were provided the following updates:

Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan - Continuity of Bicycle Routes

During the committee meeting on February 10, 2004, Mr. Asay expressed concerns regarding the continuity of bicycle/pedestrian paths throughout the City. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Asay attended a public workshop on the Delaware Bicycle Master Plan proposed by DelDOT. As a result, he prepared a critique of the Delaware Bicycle Facility Master Plan 2004 and reviewed it with members. He stated that the Plan places emphasis on providing corridors between communities. It was his opinion that there is a great opportunity to promote bicycle use, reduce vehicle traffic, reduce pollution, etc. The everyday person is not interested in riding bicycles from one community to the next but rather within their community; however, there must be continuity. Mr. Asay explained that if a bicycle route is not 100% safe, then people will not ride bikes. If there is continuity within the community, he felt assured that more people would ride bicycles to work, school, meetings, etc. Mr. Asay advised members that Davis, California is a community similar to Dover in size and shape (flat). There was a conscientious effort to address continuity in their Bicycle Master Plan and, as a result, there has been a substantial increase in bicycle use.

Mr. Asay felt that the Delaware Bicycle Master Plan should primarily concentrate on completing bicycle/pedestrian routes. The second priority should be to establish a Dover Bike Loop for recreational bicyclists. To attract bicyclists, he suggested that the loop be removed from vehicular traffic, which could possibly be accomplished by use of right-of-way areas where there are large electrical lines or in areas where there were former railroad tracks.

Mr. Asay advised members that workshops were held in February and additional workshops are scheduled to be held in May. A final study/report is expected in June/July 2004.

Responding to Mr. Ruane, Mr. Asay agreed that it would be helpful if City Council endorsed the recommendations as indicated in his critique. Mr. Ruane suggested that members recommend that the critique be presented as a policy statement for approval by Council.

Mr. Pitts moved to recommend adoption of the policy statement as presented (Attachment #1), seconded by Mr. Asay and unanimously carried.

Eden Hill Farm and Proposed Extension of Saulsbury Road

Mr. Galvin reported that an ordinance for a new Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) zoning classification for the City of Dover is being developed.

Signalization

There was no update provided on the signalization project.

College Road and Extension of Crawford Carroll Road

Mr. Laing advised members that the construction contract had been awarded.

Traffic Studies

SR1/Route 8 and East Dover Housing Development Projects

Mr. Laing advised members that the initial study is being completed to determine what the needs are for mitigation. Members suggested that a letter be sent to Mr. Brockenbrough, DelDOT Project Engineer, to determine expectancy of the study.

DISCUSSION - APRIL MEETING DATE

Mr. Ruane indicated that he would not be available for the next regularly scheduled meeting for April and asked the pleasure of the committee. He also noted that with the upcoming election, the City Clerk’s Office will be concentrating their efforts in its preparation. Unless there are urgent items necessary for the committee’s review, he suggested that the meeting in April be canceled.

Mr. Asay moved to cancel the Transportation Review Committee Meeting in April, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.

Mr. Asay moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:02 P.M.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Eugene B. Ruane

                                                                                    Chairman

EBR/jg

S:ClerksOfficeAgendas&MinutesCommittee-Minutes20043-09-2004-Transportation.wpd

Attachment

Attachment #1 - Policy Statement - The Delaware Bicycle Facility Master Plan 2004