SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on November 28, 2006, at 6:10 p.m. with Chairman Hogan presiding. Members present were Mr. Carey, Mr. McGiffin, Mr. Lakeman, and Mr. Link.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Lakeman and unanimously carried.
Briefing on DelDOT Projects (Juanita Wieczoreck)
Ms. Juanita Wieczoreck, Director of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), provided the committee with the following updates:
DelDOT Mega Traffic Study (SR1/Route 8 and East Dover Housing Development Projects)
No update available at this time.
West Dover Connector
A decision on the preferred alternative for the West Dover Connector will be made during the 2007 calendar year. The alternatives are currently being reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office.
Traffic Signal at Greenway Lane and Kenton Road
Consideration of a traffic signal at Greenway Lane and Kenton Road will be included in the Kenton Road Study, which will also address the lack of shoulders, sidewalks, and bike paths. The study group held its first meeting on November 15, 2006.
South Governors Avenue Improvements
The South Governors Avenue Improvements project includes South Governors Avenue from Water Street to Webbs Lane. Funding has been authorized for right-of-way acquisition and construction. The final design stage has begun, with construction scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2008.
Signalization Project
The Signalization project has been fully funded and is moving forward. A more detailed update will be provided at the next meeting.
Wyoming Mill Road Project
The Wyoming Mill project has been earmarked to receive funding that requires a 20% (twenty percent) match. Staff is currently investigating the possibility of using the land donated for the right-of-way as the required 20% (twenty percent) match.
Ms. Wieczoreck indicated that a Public Advisory Committee was formed and is currently conducting a study of Route 8, from the railroad tracks to Artis Drive, which will review operational and aesthetic aspects. The next committee meeting for this study is scheduled for January 2007. Mr Hogan suggested that Mr. Carey serve on the committee, since he lives in that area of Route 8. Mr. Carey concurred with the suggestion.
This past Summer and Fall the MPO conducted an elderly mobility survey of approximately 687 senior citizens, 55 years and older with most being between the ages of 63 and 85 years old. According to the survey, 42% (forty-two percent) were located within the City of Dover limits and 73% (seventy-three percent) still drive. The top three (3) main issues that seniors felt needed to be corrected were that there is too much traffic, too many aggressive drivers/speeders, and a lack of bicycle paths and sidewalks.
Seniors can request trips on DART’s ParaTransit service; however, they need to call a day in advance and need to be ready two hours prior to each scheduled pickup, therefore, it’s not very convenient. She noted that seniors can call SCAT (Senior Citizen Affordable Taxi) for discount DART tickets, which reduces the fare price by half. She also stated that the MPO is currently working with DART to put together a coordinated human services transportation plan for the whole State of Delaware.
Responding to Mr. Hogan, Ms. Wieczoreck stated that the Walker Road Improvement Project is currently awaiting funding.
Proposed Ordinance Amendment - Maintaining a Known Hazzard
Mr. David Truax, City Fire Marshal, reviewed a proposed ordinance amendment that would provide the Fire Marshal a means to take corrective action when property owners and/or tenants have been made aware of fire code violations and continue to maintain the hazard or violation. It will also help to insure that violations do not go uncorrected for long periods of time, and make it more costly to pay the fine than to fix the violations.
Responding to Mr. Carey, Mr. Truax indicated that if a fine goes unpaid, a summons for arrest could be issued and, depending on the violations the establishment could be closed down.
Mr. Hogan suggested that the proposed ordinance amendment be revised to include a statement indicating that fines will be levied according to Chapter 1 - General Provisions, Section 1-17, of the City of Dover Code, and that the establishment could be closed down due to a violation that goes uncorrected. He requested that the amendment then be brought back to members for their review.
Mr. Carey moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Link and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:42 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth L. Hogan
Chairman
KLH/jcr