TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Transportation Committee Meeting was held on March 18, 2003, at 10:30 a.m., with Chairman Ruane presiding. Members present were Mr. Pitts, Mr. Ornauer, and Mr. Asay. Mr. Ritter was absent. Others present were Mr. Salters, Mr. DePrima (left at 12:00 p.m.), Mr. Jorgenson, Mr. Koenig, Mr. Lee, Mr. Ray Miller (Delaware Transit Corporation - Executive Director), Mr. Wayne Henderson, Ms. Sarah Fuller, Mr. Rob Clemens (Transportation Management Association), Mr. Steven Kingsberry (Delaware Transit Corporation - Director of Development), Mr. Laing (Municipal Liaison DelDOT), and Mrs. McDowell.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Ruane requested that Item #7 be renumbered as Item #4 and that the remaining agenda items be renumbered accordingly. He also requested that Item #8, Rescheduling of April’s Meeting, be renumbered as Item #8-A. and that Item #8-B, Traffic Mitigation Study - SR1/SR8, be added. Mr. Ornauer requested the addition of Item #8-C, North Street Repaving.
Mr. Ornauer moved for approval of the agenda, as amended, seconded by Mr. Asay and unanimously carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 25, 2003
Mr. Asay moved for approval of the minutes of February 25, 2003, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
MPO/PAC/TAC REPORT
Mr. Ornauer noted that they have approved a process for prioritization of projects and, as a result, have approved the 2004/05 project list. He also noted that the public participation process, which yielded no comments, was adopted, and a presentation was made of the “night owl” transit service. Responding to Mr. Ruane, Mr. Ornauer stated that they are looking at the 2004/05 projects in order to advise DelDOT of their concerns and priorities.
PRESENTATION - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HYBRID PROJECT
Mr. Ray Miller presented a PowerPoint Presentation (Attachment #1) outlining the Delaware Transit Corporation's proposal for coordinating fixed route and paratransit services in Kent County.
It was Mr. Ruane’s feeling that proposed housing developments and build-out surrounding transit routes, specifically around the SR1/SR8 Interchange, should be considered when assessing transportation needs. Mr. Steven Kingsberry agreed that if the land use patterns were transit friendly, it would enable more efficient service. Mr. Jorgenson, City Planner, stated that the build-out scenario for the area surrounding the SR1/SR8 Interchange is approximately 1,100 residents in approximately 460 dwelling units over an unspecified period of time. Mr. Miller informed members that 4 dwelling units per acre is the “rule of thumb” for considering public transit.
Responding to Mr. Ornauer, Mr. Miller stated that the proposal would require no additional funding from the State nor would it create the need for an increase in transit rates.
Mr. Ornauer moved to recommend approval of the proposal to combine the fixed and paratransit systems into a flex plan, seconded by Mr. Asay and unanimously carried.
Mr. Rob Clemens provided members with the Kent County Transit Survey Analysis (Attachment #2). Mr. Ruane suggested that Mr. Clemens provide a more in-depth presentation at a future meeting.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE/DRAFT OF TRANSPORTATION SECTION
Members were provided the revised draft update to the Transportation Section of the Comprehensive Plan for their review and recommendations. Mr. Randy Jorgenson, Planning Director, stated that he received Mr. Ruane’s comments and would include them in the next draft. Mr. Asay suggested that a paragraph be added to the end of the “Pedestrian and Bikeways” section to describe the Capitol Bike Belt and St. Jones Greenway projects. Mr. Ornauer stated that he had a list of typographical/grammatical items that he would like to submit for consideration. Mr. Jorgenson informed members that they have been granted an additional 60 days to complete the Comprehensive Plan update and requested Mr. Ornauer to provide his suggestions within the next 30 days for incorporation into the document.
Mr. DePrima suggested that the Garrison Tract Connector Road and the Route 8 Service Road Concept should be listed under Recommendation 5: Planning Studies.
Mr. Ornauer moved to reaffirm the suggestions submitted by Mr. Ruane (Attachment #3), for the Transportation Section of the Comprehensive Plan Update. The motion seconded by Mr. Asay and unanimously carried.
PRIORITIZATION OF CITY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Mr. DePrima, City Manager, suggested that the committee compile a prioritized list of transportation projects to put forward to DelDOT as items that are a priority for the City. He felt it was important to include projects which have been proposed for a long time, have been scoped, and have potential funding. Mr. DePrima suggested the following list of projects, not necessarily in order of priority:
1. Signalization for Downtown Dover (DelTrac)
2. Division Street Improvements
3. Clarence Street Extension as per West Side Study
4. US 13/113 Sidewalks
5. Kenton Road Improvements
6. Capitol Bikebelt
7. College Road Improvements
Mr. DePrima requested members to develop their own list of priorities for discussion at the next meeting.
Mr. Ornauer moved to table the matter until the next meeting of the Transportation Committee, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
DISCUSSION - HOUSE BILL 56
During the Transportation Committee Meeting of February 25, 2003, Ms. Juanita Wieczoreck brought to members’ attention House Bill 56 which proposes to establish an Environmental Priority Account within the Transportation Trust Fund. Pursuant to this Act, beginning July 1, 2004, 10% of all moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund which are made available to the Department’s annual Capital Transportation Program shall be transferred into this account and shall thereafter be used through the Program to acquire and preserve open spaces and farmlands in the State, to acquire other real property in order to establish or extend preserved open spaces or farmlands in Delaware, and to secure bonds to be used to achieve these ends. This Act provides that funds expended and bonds secured by the Environmental Priority Account be used or issued pursuant to the recommendations of the Delaware Open Space Council and the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation.
Mr. Ornauer stated that he completely supports Farmland Preservation; however, it was his feeling that it should not be funded with Transportation money.
Mr. Ornauer moved to recommend disapproval of House Bill 56 (Attachment #4), seconded by Mr. Asay and unanimously carried.
UPDATES
Division Street Railroad Crossing
Mr. DePrima noted that the Division Street Railroad Crossing project is on DelDOT’s list of repairs and they anticipate that it will be completed this spring. Responding to Mr. Asay, Mr. DePrima stated that the railroad will remove the tracks; however, it is the State’s responsibility to repair the road. He indicated that there are funds available for railroad crossing improvements in DelDOT’s budget for this year.
Mr. Ruane requested Mr. DePrima to issue a memo to all concerned parties summarizing his understanding of how the repairs will be handled.
Update - Traffic Study SR1/SR8
In conjunction with the SR 1/SR8 Partial Interchange Project, DelDOT has recognized the need for implementing traffic mitigation measures along Division Street (SR8), as well as within the Edgehill neighborhood. It has been DelDOT’s position that no action should be taken regarding these issues until after the interchange project was complete.
It was Mr. Ruane’s feeling that, since DelDOT is preparing to compare traffic counts taken prior to the opening of the interchange with counts currently being taken, DelDOT should consider the impact of the three (3) housing developments being proposed in the immediate vicinity of the interchange.
Mr. Ornauer moved to recommend to City Council that it advise the Department of Transportation to include the new subdivisions in the vicinity of the interchange between SR1 and SR8 in its traffic mitigation study concerned with SR8. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pitts.
Mr. Laing indicated that the promise made to the community was that traffic counts would be taken in March 2002 for comparison with counts to be taken in March 2003 to determine the impact of the opening of the partial interchange on the existing homes, with the existing traffic, in the Edgehill Community and on the side-streets between White Oak Road and Division Street. He noted that the next phase will be to consider the impact of the proposed developments if they are built. To include them now would be an exercise in “guess work”. It was Mr. Ornauer’s feeling that a determination could easily be made through “modeling”. Mr. Ruane recalled that the residents of Acorn Lane were equally concerned with the opening of the partial interchange and they should be given the same consideration.
Responding to Mr. Laing, Mr. Koenig stated that construction of two (2) of the proposed subdivisions for which concept plans have been submitted could occur as early as Spring 2004. He noted that the traffic projections that were done by Century Engineering prior to the interchange opening identified 5-year increments and they are currently collecting “post opening” data in order to project over the planning horizon. It was Mr. Koenig’s feeling that the opening of the SR1/SR8 Partial Interchange was the catalyst for development of those parcels, therefore, they should be included in the mitigation plan. He noted that DelDOT was silent on the issue of requiring the developers to perform traffic impact studies for the first two (2) applications. Mr. Laing noted that Transportation Secretary Nathan Hayward, during the Special Council Meeting of February 24, 2003, indicated that DelDOT could require the impact study by looking at the three (3) developments as a group. Mr. Ruane noted that, to date, that has not occurred.
Mr. Koenig, noting that he was a part of the working group for the SR8 Mitigation Study, stated that by the time the working group reconvenes, there will be land development applications that will change the actual number of developable units on the properties surrounding the partial interchange. When they did the pre-opening projections over the planning horizon, some type of potential development should have been included if the modeling was done correctly. For example, those hundred acres, under Dover’s Zoning Ordinance, could possibly yield 400 units. Mr. Koenig stated that the mitigation study was intended to determine alterations to the road network that would be required over a planning horizon, not just a snapshot of the impact of the opening of the SR1/SR8 Partial Interchange. It was his feeling that, if the mitigation study was limited to one year, the study is fatally flawed.
The motion to recommend to City Council that it advise the Department of Transportation to include the subdivisions proposed in the vicinity of the interchange between SR1 and SR8 in its traffic mitigation study concerned with SR8 was unanimously carried. Maps depicting traffic counts are being provided (Attachments #5A and #5B) for reference at the request of Chairman Ruane.
NORTH STREET REPAVING
Mr. Ornauer noted that a section of North Street has collapsed and poses a hazard to traffic. Mr. Laing informed members that the situation has been reported to Central District and the contractor will be requested to repair it as a part of their “punch list”.
Mr. Ornauer stated that some of the concrete skin has been worn away between Salisbury Road and Mifflin Road. Mr. Laing stated that the contractor has been made aware of the necessary repairs.
Mr. Asay requested Mr. Laing to investigate the possibility of providing improved striping for the crosswalk at Salisbury Road. Mr. Laing indicated that he would look into it.
RESCHEDULING OF APRIL’S MEETING
Mr. Ruane informed members that the City of Dover 2003 Municipal Election is being held on Tuesday, April 15th; therefore, the City Clerk’s Office will not be available for the Transportation Committee Meeting scheduled for that day.
Mr. Ornauer suggested holding the next meeting on Thursday, April 17th at 10:30 a.m.
Eden Hill Farm
Mr. Ruane stated that the City Clerk’s Office requested a copy of the Letter of Understanding between the State and the owners of Eden Hill Farm referenced by Secretary Hayward during the Special Council Meeting of February 24, 2003. He has been advised that, since it is part of a real estate transaction, it is not a public record.
Mr. Ruane expressed concern with the possibility that Transportation funding is being utilized to acquire property. It was Mr. Ruane's feeling that the extension of Salisbury Road was not the City's main priority.
Update - Traffic Study of the Intersection of Division Street and Route 13
Mr. Laing stated that the study of this intersection would be included in the SR1/SR8 mitigation study.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Ruane announced that the public workshop to discuss Crawford Carroll Avenue was rescheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2003 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Delaware Technical and Community College.
Mr. Ornauer moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 12:37 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eugene B. Ruane
Chairman
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Attachments to Original Minutes and File Copy
Attachment #1 - PowerPoint Presentation - Delaware Transit Corporation's Hybrid Transportation Project
Attachment #2 - Kent County Transit Survey Analysis
Attachment #3 - Proposed Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Update (Ruane)
Attachment #4 - House Bill 56
Attachment #5A and #5B - Maps Depicting Traffic Counts