March 2017
WILMAPCO Meetings

All meetings are open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the WILMAPCO Conference Room.

Air Quality Subcommittee
March 9, 10 a.m

Congestion Management Subcommittee
March 9, 1 p.m.

WILMAPCO Council
March 9, 6:30 p.m.

Technical Advisory Committee
March 16, 10 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, please call (302) 737-6205, or toll free from Cecil County at (888) 808-7088 for cancellations or postponements.

For updates or more information on upcoming WILMAPCO meetings, please visit www.wilmapco.org.

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WILMAPCO E-News 
Transportation news and events from the
Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO). 
Local News
bike
MDOTMDOT to Hold a Webinar to Discuss Bike/Pedestrian/Trail Project Funding Opportunities
As part of continuing efforts to expand bicycling and walking opportunities in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) will hold this webinar to provide local governments and non-profit organizations the opportunity to gather information on the state-funded Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS); Recreational Trails Program (RTP); Bikeways Grant Program; Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Areas; Retrofit Sidewalk Program; and Retrofit Bicycle Program. The workshop will cover the application process and deadlines for each program, program goals, eligibility requirements and match requirements. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-maryland-bicycle-pedestrian-trail-project-webinar-tickets-31722773670?aff=es2

DelDOTDelDOT Public Workshop - Rehabilitation of Centre Road Route 141
DelDOT would like to invite the residents of Greenville and surrounding areas and all other interested parties to a Public Meeting to discuss the proposed rehabilitation of Centre Road Route 141 from Lancaster Pike to Kennett Pike.  The purpose of the workshop is to present information and solicit public input regarding the proposed rehabilitation.  The meeting will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, March 20, 2017, at A.I. DuPont High School, 50 Hillside Road, Wilmington.  For more informaiton, visit http://deldot.gov/information/publicevents/publicworkshops/workshop.shtml?id=8258.

SustainableSustainable Communities Planning Grants Available 
DNREC's Division of Energy and Climate invites municipalities, county governments, and academic and non-profit partners to apply for competitive grants of up to $80,000. Grants support the development of sustainability plans and assessment of local needs towards building strong and resilient communities. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 14 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. To learn more, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/Pages/Sustainable-Planning.aspx

TransActionTransAction 2017 Conference
The TransAction 2017 Conference will take place on April 4 - 6, 2017 at the Tropicana Casino Hotel Conference Center in Atlantic City, NJ.  The conference will feature over 75 workshop sessions specializing in engineering, planning, bus, rail, roads, bridges, goods movement, pedestrian, bicycle, paratransit, community transportation, and ports.  To learn more, please visit www.njtransaction.com.

ParksNew Website Launched to Help Delawareans Locate Parks 
According to a DNREC release, "Delaware State Parks has launched 'Play Outside,' a new website for Delaware residents and visitors that provides convenient and detailed information about public parks and facilities in Delaware. Residents and visitors can now find nearby public outdoor recreation areas including municipal, county and state park lands or recreational facilities such as playgrounds, ball fields, fishing piers, trails, parking and even restrooms, using an interactive online web map. The site is mobile device-friendly and can also track users' current locations to help them navigate along the many miles of trails that Delaware has to offer. "To learn more, visit
http://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/play-outside .

FireFeetGet Ready for Bike to School Day With Fire Up Your Feet
It's not too early to start thinking about your school's Bike to School Day event on May 10.  Do you want a chance to win cash awards to support biking, walking, and Safe Routes to School programs at your school? Then the Fire Up Your Feet Activity Challenge is for you! Register for the challenge, then log the number of students, families, and school staff who bike to school on May 10. It's quick and easy using the online activity tracker. Schools with at least 20 people biking will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 Bike to School Day Award. Then, keep tracking physical activity throughout the month. The schools with the highest percentage of participants are eligible to win cash prizes. Visit fireupyourfeet.org to sign up.

VWVolkswagen Settlement with the EPA 
A Volks Wagon (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust has been established as part a settlement. States are to identify and provide funds to projects that mitigate air quality impacts from high-emitting diesel vehicles and engines. The State of Delaware's share of the Environmental Mitigation Trust is approximately $9 million.

DNREC's Division of Air Quality (DAC) has developed a proposed mitigation plan to accept and distribute these funds to eligible projects.
DAC is requesting input from the public to help develop a final mitigation plan. DAQ has announced a public meeting and a public comment period on the proposed mitigation plan. The meeting will be held Thursday, March 23 in the DNREC State Street Commons Training Room, 100 W. Water Street, Suite 6A, Dover DE 19904, beginning at 6 p.m. To view the plan, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Air/Documents/PROPOSED_DRAFT_VW%20Mitigation%20Plan%20Final.pdf.

Citizens may present comments at the public meeting or email written comments to VW_Mitigation_Plan@state.de.us, or send them by U.S. Mail to the Division of Air Quality (Attn. VW Mitigation Plan), State Street Commons, 100 W. Water Street, Suite 6A Dover, DE 19904.
Plan comments are due by DNREC close of business Monday, April 3, 2017.   
  
National News
train
FedReportFHWA-FTA Report $926 Billion Needed in Infrastructure Investment 
According to Centerline News, "FHWA and FTA have jointly released the '2015 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges and Transit: Conditions and Performance' report to Congress. The report provides decision makers with an objective appraisal of the physical conditions, operational performance, and financing mechanisms of highways, bridges, and transit systems based on both their current state and their projected future state under a set of alternative future investment scenarios. The report estimates that the backlog of needed highway and transit infrastructure projects has reached $926 billion."  To view the report, please visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/2015cpr.

BridgesStudy Finds 56,000 U.S Bridges Need Repair 
According to Washington Newsline, "Nearly 56,000 structurally compromised U.S. bridges are crossed 185 million times a day by cars, trucks, and school buses, according to ARTBA's fourth annual analysis of the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2016 National Bridge Inventory database."  To learn more, visit www.artba.org/newsline.

PMU.S. DOT Sets People-Centric Performance Measures for States 
According to Streetsblog USA, "US DOT released new standards to guide how transportation agencies measure their performance. The revised US DOT standards will lead agencies to assess their work in ways that support investments in transit and active transportation. State DOTs will now have to set new goals and report on their progress, and advocates will have new ways to hold transportation policy makers accountable.
" To learn more, visit http://usa.streetsblog.org
 
VegasLas Vegas launches the First Driverless Public Transit 
According to News 3 Las Vegas, "Las Vegas has begun testing a French-built 12-passenger driverless electric shuttle for short distances. An attendant will be onboard to make sure everything runs smoothly. The shuttle is programmed to make sure it stops if a vehicle, or pedestrian, is in its path."  To learn more visit, http://news3lv.com/news/local/las-vegas-launches-a-first-driverless-public-transit

FoodLaunching the Center for Healthy Food Access 
According to the Safe Routes to School E-news, "Now more than ever, collaboration is critical to ensure that healthy foods and beverages are available in every community from rural America to the heart of America's cities. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership, in partnership with The Food Trust and a diverse group of partners across the country, is launching a national collaborative effort - the Center for Healthy Food Access - to help organizations and businesses increase access to and demand for healthy, affordable foods and beverages. The Center focuses on a number of efforts to ensure that every child has access to affordable, nutritious food."  To learn more, visit centerforhealthyfoodaccess.org

UPSUPS Tests Van-top Delivery Drone
According to USA Today, " UPS was the latest to try something new with drones when it ran a test of a truck-launched drone delivery system for rural areas in Lithia, Fla." To view the source article, visit