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Carefully consider transportation planning

February 24, 2017

In the Feb. 17 Cape Gazette, in the Briefly items, is the easily missed notice that Sussex County Council would be discussing the concept of a Transportation Improvement District.

It is tempting and understandable to want to short-cut the decision process, especially when it involves transportation issues. However, this is one time where faster and outside the box is not the answer.

Right now, by every indication, Sussex County is in the midst of serious consideration of the land use plan update. Meetings have been held, and more planned, involving seeking public input. Any discussion of potential transportation improvement planning must be done within the context of the land use element and the drafting of the 2018 comprehensive plan. We must recognize the consequences and impact of land use decisions. A supposed tax benefit today may not be a benefit a year from now.

Further, any transportation decisions based on road realignment, including widening, needs to take into consideration how the road or intersection actually functions, including most recent traffic counts. That information must be folded into current land use, potential land use, how configuration impacts emergency response time, bike and pedestrian access, ability of our major roads to accommodate bus transportation.

Also, what fixing one intersection or area means in terms of the next down the road. Traffic flows - the starts and stops cause the hiccups. In other words, place transportation planning in the context of land use. Do not put the cart before the horse.

Mable Granke
Rehoboth Beach

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