DelDOT pitches Lewes transportation district

Department of Transportation officials say Lewes would benefit from a transportation improvement district, but city officials appear to remain skeptical. 

DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan met with mayor and city council April 10 to discuss establishing a Lewes district. 

Drew Boyce, DelDOT director of planning, said a transportation district is a way to coordinate land-use decisions with transportation improvements. By predetermining the use of every piece of property within the district, DelDOT can develop a plan for future improvements so growth does not outpace infrastructure. 

“This is a tool in the toolbox that works,” Cohan said. “We’ve seen it work.” 

In a transportation district, a developer whose project is consistent with the approved land-use plan will contribute to road improvements - through cash contributions or by completing DelDOT-approved projects within the district and its area of influence. 

The proposed Lewes district would encompass the entirety of the city. An earlier version of Sussex County’s Henlopen district breached Lewes’ borders; however, Boyce said, the borders were pulled back to create two distinct districts. 

There was much concern, from council and from the audience, that the city will have little to no say on development just outside the city’s borders. Councilman Rob Morgan said it may make more sense to negotiate with county officials and DelDOT than to have no say whatsoever. 

“I know it’s not a piece of cake dealing with the county,” he said. “I’m not sure [a transportation district] is the only way to accomplish effective improvement in this area.”

Cohan said it’s unlikely county officials would treat the city the same way it treats regular residents. 

“You’d probably come across a little stronger than just any citizen,” she said. 

Mike Mahaffie, chairman of the planning commission, said it is paramount the city and its residents have an influence on the county’s decisions when determining future land use outside the city. 

“We’re going to be watching what Sussex County proposes,” he said. “And that could become very heated because there is a lot of empty land right around the edge of Lewes that we are going to be very concerned about.” 

Even though the district ends now at city boundaries, some of Lewes’ roads are considered within the district’s area of influence. Cohan said the idea is that development within a district will affect roads just outside the boundary. For Lewes, the Henlopen district would impact New Road, Freeman Highway and parts of Savannah Road and Kings Highway. Each road classified as “within the area of influence” is eligible for funds from the district. 

Transportation improvement districts have been established in southern New Castle County, western Middletown, Route 13 in Dover and southern Milford. DelDOT’s success story is Middletown, where it used the district for economic development, attracting Amazon and Johnson Controls. 

Cohan used Middletown as an example to show that districts aren’t only about building new roads or improving existing roads. In Middletown, DelDOT was able to have Amazon subsidize more public transportation for the area. 

Districts also bring sidewalks and street lights, and promote alternative modes of transportation, such as trails, bike paths and public transportation.

If a developer submits a project inconsistent with the transportation district’s land-use plan and local officials approve it, DelDOT will not contribute any money toward necessary road improvements. A developer will be required to fully fund a new transportation impact study and all subsequent improvements.

Pilottown Road resident Kim Ayvazian, a 30-year resident of Lewes, is skeptical that a transportation district will improve the area’s traffic issues because Lewes is landlocked and little can be done to accommodate more traffic. 

“We’re trapped,” she said. “I consider it trapped because I basically can’t get out of my driveway in the summertime. It’s a great idea if you’re in the middle of Kansas, but I don’t see how you can improve our roads in the almost fully developed town of Lewes. Lots of houses can be built on New Road, lots of houses can be built between Lewes and Route 1. We’re trapped.” 

Longtime resident Mike Tyler echoed Ayvazian’s comments.

“Our quality of life is being attacked, and our sense of place is being attacked because we can’t go anywhere,” he said. “On a rainy day, don’t go out on the highway because we can’t move around. The carrying capacity is being exceeded. I can ride my bike and get there faster.” 

Cohan said many of today’s problems were caused because there was a disconnect between land-use decisions and transportation. A transportation district, she said, is a way to fix that. 

“We didn’t get into this overnight, and we’re not going to get out of this overnight,” she said.