Share: 

FAST is good for Sussex County - maybe

March 4, 2021

Gosh, a lot has been written about the Funding Accelerating Safety in Transportation program since Jan. 1.  In short, this program identifies an area for DelDOT to target ahead of its current schedule, given safety considerations are deemed a major issue and both the council and DelDOT agree on the target. The county fronts the funding and is eventually reimbursed by DelDOT.    

I’m not sure why Councilman Schaeffer has taken the Gazette to task for the Feb. 19 editorial; just because Finance Director Jennings mentions a list of potential projects that can benefit from the increase in real estate transfer tax revenue does not mean FAST won’t get a share of those revenues as well.  In fact, a Cape Gazette editorial of Jan. 1 stated that the ‘council is leveraging its double digit increases in building-related revenues’ to fund FAST.  And that editorial didn’t say FAST should be the only recipient of such funds. 

Mr. Schaeffer stated the Feb. 19 editorial suggests the “council should immediately start dumping RTT money into the FAST program,” but further says that’s not the way the system works in Delaware; I thought the council and DelDOT are collaborating on what happens with FAST money.  So councilmen have a huge input as to how FAST is funded and how funds are spent, given certain timing requirements are met; at least that’s the way I understand it.  Councilman Schaeffer seems to take DelDOT to task as well, saying they don’t do anything quickly, pointing out that DelDOT preapproval and consent is needed.  Heaven knows I’ve taken DelDOT to task a lot over this past year, but I look at this FAST effort as a breath of fresh air, a breath both the council and DelDOT can take in to improve their relationship. And in turn correct some unsafe situations quickly; FAST can be a win-win.

But this begs the question, why did the county need a FAST program?  Did it finally get that development has outstripped DelDOT’s capacity to keep up with the rapid growth we are seeing? The editorial of Jan. 1 stated that legislators need to pressure DelDOT to accept the reality of the current boom and increase funding for Sussex projects, but what about our county council and P&Z?  Shouldn’t they accept some responsibility for the current boom?  The county approves developments that stress our infrastructure and then partners with DelDOT to fix the problems they helped create; what is wrong with that picture?  I think this FAST program is a tacit acknowledgement that the council gets it, that DelDOT gets it, with rampant growth, we all get it!  I just don’t see where the Gazette editorials, taken together, are not factually correct.  

The FAST program targets areas of safety concerns.  Not only is that saying our roads are behind where they need to be to accommodate growth, it’s also admitting growth has created some unsafe conditions (see the Camp Arrowhead crosswalk). I have no problem with the first project selected, the horrendous intersection of Cave Neck, Hudson and Sweetbriar.  

But once that intersection is improved, will the county just approve more development in that area (see Chappell Farm, with 20 units/acre)?  Will the FAST program provide even more opportunities for developers? In the long run, will FAST be the fix it appears to be?  

FAST can be a win-win if areas improved, sooner rather than later, do not become ripe for more development.  We should be mindful of what we wish for. 

Judy Kane
Lewes
  • A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.

    To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter