DelDOT secretary extends olive branch to Sussex

Councilman George Cole says a new day has dawned in Sussex County.

That statement came after Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan spoke frankly to council about establishing better lines of communication.

“We need to show a unified front,” Cohan said. “It's not DelDOT against the counties.”

She also suggested establishing transportation improvement districts as a way to create a working partnership.

Residents and council members have complained for years about a disconnect between county and state transportation officials. While county officials are charged with making land-use decisions, DelDOT is a critical player in infrastructure improvements that accompany the growth approved by Sussex County officials.

In the past, it's not been unusual for county officials to be critical of DelDOT and vice versa. Cohan said it's time for the state and county to work together.

“It's a two-way street. We need to communicate and work with you to improve transportation issues in this county,” said Council President Mike Vincent, R-Seaford.

Cohan said a first step on the road to better coordination could be the formation of traffic improvement districts where state transportation and county officials work together to plan for infrastructure improvements to keep pace with development.

She said DelDOT needs a comprehensive look at traffic flow and development. “We need to focus on Sussex County,” she said.

DelDOT Deputy Secretary Nicole Majeski explained that traffic improvement districts can play a critical role in providing better coordination for land use and transportation between the county and DelDOT in planning for development.

The districts – jointly agreed to by council and DelDOT – are areas where growth is anticipated. Majeski said once a district is established, the cost of transportation improvements for development can be determined, with developers being assessed their share of the cost. “They could do the improvements themselves or pay us,” she said. “As the area is developed you can assure that improvements will be there. It provides certainties,” she said.

Drew Boyce, director planning for DelDOT, asked council if any member had specific ideas for an initial traffic improvement district.

“I'd rather see you do it because you are the traffic experts,” Cole said.

Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, suggested the Midway area. Councilman Sam Wilson, R-Georgetown, said not to forget about western Sussex County. He said traffic pressures from the growth of tourism in coastal Sussex are impacting agricultural truck traffic in other areas of the county. “Routes 113 and 13 are forgotten about,” he said.

Majeski said state transportation staff could get back to council with recommendations about possible districts.

Deaver asked how serious DelDOT was about establishing districts in the county.

“We are extremely serious,” Majeski responded. “We know there are a lot of challenges, but we can work on this together and bridge that gap between us and land-use decisions.”