Is Sussex ready for a new day in traffic planning?

Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan recently appeared before Sussex County Council to declare a truce.

After years of finger-pointing over the disconnect between her department and the council, she called for a united front. “It’s not DelDOT against the counties,” she said, calling for a comprehensive look at traffic flow and development. “We need to focus on Sussex County,” she said.

Her statement was well received. Councilman George Cole said a new day has dawned in Sussex County.

DelDOT may be set to usher in a new day, but the council appears woefully unready for the sunrise. Asked to identify traffic improvement districts, where growth is expected to occur, so DelDOT can coordinate transportation planning, the council appeared to have no idea where development is occurring or likely to unfold.

Cole turned the question back on DelDOT, saying DelDOT has the experts, and they should identify traffic improvement districts.

Councilwoman Joan Deaver suggested Midway, the area near Route 1 between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. If anything can be said about that area, it’s that it is already developed.

There may be plenty to improve, but the time for serious planning is well past.

It is a mystery why Deaver would not recommend a study of her own neighborhood, a wedge of land bounded by Route 24, Plantation Road, Beaver Dam Road and Route 5, where back roads are already inadequate with many more houses and new developments – not to mention a new school and new Troop 7 barracks – on the way.

Perhaps even more critical: Before deciding whether to rezone land for Overbrook Town Center, why not call for a traffic district encompassing Route 1, Route 9 and Route 5?

Why allow any more development in this area without serious traffic planning?

In a county in dire need of traffic planning, council’s inability to identify a viable district where serious traffic planning is needed should be a wake-up call for voters.

Instead of simply turning the question back to a state agency, council members, elected to represent the people of Sussex County, should be initiating planning efforts and leading the way.