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Maryland — had reliable travel times in 2020. That puts them comfortably percentage of buses keeping to their schedules has steadily improved over their stops on-time in 2021 in New in 2016. In Cecil County, on-time
While most actions had good progress,
progress. The RTP seeks to encourage increased density and growth in “Center” Transportation Investment Areas (TIAs) — places like Wilmington, Newark, Churchmans Crossing, and Elkton. These areas are tabbed for the highest levels of transportation investment. Centers in New Castle County, however, showed the weakest since 2000 of any TIA type. Instead, household growth has occurred at a faster rate in outer suburbs. This, in turn, has triggered several recent and planned highway upgrades — such as the new US 301 Expressway, SR 1 Expansion, and several widenings in Southern New Castle County — which encourage further suburban expansion. Sprawl is a driving factor behind several other troubling indicators we tracked in the Progress Report, such as: high rates of driving-alone commutes, projected rises in vehicle miles traveled, and a decline in bus ridership.
If you would like to learn more about the Regional Progress Report, please get in touch or visit www.wilmapco.org/ regional-progress-report.
Delaware Statewide Freight Plan
Update Is Underway
DelDOT, in partnership with all three Delaware Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), is working on an update to the Delaware Statewide Freight Plan.
Beginning in 2017 under the FAST Act, all states were required to develop a freight/goods movement plan every Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expands upon previous FAST required elements for a state freight plan. Additionally, the IIJA shortens the update cycle to every four years and expands the forecast period to eight Act).
The overall purpose of the Delaware Statewide Freight Plan is to compile goals, strategies, and planning-related action items that will help to maximize Delaware’s current and projected freight transportation network to optimize safety, connectivity, and economic competitiveness.
The 2022 Delaware Statewide Freight Plan update will build upon several strategic freight goals that support goals established in the USDOT National Freight Policy, Innovation in Motion: The Delaware Long Range Transportation Plan and 2015 Delmarva Freight Plan. The revised freight goals for the 2022 plan include:
• Safety and Security: Ensure the safe and secure movement of people and goods, limiting the potential for incidents that may cause harm or disrupt the network operations.
• Economic Vitality: Promote and strengthen the economic vitality of Delaware with an excellent transportation network that meets the needs of a diverse and growing economy.
• Freight Connectivity, Mobility, and Accessibility: Improve access- ibility and mobility and increase options for the movement of people and freight.
• System Management, Operations, and Maintenance: Enhance system management and operations through innovative strategies and technology during emergency situations.
• Resilience, Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship: Protect and enhance the environment through sustainable best practices, integration of environmental consideration, and responsible energy consumption.
The draft document is currently under development and feedback is being collected from various freight stakeholders throughout the region. To learn more about the progress on the plan, please visit the project website at freight.deldot.gov.
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