DelDOT Suspends Temporary Lane Closures for 4th of July Holiday

Dover, Del. – To accommodate heavy traffic during the 4th of July, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) will suspend planned lane closures at 3 PM on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 until 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. At any given time, there may be emergency lane and/or shoulder closures.

The E-ZPass Express Lanes are open at I-95 Newark Toll Plaza; Biddles Toll Plaza and Dover Plaza on SR 1, as well as most of the other cash toll booth lanes at the plazas. Motorists are reminded to slow down when approaching the toll plazas, to ensure the safety of our toll collectors.

Motorists can obtain an E-ZPass account online at ezpassde.com and click on “Get E-ZPass.” Customers can also register for an E-ZPass account in person at any Toll Plaza Customer Service Center 24 hours a day or call 1-888-397-2773 from 7 AM until 7 PM weekdays, and on Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Travelers may stop at the I-95 Welcome Center located between Exits 1 and 3 along I-95 in Newark or at the Smyrna Rest Area/Exit 119 on SR 1.

Below is a brief list of Events for the 4th of July Celebration.

Town of Smyrna/Clayton-4th of July Parade

The parade begins at 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM. The route will require a crossing of DE 300 at Main Street in Smyrna. Variable message boards will be placed in advance to alert motorists to anticipate delays on the route. DelDOT and Wally the Work Zone Warrior will also be participating in the parade.

University of Delaware Athletic Complex

Free parking will be available at the University of Delaware Athletic Complex lots. Motorists can expect delays on SR 896 and SR 4 within the City of Newark beginning around 6 PM and after the fireworks. Please visit www.newarkde.gov

Legislative Hall

Fireworks will take place over Legislative Hall around dusk. Motorists can expect delays in downtown Dover.

Please contact www.dover4thofjuly.com/schedule.html

City of Rehoboth Fireworks

The City of Rehoboth Fireworks will take place on Sunday, July 1, approximately 9:15 PM. Depending on the weather, the fireworks may launch any time after 8 PM.

It’s recommended to use the DART Park & Ride transportation to travel into downtown. Visit www.dartfirststate.com.

Rehoboth Avenue eastbound and Church Street from SR1 will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 8:30 PM. All vehicles will have to enter Rehoboth Beach via State Road or Bayard Avenue.

All traffic north of Rehoboth Avenue should exit Rehoboth Beach via Columbia Avenue and Rehoboth Avenue.

All traffic south of Rehoboth Avenue should Exit Rehoboth Beach via Bayard Avenue southbound (SR1 Southbound traffic only) or via Hickman Street and Munson Street westbound to State Road onto SR1 northbound and southbound.

For further information, visit www.cityofrehoboth.com.

For further information regarding 4th of July fireworks, please contact your local town/city halls or Chambers of Commerce.

Motorists can adjust their routes or travel times by using the DelDOT App, available for Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, and can be downloaded free at the Apple and Google Play stores or at www.deldot.gov and click on the link to stores.

Motorists are encouraged to call the following numbers to report any travel or traffic related issues: Dial #77 from any cell phone in Delaware; (302) 659-4600 or 1-800-324-8379. Please dial 911 for emergencies.


DelDOT and City of Dover Mark Completion of West Street Trail

Above: Secretary Cohan and local officials prepare to cut the ribbon on the newly completed West Street Trail in Dover Friday.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the City of Dover cut the ribbon for the newly completed West Street Trail in Dover on Friday. The West Street Trail is an ADA-accessible route for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel through Dover and connect with the Dover Transit Center on Queen Street.

The $400,000 trail includes an 8-to-10-foot-wide multi-use path that runs along South West Street, between West Water Street and West North Street. Along West North Street, the trail includes a 5-foot-wide sidewalk. The project added a concrete pedestrian refuge in the island at the intersection. Improved drainage and a safer railroad crossing were also part of the project. The total length of the trail is about three tenths of a mile long.

Eighty percent of the project’s cost was paid by federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds, which support projects that reduce traffic and air pollution. Twenty percent of the project’s cost was borne by DelDOT’s capital budget.

“The completion of the West Street trail is another important link in the transportation network within the City of Dover. It connects many of the city’s residents with the Dover Transit Center, where thousands each month connect to DART service throughout the state,” said DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan. “By enabling more people to travel without their own vehicles, projects like the West Street Trail reduce traffic congestion and pollution.”

The West Street Trail was championed by the City of Dover and its bicycle and pedestrian subcommittee. It was laid out in Dover Pedestrian Improvements Master Plan.

“Since my first bicycle as a child it has afforded me many hours of pleasure and freedom. It has given me the opportunity, then and now, to explore places not easily accessed by automobiles,” said Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen. “Today, the City of Dover has partnered with the State of Delaware to bring that freedom back safely to all of our citizens. Bicycling affords each of us the opportunity to experience once again, whether we are 8 or 80, that freedom and sense of adventure.”

“The City of Dover through our Bicycling and Pedestrian Subcommittee has enjoyed a fabulous relationship with DelDOT advancing numerous projects in the past few years,” said James Hutchison, chairman of the city’s bicycle and pedestrian subcommittee. “We truly support the efforts of not only closing the gaps in the bicycle/pedestrian network within Dover, but also to connect trail systems that offer users safe routes for cycling and pedestrianized travel by connecting to pathways leading out of the city limits. We very much appreciate the opportunity to have been involved in this project!”

“The West Street Trail is a small project, but it is an important one because it connects Dover’s growing low-stress bicycle network to the Dover Transit Center. That’s an example of connecting the modes at the nodes – where we increase the utility of both our bicycle and our transit networks by making sure they fit seamlessly together,” said James Wilson, Bike Delaware executive director.

Reybold Construction, based in Bear, constructed the trail, beginning in April 2018.


13th Annual National Dump the Pump Day to be Held on June 21 – “Dump the Pump! Ride DART.”

National Dump the Pump Day is a day to highlight the many benefits of using public transportation. Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) announced today that it will join other public transit agencies nationwide participating in the 13th annual Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 21, to encourage the use for public transit. From urban to suburban to rural communities, public transportation is a vital resource to Americans. In fact, public transportation helps to make a community economically viable.

Started in June 2006, when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this day emphasizes that public transportation is a convenient travel option that also helps people save money. According to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) May Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $10,134 annually by downsizing to one car.

Public transportation is the cornerstone of local economies in urban, suburban and rural communities. In fact, every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns, powering community growth and revitalization. Additionally, public transportation offers job access to millions of Americans; since 87 percent of public transit trips directly impact the economy.

Last, but not least, public transportation has a proven track record of reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil by 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline a year, and it also saves 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually. “DART is increasing its use of alternative fuels through our paratransit propane bus program and is purchasing zero-emission electric buses to save fuel costs, reduce harmful emissions and improve public health and our environment,” said John T. Sisson, Chief Executive Officer of DTC.

WHAT: 13th Annual National Dump the Pump Day
WHERE: Delaware Transit Corporation – RIDESHARE Delaware and transit agencies nationwide
WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 2018

So, DTC encourages Delawareans to join millions of others across the country, as they save money by riding public transportation during National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 21. Or if you are a frequent rider, take a friend along and remind them that using DART can save you big bucks if you “Dump the Pump” during your daily commute. DART…Ride More. Save More. Do More.

The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. Real-Time Transit Information is available on the free DelDOT App (iOS and Android), as well as on DART’s Trip Planner at DartFirstState.com. For more information, please call 1-800-652-DART.


National Pollinator Week: Pollinator Practices Take Root at DelDOT

Delaware’s drivers may notice more flowers sprouting up on the state’s nearly 14,000 lane miles of roadside this year. The steep decline of monarch butterflies and other pollinator species is believed to be due in part to loss of suitable habitats. Pollinators are animals that help plants reproduce by moving pollen from one part of the plant to another. Because many crops depend on pollination, pollinators contribute billions of dollars’ worth of value to the economy each year.

Over the past several years, DelDOT implemented changes to its management practices to benefit pollinators. In the past, the agency promoted well-manicured turf grass along the state’s roads. These management practices effectively create food deserts for pollinators who depend on blooming plants. To support pollinators, DelDOT started incorporating more native species and clover into its seed mixes, and has transitioned to a reduced mowing regime. For instance, along portions of SR 1, the agency continues to mow a safety strip adjacent to the road, but land beyond the safety strip is not mowed during most of the growing season. This allows wildflowers an opportunity to thrive, which can benefit pollinators.

“There are numerous areas along our roads throughout the state that we have regularly mowed just to keep the natural growth down. This innovative program allows DelDOT to not only help pollinators, but it reduces the amount of mowing in some areas and provides a much more visually appealing landscape by our roads,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

“Conservation is an all-hands-on-deck effort and I’m so glad that DelDOT is committing to being part of the solution for Delaware’s native species decline,” said Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, who chaired the Ecological Extinction Task Force and has been a champion for conservation in the General Assembly. “This is a win-win for the agency, for our environment, for taxpayers, and for motorists who get to drive past miles of wildflowers. It’s also a valuable demonstration to individual landowners, businesses, and neighborhoods that best practices for conservation aren’t just ecologically friendly, but also often look better and cost less than the alternative. I’m grateful to Sec. Cohan and her team for their partnership in protecting Delaware’s pollinators and promoting conservation.”

DelDOT is also partnering with other organizations to create more pollinator habitats. DelDOT’s Roadside Environmental Supervisor, Darin Callaway, created experimental pollinator plots through a partnership with Dr. Susan Barton from the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Program. The results of the experimental plots will inform Delaware’s future pollinator plantings. The agency is also set to break ground on a 43-acre pollinator meadow mitigation site outside of Middletown. DelDOT’s Environmental Planner, Erika Furlong, partnered with DNREC’s Eric Ludwig to design and install the site, and the Delaware Forest Service’s Todd Gsell will help maintain it.

DelDOT has joined 24 energy and transportation organizations to develop a conservation agreement for the monarch butterfly. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is expected to decide whether or not to list the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act next year. The conservation agreement’s purpose is to facilitate voluntary conservation measures to benefit the monarch butterfly (and other pollinators) by energy and transportation organizations that manage large tracts of land. In exchange, USFWS would provide greater regulatory certainty and help streamline requirements under the Endangered Species Act if the monarch is listed. The efforts are led by the University of Illinois at Chicago and are an outgrowth of the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group.

DelDOT’s pollinator efforts reflect the agency’s commitment to environmental stewardship and to staying in line with industry practices, which increasingly recognize the ecological value of roadsides. At the start of National Pollinator Week, DelDOT hopes residents will help spread the buzz about pollinators and the important role that they play!

To learn more about National Pollinator Week, visit the Pollinator Partnership. 


Ground Broken for Newark Regional Transportation Center Building

Newark, Del. — Governor John Carney and U.S. Senator Tom Carper joined state and local officials on Wednesday for a groundbreaking for the next phase of work on the Newark Regional Transportation Center (NRTC) which will construct the new train station building.

“This new station will become an important hub for thousands of people who live and work within the region,” said Governor John Carney. “Having a state-of-the-art transportation facility here will attract economic development while taking cars off of the road and represents another important infrastructure investment we are making in our state.”

“This transportation center will have an impact not just on passenger rail service to Newark, but on the economy of the entire region,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “TIGER grants are competitive and awarded to projects that will advance mobility, community and sustainability. I worked hard to make sure Delaware got a fair shot at this award, and I’m thrilled it won. Now that the station is almost a reality, I look forward to the day it is up and running and attracting residents and businesses to the area.”

“We are excited that the exposed platform which for years has serviced Amtrak and Septa passengers will soon be gone, and in its place will stand a safe, accessible station that will provide upgraded rail service to the University of Delaware and its ever-growing STAR Campus and the region,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

The improved station will provide an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant high-level platform, expand parking, and provide significantly improved passenger amenities including a station building with bathrooms.

Phase 2 of the project was awarded to Bancroft Construction for $7,622, 320.18 and has a construction schedule of 453 calendar days. The project is partially funded by a $10 million TIGER IV Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Phase 3 of the project will consist of platform and track modifications, and a pedestrian overpass.

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