DelDOT Announces Additional Operational Changes

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) continues to review operational needs while keeping the health and safety of our employees and customers in mind. To that end, all public facing buildings that deliver various services will be going cashless across the State, including toll plazas and all Division of Motor Vehicle locations, effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

At DelDOT’s four DMV locations, only credit or debit cards will be accepted, and the Department continues to urge all customers to utilize mydmv.delaware.gov which offers more than 20 services online, including renewal of Delaware Driver License/ID, renewing vehicle registration, and changing your home address.

The following DMV services will be suspended until further notice:
• All Class D and Commercial Driver License (CDL) road exams
• All motorcycle safety courses conducted at all DMV locations
• All vision tests will be temporarily waived
• All emissions testing for vehicles
• All Auto Theft Unit (ATU) transactions

DMV lobbies will be continually monitored with the goal of keeping them below 50 people. We are also encouraging customers that need to conduct DMV business to come into the facilities alone and ask family members or others with them to not come into the buildings with them.

At the state’s three toll plazas, there will be no toll collectors working to collect cash payments. All traffic will be directed through the EZPass lanes and motorists without EZPass will receive a bill in the mail for the toll with no penalty or processing fee. The Route 896 southbound ramp to I-95 southbound will temporarily close due to the road configuration that does not permit access to the EZPass lanes. A detour will be posted.

If you are feeling sick, please do not visit public facilities and avoid public transportation. For more information on the state’s response to the Coronavirus, visit de.gov/coronavirus.


DelDOT Shares Update on Public Services

Due to the presence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Delaware and the direction of medical professionals, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has implemented several additional measures to clean facilities and vehicles used by the public to help limit the spread of the illness.

At Delaware’s four motor vehicle service centers, three toll plazas, and two rest areas, additional cleaning is taking place throughout the day including disinfecting all public seating, as well as door handles, kiosks, and counters.

“DelDOT provides services to thousands of Delawareans each day, and we want to do all we can to ensure their safety and that of our employees as we work together to limit the spread of Coronavirus,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

For customers who use public transportation, all DART buses have been thoroughly disinfected with vital oxide antimicrobial spraying solution and we are thoroughly cleaning areas of frequent contact each night to keep our buses as clean as possible.

Also, out of an abundance of caution, DelDOT has cancelled three upcoming public workshops:
March 24 – Public Workshop for Bridge 3-714 on New Road over Canary Creek at the Lewes Public Library
March 25 – Public Workshop for Old Kennett Road Retaining Walls at the Centerville Layton School
March 31 – Public Workshop for SR1/Cave Neck Road GSI at Lewes Fire Station #2

The Department is working to make the information for each of these projects available to the public through virtual workshops.

The safety and well-being our customers and employees are our top priority. We know the importance of connecting people to their destinations, safely, and efficiently. We are closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation through Delaware’s Division of Public Health and the CDC to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information to guide our operations.

If you are feeling sick, please do not visit public facilities and avoid public transportation. For more information on the state’s response to the Coronavirus, visit de.gov/coronavirus.


DelDOT Urges Use of DMV Online Services

In support of the State of Emergency issued by Governor Carney advising the public against gathering in large crowds, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is strongly encouraging customers who are in need of Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) services to utilize mydmv.delaware.gov which offers more than 20 services online, including renewal of Delaware Driver License/ID, renewing vehicle registration, and changing your home address.

Also, to keep DMV Lobby crowds to a minimum, DMV will immediately begin waiving late fees for vehicle registration and driver license renewals until further notice. The Department is also encouraging exclusive use of the drive through services at all DMV locations statewide.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we do not want anyone to feel that they must visit one of our facilities in person at this time to avoid late fees,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

To further protect customers and employees, all DMV locations have increased their cleaning and disinfecting efforts. For example; eye machines, kiosks, and testing equipment are being disinfected after each in person customer interaction.

We are closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation through Delaware’s Division of Public Health and the CDC to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information to guide our operations.

If you are feeling sick, please do not visit public facilities and avoid public transportation. For more information on the state’s response to the Coronavirus, visit de.gov/coronavirus.


DART Relaunches Adopt-A-Shelter Program

The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) has announced the relaunch of the DART Adopt-A-Shelter program. The primary focus of the program is to enlist schools, community organizations and business partners to assist in providing attractive and inviting bus shelters for our customers.

John Sisson, DTC CEO stated, “We are excited to relaunch our Adopt-A-Shelter Program. While we continue to welcome community-based organizations and businesses, we would also like to attract schools, both public and private, to showcase their school spirit on our shelters through art. Artistic creation and adopting a shelter are a winning combination, bringing recognition to the essential role public transit plays in improving Delaware’s quality of life.”

All adopted shelters can display artwork defining the school, group or individual supporting the location. The Adopt-A-Shelter agreement allows the shelter adopter to determine the maintenance schedule or agree on a schedule set by DART. DART believes that these partnerships will result in more attractive and appealing shelter environments for riders while also reducing the number of incidents and associated costs of vandalism. It is also an opportunity for schools, individuals and/or groups to be publicly recognized for their contribution to the community.

DART’s Adopt-A-Shelter Program is similar to the more familiar Adopt-A-Highway program that has operated successfully for many years, and currently has several volunteer supporters. To learn more about the Adopt-A-Shelter Program, visit DartFirstState.com, or contact Lerrissa Boardley, Marketing, and Communications & Outreach Specialist at 302-576-6016 or DOT_Marketing@delaware.gov.

The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For more information, please visit www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART.

Real-Time Bus Information and DART Pass, the mobile fare payment option, are both available on the free DART Transit App (iOS and Android).


Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund Launches

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIIF), an initiative announced by Governor John Carney in 2019, is now live and accepting submissions.

TIIF was established to provide economic assistance for renovation, construction, or any other type of improvements to roads and related transportation infrastructure in order to attract new businesses to this state, or expand existing businesses in this State, when such an economic development opportunity would create a significant number of direct, permanent, quality full-time jobs.

At the bill signing last summer, Governor Carney stated, “This legislation is really about creating good-paying jobs for Delaware workers and their families…TIIF will allow us to react quickly to important economic development projects that require upgrades to roads or other infrastructure. Investments in our transportation infrastructure make it easier and safer to travel across Delaware, and help us attract development from new and existing businesses…”

“Launching TIIF is an important step in our ongoing efforts to expedite our processes to ensure we are encouraging economic development projects that will help businesses in our state grow,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

TIIF is funded with $5 million from the state’s general fund and $5 million from DelDOT’s FY 2020 budget. The fund will be managed by the TIIF Council, a nine-member council established by the legislation with seven appointments made by the governor. The council will consider applications and make funding recommendations to Delaware’s Transportation Secretary and the Secretary of State.

Governor Carney has appointed Rob Book, Michael Casson, Cornelia Johnson, Mona Parikh, John Riley, Bill Strickland, and Joe Westcott as the first members of the TIIF Council, which will meet for the first time on January 27, 2020. Representative Bill Bush and Senator David Sokola were appointed by their respective chambers to represent the General Assembly on the council.

More information on TIIF can be found at https://de.gov/TIIF