Jennifer Cohan began her career with DelDOT in 1989, served as Director of DMV since 2007

Wilmington, DE – Governor Jack Markell announced today he is nominating Jennifer Cohan to become the next Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). If confirmed by the Delaware State Senate, Cohan will succeed Shailen Bhatt, who will accept a nomination by Governor John Hickenlooper to serve as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation at the end of this month.

“Jennifer’s proven leadership skills have played an integral role in the transformation of the Delaware Department of Transportation over the past eight years, particularly as it relates to improved services and supports within the Division of Motor Vehicles,” said Governor Markell. “She has worked her way up through the ranks of state government, starting as a casual/seasonal front-line worker to Director of DMV, gaining extensive knowledge and experience that will make her an ideal candidate to serve as the state’s transportation Secretary.”

Cohan, whose state public service career spans over 25 years, was appointed Director of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in 2007. She has held an array of leadership positions within the Delaware Department of Transportation in the areas of Planning, Finance and Motor Carrier Safety. Previously, she worked in the capacity of Financial/Program Manager at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) managing the states Clean Water Program. Cohan also worked with the Delaware State Legislature within the Office of the Controller General.

“I am deeply honored to be nominated by Governor Markell to lead DelDOT,” said Cohan. “If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to building on the incredible progress we’ve made to improve the state’s transportation network while strengthening the public’s trust.

“This administration has made significant investments in transportation and the dedicated employees of DelDOT play a critical role in ensuring those investments equate to positive changes for the people of Delaware. I’m proud of our team and would be honored to support their ongoing efforts if given the opportunity to serve.”

In addition to her leadership role at DMV, Cohan is an adjunct professor at Wilmington University teaching leadership and public policy in the Master’s program. She is also a member of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors and serves as president of the Greater Dover Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors.

Cohan, 42, graduated summa cum laude from Wilmington University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Public Administration. She currently resides in Dover with her husband and daughter.

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Will conclude productive tenure at agency at the end of the month   

Wilmington – Secretary Shailen Bhatt will conclude a three and a half year tenure leading Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DelDOT) at the end of this month to accept a nomination by Governor John Hickenlooper to serve as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

“Shailen has done an excellent job enhancing the State’s transportation network while earning the respect of his colleagues and the trust of our citizens,” said Governor Jack Markell. “The agency faced numerous challenges over the past several years, including the need to address a significant debt load and respond to severe weather events, but under his leadership DelDOT tackled those challenges with dedication and professionalism. While this is a big loss for the State of Delaware, I am happy he’ll have the opportunity to work with one of the best governors in the country and am confident Shailen’s experience and leadership skills will have a positive impact in Colorado.”

Secretary Bhatt was appointed by Markell in 2010. Prior to his term as Delaware’s Secretary of Transportation, he served in several leadership roles throughout the country, including Associate Administrator at the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, D.C., Deputy Executive Director with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and Director of the Bowling Green/Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

“Throughout my career I‘ve tried to go where I felt I could do the most good, looking for opportunities to make meaningful contributions as a public servant,” said Bhatt. “I appreciate the opportunity Governor Markell gave me and I will always treasure the time I’ve spent in Delaware. It’s been an honor to lead Team DelDOT. I’m very proud of the people I served with and appreciate their unwavering support and enthusiastic commitment towards improving Delaware’s transportation system.”

Key accomplishments advancing Governor Markell’s transportation agenda include:

• Infrastructure and Quality of Life Investments: The Department has completed or initiated a number of major transportation projects:

• Indian River Inlet Bridge

• Highway speed electronic toll lanes on I-95

• Elkton Road improvements (Newark)

• South Market Street improvements (Wilmington)

• Route 54 improvements (Sussex County)

• Delaware City DMV facility

• Opening of the I-95 / SR 1 interchange

• Completing the I-95 / Route 202 interchange

• First State Trails and Pathways Initiative: DelDOT teamed with DNREC to deliver on Governor Markell’s commitment to build a first class trails network in the First State. Since 2010, more than $14 million has been invested in the creation of new or improved biking and pedestrian facilities. These trails and pathways better connect Delaware’s communities and improve health and recreational opportunities for citizens and visitors alike. Delaware now ranks as the 4^th Bicyclist Friendly State in 2014, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

• Strengthened Financial Stewardship: The department reigned in its operating budget while reducing debt. The department’s operating budget excluding storm related funds decreased each year since FY12, and debt obligations were reduced by 30% ($369 million) from a peak of $1.2 billion in FY11 to under $865 million in FY15.The department maintained an investment grade credit rating of Aa2/AA+ from Moody’s and Standard & Poor, respectively.

• Transit Redesign: The operations of DART First State have been revamped to control costs and improve transit services to create more convenient transportation options for all Delawareans. Changes included expanding fixed route services in New Castle County and Kent County by offering extended hours and expanded weekend service, increasing fares, distinguishing services areas inside and outside the ADA area, and utilizing the existing 5310 program to work with non-profit partners to provide alternative services for their clients. In addition, DTC launched a Flex Service program providing connections between Georgetown, Millsboro and Lewes as an alternative for people to travel to a destination one mile off of fixed route, as opposed to using paratransit.

• Improved Customer Service: DelDOT has focused on providing excellent customer service, whether to the driving public, passengers on buses, developers, car dealers or customers at the division of motor vehicles. The agency is actively tracking customer feedback to identify areas that need improvement. The following are some of the initiatives that have been implemented in the Division of Motor Vehicles which served over 630,000 customers in the past year with an average wait time of 13 minutes.

• Expand Customer Service and Outreach to Certain Driving Populations: DMV continues to expand its customer service outreach to Hispanic, senior and teen populations through increased participation in community events and public relation efforts.
• Automate Customer Satisfaction Survey for DMV: DMV added a customer service satisfaction survey question to the end of customer transactions via the credit card device at each station to increase our number of responses. The results show overall services at 99% excellent or good.
• Expand Services at DMV Kiosks: Self-service kiosks now allow customers to complete driver license renewals, duplicates and address changes, as well as registration renewal.
• Print on Demand Temporary Tag Program:  To increase the level of service to the state’s auto dealers, the division expanded the use of the print-on-demand temporary tag program to the majority of Delaware new car dealers. The program allows for auto dealers to print temporary tags on demand at their facilities instead of pre-purchasing tags (inventory) from the DMV and handwriting the vehicle information on the tags.

 

 

• Improved Development Coordination:  Recognizing the vital role DelDOT plays in the success of economic development in the state, the agency set a performance goal that staff must provide comments on development plans within 45 days of receipt. To date, DelDOT is meeting this goal the overwhelming majority of the time. This provides the development community with predictability in the permitting process. Through the review of agency regulations under Executive Order #36, DelDOT modified its multi-use path policy and created a “Letter of No Contention” approval to process plans that have fewer than 199 average daily trips. This process is especially helpful to small businesses trying to develop or expand.

• Transportation Improvement Districts: Through the creation and implementation of Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs), communities now have an opportunity to work with the local land use department and DelDOT to determine the appropriate size of transportation improvements in identified growth zones. Predetermined traffic counts and streamlined technical assistance will help developers accelerate the permitting process, saving time and money in the construction of new homes and businesses.

• Reform of the Capital Transportation Program Process: The department undertook the process of creating a data driven project prioritization processes that uses performance metrics to guide decision-making. Using a software tool called Decision Lens; the department has created a project evaluation and ranking system that ensures projects are consistent with the mission, vision and goals of the department; especially with regard to their ability to create a safer transportation system in Delaware.

• Implementation of the 2011 Transportation Trust Fund Task Force Report Recommendations: The 2011 Transportation Trust Fund Task Force (Task Force) studied the entire transportation program for the period Fiscal Year 2012-2023 and concluded that total spending for transportation expenses over the period could reasonably be estimated to total $12.4 billion and that current revenue streams will support only 70% of those needs. The result of that imbalance, if not corrected, would be either the elimination of all new capital projects by 2017 or severe reductions in the Department’s Core Program resulting in an accelerated deterioration of Delaware’s transportation infrastructure. The Task Force put forth a list of recommendations to address the financial challenges facing the department. DelDOT acted on a number of these recommendations, including reducing borrowing, keeping operating costs level, creating a more sustainable business model for transit, and making more intelligent use of available dollars through the adoption of a data-driven capital spending process. Creating a sustainable stream of revenue for the trust fund remains the overarching unrealized recommendation in the task force report, however. As the report stated, “the essential goal in correcting the structural problem of funding the TTF is to create a sustainable stream of revenue which supports an appropriately sized capital program to meet the State’s infrastructure needs.”

In his new role, Secretary Bhatt will lead the Department in planning for and addressing Colorado’s transportation needs. He will oversee 3,300 employees statewide and an annual budget of approximately $1 billion to help CDOT continue its mission of providing the best multi-modal transportation system for Colorado that safely and most effectively moves people, goods and information.

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$57 Million Investment Will Improve Traffic for Businesses, Residents & Beach Visitors

Bethany Beach – A special project briefing to mark the start of construction of the State Route 26, Atlantic Avenue, Clarksville to Assawoman Canal Improvements Project was held today for Governor Jack Markell, Route 26 Construction Advisory Group members, and the media at the South Coastal Library.

Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt, the DelDOT Design Team, and Delaware-based George & Lynch Construction detailed the history, scope and schedule of the project, which is designed to address the high frequency of traffic tie-ups, poorly designed intersections, insufficient pedestrian and bicycling facilities, and drainage problems.

“This project addresses significant needs for everyone who travels State Route 26,” said Governor Markell. “It also exemplifies the public safety and economic benefits we can realize by investing to meet Delaware’s transportation infrastructure needs. Better transportation means economic expansion and job growth, whether it’s near our beaches where visitors and locals expect safe and smooth roadways, or anywhere across our state where businesses and families want to build their futures.”

While the State is funding a portion of the project (20%), a significant amount (80%) is provided through federal funding.

“I’m thrilled this project is underway thanks to the federal and state funding that I’ve been working to secure for years, along with the governor and the rest of the Congressional delegation,” said Senator Tom Carper. “Widening State Route 26 will ease congestion for both beachgoers and more importantly for emergency vehicles. As a major road to the hospital and an evacuation route, it’s critical that Route 26 be better equipped to get people and vehicles to and from the beach areas and residential communities, especially in the case of an extreme weather event. The bike lanes included in this project will be another shot in the arm to the tourism industry in Sussex County, allowing for visitors and residents alike to bike safely to the beach from in-land communities. It is my hope that more bikes on the bike paths will also mean fewer vehicles on the road.”

“Improving driver safety and reducing traffic congestion on Delaware roads is imperative to the quality of life standards for those who live in and visit the First State,” said Senator Coons. “The influx of traffic during the summer season on Route 26 has an adverse effect on year-round residents as well as the hundreds of thousands of tourists that drive our state’s economy. The federal government’s significant investment in this project will play an integral role in the continued economic development of the area and will undoubtedly improve traffic flow and improve safety for all users.”

“The state’s economy and Delawareans’ quality of life depend on a safe, modern infrastructure,” said Congressman Carney.  “The investment being made in Rt. 26 by the federal and state governments will make it easier to travel in Sussex County throughout the year, and especially during the summer months when traffic is a major concern.  I’m looking forward to these improvements that will support commerce, address environmental needs, and make it easier for everyone driving through this part of our state.”

Route 26 runs east and west linking Delaware Route 1 – and the state’s famous beach resorts – with US 113, and points further west.  It bisects commercial and residential development, facilitates first-responder traffic and is designated as an emergency evacuation route.

Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt explained, “With Spring approaching, the construction phase of the Route 26 project is getting underway. You’ve probably noticed more workers clearing brush and trees along the roadside, utility crews moving lines and poles and a few more construction vehicles being driven to work sites. So we’re here to explain what you can expect to see in the months ahead. And we’re here to ensure that we maintain a responsive – and responsible – dialogue between residents, business owners, contractors and your state government about the job that lies ahead of us.”

Construction of the four-mile long project will widen the existing two-lane roadway to include two eleven-foot travel lanes with five-foot shoulder/bike lanes and a twelve-foot wide continuous shared center left turn lane. The segment of Route 26 from Clarksville to west of Railway Road will be an “open section of roadway,” meaning there will be no curbing or gutters. The section from west of Railway Road to the Assawoman Canal will be a “closed section of roadway,” having both curbing and gutters with drainage into an underground pipe system. Five-foot wide sidewalks will be provided from Windmill Road to the Assawoman Canal.

Jill Frey, Project Engineer for Century Engineering explained that the project team understands how difficult construction can be for motorists as well as for those who live and work within the project limits. To minimize construction time, DelDOT is allowing work to occur both day and night in multiple areas within the project area at the same time. Traffic delays will be monitored daily.

Chris Baker, Executive Vice President for George & Lynch, outlined the many challenges that will be faced performing this project. He noted that the severe winter weather has posed their first challenge. However, traffic and commuting hours are going to present bigger hurdles for them to complete this project in a timely fashion. Mr. Baker pointed out that George & Lynch have been building roads since 1923, and they feel that there aren’t any obstacles that they can’t overcome, saying, “We are looking forward to making this section of Route 26 a safer and hopefully less congested road for the residents, tourist and businesses in Sussex County.”

In addition to minimizing construction time, work times and lane restrictions were established to reduce disruption. During the peak tourist season (May 16 through September 30) lane closures, shoulder closures and lane shifts will not be permitted from 6 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Monday. Lane shifts and shoulder closures will be permitted only between Tuesday, 6 a.m. through Thursday 7 p.m. During this period lane closures will be allowed during the nighttime hours Monday through Thursday.

During the off peak Season (October 1 through May 15) lane closures, shoulder closures and lane shifts will be permitted at all times except between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to facilitate the morning traffic.

Following the formal presentation, elected officials and media were invited to tour the project site with Governor Markell, Secretary Bhatt, and the project team.

Questions or concerns regarding the project can be addressed to the project field office:

Ken Cimino – On-Site Public Outreach Coordinator

Field Mailing Address:   17 Atlantic Ave. Suite 2, Ocean View, DE 19970

Office – (302) 616-2621

 More information is available on the DelDOT Route 26 Project Website: www.sr26.deldot.gov.

(Smyrna, DE) – As a guest host for the Governor’s weekly message, filmed at the Transportation Management Center in Smyrna, Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt explains how investing in improvements to Delaware’s transportation network will not only improve roads and bridges, but will also boost the State’s economy.

“Whether you use Delaware’s roads, buses or rails to get to work, travel with family or transact business, you have a stake in how well they function now and in the future,” said Secretary Bhatt. “Governor Markell’s First State Transportation Investment Plan will fix and improve our roads and bridges, it will boost our economy, and it will keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/P92XO3a4mTc
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Creating Jobs, Opportunity by Improving our Transportation Network

$500 Million Increase over five years would improve roads and bridges, create jobs, and implement recommendations of Transportation Trust Fund Task Force

Wilmington, DE – Governor Jack Markell is asking legislators and Delawareans to support an increase in the state motor fuels tax as part of a plan to create a reliable revenue stream for the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), significantly boost spending on transportation projects statewide and put thousands of Delawareans to work over the next five years.

 Delaware’s motor fuels tax has not been increased in the last 19 years (since 1995). The rates are .23 cents per gallon for gasoline and .22 cents per gallon for special fuels, including diesel.    A ten-cent-per-gallon increase in motor fuel and special fuel taxes would generate an additional $50M for the trust fund that pays for roads, bridges and other essential transportation elements.  The estimated additional cost to motorists would by $57 per year or $4.78 per month.

Under Governor’s Markell’s plan, increased motor fuels tax revenues would be coupled with a fiscally-responsible borrowing strategy that keeps DelDOT on track to paying down debt.  Fifty million dollars would be borrowed each year for five years by DelDOT to fund already-identified, but delayed construction projects that address safety, congestion and maintenance needs under the State’s Capital Transportation Plan, Paving program and State of Good Repair initiative.  The combination of $50 million in new revenue and $50 million in borrowing would pay for an additional $500 million dollar investment in transportation projects statewide over five years.

Since 1999, the TTF has been dependent on fluctuating monies from state escheat funds.  It has also been financially challenged for many years by a combination of stagnant or flat revenue streams, residual debt, rising operating and construction costs, increased transit expenses, ongoing maintenance requirements, and steadily rising demand for new projects to keep pace with economic expansion and traffic growth.   These challenges have caused the postponement or delay of more than 55 road projects in the current fiscal year.   Deferral of projects leads to higher future costs in system maintenance, construction costs and right-of-way acquisition.

The Governor is acting on recommendations of the Transportation Trust Fund Task Force

The Governor’s proposal comes in response to recommendations made by a bi-partisan Transportation Trust Fund Task Force, established by House Bill 500 (Section 112), composed of 24 members representing the Delaware General Assembly, various state agencies and other stakeholders form the public and private sectors.  In establishing the Task Force, legislators recognized the need for a comprehensive review of transportation demands and funds available to meet to the state’s needs, calling for “predictable and sustainable funding to improve and maintain Delaware’s transportation system.” 

“The TTF has experienced insufficient revenues over a significant period, managed only by the delay of necessary capital projects, in order to size the budget to meet available revenues.”

from the 2011 Transportation Trust Fund Task Force Report

 

 DelDOT has made considerable effort over the last two years to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency as part of the Governor’s Performance Review process.  These actions included reducing consultant costs, reducing overtime, limiting cell phone usage, renegotiating contracts, eliminating vacant positions, improved technology and service delivery to increase efficiencies and reduce waste.

In addition, in the last two fiscal years the agency did not increase its operating budget and has reduced its debt while introducing performance management principles in every operating division, adopting a data-driven process for developing the state’s Capital Transportation Plan and restructuring its transit operations to achieve financial sustainability.

As significant as these actions are in creating efficiency and controlling costs, they alone are not enough to close the gap necessary to adequately fund the TTF.

Statements from the Governor, Secretary of Transportation and others supporting the plan

 

Governor Jack Markell said, “When it comes to funding transportation, there are no Democrat bridges or Republican roads.  Citizens and legislators know we have numerous unmet transportation needs in our state, yet we have asked DelDOT to labor under a funding process that has been broken for more than a decade.  The costs of not fixing it are real in terms of projects delayed, jobs not created, safety compromised and economic growth hindered.  Now is the time to repair the situation and spur our state’s economy forward.”

Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt said, “Efficient transportation agencies that are responsive to the people they serve need consistent and reliable funding from year to year, and decade to decade.  Without it, needed projects take longer to plan, become more expensive to build, and can sometimes be delayed for months or years beyond when they should have been built.  Our planners and engineers, as well as our industry partners, need the certainty that a properly-funded transportation trust fund provides.  Motorists need to know the roads they will be driving on now and in the future are as safe and congestion free as we can reasonably make them.”

Paul Morrill, Executive Director of the Committee of 100 and member of the Transportation Trust Fund Task Force said, “It was just obvious to the Task Force when we were meeting as we learned all of the challenges facing the Trust Fund that we were going to have to do something about it. I think that task force report has stood the test of time, so I’m glad to see that we’re moving toward implementing it… It’s not a partisan issue. It’s a competition issue, however. As the Governor often points out, we’re in a global competition in a global economy and without a world class infrastructure, we’re simply not going to be competitive. And that’s what our surrounding states have all recognized. We need to make this investment… It’s unprecedented I think the level of cooperation between the broad based business community and labor around a single issue.”

Ted Williams, President of Landmark Science & Engineering, former chairman of American Council of Engineering Companies of Delaware, and Chair of the Transportation Trust Fund Task Force said, “This is a very minimal impact on the average household in Delaware… but it’s going to be a major impact as an economic driver on the State of Delaware. Also, it’s going to be able to bring projects forward, especially the safety projects that are very instrumental in keeping our citizens safe, [and those that] allow our citizens to move around the state. It will also allow us to attract new businesses to Delaware and also keep the businesses in Delaware that are currently here.”

Sam Lathem, President Delaware State AFL-CIO said, “We need jobs and I can stand here and say I think [the Governor has] come up with the best way to do that in the borrowing and the revenue part of it. And so we knew it would cost and I think we all were at the place where we were ready to take that on… We stand united. We stand supporting the Governor and the Administration in trying to create jobs and put working men and women back to work.”

 Transportation Investment Plan Facts

 

Transportation Trust Fund Task Force Recommendations

 Delaware’s Transportation Trust Fund Task Force recommended several revenue-generating alternatives, including an increase in the state gasoline tax, in order to “correct a structural problem in the TTF.”  The Task Force developed a list of options to address the TTF financial challenge.  The options included (but were not limited to):

• Transferring DelDOT operating costs from the TTF back to the General Fund, over an extended period of time;
• Transit fees and greater general fund support for paratransit;
• Increasing one or more of the traditional trust fund revenues (tolls, gas taxes, DMV fees);
• Creating new fees payable by the general public and/or the users of the public infrastructure or Department services;
• Increasing the TTT borrowing, thereby requiring less new revenues;
• Decreasing the TTF borrowing, thereby requiring more new revenues;
• Using one or more techniques of innovative transportation financing (e.g. a lease concession on existing/to be built toll roads) with appropriate oversight of any proposed transaction by Executive and Legislative leaders

 

The Task Force left the selection of revenue alternatives for consideration of implementation to the Governor and the General Assembly.

The Task Force studied the entire transportation program for the period Fiscal Year 2012-2023 and concluded that total spending for transportation expenses over the period could reasonably be estimated to total $12.4 billion and that current revenue streams will support only 70% of those needs.  The result of that imbalance, if not corrected, says the report, will be either the elimination of all new capital projects by 2017 or severe reductions in the Department’s Core Program resulting in an accelerated deterioration of Delaware’s transportation infrastructure.

The national recession of 2007-2009 caused TTF revenue decreases.  The Task Force expressed concern about the potential negative impact such deterioration would have on the state’s economic competitiveness and ability to attract jobs.

The Transportation Trust Fund Task Force report also said that due to ongoing pressure on the General Fund and the inconsistent nature of the Escheat transfer to the Department, the Task Force decided that in order to represent a more accurate needs scenario, all future receipts of escheat funds should be removed from the financial projections and needs analysis.

 

Current and Proposed State Motor Fuel Taxes

 

The last increase in the Delaware motor fuel tax occurred in 1995.  From 1995 through 2013, motor fuel tax revenues have grown by 25%, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 51%.

Over the next 7 years (FY 2014-FY 2020), motor fuel tax revenues are forecasted to decrease by 0.8% annually while the CPI has been increasing at an annual average rate of 2.4%.

The current Delaware Motor Fuel Tax rates are $.23 per gallon of gasoline and $.22 per gallon of special fuels.

The proposed rates would be $.33 per gallon of gasoline and $.32 per gallon of special fuels, with indexing to CPI.

Impact on Average Consumer

The average motorist drives 13,476 miles annually, averaging 23.5 miles-per-gallon, purchasing  573 gallons of gas a year.  573 gallons X $.10 = $57 additional cost annually, which equates to $4.78 additional per month.

Comparison with Other States in the Region

 

• PA  full tax plan to be phased in by 2018. From current $0.418 + $0.19 to $0.608 per gallon.

 

• MD estimate based on anticipated CPI and Sales Tax by 2016.  From current $0.270 + $0.165 to $0.43 per gallon.

 

• NJ is $0.145 per gallon.

 

• NY is $0.499 per gallon.

 

• CT is $0.493 per gallon.

 

Risks and Returns on Transportation Investments for Delaware’s Future

 

What is the risk of doing nothing?

• Escalated infrastructure deterioration, where pavement conditions worsen; pavement reconstruction costs are 5X more than preservation
• Bridge conditions decline
• Delayed safety and capacity improvements
• Increased congestion on roadways
• DMV wait times increase
• Risk of losing federal funding
• Employment impacts on the contracting community
• Potential adverse impact to credit rating

 What is the return on investment?

• Maintain a safe and reliable transportation system
• Put thousands of people back to work
• Fix a shortfall in revenues in the Transportation Trust Fund
• Create a sustain stream of revenue
• Maintain long term financial viability for DelDOT and transportation projects