Capital Transportation Program Hearings Set

DelDOT Partners with Wilmington Area Planning Council
Dover -- Interested persons are encouraged to participate in the annual review and development of the state's six-year Capital Transportation Program (CTP), by attending a public hearing to be held in August that will examine Fiscal Years 2012-2017. The hearing is jointly sponsored by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO), and the State's Council on Transportation.

DelDOT's New Castle County public hearing, held in conjunction with WILMAPCO, is set for August 29, 2011, from 4-7 p.m. at WILMAPCO offices, 850 Library Ave., Newark. DelDOT will have project boards on display and representatives will be in attendance to discuss various projects in the proposed work plan.

DelDOT's annual CTP hearings provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on current and suggested transportation projects throughout the state. The hearings also include planned capital investments for DART First State public transit and satisfy the public involvement requirements of Federal Transit Administration Section 5307. The hearings are conducted in an open house format, with a Court Reporter available to take public comments from those wishing to avail themselves of this service. Interested persons are also encouraged to submit written comments during the public hearing process.

The August 19 public hearing in New Castle County is the first of three that are held each year. Hearings will also be held in Kent and Sussex Counties. Mandated by 29 Delaware Code, SubSection 8409, the hearings are designed to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to participate in the planning process. They also are consistent with DelDOT's goal to operate in a manner that is as transparent to the public as possible. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are composed of representatives from state, county and local governments, and citizen and technical representatives. The Council on Transportation is composed of citizen representatives from every county in the state. Members are appointed by the Governor.

Meeting locations are accessible to persons having disabilities. Any person having special needs or requiring special aid, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, is requested to contact DelDOT by phone or mail one week in advance of the planned event. Questions, comments or written material can be submitted to: Office of Public Relations, Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 778, Dover, Delaware, 19903, or call 1-800-652-5600 (in Delaware) or 302-760-2080.