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Keeping Them On Their Toes
I know when my local legislators see me coming, they cringe just a little. They know I am about to corner them into taking a stance on matters of importance. They know that I am about to ask them, point blank, to help those in my community. They also know I will not stop until I get the results we want and deserve. We want better community planning, better spending of our tax dollars, better solutions to our most difficult of problems. I am of the mindset that if you run for public office and win, you then work for ME and the residents of Delaware. You then are a steward of OUR money. You then have to answer to the people.
In my opinion, matters handled by our Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) are of the utmost importance. Everything in the state hinges on a transportation system that works. We will have no new businesses investing in our state without a well-managed transportation infrastructure.
One example of the waste we need to stop is the Rt 301 Bypass Project being pushed by our “Transportation Consultants” and ill informed legislators. This is a $1 Billion dollar project we could certainly do without. The Consultants used by DelDOT do little keep our Transportation system and agency sound and fiscally responsible. Too often they create what are tantamount to “Transportation Schemes”. They charge the State astronomical amounts of money to develop and make project proposals, we don’t need, can’t afford, and have yet to secure financing for the design or construction. It is my opinion that the Rt 301 project is one of these schemes. Using these consultants can be avoided by using what is already there for us at no extra cost. In fact it would save us millions.
Every state uses MPOs (Municipal Planning organizations) funded by both the States and the Feds. NCC has WILMAPCO (Wilmington Area Planning Council). They gather all the information needed to make well informed decisions on transportation projects. They make priority lists that should be used by DelDOT, but that is not always the case. Too often DelDOT ignores information WILMAPCO comes out with and chooses to listen to the consultants who seem to be the only ones who have anything thing to gain.
I consider myself a watchdog of the people’s money and of a broken system that desperately needs oversight and strong fiscal leadership. Running for public office has opened my eyes to all that needs to get accomplished in this state and country when it comes to our infrastructure. I won’t be stopping my pursuit of fiscal justice any time soon and it’s my hope that more of us start demanding that we repair our wrongheaded ways. This country was founded on principles that we can all get behind. How is it that we have lost our way so profoundly?
Sfitzpatrick924
May 20, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Nice article Andye I was laughing out loud at your opening line.
David
June 5, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Andy, To fix the problem, you need to change the law and then diligently have DelDOT follow it (a very real challenge). Perhaps something like this, rather than the current arbitrary process. Share this with some legislators, and watch them run from you again!!!
AMEND Section 133, Title 17 of the
Delaware Code by inserting and deleting the following text (underlined text is inserted,
strikethrough text is deleted):
§ 133. Transportation Road
improvements; additions to state system.
(a) With respect to roads or
portions thereof, transit routes, and all other transportation improvements,
the Department shall determine which if
any, shall be improved and which, if any, shall be added to the state highway
system transportation system. (29 Del.
Laws, c. 63; 34 Del. Laws, c. 81; Code 1935, §
5724; 17 Del. C. 1953, § 133; 53 Del. Laws, c. 39, § 7; 57 Del. Laws, c. 671, § 1G.)
(b) In making these determinations, the
Department shall utilize a project prioritization committee comprised of
representatives from WILMAPCO, Dover/Kent MPO, and the Department.
(c) The prioritization
committee shall utilize the following criteria for ranking and selection of
projects.
Improve
Quality of Life:
Air Quality: Project expected to improve air
quality by:Reducing emissions
Reducing vehicle miles traveled
Not adding capacity
Increasing access to non-auto modesEnvironmental Justice: Project enhances
environment in location with high percentage low-income or minority
residentsSafety: Project addresses high accident location
based on the absolute number of crashes and the rate at which crashes
occur
Efficiently
Transport People
Congestion: Project addresses congested areaPoints are awarded for projects addressing areas
with Level of Service E or F/areas identified in the Congestion
Management SystemFor projects within these congested areas,
additional points may be awarded based on:
i.
Average Annual Daily Traffic
ii.
Transit Use
Transportation Justice: Project improves mobility
and eases access to transit and other transportation choices for zero-car
households, elderly and persons with disabilities
Support
Economic Activity, Growth and Goods
Movement
Freight: Project supports major freight routes,
based on the number of trucks and percentage of trucks using the roadEconomic Development: Project supports economic
development including adding or improving access to brownfields, major
employment centers, and existing communities based on defined Delaware State
Strategies and Maryland
Priority Funding AreasFunding Contribution: Local and/or private
commitment demonstrated through funding contribution.
(d) All meetings, and the rankings shall
be open to the public with a minimum of a 30 day comment period. Comments shall be reviewed and considered by
the prioritization committee, and any that provide relevant information the
affects ranking scores should be incorporated in the prioritization scoring and
ranking of project.
(e)
The Department shall utilize the prioritization rankings developed
annually by the prioritization committee for the allocation of funding.
SYNOPSIS
This bill will provide a transparent and predictable process for
selection of transportation projects based on detailed and defensible criteria
and scoring. This will provide predictability
in transportation planning, funding, and transportation project construction and
improve the public trust and willingness to support funding for transportation
projects.