1/19/2009
WILMAPCO request for Grubb Road Pedestrian Improvement Project

This is my request to Wilmington Area Planning Council on the Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal years 2010 to 2013.

The good news is that the Grubb Road Pedestrian Improvement Project is one of the few projects which remains funded because of the high priority ascribed it by the community, WILMAPCO, DELDOT and area elected officials.

The understandable bad news is that the construction dollars slipped away in the out years in the proposed TIP.

The challenge is to make sure that the funding for project development, preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition does not also slip away during the State Legislature’s upcoming review and approval of the CTP.

We all understand that construction dollars are tight and were therefore removed. However, the preliminary funding is relatively small but keeps us on track to restore construction dollars when funds are available. Please protect the proposed modest pre-construction funding currently proposed.

I have appended below the project description and funding charts for FY 2008-2011 TIP and the Draft FY 2009-2012 TIP.

FY 2010: $ 500, 000 Project Development [stayed the same in proposed TIP]
FY 2011: $ 800,000 Preliminary Engineering [a substantial increase is proposed in the draft TIP from $100,000 last year]
FY 2012: $400,000 Right of way acquisition [remained the same]
FY 2013: $ 0 Construction [eliminated $2.3 million previously projected construction dollars]

The Grubb Road Pedestrian Project is described by DELDOT as an approved project with High Priority, defined as the "greatest need for improvement". Grubb Road is described as a two lane road with the "country feel" and no mostly shoulders. Based on the Steering Committee’s comments, a decision was reached to provide sidewalks only on one side and the design would be meandering where possible to provide an aesthetically pleasing walk that contributes to the country feel of the roadway corridor. High visibility crosswalks would be provided across side streets and Grubb Road to make connections between housing developments and the proposed sidewalk.

I have attached two prior essays in support of context sensitive designed pathways along Grubb Road and Shipley Road. Both of these projects emanated from the Brandywine Hundred Bike/Ped Study about five years ago.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Robert S. Weiner
Council District 2, New Castle County, DE
www.bobweiner.com
Louis Hinkle, aide to Councilman Weiner 302-395-8362

View entire attachment in PDF format.

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