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Delaware

The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Delaware is the 2nd smallest state in the U.S. in land area, 6th smallest in population, and 7th most densely populated. However, approximately 36 percent of Delaware's population and jobs, and 89 percent of the land, is non-urban. About 69 percent of Delaware's roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to 19 percent of the state's land area.

Delaware is a moderately growing state, as measured by population, with a moderately growing rate of employment. The proportion of the state's jobs that are in the uniquely rural agriculture and mining sectors is small (4 and less than one percent, respectively). Most jobs in Delaware's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: construction, transportation & utilities (16 percent); manufacturing (19 percent); business & trade (28 percent); and services & government (33 percent).

Demographically, Delaware's non-urban population is predominately white (84 percent) with a large portion of African Americans (14 percent). Compared to the other states, the proportion of Delaware's non-urban adults who did not graduate from high school is relatively high (17th highest) but the proportion that did graduate from college is well above the middle (13th highest). The 9 percent of Delaware's non-urban people who are poor is less than in most other states. About 40 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (26 percent 18 years or younger, and 14 percent 65 years or older).

Governmentally, Delaware has 3 counties, a small number compared to many other states. The state also has 57 municipalities, but no towns or townships. It has the 4th lowest number of sub-county governments. Delaware does not have any federally recognized Indian tribes.

Delaware is one of six states that do not have special-purpose districts with transportation responsibilities. However, Delaware has one public transit provider serving rural areas and an additional 14 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

Delaware has one regional council that covers approximately 75 percent of the state, and two MPOs. These regional units help to coordinate the other local governments and play a role in rural transportation programs as described below.

Of Delaware's 5,524 miles of roads, approximately 89 percent are state-controlled, while less than one percent are federal. Of the total miles of non-federal rural roads, 93 percent are state, none are county, none are township, and 7 percent are municipal and other.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

In Delaware, transportation facilities and services, including those for rural areas, are funded by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). A 20-year long-range plan sets forth goals, policies and actions for transportation facilities, while the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) outlines specific projects; this 6-year program is updated annually. The first three years of the CIP constitute the STIP. DelDOT's efforts are overseen by the Council on Transportation (COT). DelDOT is responsible for over 85 percent of all roadways in the state, ranging from interstates to subdivision streets. Also, most of the communities in the state, especially in rural areas, are small. Consequently, DelDOT is the default transportation planning agency for the unincorporated areas outside the MPOs, and for many of the smaller communities in these areas as well.

There are two MPOs in the state, (Dover/Kent County and the Wilmington Area), and only three counties. Sussex County is the only rural area. There, the Sussex County Transportation Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) carries out regional transportation planning. TPAC members include local elected officials, town representatives, government employees, and citizens. The MPOs have wide representation of municipalities on their Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) and Public Advisory Committees (PACs). The Dover/Kent County MPO makes an extra effort to involve the rural areas by holding its PAC meetings at various locations. In Sussex County, DelDOT makes every effort to involve the local elected officials in developing the long-range transportation plans, the CIP, and project specific plans. Efforts in this regard include, but are not limited to, regular meetings with the County Council and Sussex County Association of Towns. DelDOT provides regular briefings to these and other organizations throughout the County. More generally, local elected officials are encouraged to provide their input to DelDOT on regional projects and planning at COT's public meetings.

Among key activities supporting DelDOT's development of the long-range plan, is development of regional long-range plans by the MPOs and TPAC. A variety of public participation efforts are also undertaken, including meetings with community, business, environmental, and special interest groups; public meetings in each county to discuss the plan; coordination and participation with county governments and the MPOs in their own public involvement processes; and a formal public comment period.

Development of the CIP includes several opportunities for public input. The process starts with an open meeting of the COT to review the existing CIP. Public meetings are held in each of the state's three counties to seek public input for updating the CIP; these meetings are preceded by public workshops. From these meetings, DelDOT accrues a list of needs and projects and prioritizes them based on 14 factors established by COT. DelDOT then works with COT to develop a draft CIP, considering such factors as available funds and project and program schedules. The draft is then presented to the public in a series of joint COT/MPO/DelDOT meetings/workshops, one in each county. After comments are considered DelDOT presents the final draft to COT at another open meeting. Once approved by COT it must also be approved by the Governor and the State Legislature. In this process most projects first appear on the CIP in the out-years, and have been before the public for review on more than one occasion before actually being funded.

The public participation policy covers the entire transportation planning process and is multi-modal by design. Indian Tribal Governments and federal land management agencies are consulted as needed on planning issues. Issues such as land use and economic development are addressed in the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan.

DelDOT funds transportation facilities and services through its transportation trust fund, which includes both federal and state dollars. The two MPOs receive planning and operational funds through DelDOT. Funds are disbursed on a project basis in the following categories, in order of DelDOT priority: preservation and maintenance, management and operations, expansion, and program development. Applications are solicited annually for federal transportation enhancement projects up to $500,000. An advisory committee, consisting of DelDOT staff, local elected officials, and citizens prioritizes and recommends projects to the Secretary of Transportation who selects projects for programming. Each state representative receives $300,000 annually to distribute at their discretion, enabling some rural areas to take care of small needs.

Delaware uses these practices:

State Consultation Tour: COT holds meetings in each county to discuss the current CIP and ideas for change.
State Hearings: COT holds public meetings and allows opportunity for formal review and comment at various stages in preparation of the long-range plan and CIP.
State Policy-Making Advisory Boards: Council on Transportation.

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