News
12/8/2009
New Castle County Republican Committee Launches Effort to Address Transit Issues
New Castle County Republican Committee Launches Effort to Address Transit Issues
-New Working Group Comprised of Members from Across County; Includes Rail Experts and Officials from State Senate, House, County Council and Local Governments
- Initial Focus Will Be on Rail
WILMINGTON (December 8, 2009) - The New Castle County Republican Committee today announced the formation of a new Working Group on Transportation. The Working Group has begun a comprehensive review of NCCo transportation issues, challenges and opportunities, with the goal of advancing proposals that will transform Delaware’s transportation infrastructure, serve as an economic engine and be environmentally friendly.
The effort will be led by Michael Stafford, an attorney with experience in transportation policy and planning, and chairman of the Colonial Republican Committee.
“Its long past the time we got serious about modernizing our infrastructure in New Castle County and ensuring it can accommodate future growth and economic development,” said Stafford. “We have a tremendous opportunity to establish a state-of-the art transportation system that will make our state a model in the region.”
The Working Group will put particular focus on the proposal to extend commuter rail service to the fast-growing areas in lower New Castle County, south of the C&D canal. The prospect of new BRAC-related jobs in Maryland has also drawn attention to the need for enhanced commuter-rail access south of Newark. “Certainly, in my community south of the C&D Canal, there is significant interest in commuter rail service to Wilmington, Philadelphia, and now, Maryland,” Stafford said.
The Group’s formation was heralded by United States Representative Mike Castle.
“As a long-time supporter of Amtrak and commuter rail, I applaud this effort and look forward to working with the Group to ensure our state has the absolute best transportation infrastructure possible in order to attract and capitalize on economic opportunities,” said Congressman Castle.
As part of a broad agenda introduced last month, “New Solutions for New Castle County,” New Castle County Republicans identified transportation planning as a critical public policy priority.
“The economic and environmental benefits of commuter rail are compelling,” said Michael Fleming, NCCo Republican Committee Chair. “Our goal is to deliver a plan that is a win-win – good for our economy and quality of life, but funded in a fiscally-responsible way.”
State Representative Tom Kovach further commented on the need for effective planning. “A transit-oriented development approach is critical in the re-development of struggling, populated areas, by linking jobs with existing housing,” said Kovach. “Transit-oriented development encourages a variety of uses, including housing, offices, retail, public parkland and other civic uses to be located within walking distance of a transit station.”
The Working Group is comprised of members from every corner of the county, including elected officials from the State Senate, House of Representatives, County Council, the City of Wilmington and local governments. Other members include the Past President of the Delmarva Rail Passengers Association.
Initial Group Membership includes:
Tom Posatko, President, Delmarva Rail Passenger Assoc.
Mike Brown, Wilmington City Councilman
Liane Sorenson, State Senator
Tom Kovach, State Representative
Greg Lavelle, State Representative
Deborah Hudson, State Representative
Bob Weiner, New Castle County Councilman
Karen Jennings, Townsend Town Council
Charles Dixon, Middletown Town Council
Andrew Lundgren, Attorney
Michael Fleming, Chairman, NCCo GOP
The Group has initiated an analysis of both commuter and freight rail in New Castle County, and in the coming months will work closely with transportation experts, public officials, academics and others to develop a plan for introduction in the first half of 2010. The Group intends to hold public forums and welcomes input and engagement with all those interested in enhancing the county’s infrastructure.
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NEW CASTLE COUNTY REPUBLICAN TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
Introduction
Our county’s natural beauty and quality of life are major economic assets. Yet, our very small footprint combined with years of haphazard, uncoordinated development – and poor infrastructure planning – has left us with roads choked with traffic and unchecked sprawl that both threaten our economy and way of life.
The times demand an imaginative, far-sighted approach to infrastructure planning that takes into full account both the current needs of our changing NCCo population (ie, significant growth south of the C&D Canal) and imminent economic imperatives (potential for new BRAC-related jobs in Maryland), but how society and business will be changing over the next 15, 20 or 30 years. How are people going to be living? Working? Getting around? What do businesses need to succeed? New Castle County can and should be a catalyst in bringing together state, federal and local interests to pioneer new approaches to transportation planning and make it a competitive advantage.
As part of a broad agenda introduced last month, New Castle County Republicans identified transportation planning as a critical public policy priority. The Republican Working Group has been created to conduct a comprehensive review of NCCo transportation issues, challenges and opportunities, with the goal of advancing smart, realistic proposals that will transform our transportation infrastructure, serve as an economic engine and ensure environmentally sustainability.
Objectives
The Working Group’s initial focus will be on:
• Expanding Commuter Rail Service - Several years ago, two studies commissioned by the State showed that commuter rail service to Middletown was viable; indeed, a route was even selected. Those studies also held out the option of expanding this commuter service further south, such as to Dover, in the future.
We believe that the time has arrived to revisit plans for commuter rail service to the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area, and points south, and get serious about implementing them. This effort should be fully integrated with consideration of extended commuter rail lines south of Newark into Maryland. A state-of-the art transit system linking BRAC-related jobs in Maryland, Wilmington and Philadelphia would set us apart in the region and serve as a vital conduit to the fast-growing MOT area. Commuter rail service would ease congestion on our roads, reduce pollution, and help spur new economic growth and development. Building such a system would create jobs in the near-term as well as the needed infrastructure to attract and sustain employers, students and tourists.
• Developing A Comprehensive Freight Rail Assistance Program – Unlike our neighbors Maryland and Pennsylvania, Delaware does not have a comprehensive freight rail assistance program of any sort. This is a critical omission.
It’s a mistake to think of freight rail transport as antiquated; as something from a bygone era. On the contrary, it is a key ingredient in stimulating economic growth and development. For example, both Maryland and Pennsylvania have used their freight rail assistance programs to help entice in new industries, and to help existing businesses switch from truck to rail transport, thus reducing highway congestion & maintenance costs.
Delaware would benefit by adopting a formal program that would give us additional leverage when attempting to attract new businesses to Delaware as well as a mechanism for moving freight traffic off our highways, and on to our existing rail system.
Path Forward
The Working Group has begun a comprehensive situational analysis that will include extensive historical research and interviews and discussions with local and national experts, public officials, academics and others. The Group plans a public forum for early 2010, where diverse stakeholders will be invited to contribute toward the development of a final proposal to be delivered to the Governor, the State Legislature, the New Castle County Executive, NCCo Council, and our Congressional Delegation. It is our hope and intention that our efforts will support and dovetail with others in this area and serve as a catalyst in forging a bi-partisan consensus on the future of transit issues in our county.
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