The Delaware Department of Transportation is responsible for nearly 90 percent of the roads in the state. When projects are needed to maintain and improve infrastructure, the department provides opportunities for the public to learn more about the project and provide comments to the department that will help shape the project as it moves forward.

What’s the difference between a public meeting and workshop?

A DelDOT public meeting is a more formal seated event where a presentation is made to the audience about a project and provides the opportunity for questions and answers following the presentation.

A DelDOT workshop is a more informal event where guests can review information, speak with members of the project team, and provide written comments to the department about the proposal.

At what part of the project process does DelDOT hold public meetings/workshops?

The project development process begins at the community level with the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) and the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization which are transportation policy-making organizations comprised from local, state, and federal governments; transit agencies; and other stakeholders. Any project that will utilize federal funds must receive approval by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) before moving forward. The MPO project process is the first opportunity for the public to offer feedback and suggestions on infrastructure needs in their communities.

In Sussex County, DelDOT works with the Planning & Zoning Office to develop and prioritize projects that should be funded in future years by the department.

Once a project has been approved by the MPO or Planning & Zoning Office, DelDOT will then determine when to dedicate funding toward project development. Once a preliminary plan and concept has been developed the department will hold a public meeting or workshop to inform the public and receive feedback on the preliminary plan that can be incorporated into final planning and design. This step of the process is the public’s opportunity to influence what the final project will look like should it move forward.

Lastly, for projects that are likely to be impactful to local traffic, the department will hold a meeting in advance of construction to inform the public about what can be expected during construction and how traffic will be impacted during construction of the new project.

How does DelDOT publicize upcoming meetings and workshops?

The department shares information about upcoming events in numerous ways:

• The State of Delaware Public Meeting Calendar
  State agencies are required to use this system to post meetings subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (See 29 Delaware Code, §10004).Typing “DelDOT” in the search bar will provide a list of all currently scheduled public meetings.
• The DelDOT Public Meeting and Workshop Page
  The department lists upcoming public meeting and workshops on this page and can also be viewed by county.
• The DelDOT App
  The free DelDOT mobile app has an “Events” tab that lists upcoming meetings and workshops and allows the information to be added to personal calendars.
• Social Media
  DelDOT posts upcoming public meetings and workshops on Facebook (@Delaware Department of Transportation) and NextDoor on the State of Delaware page. On Facebook, upcoming meetings and workshops can be found on the “Events” tab of the DelDOT Facebook page.
• State Legislators
  The department shares meetings and workshops scheduled for specific areas with state legislators representing those areas so they can share the information with the community.
• Mail
  The department will mail meeting/workshop notices to residents and businesses that are likely to be impacted by an infrastructure project.
• Delaware Notification Services
  By creating an account, individuals can sign up to receive email alerts from DelDOT for upcoming meetings and workshops by county as well as other helpful information.
• Print Media
  The department submits upcoming meeting and workshop information to local newspapers to be shared in their public notice sections.
• Homeowners’ Associations (HOA)/Civic Associations
  Do represent a community or would like to have your community receive notifications? Contact Community Relations at DOTPublic@delaware.gov to have your community added to our distribution list.

Not able to attend a meeting or workshop but would like to submit a comment? Click here.

If you have additional questions or comments, please contact DelDOT Community Relations at 302-760-2800, or DOTPublic@delaware.gov.

• Statewide
• New Castle
• Kent County
• Sussex County
• Virtual