INFORMATION
PUBLIC FEEDBACK
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
WHAT NEW US 301 WILL ACCOMPLISH
New US 301 will improve safety, manage truck traffic, and reduce congestion; support approved and proposed economic development in southern New Castle County (a key Delaware growth area); enhance the region’s ability to compete for economic development; create needed jobs; improve local access to the Northeast Corridor Rail (Amtrak), commuter rail (SEPTA) and bus (DART) services; improve livability in the region and reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
New US 301 will remove the “neck in the bottle” of the regional highway network, i.e. existing US 301 from the Maryland/Delaware state line to I-95 and its 2-lane sections (1 lane in each direction), 29 at-grade intersections (18 signalized) and numerous driveways with direct access to existing US 301. New US 301 will convert existing US 301 to a local roadway that is key to the local roadway network and approved and proposed development in this designated Delaware growth area.
- Improve Safety
- Existing US 301 (2000 – 2013)
- 1,597 total crashes - 502 resulted in injuries
- 21 fatal crashes (6 involved trucks), resulting in 23 fatalities
- Fatality rate (2000 – 2012)
- 64% higher than Delaware State-wide average
- 67% higher than the national average
- Existing US 301 (2000 – 2013)
- Manage Truck Traffic (23% at State Line / 90% leave DE)
- Removes large percentage of interstate trucks from existing US 301, SR 896 (Boyds Corner Road) and other local roads, thus reducing congestion, improving safety and supporting economic development
- Reduce congestion – existing and projected
- 33% of the key intersections and roadways in the area projected to operate at Level of Service F (failing)
- Reduces traffic by at least 20% on over 50% of the local roads
- Support Economic Development: New US 301 will support the significant approved and proposed economic development in southern New Castle County, one of the fastest growing areas of the State.
- 83.5% of the forecasted population growth in New Castle County is projected for southern New Castle County.
- Existing commercial development is projected to increase by 275%.
- Existing residential units are projected to increase by 143%.
New US 301, along with local road improvements, will accommodate the traffic resulting from the existing, approved and proposed development, along with the projected regional/interstate traffic.
Historical Key Dates since September 2011 Workshop
| December 2011: | FHWA approves DelDOT's Post Record of Decision (ROD) Design Refinement Report, i.e., recommendation presented at September 2011 Public Workshop |
| June 2012: | General Assembly authorizes sale of toll revenue bonds supported by TTF pledged revenues to fund construction of US 301 Mainline. Established that the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Finance, the Controller General and Bond Bill Co-Chairs will have to sign off on the eventual bond sale |
| January 2013: | DelDOT submits Letter of Interest (LOI) for USDOT Loan under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) to fund US 301 Mainline Construction |
| April 2013: | USDOT notifies DelDOT that US 301 is ready to advance to the next phase in the TIFIA LOI Review Process |
| September 2013: | DelDOT receives updated projections from original Traffic and Revenue (T&R) consultant, along with a T&R Report that DelDOT requested from a second T&R consultant. Both reports significantly reduced traffic and revenue projections |
| December 2013: | DelDOT enhances the US 301 Plan of Finance by proposing Toll Revenue Bonds supported by a subordinate lien on State TTF pledged revenues and a TIFIA Loan |
| August 2014: | DelDOT submits Creditworthiness Review Material to USDOT for TIFIA Loan |
| May 2015: | DelDOT submits TIFIA Application |
| August 2015: | USDOT approves DelDOT request for TIFIA Direct Loan, with upset figure of $211.35 million |