Delaware Department of Transportation requests $220M for road improvements
The Delaware Department of Transportation is requesting a capital budget of close to $330 million for the upcoming fiscal year, with the bulk dedicated to road upgrades, the department’s secretary Nicole Majeski told the lawmakers of the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement on Wednesday.
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Delaware Department of Transportation requests $220M for road improvements
By DOVER — The Delaware Department of Transportation is requesting a capital budget of close to $330 million for the upcoming fiscal year, with the bulk dedicated to road upgrades, the department’s secretary Nicole Majeski told the lawmakers of the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement on Wednesday.
Nearly $220 million was proposed for improvements to state thoroughfares. Of that total, $85 million would go toward bridge upgrades, and another $90 million would be slotted for pavement rehab.
Ms. Majeski told the members that, while only 2% of bridges are in poor condition, rehabbing the structures will contribute to highway and pedestrian safety goals, as well as the department’s “State of Good Repair” initiatives.
“That importance of investing in our existing infrastructure to maintain that State of Good Repair is critical. The ‘connecting communities’ piece, expanding our sidewalk network, will continue to be a priority and then the resiliency and sustainability piece that I’ve mentioned,” she said.
Each year that Ms. Majeski has outlined DelDOT’s budget requests to members of the committee, she begins her presentation with Delaware’s annual traffic fatality numbers.
In the figures presented Wednesday — which were from Jan. 1-April 29 over each of the last three years — 2024 fatalities were down 30% from 2023 numbers and 19% from 2022.
The secretary applauded the “Be DelAWARE” campaign, which urges each Delawarean to “be a hero toward zero” traffic deaths.
“A lot of the fatalities that we have seen have been curve-related and roadway departures. So, we are looking at things that we can do to hopefully prevent those from happening — the dynamic chevrons, those that light up on curves, the high-friction surface treatment. We are hoping to add about 20 different locations each year by adding that material, and it provides better friction on the roadway, especially when it is flat,” Ms. Majeski said.
Other tools to minimize the potential for crashes are rumble strips, automated speed enforcement cameras, rapid rectangular flashing beacons at crosswalks and cable median barriers.
Such efforts have been utilized dating back to 2022, though Ms. Majeski also emphasized the work of the state legislature for its passage of a widespread road safety package last year.
Those policies included expanding “move over” protections, requiring helmets during the first two years of a motorcycle license, strengthening child safety seat requirements and proposals aimed at curbing speeding and reckless driving.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Ms. Majeski also said several projects throughout the state are set for completion soon — some even in the coming weeks, particularly in southern New Castle County.
The agency has also made strides to convert its vehicle fleet to electricity-powered, which coincides with the state’s recent adoption of zero-emission vehicle regulations and legislative efforts to prepare for that move.
About 10% of DelDOT’s fleet has been changed to electric, funded by approximately $22 million in grants, Ms. Majeski said. The secretary also noted that an ongoing push to add solar panels to the department’s Dover transit facility would create a microgrid to allow those electric vehicles to be charged.
The growth of the transportation agency’s capital budget is on par with years’ past. Ms. Majeski estimated a consistent annual increase of 1.5% for the upcoming year when considering revenue from Division of Motor Vehicle fees, tolls and motor fuel taxes.
She did note that the entity is working with the University of Delaware to study how the zero-emission vehicle rules will impact revenue from the motor fuel tax and that the analysis should be completed soon, though no timetable was offered.
Following this week’s capital budget request hearings from state agencies and higher-education institutions, the General Assembly is set to return to Legislative Hall on Tuesday to continue its typical schedule.
