COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
DelDOT Administration Building
Dover Conference Room
4:00 PM
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Pete Nellius (Chairman), Lee Beetschen, I.G. Burton, Bobby Fifer, John Gilbert, Sue McNeil,
Ted Williams
COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICIPATING VIA CONFERENCE PHONE:
Marty Lessner
DELDOT STAFF PRESENT ON RECORD:
Shailen Bhatt, Secretary; Drew Boyce, Director of Planning; Shanté Hastings, Chief of Performance Management; Dawn Hopkins, Office of the Secretary;Robert McCleary, Chief Engineer; Fritz Schranck, Deputy Attorney General
SPECIAL GUEST:
Governor Jack A. Markell
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Secretary Bhatt opened the meeting introducing special guest, Governor Jack Markell.
The Governor discussed his plan to create a reliable revenue stream for the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). This initiative will significantly boost spending on transportation projects statewide and put thousands of Delawareans to work over the next five years. Based on recommendations made by the TTF Task Force, the plan would increase motor fuel tax revenues ($.10/Gallon) and promote a fiscally-responsible borrowing strategy for the Department. Fifty million dollars would be borrowed each year for five years by DelDOT to fund already-identified but delayed construction projects that address safety, congestion and maintenance needs, under the State’s Capital Transportation Plan, Paving program and State of Good Repair initiative.
The combination of $50 million in new revenue and $50 million in borrowing would pay for an additional $500 million dollar investment in transportation projects statewide over five years. If this proposal is adopted, the six year plan will be budgeted at $228 million. Without approval, the CTPwill be funded at approximately $128 million.
Chairman Nellius called the business portion of the meeting to order with a review of the December 4, 2013, Council onTransportation (COT) Meeting Minutes. CouncilmanBeetschen made a motion to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Councilman Williams.
Chairman Nellius brought forth the current draft CTP, which has been modified to support the Governor’s proposed budget of $228 million. Today’s vote by the Council will be based on the proposed amount. If the Governor’s proposed budget is not approved by the General Assembly before the end of legislative session, the department would moved under the formally approved plan ($128 million) based on operational analysis while prioritizing “state of good repair”.
Secretary Bhatt explained how the department consulted with the state Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) and the Sussex County Council to adapt the CTP under the proposed budget. The revised CTP includes twenty additional projects, justified through the adopted Decision Lens process.
Drew Boyce reviewed the history on the development of the Department’s Project Prioritization Process and how the Council arrived at the point where a vote on the Capital Plan can now occur.
After an in-depth discussion on a plan that supports the Governor’s propose full revenue package,Councilman Williams motionedto approve the DRAFT FY 2015 – FY 2020 CTP based on the Governor’s proposed recommended budget of $228 million State Capital Spend. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gilbert. The Council unanimously approved the motion.
In concurrence with this motion, Chairman Nellius prepared and signed a letter to Governor Markell detailing the unanimous approval of the Fiscal Year 2015 – 2020 Capital Transportation Program reflecting a $228 Million State Spend.
There being no additional business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilman Williams. Councilman Gilbert seconded the motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Hopkins
Assistant to the Deputy Secretary
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