A first-of-its-kind plan for Sussex County is now in place, designed to tie new development to infrastructure investment.
Sussex County hit an important mile marker last week when the County Council unanimously approved the Henlopen Transportation Improvement District (TID).
"[It's] a defined geographic area, where we marry land use and transportation needs to ensure that when development is happening, that the infrastructure needs will closely follow that development,” said C.R. McLeod, director of community relations for Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DelDOT).
McLeod says establishing this new special district - the fourth in Delaware - includes an estimated 24-square-mile area from Route 9 near Five Points, along Route 1 to Route 24, down to Herring Creek.
“This is really going to be focused on a roughly 24-square-mile area in Eastern Sussex County, which is really from the area of U.S. 9 near Five Points to Route 24," said McLeod. "And it includes roughly 66 miles of roadway.”
In this zone, planners project 12 new traffic signals, 13 roundabouts and 15 intersections with turn lanes and four miles of new road connections in an effort to keep pace with current and future development.
The cost to do all the work is estimated at $284 million with dedicated TID funding picking up 25% of that cost.
McLeod says its possible additional TID’s in Sussex will be considered.
The Henlopen TID Plan has been in the works for two years - prompted by increased traffic counts over the past two decades as the County has seen an increase in new year-round residents.
