Following Five Points

February 2025

Your Update to the Five Points Transportation Study

Project News

January Working Group Meeting Recap

The Five Points Transportation Study Working Group met as part of a hybrid meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025 with most DelDOT staff, Consultant Team members and Working Group members attending in person at the Cape Henlopen High School Library. The meeting included a review and status updates of the Five Points Transportation Study Implementation Plan. As of the January Working Group meeting, there were 74 of 78 recommendations in progress, ongoing or completed.

Other items on the January meeting agenda included:

Capital Transportation Program (CTP) Projects Update – Mark Luszcz, Chief Engineer at DelDOT, provided an update on the projects included in DelDOT’s FY25-FY30 CTP in the Five Points Area. He noted that the Council on Transportation approved the CTP last winter and it was submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for approval in Fall 2024. DelDOT will kick off the FY27-32 CTP process in spring 2025. If you are interested in learning more about the CTP process please click here.

There are many projects in the Five Points Area included in the FY25-FY30 CTP. Mark highlighted those projects that were recently completed; are currently under construction; those that are in the planning and design stage; those that are in the CTP but not yet in design; and projects that are new to the FY25-FY30 CTP. For more information on the projects currently under construction or in planning and design, Mark encouraged people to visit the DelDOT Projects Portal for updates and more information.

State Development Trends and Annual Report – Dorothy Morris, Circuit-Rider Planner for Sussex County for the Office of State Planning and Coordination (OSPC) provided an overview of the OSPC. She presented OSPC’s mission and some of its key initiatives including the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues (CCSPI) and the Strategies for State Policies and Spending document and maps which will be undergoing an update in 2025. Dorothy noted that people should visit the OSPC Public event Calendar for dates for upcoming public meetings. The Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) provides state agency review of major land use change proposals prior to submission to local governments. Hybrid PLUS meetings are held on the 4^th Wednesday of every month; click here for PLUS meeting information. Dorothy also stated that the 2024 Annual Report on State Planning Issues is now available for review and download and that the 2024 Development Trends Dashboard can be used to visualize building activity in Delaware in relation to State Strategies Investment Levels. For more information on these and other OPSC initiatives please visit the OSPC website.

Save the Date!
April Working Group Meeting

Monday, April 28, 2025
Hybrid Meeting – Cape Henlopen High School Library and via Zoom

The next meeting of the Five Points Transportation Study Working Group will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Like previous Working Group meetings, this will be a hybrid meeting. However, due to space limitations, the public is encouraged to attend virtually via Zoom. Agenda items will be provided closer to the meeting date.

Please click here to view the video presentation and meeting packet from the January 27, 2025 Working Group meeting.

We hope to see you on April 28!

Area Project Updates

Active DelDOT Projects
In and Around Five Points

At the Working Group's request, DelDOT is providing a map of active projects in and around the Five Points area. Use the map to view any active project and/or visit the links below to view the websites for a selection of projects.

View the Interactive Map

Got Transportation Ideas? Sussex County Wants to Hear From You!

Sussex County and DelDOT invite the public to offer capital project ideas for the upcoming DelDOT 2027-2032 Capital Transportation Program. Submissions will be accepted through 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025. The County will review all suggestions and ideas and then compile a draft report for County Council's consideration before submitting to DelDOT in April. Visit the Sussex County website to submit your ideas. Please click here for more information on DelDOT’s CTP.

Coastal Corridors Monitoring Committee Meeting Held

The Coastal Corridors study is focused on east west travel from the Maryland line to SR-1 including the 404, 16 and 9 corridors.

The Coastal Corridors Monitoring Committee (CCMC) held a meeting on January 28, 2025 to discuss the Coastal Corridors Study, prior studies, and current planning studies and initiatives. The CCMC brings together the Coastal Corridors Committee (comprised of Ellendale, Georgetown, and Milton stakeholders) and stakeholders from the Greenwood/Bridgeville Transportation Plan. The purpose of the CCMC is to exchange updates on transportation and land use conditions including recommendations from previous phases of the project; advocate for the advancement of recommendations that were identified in previous phases of the project; and support communication with the broader community and other stakeholders. The CCMC will be meeting twice per year with special virtual meetings held as needed. To check for future meeting dates or to view the presentation and recording of the CCMC meeting please click here to visit the project website.

Knowledge Corner

Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending

As mentioned above, the Strategies for State Policies and Spending will be updated in 2025. Here’s a more detailed overview of the document and mapping and why they are so important.

Delaware's "Strategies for State Policies and Spending" (State Strategies) is a comprehensive framework designed to guide land-use decisions, infrastructure investments, and other state priorities. Developed by the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues and last updated in 2020, the State Strategies aim to coordinate state policies with local planning efforts to promote sustainable development and efficient use of resources. Learn more about the State Strategies by watching this video.

A key component of the State Strategies is a map that delineates areas favored for growth, known as Investment Levels:

Level 1: Areas suitable for immediate development due to existing infrastructure and services.
Level 2: Areas appropriate for development in the near future, contingent upon the extension of infrastructure.
Level 3: Areas designated for longer-term growth often requiring significant master planning and infrastructure investment.
Level 4: Areas designated as rural including natural resources and agricultural economic areas, lacking public services and infrastructure to support large developments
Out-of-Play: Areas not designated for private development

This mapping system assists in directing state resources and investments to areas where they can be most effective. To learn more about the Investment Levels, please watch this video. The State Strategies map is based on more than 35 data sets collected for a wide variety of factors throughout the State. There are two main classifications: Areas favoring Growth and Areas favoring Preservation. Watch this video to learn more about how the State Strategies map is developed.

The State Strategies also emphasize the importance of aligning state policies with local planning efforts to ensure that infrastructure investments and services are delivered efficiently. By coordinating land-use decisions with infrastructure delivery, the State Strategies aim to make the best use of state resources and promote sustainable development practices.

Delaware code requires that the State Strategies be updated every five years to reflect population and land use changes. The strategies need to evolve as local jurisdictions update their land use plans and priorities. OSPC encourages the public to participate in the update process by attending public meetings and providing comments and feedback. Check the Public Event Calendar for upcoming public meeting dates.