The Salisbury-Wicomico Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWMPO), utilizing the professional services of Century Engineering, has prepared a Bicycle Network Master Plan for the southwest portion of Sussex County, Delaware including the municipalities of Delmar, Laurel, Blades, and Seaford. The goal of the Master Plan was to delineate a proposed regional bicycle network to enhance existing bike routes in the study area, as well as to provide locally elected officials and DelDOT with information to make informed policy and capital programming considerations. This study effort evaluated community visions and relevant plans, including, but not limited to locally adopted Comprehensive Plans and the Department of Transportation’s Plans to ensure consistency with existing and proposed bike routes in the study area. The Plan includes existing and proposed route delineations, planning-level cost estimates, policy recommendations, and funding resources. Routes are delineated on GIS mapping and are classified by facility types, such as an off-road multi-use path or protected shoulder to name a few. The mapping is available to the study area community for use in planning origins, destinations, and routes to travel.
The Project Team included members of Wicomico County; Century Engineering; DelDOT; representatives from Seaford, Blades, Laurel, and Delmar; and a Bicycle Advisory Committee. Representatives from the Bicycle Advisory Committee included the President of Sussex Cyclists, Sussex County Planning and Zoning, Office of State Planning, Salisbury University, Town of Laurel, DNRED, and DelDOT. The Bicycle Advisory Committee provided overall guidance and feedback throughout the study and assisted with advertising the various events of the Study, including a Community Workshop on September 16, 2023, at the Broad Creek Bike & Brews Event at Laurel Elementary School (815 S Central Ave, Laurel, DE) that provided extensive input.
The Study can be viewed here.