Milford City Council approved an agreement with DelDOT related to a shared-use path that will be constructed along Route 113 from Milford Plaza to Buccaneer Boulevard. Council tabled the decision until questions could be addressed about who was responsible for maintenance of the path.
“This matter was brought before council at your last meeting,” City Manager Chris Coleman said. “It was tabled because there was some unclear language. I just want to thank Mr. [Rob] Pierce for communicating with DelDOT to provide the language that has been changed that is in your packet this evening.”
Pierce provided an explanation of the language that was in question.
“This is a draft agreement between the City of Milford and the Delaware Department of Transportation regarding long-term maintenance of the planned shared-use path associated with the U.S. 113 Pathway Project,” Pierce said. “Section three of this agreement, which is entitled “Maintenance,” has been updated as mentioned by Mr. Coleman to clarify maintenance obligations for DelDOT and the city.”
Pierce explained that the state would continue to maintain items within the project area that the state maintains.
“This includes 113 pavements, snow and ice removal, guardrails, storm systems, steampipe crossings and roadway drainage infrastructure,” Pierce said. “The city would essentially take over the maintenance of the shared-use path, which would include cleaning, snow waste removal and policing of the path and would continue to maintain streets that intersect with this project that are currently maintained by the city. Those streets include North Street, Northeast 10th Street and Buccaneer Boulevard.”
Pierce stated that the project was in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and is one of the priority projects that was outlined in the city’s Bicycle Master Plan adopted by city council.
“It will also address multiple strategies in the city’s strategic plan,” Pierce said. “Staff is recommending that the mayor execute this agreement with the Department of Transportation for this project.”
Councilman Jason James, who brought up the contradictory language at the last meeting, commented that he had read over the new agreement.
“I did read this over, but I hope other council members did also to know that we are satisfied with the way the language currently reads,” James said. “It is my desire and hope that everyone had a chance to look at that to see if these changes satisfy the clarity we were asking for.”
Pierce stated that he had highlighted the language that meniotned travel ways which coul be construed as something to do with 113.
“That was way we modified it to basically state shared-use paths and sidewalks,” Pierce said. “We just tried to clarify that so there is no question 20 years from now between DelDOT and the city.”
Coleman explained that Pierce had been in contact with DelDOT about the language in the agreement.
“Mr. Pierce and DelDOT communicated what the intent of the travel lane is,” Coleman said. “However, as Mr. Pierce just said, it is certainly more. We think it’s cleaner to have it in the document that is going to be signed and executed, so all parties and individuals who assume these seats in the future understand what was agreed to and it wasn’t via email. So, thank you for your comments at the last meeting and again thank you to Mr. Pierce for communicating and working with DelDOT on this.”
The agreement was approved with a vote of six to zero as Councilman Danny Perez and Councilwoman Katrina Wilson were absent.
