Delaware Committee Meetings
← Joint Capital Improvement Committee
April 29, 2026·Joint Capital Improvement Committee·5h 23m·View on Delaware General Assembly site ↗

Joint Capital Improvement Committee Meeting

TL;DR

Departments presented FY2027 bond bill priorities, capital projects, and program updates: DelDOT reviewed statewide safety, pavement, bridge and transit projects and funding changes, Agriculture pressed for cover crop and preservation funding, Riverfront highlighted economic impact and redevelopment activity, and Departments of State and Labor covered libraries, economic development, veterans' cemeteries, and Paid Family Leave implementation. Committee members asked for project updates, data and follow-ups; public commenters urged restored SEPTA ticketing and sustained cover crop and farmland preservation funding.

Topics covered

DelDOT capital program and project updatesWork zone safety and electronic speed monitoringSubdivision street paving fundingCover crop and farmland preservation fundingRiverfront redevelopment and economic impactPort of Wilmington cost negotiationsPaid Family Leave implementation and employer compliance

Key decisions

  • Delaware State Port Corporation board voted to authorize the chair (Sec. Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez), vice chair, and finance committee chair to enter negotiations with Enstructure to address an identified approximately $185,000,000 cost gap.
  • DelDOT confirmed FY2027 subdivision street paving will be funded at $30,000,000 entirely from the Transportation Trust Fund and the prior General Fund portion will be converted to the Community Transportation Fund (program decision announced by Sec. Shanté Hastings).
  • Industrial Affairs modernization: a vendor selection and negotiated contract for the Division of Industrial Affairs IT modernization has been completed (contract negotiated and approved).
  • Division of Paid Leave will begin assessing penalties and interest for delinquent employer hour/wage reports and contributions (waiver through March 31 honored; notices and assessments to be issued retroactive to 2025 due dates).

Action items

  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Provide Sen. Nicole Poore a detailed age-group breakdown of crash and fatality data and safety trends as requested.
  • Mark Lutz (DelDOT Chief Engineer): Provide the committee an update on the Woolmapco (Womapco) / Old Capitol Trail roundabout project, including when the community was last engaged and the planned outreach schedule.
  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Confirm whether DelDOT's contractor evaluation process is applied to CTF and subdivision street contracts (assign Lainie Kleimer to verify) and report back to Sen. Nicole Poore.
  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Organize a meeting with railroad leadership (with Lainie Kleimer and Mark Lutz) to resolve graffiti and overpass painting/maintenance issues and report outcomes to Sen. Nicole Poore and committee members.
  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Provide Sen. Nicole Poore information on alternative accessibility options and potential improvements for DTC paratransit lifts and boarding systems.
  • Chris Cunahan (Director, Division of Paid Leave): Issue penalty/assessment notices to employers delinquent on hour/wage reports and contributions (notices to be sent within the week as stated) and continue public communications about compliance.
  • Megan McGlinchey (Exec. Dir., Riverfront Development Corp.): Share the final University of Delaware economic impact report on Riverfront redevelopment with the committee when it is finalized in June.
  • Sec. Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez (Department of State): Negotiate with Enstructure (as authorized by the DSPC board) on cost sharing for Port of Wilmington overruns and report negotiated terms back to the DSVC board and state partners.
  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Provide committee members the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) application/link and guidance materials requested by Sen. Nicole Poore.
  • Sec. Shanté Hastings (DelDOT): Follow up with Sen. David L. Wilson on the status and timeline for the Coveralls Crossroads roadway closure and remediation work and provide an update to the committee.