It’s time for Dover-area residents to weigh in on North Dover Route 13 traffic and proposals to help alleviate delays.
 
   The Thursday, Aug. 7, public workshop, sponsored by the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization, will review the latest recommendations of the North Dover Study, which examined Route 13 traffic between Scarborough Road and Jeffric Boulevard, just north of Towne Point.

    Kate Layton, planner and liaison with the Dover/Kent County MPO, said the study looks at giving options to people on Route 13 and nearby side roads by proposing some new roads, connectors or re-alignment of existing roads. Someone in the Best Buy parking lot perhaps wouldn’t have to go on Route 13 to reach the Dover Mall, she said as an example.
 
   A traffic study of that section of Route 13 shows that 53,000 vehicles travel it per day, Layton said, adding that the number is expected to grow to 65,000 by 2017.
 
   “With that much more traffic then they’re going to have to do something that will give drivers an option to get off the highway and at the same time get 13 moving,” she said.

    The study itself began in 2007, and after talking to property owners and assessing traffic impacts the MPO came up with the draft proposals with the help of a Dover engineering firm.
 
   Some of the those proposals include a third travel lane between Wal-Mart and Scarborough Road; Route 1 interchange realignment and east side service road to Dover Downs Hotel & Casino; a College Road connector from Delaware State University to Delaware Technical & Community College; Leipsic Road relocation; Berry property connection; and a future traffic signal at Lepore Drive.
 
   MPO Executive Director Juanita Wieczoreck has told Dover City Council committee members the organization hopes to complete the study in September.
 
   Darrel Cole, director of Delaware Department of Transportation public relations, said studies like the North Dover one are part of the very early planning process and help the department decide where to put future capital money.
 
   “It’s not something that happens in the next year,” he said.

Email Jayne Gest at jayne.gest@doverpost.com