Jennifer Cohan |
projects in order of priority – many of which
had been started some time ago but had been
neglected due to lack of funding.
“We had a tremendous amount of
backlog,” says Cohan. “Once the revenue
package was passed, we were able to move all
kinds of projects forward. DelDOT is now
living within its means and we have a project
prioritization process in place. So we pick the
most important projects to move forward
based on safety, congestion and
environmental needs.”
Smarter thinking
“One of the things that the current governor
wanted is economic development related to
smart transportation,” says Cohan. “For
example, we just opened up a brand new
Interstate 301 and by building that brand new
roadway, the economic development and
smart growth that will happen in and around
it, is huge. We’re talking hundreds of millions
60ft
The average mean
elevation of
flooding-prone
Delaware (18m)
of dollars in economic
benefit, so it’s really
paying for itself in the
long-term.”
Other examples of how
DelDOT is working to improve
its roadways are the implementation of
a Smart Corridor on Interstate 24, as well as
artificial intelligence-powered smart
intersections in busy areas.
Cohan is happy to share DelDOT’s project
progress to ensure that the people of her state
– not just her DOT – maintain their trust in
the organization’s work.
“The app was created in 2015 and we’ve
been adding new features to it ever since,”
Cohan says. Users can log in to see project
names and statuses, and DelDOT
technologies in action. “For example, traffic
cameras, Bluetooth readers, real-time traffic
signs, snowplows etc. We’ve partnered with
Waze, so we’re using crowd-sourcing too.”
014 Traffic Technology International July/August 2019
www.TrafficTechnologyToday.com
Right: The DelDOT
app delivers valuable
travel information
Left: Wilmington,
Delaware’s capital,
like most of the
state, is on low-
lying ground
The app even has
a traffic radio function
that features live broadcasts
from Delaware’s traffic
management center.
Power of the people
Cohan is aware that she has a great team to
help her steer DelDOT through the
challenges it faces and she is conscious that
their happiness remains key to the
organization’s success.
“I think we need to make sure that we
have really awesome, dedicated, motivated
employees,” she says. “It’s hard because
sometimes state governments don’t pay as
well as private organizations, so we have to
come up with innovative ways to intrigue
them – such as giving them cool projects or
sending them to conferences like this one. Us
DOTs have to make sure that we make that
extra effort with people and engage with
them – that’s really important to me.”
Once the revenue package was passed,
we were able to move all kinds of projects
forward. DelDOT is now living within its means and
we have a project prioritization process
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