Carolann Wicks To Stay On At DelDot
Okay.
There is this…
Wicks is the president of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials, which is playing a leading role in representing states’ interests to the federal government as the stimulus plan is being designed. The package will generate tens of millions of dollars’ worth of needed infrastructure improvements and is expected to create needed jobs.
“Given the huge financial challenges we must overcome, it is absolutely critical that Delaware be ready to roll in a few weeks to take full advantage of the federal stimulus bill,” Markell said. “We need a seamless transition in this department and Carolann’s experience and leadership to ensure that happens.
Not much to say about it. Anyone?
UPDATE: I just thought of something. Since the “T” in DelDot stands for “transportation” I would hope that under Markell, the agency could concern itself with more than just moving cars around expeditiously.
If she has an inside line on getting the State mo’ money from the Feds, I say go for it, sugar-buns.
Go to the light, Carolann.
I have heard opinions from “both sides” that she was functioning under bad circumstances that Hayward left behind and Minnower pressured her to continue with (one way or the other). The consensus of that was that she does have the knowledge and ability to be a good administrator of the dept and has earned another go, especially under better leadership. Markell is absolutely looking to be better than the seat warmer in there now. Bottom line, she gets that second chance and I think that’s all fine and good at this point.
Wicks is a career person who was actually educated as an engineer. I think this was a good move on Markell’s part.
She’s a professional engineer who worked her way up through the department. She was Chief Engineer before she was secretary. There ought to be room in the Cabinet for someone like that. She was just what the department and its beleaguered troops needed at the time she was appointed. She inherited quite a handful. It will be interesting to see how she performs Under New Management — she deserves the opportunity.
Seat warmer, Smitty? She could warm an entire row of bleachers.
Disbelief – haha, Minner is fat… hahaha you win.
Stupid jokes for stupid people to make themselves feel better. Give it a rest.
This is a good move. Wicks made her department very ‘customer-friendly’. Potholes got filled, signs were replaced, and problems were quickly resolved. She brought in people who could get things done while replacing people who kept everyone tangled up in red tape (many of whom migrated over to the New Castle Conservation District).
Excellent decision by Markell.
Ruth Ann! Stop bitching about Dis and go look at your foot in that dirty bay!
Have you ever been accidentally harpooned by whalers?
Google Mrs. Wicks and it will show you that she is not at all interested in moving mass transportation to a priority spot. She has stated recently that we are going to complete auto route improvements that are in the queue. Translate: the outrageously expensive limited access 301’s massive beltway for the City of Bayberry, that thanks to the DEM operatives Hayward and Pam Scott-Paul Clarky, would leave us tied up in further litigation if we don’t complete it STAT….the infrastructure agreement already allowed Scott to sue Coons over the souther sewer core not being started soon enough.
The last Minner appointment for the council that weighs in on priority projects was Ted Williams, VP for Landmark Engineering, who gets most of the work for development around here – probably Bayberry too.
Nothing new or bold with Mrs. Wick, Jack.
Lee Ann (AKA Crony)
I challeng any of you to sit on the upcoming Joint Finance Comittee hearings on DELDOT in February DART will be the first presentation out of coutesy to the dozens of Para Transit Passengers that will fill the room lobbying for improved service. After that part and the public comment associated with it there will be a small break and then Ms Wicks will reopen the rest of her presentation with Now we will discuss our “CORE BUSINESS”. Mass Trasnit is not a priority at DELDOT do not let any one fool you this quote as been consistant since MS Wicks has been secretary when talking about High way oriented things
They were arm twisted into minimal Sunday Service in the CIty of Wilmington and Minimal Saturday Fixed Route Service in Dover Everything seems to be a “CHALLENGE” when improvements to Mass Trasit are discussed (another Over used term used by DART/DELDOT) but as far as paving over the State no problem
There are also rumors that Jack may explore Privitization of DART
Paratransit… you mean the government subsidized taxi service for the elderly?
The third rail of Delaware politics… no one has the balls to take that on and talk about what a ridiculous sinkhole of money that has become.
@Nancy: Hayward was a Republican, though not always by registration, when added to Minner’s cabinet. He was not and never has been a DEM operative. Don’t you get tired of typing that in all caps? I guess not, because you never get tired of adding a y to Paul Clark’s name. I guess you don’t realize how immature that makes you look, either.
The lawsuit over the sewer system came about because of promises made by Gordon and Freebery to the development community. Did you not know, or were you hoping we didn’t? Quick, run to Tom so he can spin that into something else. You’re bound to believe it.
The transportation promises made about Bayberry were made by the Minner administration, not Coons, to facilitate the state takeover of Garrison’s Lake.
I know all this upsets your make-believe world, where Chris Coons is the devil. Will you let us know when your head is set to explode so we can watch?
Whoever takes on paratransit (not going to happen) will be My Political Hero of the Decade. By federal law, the state is only required to provide service to disabled persons who live within a certain distance of a fixed-route stop (I think it is 3/4 of a mile). It has morphed into this taxi service for old folks, who pay $1 while taxpayers pay $42 for each ride. This incredibly expensive distortion of the service’s intent also creates the occasional atrocity, where a disabled person is stranded late at night because the service and personnel are spread so thinly.
This should be the poster child for politics run amok at taxpayers’ expense (as opposed to me being that poster child).
Lee Ann,
So what’s the solution? Cut it off entirely?
It has morphed into this taxi service for old folks, who pay $1 while taxpayers pay $42 for each ride.
Ouch!
This is only going to get worse as bitter old farts flock here to sponge off our services and vote down any and all school referenda.
(BTW – You are awesome! You go Posterchild!)
Lee Ann – thanks! Hit the nail on the head! So few people know those numbers…
@anon – no, not cut it off entirely, but 1) you could match the federal requirement of 3/4 mile (not just travel everywhere and anywhere) 2) you could raise the fees which are ridiculously low to the expense of providing the service.
What I keep hoping will happen is that organizations representing the disabled will sue over the fact that the ridiculous expansion in service affects THEIR right to decent service as required by federal law — that gives the politicos and DelDOT some cover to rein it in. Maybe.
Of course, I could be wrong — the state was sued over 10 years ago to address pollutant loads in our impaired watersheds — we finally pushed out the first set of regulations for the Inland Bays last year, and we’ve already been sued and everybody down there’s whining about the very modest regs. So much for cover.
George wrote:
“Paratransit… you mean the government subsidized taxi service for the elderly?
The third rail of Delaware politics… no one has the balls to take that on and talk about what a ridiculous sinkhole of money that has become.”
El Somnambulo thought volunteer fire companies were the third rail. Or is it the U of D, where the Brinks trucks deliver countless millions every year while the university refuses to open its books to the public? Or is it Del-Tech, where former speaker Lonnie George employs/employed dozens of legislators over the years, and the favors have been returned in spades?
The problem is that there are far too many third rails in Delaware politics.
El Somnambulo believes that only one state agency could effectively address this. And that’s the State Auditor’s office. And the Auditor would have to be a prick and not beholden to the Delaware Way. And the person running should say “I’m a prick, and I’m not gonna kiss anyone’s butt. Let the cowchips (reference to the Delaware State Fair, another third rail) fall where they may.” He/she just might get elected on that platform.
El Somnambulo will even toss out the first prick whose name comes to mind: Bob Valihura.
I’m a big Bob V. fan — he took on some thankless land-use legislation for us, as well as the recycling bill. He’s all over the map, though, in terms of focus and would he be willing to primary The Red Suspenders? He could always turn D — he might as well be.
I beg to Differ to the unknowledgable so called experts about the Para Transit Service
I think terming the service a taxi service for old folks is very demeaning to the folks that use the service everyday to go to real jobs Tr4naportation for the disababled to the various programs such as Easter Seals Chimes etc so that the caregivers mainly parents of these folks can go to work Dialysis transortation goes without saying I would bet that nearly all of the trips generate some sort of tax revenue for the state with wage taxes or Gross receipts
As a Matter of fact the Elderly are not eligible just because of their age in New Castle County unless they have a disablilty
And yes we do transport old folks to their doctors appointments oh their sons and daughters do not have to miss work to do this for thier parents and yes little old ladies do go to the hair dressers in Kent and Sussex counties
Maybe if DART were to expand the Fixed route say to places like Eastern Sussex, Make the Dover busses go where people go, Bring the New Castle service into the 21st century instead of using a model that was used in the 1960s and make what they have more reliable and people friendly then there would be less reliance on the Para Transit Service
Btw the Para transit Fare is $2.00 not 1.00
and sorry for the typos
No doubt there is a legitimate need for such a system. What I think Lee Ann is pointing out is that the original purpose has been perverted.
El Som, With all the third rails we have here setting up a light rail system should be a snap.
I thought Mike Castle was the third rail.
Don’t forget agriculture. Farmers are another Third Rail. (Where did that term come from, anyway?)
Andy pointed out another problem with paratransit: Different ridership standards depending on where you live, with Kent and Sussex being more liberal than New Castle.
Hey, crony lady, look no further than the wondrous world of wiki:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail_(metaphor)
Andy – I’m with you, and I didn’t mean to be demeaning… but there are people who abuse it and I’ve heard far too many horror stories.
El Somnambulo believes the term ‘third rail’ refers to the electrified rail on the train tracks (touching it would be fatal), and that it was first used in the public policy context to refer to social security.
Everyone knows that “third rail means.”
C’mon.
Thanks, anon and El Som. I knew what it meant, I just realized I didn’t know its origin.
Oh, and senior citizens. And anyone represented by Bobby Byrd. Delaware is the Third Rail Capital.
Third rail….
“First Rail” is when you sit at the bar
“Second Rail” is when you start to lay your head on the bar after too much Drambuie (who could that be?)
“Third Rail” is the rail, just off the floor, where you smack your head, as you passout and fall of the bar stool…after too much Drambuie (who could that be?)
How’d you know I am drinking Drambuie even as we blog?!
😯
Uh-oh…cat’s out of the bag now! No wonder Jason has been so nice with you so quickly (he really is one to not trust people he doesn’t know). You two share the Drambuie bottle!
😛
Whew! I thought I had made a fool out of myself in public with Drambuie and didn’t remember.
I’m just curious about two admitted straight-Drambuie drinkers on the same blog that are chummy together!!!
(I better add this before Ron “I don’t read constipated-minded blogs” Williams runs an op-ed on it….I AM KIDDING 😆 leave it alone, wRonG)
Back to the point…you sly dogs, you two! 8)
Hey, it’s a cosmic coincidence, as I have never met Jason (I don’t think).
After the battle of Culloden (1746), Prince Charles Edward Stuart fled to the Isle of Skye. There, he was given sanctuary by Captain John MacKinnon of Clan MacKinnon. After staying with the Captain, the prince rewarded him with this prized drink recipe. A honey- and herb-flavoured golden scotch whisky liqueur made from aged malt whisky, heather honey and a secret blend of herbs and spices.
What’s not to like about that?
No. We’ve never met – but I only hear good things about you Lee Ann.
No doubt there is a legitimate need for such a system. What I think Lee Ann is pointing out is that the original purpose has been perverted.
Believe it or not the original purpose in 1972 was to transport Old Folks to the Senior Center and Dialysis Patients to either Johns Hopkins or Crozier Chester as there were no Dialysis centers in DE back then Stater wide!!!
DIMS, DAST and Now DART Para Transit has always provided state wide service
The issue with Seniors in New Castle County has to do with the 3500+ trips a day for the disabled and not quite enough bus operators to accomodate much more plus most of NCC above the ditch is covered un the ADAs 3/4 mile mandate
There is not much Public Transit to speak of below the Canal unless you are in eastern Sussex during the summer where a good job is done catering to the tourist population with nearly round the clock fixed service 7 days a week from Memorial day to labor day or in Dover and Camden from 6 am to 530 pm also Kent and Sussex Counties combined do not provide near the Para Transit trips that are done in NCC
And to George sometimes you have to be careful in judging who you might think is abusing the system by outward appearances. A person who may appear to be “NORMAL” may actually have mental health issues or seizure issues or a few other things that are more or less controlled by medication but you do not want that person driving a car or during some other things that may prove hazerdous to themselves or others. But yes all is not perfect like any other service of this type there are abuses. DART does have an interview process where eligibility is renewed periodically
Priviatation was tried in the late 80’s and failed miserably with many incidents of Passenger abuse drivers not obeying traffic laws and No accountability on those drivers who were not employed by DAST but by private companies and DAST”S Insurance rates went through the roof.
My main thrust is that the fied service needs to be seriously brought into the 21st century to serve the needs of the whole State NCC resembes traffic in some of the Countries major metro areas now and below the ditch US 13 from North Dover through to Woodside resembles Wilmington Manor during rush hour. We can not keep trying to build our way out of this. By the time a new road or major improvement is built it is usually out of date
Public transit needs to be an equal partner with High way improvements Statewide and this has not been the DELDOT wayand I don’t think that the status quo will make the necessary changes to bring this about
I’m still up for an interview. I am ready for my close-up.
Awesome!
Email me at jason330(at)delawareliberal(dot)com and we can work out the details.
What’s wrong with sweet liqueur? The hangovers are brutal.
Everything in moderation.
All things in moderation, including moderation.
What’s not to like about that?
You got that from the bottle, didn’t you?
First, is it really “heather” honey or LEATHER honey? Yuck.
When it came time in my life to make the most excrutiating and pressing decisions of my life, a matter of life-and-death, mind you, I took the path more suited for the grizzled and not the upper-echelon-thinking members of society. I aptly chose the bourbon-whiskey path and not the scotch-whiskey path. In all honesty, scotch makes me gag as a reflex. Can’t do it. That’s why I couldn’t stand those two regulars when I bartended, that I mentioned a while back. Rusty Nails (Scotch + Drambuie). N-A-S-T-Y!
On a side note…this is a thread about the Transportaion Secretary. A thread about transportation, roads…DRIVING! We evolved into discussions of LIQUOR! Oh, the irony. Bottom’s up! 😛