News Journal reports on Million Dollar DelDot land deal

Another in a series of questionable land deals by the Delaware Department of Transportation sheds some light on agency that had no problem spending huge sums of money.

The News Journal in their Sunday edition reports on a land purchase deal where the agency wants to put a DART park and ride facility off Route 1 in Lewes.  The paper reports Del Dot paid $1million dollars an acre for a 6.5 acre site.  It goes on to say no hearings were held on the purchase, which wasn’t against state rules.  However, in light of other purchases the News Journal has reported on the past several months it does show an agency that doesn’t believe in communication.

The report comes out days after Secretary Carolann Wicks resigned effective March 18th.  The paper reports the multi-million dollar purchase was at the former Wright Chrysler dealership.  To make matters worse the dealership building, which was going to be used to house buses is now deemed too small and will have to be torn down.  A new one will have to be built at an additional cost.

The News Journal reports Sussex County legislators were never informed of the purchase plans.  It quotes State Senator Rpvert Venables (D-Laurel) who is on the Bond Bill Committee saying, “the timing of this is very bad.”

The report says the transportation department is $200 million short on money it needs for approved projects aimed at completion by 2016.  He’s a part of a task force trying to come up with a list of possible new funding sources for Governor Jack Markell by the end of March.