Road DE Act aims to speed permitting and fund infrastructure while drawing conservation and housing interest

The committee heard a presentation of House substitute 1 for House Bill 450 — the Road DE Act — which sponsors described as a package of permitting reforms intended to shorten project timelines and direct growth to areas with existing infrastructure. The sponsor said the bill shifts traffic analysis to peak‑hour triggers, encourages minimum residential density in designated growth areas, and authorizes DelDOT to use modern, data‑driven tools for monitoring traffic.

Supporters from a range of sectors told the committee the bill would improve predictability for housing and commercial development. Jennifer Gallagher, representing the Delaware Association of Realtors, said permitting delays drive up costs and hinder housing supply. Dan Madrid of GEER argued the bill creates capacity and clearer standards for staff to manage projects. Katie Gillis of the Home Builders Association described the current process as adding “tens of thousands of dollars” and delay, and supported the bill’s focus on directing growth to existing infrastructure.

Conservation and environmental groups also testified in favor of the bill’s ability to reduce sprawl and fund preservation. Emily Norell of The Nature Conservancy said channeling growth to existing roads and supporting open‑space funding through a surcharge would protect wildlife and coastal resilience. The bill’s transportation impact fee earmarks a portion of revenue for farmland protection and coastal restoration, an element several witnesses highlighted as a benefit.

Opposition or cautionary notes did not dominate the public record in the transcript; stakeholders from engineering firms, builders, conservation groups, and government efficiency offices urged the committee to advance the substitute. The committee did not record a vote in the transcript. If advanced, the bill would alter DelDOT traffic‑impact thresholds, provide a new funding mechanism for infrastructure and conservation programs, and set statutory expectations about where and how the state encourages development.