Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

The Federal Highway Administration recently issued a finalized performance measurement rule to provide state departments of transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations with a “national framework” for tracking transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions GHGs, along with the requirement to set their own targets for GHG reduction. [Above image by FHWA] Entitled “National ...
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The Utah Department of Transportation plans to double the state’s current fast charging capacity for electric vehicles by the end of 2024 with the addition of 15 new sites funded through the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI Formula Program launched in 2022. [Above image by Utah DOT] ...
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FEDERAL ACTION

State DOTs Win Top Prizes in America’s Transportation Awards Competition -AASHTO Journal

Fifth National Climate Assessment -US Global Change Research Program

Biden administration proposes limiting environmental reviews to speed up renewables -The Hill

NYC Congestion Pricing Could Unleash a Transportation Revolution –CityLab

Most Americans still have to commute every day. Here’s how that experience has changed. -New York Times

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How one city funds climate resilience, a dollar at a time -Route Fifty

Port of Seattle moves forward on electrification -National Fisherman

Retired Wind Turbine Blades Live on as Park Benches and Picnic Tables -Bloomberg Green

Minnesota’s Metro Transit Using Rainwater To Clean Buses At New Garage -KMSP-TV

 

AIR QUALITY

So Thieves Nabbed Your Catalytic Converter. Here’s Where It Ended Up. -New York Times

Researchers Explore Hydrogen Power for Railways -Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review (pdf)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

The best and worst states for green, equitable transportation -Route Fifty

L.A. Agencies Sign Equity in Infrastructure Project Pledge and Launch ‘California Plan’ -Los Angeles Sentinel

85% of Rural Residents Have Reasonable Access to Intercity Transportation; Lack of Reasonable Access Falls Disproportionately on Low-Income Households -Bureau of Transportation Statistics (media release)

FTA Announces Nearly $5 Million Funding Opportunity to Improve Transit Access for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Low-Income Individuals -FTA (media release)

EPA Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda -EPA (media release)

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Truck hits Pennsylvania covered bridge that dates back to 1800s -WBAL-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

San Diego votes to advance rolling back scooter laws after Bird pulls from city –KSWB

Chattanooga is reducing traffic lanes and adding bike lanes to more city streets -Chattanooga Times Free Press

Fighting loneliness with free transportation in Saco, Maine -WCSH-TV

Interactive map shows crash data between motorists and pedestrians, cyclists in Providence -Providence Business Journal

Commuter Dividend: The Economic Value of Commuters for City and Suburbs in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Region -Regional Plan Association

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Methods to Manage Tree Growth Near Airports –ACRP

How New Corporate Environmental Standards Will Impact Airports –ACRP

TRB’s involvement in research on Resilience from 2021-2023 -TRB (pdf)

TRB Webinar: Sustainable and Low-Carbon Solutions for Asphalt Pavements –NCHRP

TRB Webinar: Accessible Floating Bus Stops –TRB

TRB Webinar: Advancing Equity in Travel Experience – The Role of Gender and Identity –TRB

TRB Webinar: Climate Resilient Design for Culverts and Pavements –TRB

Navigating the 4-day Commute: Redesigning Employee Shuttle Programs -Association for Commuter Transportation (webinar)

Should Cities Tax Uber and Lyft? –SSRN

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Fiscal Year 2024 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program -FTA (Notice)

Safety Advisory 2023–07; Review and Implement New Predictive Weather Modeling and Proactive Safety Processes Across the National Rail Network To Prevent Weather-Related Accidents and Incidents -FRA (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement To Reconsider a Highway Right-of-Way Application and Associated Amendment of an Incidental Take Permit, Washington County, Utah -Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of intent)

Adoption and Submittal of State Plans for Designated Facilities: Implementing Regulations Under Clean Air Act Section 111(d) -EPA (Final rule)

Release of Achieving Health and Environmental Protection Through EPA’s Meaningful Involvement Policy -EPA (Draft policy; Notice of availability)

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Public Meeting -EPA (Notice)

White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Virtual Public Meeting -EPA (Notice)

National and Governmental Advisory Committees to the U.S. Representative to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) -EPA (Notice of meeting)

Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS); Meeting -EPA (Notification of public meeting)

Environmental Justice Scorecard -Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (Request for information)

Multi-Year Certificate of Documentation for Recreational Vessel Owners -Coast Guard (Final rule)

Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs, and Activities Funded Under Provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; Fiscal Year 2023 -Coast Guard (Notice)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies -Coast Guard (Request for applications)

Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board -Forest Service (Notice of meeting)