Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation recently helped host a ribbon-cutting event at the Route 117 Park & Ride in Warwick to celebrate Rhode Island becoming the first state in the nation to complete Phase 1 of the alternative fuel corridor established by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI ...
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Crews from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently picked up more than 76 tons of roadside litter in one week, earning the department the 2024 Outstanding State Agency award from Keep Louisiana Beautiful or KLB. [Above photo by the Louisiana DOTD] The litter removal was part of the ...
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FEDERAL ACTION

DOT Report to Congress: Decarbonizing U.S. Transportation -USDOT (link to PDF)

The first zero-emission train in the US has arrived in San Bernardino and you can ride it later this year –Laist

FRA’s Final Accident Report on Norfolk Southern Derailment in East Palestine Reaches Similar Conclusions as NTSB, and Supports USDOT’s Continued Calls for Safety Improvements and Need for Congress to Act –FRA (media release)

USDOT Convenes Transportation Stakeholders and Administration Partners to Celebrate Climate Progress and Set the Stage for Continued Action -USDOT (media release)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Utah DOT Deploys Weather-Resistant Asphalt for Roads -AASHTO Journal

America’s Aging Dams Are a Catastrophe Waiting to Happen –Wired

ADOT reports recovering millions for damage to Arizona highways-Daily Independent

Washington State Ferries announces partnership for new hybrid-electric vessels -Washington State Department of Transportation (media release)

State accepting applications for innovative sustainability projects for airports -Washington State Department of Transportation (media release)

 

ELECTRIC VEHICLES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICIES

Bill replacing alternate fuel tax with annual fee signed by Pennsylvania governor -WHTM-TV

US Public EV Chargers Set to Surpass Gas Stations in Eight Years -Bloomberg Green

 

AIR QUALITY

EPA to review Texas plan for cleaning up air quality at the state’s national parks after legal set -Texas Public Radio

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Oklahoma DOT Earns National Accolades For Beautification Efforts -Oklahoma DOT (media release)

NOAA announces nearly $220 million for transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects -NOAA (media release)

BLM issues decision on herbicides to control noxious and invasive weeds -Bureau of Land Management (media release)

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

The federal government is giving away a northern Wisconsin lighthouse, but with strings attached -Green Bay Press Gazette

How Multiple Meetings With Multiple Officials, Agencies Finally Led To A Plan To Reopen Pennsylvania Route 611 In Delaware Water Gap -WFMZ-TV

Infrastructure woes around New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl -WWL-TV (video)

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Nationwide long-distance bicycle route expands in the West -Wyoming Public Radio

Golden Gate Bridge suicide prevention net already showing signs of working –KTVU-TV

Atlanta Cyclists Warn of E-Bike Dangers on Shared Paths -Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Biking Gone International: A Look at Michigan’s Growing Biking System -Hour Detroit

Crowdsourcing Meets Transportation Planning With Bike And Pedestrian Data Counts -Crossroads (blog)

 

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Day-to-Day Practices to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Asphalt -TRB (webinar)

Planning for Future Electric Vehicle Growth at Airport –ACRP

Understanding Airport Air Quality and Public Health Studies Related to Airports, Second Edition –ACRP

GHG Emissions and Climate Change in Environmental Reviews –NCHRP

Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change in Environmental Reviews: Conduct of Research Report –NCHRP

TRB’s National Summit on the Future of the Transportation Workforce -TRB (event announcement)

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Approval of Herbicide Active Ingredients for Use on Public Lands -Bureau of Land Management (Notice of availability)

Air Plan Approval; GA; Revisions to the State Implementation Plan Gasoline Transport Vehicles and Vapor Collection Systems Rule -EPA (Final rule)

Federal Management Regulation; Accessibility Standard for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way; Correction -GSA (Final rule; correction)