editor – Page 20 – Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

Environmental News Highlights – May 3, 2023

Oregon DOT Program Offers EV Charging System Rebates

State residents living in multifamily homes as well as motorists near public parking areas may soon have better access to electric vehicle or EV charging stations, thanks to the new Community Charging Rebates Program being rolled out by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by the Oregon DOT]

The agency said this rebate – which will range from $4,250 to $5,500 per charging port or up to 75 percent of eligible project costs, whichever is less – should help lower the cost of buying, installing, and maintaining Level 2 and Level 1 EV charging stations at multifamily homes and publicly accessible parking areas across Oregon.

[Editor’s note: A recent American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials video of a knowledge session held at its 2022 Annual Meeting featured panelists from the Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida DOTs discussing their respective plans for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program funds.]

The Oregon DOT said this new rebate program, which launches in mid-to-late June 2023, will feature four rounds of funding through at least 2024. The first round runs from June through August and will make $1.75 million available for eligible EV charging projects, with 70 percent of first-round funding reserved for projects in rural areas and disadvantaged communities, where gaps in EV charging infrastructure are largest, the agency said.

People living in rural areas face longer travel distances and fewer EV charging options in Oregon, the agency noted, with 32 percent of state residents living in rural areas while only 12% of EVs are registered in rural areas.

“For many current and prospective EV drivers, reliable and accessible charging where they live, work and play is an important factor,” explained said Suzanne Carlson, director of the Oregon DOT climate office, in a statement. “Our new rebate program will help close gaps in charging infrastructure and increase EV adoption rates.”

She noted that lack of at-home EV charging options is a persistent barrier for people living in multifamily homes. This barrier is reflected in Oregon EV registration data: nearly 80 percent of EVs are registered in areas where most residences are single-family homes as compared to multifamily homes.

Oregon DOT said its rebate program should help lower that barrier. It will apply to Level 2 and Level 1 charger projects at apartment, condominium, co-op, and townhouse locations that have at least five residences, and at least five parking spaces. Meanwhile, so-called “charging-on-the-go” is viewed as both convenient for EV drivers and a potential boon for local businesses.

That part of the agency’s rebate program applies to Level 2 projects in publicly accessible parking areas like restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, coffee shops, libraries, parks, movie theaters, and more. Drivers can park and charge their EV while they go about their day, with Level 2 chargers can adding 25 miles of range per hour on some vehicles, Oregon DOT noted.

Michigan DOT Preps for Spring Highway Cleanings

The Michigan Department of Transportation is preparing to give roadsides along state highways their first full cleanings of 2023 in what the agency said has become an annual “rite of spring” statewide.

[Above photo by the Michigan DOT]

The agency said state workers and members of its Adopt-A-Highway program will pick up litter from along roadsides in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula April 22-30. The first such pickup for roadsides in the Upper Peninsula occurs May 6-14, when spring weather has had “more time to set in” for the northern part of the state.

“Our thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers are dedicated to keeping roadsides in their communities clean,” noted Michigan DOT Acting Director Brad Wieferich in a statement.

“They make a huge difference every year,” he added. “Let’s help them stay safe while they’re out there – keep an eye out for the volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods.”

The agency said its Adopt-A-Highway program, which began in 1990, now includes nearly 2,900 groups that have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway. Annually, those volunteers pick up litter three times per year and typically collect 60,000 to 70,000 bags of trash; a service worth an estimated $5 million value yearly for the state.

Several state departments of transportation across the country have already activated similar spring litter cleanup events and public awareness campaigns regarding roadway trash.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently initiated a months-long effort aimed at removing debris and sprucing up roadways statewide.

“We will dedicate increased resources to collecting litter, removing graffiti, pruning trees, and mowing grass on the 2,300 miles of state highways,” noted New Jersey DOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti in a statement. “NJDOT’s Highway Operations Technicians will be working hard to tackle litter hot spots and keep the shoulders, medians, and ramps on our roadways clean and litter free.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation recently launched a new public outreach effort called “Think Before You Throw!” as part of its ongoing awareness campaign to reduce littering on state highways and roads.

The “Think Before You Throw!” initiative aims to reduce roadside litter along the state’s more than 150,000 miles of roads by raising awareness of the negative environment impact of trash, for both state residents and the nearly 100 million tourists who visit annually.

In March, the Maryland Department of Transportation launched “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland,” a new initiative that will nearly double the frequency of litter pickup and mowing efforts along state roads.

This new effort – which began in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., regions – is under the purview of the Maryland State Highway Administration, one of Maryland DOT’s modal divisions.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Transportation sponsors an annual litter prevention campaign – called “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” – with Keep Tennessee Beautiful affiliates and Adopt-A-Highway groups.

In November 2022, more than 1,300 volunteers statewide removed more than 48,000 pounds of litter in their communities as part of its month-long “No Trash November” roadway cleanup effort.

Concurrently, in August 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation joined several fellow state agencies to help launch a new anti-litter campaign entitled “PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters.” The creation of this campaign is one of the many recommendations made by Pennsylvania’s first-ever Litter Action Plan, released in December 2021. That plan also won a Pennsylvania Governor’s Awards for Excellence in May 2022.

Environmental News Highlights – April 26, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden signs order prioritizing ‘environmental justice’ -ABC News

Buttigieg Discusses Rural Infrastructure Needs vs Funding -Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network

Federal bills for recycling infrastructure grants, composting strategies make a comeback -Waste Dive

FHWA Opens Applications for $848 Million in Competitive Grant Funding to Make Roads, Bridges, Transit, Rail, and Ports More Resilient to Climate Change -FHWA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

California’s port truck-charging plan gets a jolt from big investors -Reuters

Number of Alternative Fueling Stations Nearly Doubles Since 2020; EV Charging Leads the Way -USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Electric school buses serve as mini power plants during the summer -WBUR Radio

Climate Change Is Prompting Cities to Reassess Resiliency -Government Technology

Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins Transitioning to Renewable Diesel -Railway Age

Mississippi Governor Signs Bills Investing Over $2 Billion Toward Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements -Mississippi Governor’s Office (media release)

AIR QUALITY

New Vehicle Emissions Rules Could Speed the EV Revolution -Route Fifty

A quarter of Americans live with polluted air, with people of color and those in Western states disproportionately affected, report says -CNN

New York MTA Commits to Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions 85% by 2040 –Metropolitan Transportation Authority (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Autism Transit Project Expands To Four More Cities -Campaign US

New Evidence Links Transit Cuts With Poverty and Unemployment -Governing

New Jersey Governor Announces Nation’s First Environmental Justice Rules to Reduce Pollution in Vulnerable Communities -New Jersey Governor’s Office (media release)

WVU transportation center will bring mobility to rural areas, opening access to country roads -West Virginia University (media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

NCDOT Highway Right-of-Ways Win Wildflower Awards -AASHTO Journal

Maine DEP Warns Railroad to Clean Up Environment Surrounding Train Derailment Site to Department’s Satisfaction -Maine Department of Environmental Protection (media release)

Lake Tahoe’s clear water is due to tiny creatures called Zooplankton, researchers say -NPR

New USDOT Program Meets Vehicle Collisions with Wildlife Head On -Daily Yonder

Latest in fight for national clean water protections -Southern Environmental Law Center

NJDOT’s annual litter removal campaign begins -NJDOT (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Embracing the 15-Minute City: 7 Reasons why Bicycles Are the Perfect Mode of Transportation -Momentum Mag

How western states are trying to solve ski resort traffic -Axios

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Academies Launch New Climate Crossroads Initiative -National Academies

TRB Webinar: Toward a Touchless Airport Journey -ACRP

Development of a Guide for Accommodating Utilities within Highways and Freeways -NCHRP

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in Bus Rapid Transit and High-Priority Bus Corridors -TCRP

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet Meeting #5 -National Academies

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Renewed and Amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Environmental Responsibilities to the State of Utah; Correction –Utah Division Office, FHWA (Correction)

Development of the National Levee Safety Program -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study, Highlands County, Florida –Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

California State Non-road Engine Pollution Control Standards; Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) Engines; Notice of Decision -EPA (Notice of decision)

Public Hearing for Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles -EPA (Notification of public hearing)

Air Plan Approval; Texas; Updates to Public Notice and Procedural Rules and Removal of Obsolete Provisions -EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Disapproval; Texas; Contingency Measures for the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Ozone Nonattainment Areas -EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; Idaho: Inspection and Maintenance Program Removal; Extension of Comment Period; Correction -EPA (Proposed rule; extension of comment period and correction)

Proposed Settlement Agreement, Clean Water Act and Administrative Procedure Act Claims -EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

Organization, Functions, and Procedures; Functions and Procedures; Forest Service Functions: -Forest Service (Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comment)

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

Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Aviation Security Advisory Committee -TSA (Committee management; request for applicants)

Will ‘Happiness’ Be the Next Key Transportation Metric?

Could “happiness” become a Key Performance Indicator or KPI tracked by state departments of transportation very soon?

[Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]

Dr. Yingling Fan, professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, believes it is inevitable that state DOTs across the country will eventually benchmark “happiness of the people” for whom they build infrastructure as a KPI, right up there with on-time, on-budget, and safety metrics.

“Traditionally in transportation, it’s always been about getting you from Point A to Point B quicker,” Dr. Fan explained in an interview with the ETAP Newsletter. “And when you over-emphasize efficiency, you kind of minimize the human experience. So, I would say happiness should be a new performance measure for our transportation systems where we can maximize the human experience.”

Fan has tested this idea with a pilot program in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where she developed a Transportation Happiness Map. A GPS-based mobile application captured commuters’ routes and their transportation modes (car, bus, bike, rail, or walking). After the commute, they were asked which emotions they experienced on the trip, including happy, meaningful, painted, sad, tired, or stressed.

The study concluded that people commuting along a scenic riverside route were the happiest with their commute, while bicycling won out as the happiest mode of transport.

Traditionally, biking and walking have been considered “inferior modes” by transportation officials because they are slower means of travel, Dr. Fan said. But that type of analysis does not factor that “the biking and the walking are happier than the driving.”

“We know that our built environment can affect our emotions,” Dr. Fan explained. “So, from an urban planner and a transportation engineer perspective, I feel like there is a responsibility for us to understand the impact of our infrastructure on people’s emotions.”

Dr. Fan pointed out that public transit agencies routinely measure its customers’ levels of satisfaction, which Fan argues is really a measure of how happy the service makes the customer. “They don’t call it happiness, but it’s a pretty close concept, right?”

Dr. Fan has found a willing partner in the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where Nissa Tupper is the director of transportation and public health planning. Although Tupper did not participate in the happiness map project, she did appear in a documentary about Dr. Fan’s work and is an enthusiastic supporter of the research.

“I think that focus on emotional experience is new for most of us in transportation,” Tupper said. “We talk about levels of service and modes, but people talk about picking up their kids from daycare and not driving over potholes,”

It may take some convincing to get some state DOTs to measure something as subjective as people’s happiness, but Tupper said the research is showing “a lot of promise” and should be taken seriously.

“Yes, we need measures to understand how we’re doing,” Tupper said. “We also need the flexibility not to quantify everything all the time.”

Dr. Fan believes the research she and others are doing on happiness eventually could be incorporated into the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA process. “If you look at the current shifts in the transportation industry, previously, we didn’t even count the pedestrian traffic as traffic,” Dr. Fan said. “Now, there is this movement, this momentum, to recognize the benefits of those greener transportation modes, and I hope that happiness could be one of the benefits associated with it.”

NCDOT Highway Right-of-Ways Win Wildflower Awards

Each year, awards sponsored by The Garden Club of North Carolina are given to the best-looking flower beds along highways in every region of the state – awards that recognize the efforts of North Carolina Department of Transportation staff who carry out the agency’s wildflower program, which for 37 years has enhanced the overall appearance and environmental quality of North Carolina’s highways.

[Above photo by NCDOT]

The 2022 Wildflower Awards were presented to NCDOT teams during the April Board of Transportation meeting by NCDOT Roadside Environmental Engineer David Harris. And a Flickr album with photos of the winners is available here.

“Our wildflower beds wouldn’t be successful without the hard work put in by our staff. Their commitment to creating detailed flower beds for everyone to enjoy deserves every recognition,” he explained in a statement. “The Wildflower Program is a long-lasting initiative, and we can’t wait to see the beautiful blooms that are due to grow in 2023.”

State DOTs across the country are not only involved in a variety of wildflower- and pollinator-support efforts, many also use special teams to help preserve native animals and plants during infrastructure projects, which also in some cases using natural vegetation to aid in safety projects, such as the construction of snow fences.

On the pollination side, in October 2021 the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts or GACD began installing 15 pollinator habitat sites in designated locations as part of a joint effort to educate state residents about the important role “pollinators” such as bees, butterflies, and other insects play in Georgia’s agricultural sector.

“This partnership provides Georgia DOT with the unique opportunity to create a safe and beautiful place for families and travelers to get up close and personal with the wildflowers and grasses [to] learn about how they impact the world around us,” explained Felicity Davis, a landscape architect manager with the Georgia DOT.

“We carefully considered the locations for these gardens and with pedestrian safety in mind, we determined the best option would be at rest areas and Welcome Centers across the state,” she said.

Meanwhile, in March 2022, the Minnesota Department of Transportation began “rejuvenating” seven so-called “living snow fences” in southwest Minnesota as part of a month-long effort to ensure the 20-year-old plantings can survive for another two decades. The agency noted that a “living snow fence” is comprised of trees, shrubs, native grasses, and/or wildflowers to trap snow as it blows across fields, piling it up before it reaches a bridge or roadway.

“A living snow fence is more than landscaping and highway beautification, it serves a purpose,” explained Dan Gullickson, Minnesota DOT’s blowing snow control shared services program supervisor. “We use nature to control blowing snow and rejuvenating these living snow fence sites will safeguard the health and vitality of the plantings.”

Where native plant preservation is concerned, the Arizona Department of Transportation uses “biomonitor” teams from Northern Arizona University or NAU to help the agency’s work crews find and relocate endangered species – including snakes, birds and fish – from construction sites.

Specifically, the biomonitor teams train construction workers and other involved in transportation projects to identify any endangered species and what to do if they come across one. The teams also monitor construction activity and help safely remove any endangered species out of harm’s way.

Environmental News Highlights – April 19, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

Millar Named a Resilience Roads Roundtable ‘Luminary’ – AASHTO Journal

EPA Proposes Stricter Federal Vehicle Emission Standards – AASHTO Journal

FHWA Seeks to Improve Project Environmental Reviews – AASHTO Journal

U.S. judge blocks Biden clean water rule in 24 states – Reuters

EPA used the climate law on cars. Power plants are next. – E&E News

Cities Put on Notice to Install Signals to Help Blind Pedestrians Cross Streets – Route Fifty

A Fork In The Road: States Will Determine The Future Of US Transportation Pollution – CleanTechnica

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Ithaca’s Crazy Plan to Be Our First All-Electric City – Rolling Stone

Seventeen States Could Accelerate U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales To 75% By 2050 – Forbes

Utah’s first inland port appears ready for construction, but it’s not in Salt Lake City – Salt Lake Tribune

Virginia transportation advocates call for infrastructure with bicyclists, pedestrians in mind – Virginia Public Media

Port of Oakland Has a Problem, and Its Name is Mud – Transport Topics

Port of San Diego approves $8.5M plug-in electrification project for idling ships in National City – San Diego Union-Tribune

South Carolina Emerges as a Leader in Electric School Buses – Government Technology

MnDOT looking to upgrade infrastructure for climate resiliency after record snowfall – West Central Tribune

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Reopens After Historic Deluge – WTVJ-TV

AIR QUALITY

NCDOT Issues Final Statewide ‘Clean Transportation Plan’ – AASHTO Journal

UCLA team launches ocean carbon capture project at Port of Los Angeles – Los Angeles Daily News

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Pa. officials seek environmental justice concerns to shape climate planning – StateImpact PA

Blind Vermonters share their challenges with public transit and the struggle for independence – VTDigger

Traffic Engineers Learn How It Feels To Be Blind At Texas Tech Event – KCBD-TV

IndyGo Removes Barriers by Introducing New Accessibility Settings on Website – INDYGo (media release)

New Policies Expand Access to Opportunities at Port of Seattle – Port of Seattle (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Oklahoma Department Of Transportation Partners With Non-Profit To Help Clear Litter Off Roads – KWTV-TV

This 3,000-Mile Trail System Is Benefiting Communities In 15 States – Bicycling

Meet the Americans who live in their vans, buses and cars in pursuit of a simpler life using less energy. – Bloomberg

Virginia Takes Novel Approach to Preserving Historic ‘Green Book’ Locations – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Illinois hands out millions for bike, pedestrian trails and bridges in suburbs and beyond – Daily Herald

On Broadway, New York City’s slow march toward pedestrian-focused streets – City & State New York

The EPA Faces Questions About Its Approval of a Plastic-Based Fuel With an Astronomical Cancer Risk – ProPublica

Micromobility is Just Getting Started – Metro (blog)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB’s 2023 Automated Road Transportation Symposium – TRB

How deadly are dust storms? – NOAA Research News

Online Course – Why Serving Everyone Doesn’t Serve Everyone – National Aging and Disability Transportation Center

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Renewed and Amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Environmental Responsibilities to the State of Utah – FHWA (Notice and amendments and request for comments)

FTA Fiscal Year 2023 Apportionments, Allocations and Program Information – FTA (Notice)

Safety Advisory 2023–02; Train Makeup and Operational Safety Concerns – FRA (Notice)

Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; Call for Nominations – Fish and Wildlife Service (Call for nominations)

Notice of Competitive Offer and Notice of Segregation for Solar Energy Development on Public Land, Nye County, Nevada – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Meeting of the Regional Energy Resource Council – TVA (Notice of meeting)

Public Hearing for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3 – EPA (Notification of public hearing)

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

Hazardous Materials: Request for Feedback on Recycled Plastics Policy – Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (Notice; request for information)

Notice of Submission Deadline for Schedule Information for Chicago O’Hare International, John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International, Newark Liberty International, and San Francisco International Airports for the Winter 2023/2024 Scheduling Season – FAA (Notice)

PennDOT to Help Test Invasive Species Management Program

The Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council or ISC is preparing to pilot test an invasive species management program this summer – and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is one of several state agencies on tap to play a key role in that pilot test.

[Above image by PennDOT]

The program is built around findings from the first statewide survey of impacts from invasive plants, insects, pathogens, and animals, ISC conducted in late 2022 – the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Impacts Survey.

“A biodiverse native ecosystem provides the natural resources that are essential to our lives, from agricultural food production to outdoor recreation and fishery, timber, and other industries,” explained Rich Negrin, acting secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, in a statement.

He added that the ISC believes a statewide program is necessary to respond to growing number of invasive species in Pennsylvania – including the spotted lanternfly, mile-a-minute vine, Japanese stiltgrass, barberry shrub, zebra mussels, and many others.

The pilot will bring together expertise from local and state government, industry, community, and academic organizations to create a Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management or “PRISM” program.

The Council and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts or PACD will partner to pilot-test a small-scale version of a PRISM program in 13 northwest counties in July.

Using $210,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, PACD plans to conduct on-the-ground projects to remove invasive species and conduct educational outreach to help prevent the introduction of invasive species. In addition, PACD will develop a strategic plan identifying priorities and committed partners for the region – including PennDOT.

“PennDOT has worked with federal, state, and local partners to encourage native plant growth and target invasive species in our right of way,” noted Mike Carroll, acting PennDOT secretary. “We look forward to continued partnership through this council to address this statewide challenge.”

Other state departments of transportation are also engaged in efforts to eradicate a variety of invasive species in their regions to improve protections for native plant and animal life, as well as encourage pollination efforts.

For example, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently began cranking up its annual weed control program to keep a dozen unwanted and noxious weeds from encroaching on the bluegrass state’s transportation infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in November 2022, the Illinois Department of Transportation recounted in a blog post how it changed its mowing practices over the years to better protect roadside landscapes that are vital to pollinators and native planet life.

The agency has adopted mowing policies to protect the habitat and migratory patterns of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators that use it as a food source. That policy allows for mowing of the state’s roads in a four-year rotation during the summer.

Finally, in October 2022, ecologists at Idaho State University began working with the Idaho Transportation Department to turn state roadsides into veritable “Swiss army knives” of vegetation so they are both more fire-resistant and more welcoming to pollinating insects. They are working with three different types of ecosystems, figuring out how to make the land more hospitable to native plants and less so for invasive weeds.

USDOT Initiates Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Prevention Project

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently began what it calls a “first-of-its-kind” pilot program to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.

[Above photo by the Colorado DOT]

Created and funded by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA enacted in November 2021, that pilot program – dubbed the “Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program” and managed by the Federal Highway Administration – will make grant funding available to states and communities to construct wildlife crossings over or below busy roads, add warning signs for drivers, acquire mapping and tracking tools, and more.

FHWA is making a total of $350 million available over five years, including more than $111 million in grants through its first round of funding in 2023. The agency also noted that roughly 200 people are killed – and many more are injured – annually in the United States in more than one million collisions involving wildlife and vehicles.

“There are proven practices to prevent crashes between vehicles and wildlife, and with this investment, we’re going to take commonsense steps to reduce collisions and make roads safer for rural and urban communities alike,”FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in a statement.

“Communities that may not previously have had access to funding for these critical projects can finally make roads safer while protecting wildlife and their movement corridors,” he added.

FHWA noted that grants are available for all wildlife-vehicle collision prevention activities, including but not limited to research, planning, design, and construction.

The agency added that it seeks to award funds for both non-construction and construction projects via the new program, including research on safety innovations, mapping and tracking tools, and the design and construction of overpasses and underpasses.

A recent blog post by the Pew Trusts highlights how the growing success of wildlife crossings – bridges, underpasses, and culverts designed to help animals avoid vehicle traffic – across the U.S. is drawing a surge of interest from policymakers seeking to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect animals.

Meanwhile, state departments of transportation have already been working on a variety of wildlife-vehicle collision prevention initiatives over the last several years.

For example, to date, Colorado DOT said it has built more than 60 wildlife mitigation structures crossing above or under highways throughout the state. Additionally, it has installed 400 miles of high big game fencing along state and U.S. highways or next to the interstates.

In August 2022, the agency completed a wildlife overpass and underpass on U.S. Highway 160 in the southwestern part of the state; a stretch of road where more than 60 percent of all crashes are due to wildlife-vehicle collisions.

In April 2022, the Oregon Department of Transportation received a special one-time allocation of $7 million in general funds from the Oregon legislature to invest in wildlife corridor projects statewide.

The Oregon DOT said it has had “great success” with wildlife undercrossing structures in recent years, with five crossings built to date in the state, all on U.S. 97, leading to an 86 percent reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Concurrently, a research document released in July 2022 by an international pool funded study led by the Nevada Department of Transportation provides an “authoritative review” of the most effective measures to reduce animal-vehicle collisions, improve motorist safety, and build safer wildlife crossings.

Environmental News Highlights – April 12, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Offers Comments on Two Proposed Regulations -AASHTO Journal

Vetoed but not forgotten: What’s next for WOTUS? -E&E News

Calculating the Fastest Road to an Electric Car Future -New York Times

USDOT rolls out funding for wildlife crossings along busy roads -AP

EPA to propose new vehicle pollution cuts, sees big EV jump -Reuters

PHMSA Announces Historic Funding for 37 Projects to Improve Safety, Fix Old, Leaky Gas Pipes and Create Jobs -PHMSA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Bringing Young Professionals into Transportation -AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

Louisville Installing Flood Warning Systems In Underpasses Prone To Flooding -WDRB-TV

Innovation and partnerships celebrated at reopening of Eufaula Dam Spillway Bridge -Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

KDOT Announces Call for Projects for EV infrastructure -Kansas DOT (link to PDF)

Port Authority Announces Partnership With NASA To Explore Next Generation Of Flight In Urban Environments -Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Dust Storms Contribute to Higher Traffic Fatalities -AASHTO Journal

Georgia lawmakers overhaul EV charging -WABE Radio

EPA OKs California Rules Phasing Out New Diesel Trucks -Transport Topics

How Arizona leaders balance environmental sustainability and economic growth -AZ Big Media

New York City DOT will test local delivery hubs to cut down on emissions –WCBS-TV

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Linking and TSMO Transportation Equity Fact Sheet –FHWA

Federal judge finds City of Chicago liable, violated Americans with Disabilities Act -WGN-TV

Free CT Buses Are A Step Toward Transit Equity –Connecticut Mirror (commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

MoDOT, Downtown Kansas City Districts partnering on highway cleanup -KMBC-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Explore Transportation History With WisDOT’s New Online Highway Map Archive -Wisconsin DOT (media release)

Students shine during WVDOT Bridge Design and Build Contest -WVDOT (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Oregon DOT Updates Statewide Curb Ramp Upgrade Effort -AASHTO Journal

New Massachusetts law protecting bicyclists, pedestrians takes effect – WFXT-TV

Micro-transit system continues to gain traction in Twin Falls, Idaho – KMVT-TV

Cities Ride the E-Bike Wave as Policymakers Consider Support -Government Technology

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Review of the Draft Fifth National Climate Assessment –National Academies

Planning and Assessing Ferry System Capacity -TRB (webinar)

Inclusive Public Participation in Transit Decision-Making –TCRP

State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Progress Report -Caltrans (link to pdf)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program -FHWA and FTA (Notice)

Limitation on Claims Against Proposed Public Transportation Projects – Inglewood Transit Connector Project, and METRORapid Inner Katy Bus Rapid Transit Project -FTA (Notice)

Approval of Noise Compatibility Program Update, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida -FAA (Notice)

Review of Quiet Zone in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Hallandale Beach, Florida -FRA (Notice of quiet zone review)

California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero- Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of … -EPA (Notice of decision)

Determination To Defer Sanctions; California; Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District –EPA (Interim final determination)

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit -EPA (Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment)

Consolidation of Redundant Coast Guard Boat Stations -Coast Guard (Request for comments)

Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts -Coast Guard (Notice of availability; final report)

Port Access Route Study: Approaches to the Ports of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands -Coast Guard (Notice of study; request for comments)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; May 2023 Meetings -Coast Guard (Notice)

Notice of Temporary Restrictions on Motorized Vehicle Use for Specified Routes on Public Lands in Grand County, Utah -Bureau of Land Management (Notice of temporary restrictions)

Notice of Public Meeting of Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee – Geological Survey (Notice of teleconference meeting)

Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping in Preparation of the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy for the Coral Reef Conservation Program – NOAA (Notice; request for written comments)