Delaware DOT Illustrates Resiliency Strategies at Hearing

During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 21, Nicole Majeski – secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation – detailed her agency’s efforts to incorporate resiliency into infrastructure projects statewide.

[Above photo by AASHTO]

That hearing elicited testimony from states and localities regarding ongoing implementation efforts related to the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA, enacted in November 2021.

“Having this bill [the IIJA] finalized gives state DOTs and our contractor community certainty that we will continue to make needed infrastructure investments in the years ahead,” Majeski noted in her testimony. “The $1.6 billion in federal funding that Delaware is receiving through [the IIJA], along with our committed state resources, will allow us to deliver our largest capital program ever of $4.45 billion over the next five years.”

She explained that federal funding would be particularly critical to helping her agency deal with the effects of climate change.

“As the lowest-lying state in the nation, Delaware is seeing firsthand the effects that climate change and sea-level rise are having on our state,” Majeski noted. “We are increasingly seeing roads in our coastal areas overtopped with water not just during significant storms but with tidal flooding on sunny days. We estimate that we have $1 billion worth of infrastructure vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”

Secretary Majewski – Senate EPW video still

To cope with such issues, Majeski said Delaware Governor John Carney (D) spearheaded the development of a Climate Action Plan in November 2021; a plan that led to the creation of a resiliency and sustainability division within Delaware DOT to centralize the agency’s efforts to improve the resiliency and sustainability of its transportation network.

“This division is focusing on the impacts climate change and sea-level rise are having on our transportation infrastructure; incorporating resiliency and sustainability measures in the construction and maintenance of our projects; implementing the electrification of our infrastructure and fleet; incorporating the use of alternative energy; and minimizing the environmental impacts caused by our transportation system,” Majeski noted.

“It will guide our work to develop solutions for these impacted areas and lead initiatives such as the broader electrification of our infrastructure to support and encourage the use of electric vehicles in Delaware,” she added. “Newly created formula funding through [the IIJA] will allow us to move forward with these critical projects.”

For example, in March, Delaware DOT initiated a plan to make the state’s road systems more resilient to climate change by tapping into the additional $160 million over five years the IIJA will provide to Delaware’s main highway programs.

The agency also received a $6.5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in August to begin designing an ambitious plan in the Route 9 area near New Castle. That project would reduce the number of through lanes on Route 9, with that “saved” lane space used to improve pedestrian and bicycle, and bus facilities as well as extra green space.

USDOT, DOE Help Push Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Energy recently released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap as part of what they dubbed a “government-wide strategy” for scaling up sustainable aviation fuel production across the country.

[Above photo by DOE]

That roadmap – a collaboration between USDOT, DOE, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency – outlines actions designed to spur technological innovation to produce sustainable aviation fuel or SAF, reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions, and enable the United States to meet its domestic climate goals. It also seeks to position the United States as a “global leader” in the emerging SAF market.  

Made from renewable biomass and other resources, including winter oilseed crops, agricultural and forestry residues, and municipal solid waste streams, USDOT said there is enough collectible biomass available in the U.S. to produce 50 billion to 60 billion gallons of low-carbon fuels annually.

According to a joint USDOT and DOE statement, the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap aligns government and industry actions to achieve the three major goals of the SAF Grand Challenge outlined by those agencies in 2021: 

  • Achieve a minimum of a 50 percent reduction in life cycle GHG emissions compared to conventional fuel; 
  • Produce three billion gallons of SAF per year by 2030; and 
  • Supply sufficient SAF to meet 100 percent of aviation fuel demand by 2050. 

USDOT noted that U.S. commercial aviation currently consumes approximately 10 percent of all transportation energy and is a significant contributor to domestic GHG emissions. SAF has the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel, but with a fraction of its carbon footprint, USDOT added – adding that “emerging SAF” pathways even offer the potential for a “net-negative” GHG footprint.

State departments are engaged in similar sustainable aviation promotion efforts.

For example, on September 23, the aviation division of the Washington State Department of Transportation began accepting applications for a new airport grant program that funds sustainable aviation projects.

The agency said in a statement that such projects may include electrification of ground support equipment; electric aircraft charging infrastructure; airport clean power production; electric vehicle charging stations or fuel cell electric vehicle hydrogen stations whose infrastructure may also support ground support equipment and/or electric aircraft charging; and sustainable aviation fuel storage.

Video: Hawaii DOT Talks Transportation Resiliency

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video highlighting how the Hawaii Department of Transportation incorporates resiliency into its infrastructure strategy.

[Above image via AASHTO]

AASHTO’s Transportation TV interviewed Edwin Sniffen, Hawaii DOT deputy director for highways, as part of its “2 Minute State DOT Update” video news series that illustrates how state departments of transportation build, maintain, and improve America’s multimodal transportation network.

During the interview, Sniffen explained what making a transportation system “more resilient” means and how Hawaii DOT incorporates that philosophy into its infrastructure planning, construction, and delivery processes.

Sniffen is a recognized state DOT leader on the topic of resilience. For example, he participated in a knowledge session on infrastructure resilience hosted during AASHTO’s 2022 Spring Meeting in New Orleans.

Moderated by David Sweeney, president and CEO of engineering and architectural firm RS&H, the panel explored how “resilience” is becoming a critical factor in extending the overall lifecycle of infrastructure assets while also hardening them against potential damage from both natural and man-made disasters.

That knowledge session also included Marc Williams, executive director of the Texas DOT; Will Watts, assistant secretary for engineering and operations at Florida DOT; and Aimee Flannery, a surface transportation analyst from the Office of the USDOT Secretary.

Tennessee’s ‘Tire to Trails’ Program Wins Award

The Tennessee State Parks received the Project Excellence Award from the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals for its “Tires to Trails” conducted in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which uses recycled tires in the construction of recreation paths.

[Above photo by the Tennessee DOT]

The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals presents this award annually to exemplary outdoor recreation projects and collaborating agencies and organizations that were key to the success. Selection criteria include unique or special circumstances; problem-solving function; level of innovation and creativity; impact or effect of a project; and collaborative team effort.

“This is a wonderful recognition of an outstanding program,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, in a statement.

“We have seen great success with ‘Tires to Trails’ and the award is a tribute to all who have worked to make it successful,” he said.

Tennessee State Parks officials, along with those from the Tennessee DOT, cut the ribbon in June on a new hard-surface 2.5-mile-long pathway made from rubber crumbs derived from old tires at T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis.

Volunteers and local contractors collected some 24,000 illegally dumped tires in the area around the park, transformed into “crumbs” by Patriot Tire Recycling in Bristol. That “crumb” material then went into the construction of the park trail.

This is but one of several environmentally focused projects involving the Tennessee DOT. The agency recently expanded its “traditional role” in the Mississippi River Delta Region from building and maintaining roads to include fighting litter, supporting tourism, and promoting economic development. In addition, in conjunction with the Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and other partners, the agency established a network of 17 “Seabin” automated litter and debris removal devices across the Tennessee River watershed in March.

Environmental News Highlights – September 21, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Approves 35 State EV Charging Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal

State DOTs Increase Multimodal, Active Transportation Support – AASHTO Journal

ETAP Podcast: The Next Generation Highways Concept – AASHTO Journal

Key infrastructure nominee pitches ‘all of the above’ approach on roads – Washington Post

Will California’s Gas Vehicle Ban Help Lead the Nation? – Los Angeles Times

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; Implementation of Energy and Infrastructure Provisions – Office of the President (Executive Order)

COVID-19

L.A. County could soon drop this key COVID mask rule. Here’s why – Los Angeles Times

NEPA

Denver passed a sales tax for climate. Is it working? – E&E News

US climate goals are achievable – if we can get the permits – The Hill (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Growing Debate Over Where to Put EV Chargers in Rural America – Route Fifty

Port of Long Beach channel deepening project moves forward with federal, local approvals – Long Beach Business Journal

Port of Los Angeles offers $5 million in green incentives – Port Technology

Tijuana Airport’s Bridge to the U.S. Is Reshaping California-Mexico Travel – Airline Weekly

Work Progresses on Two Projects at Maine-Canada Border – Transport Topics

AIR QUALITY

The Fog of San Francisco – New York Times

Feds Launch New Climate Resilience Planning Portal – Government Technology

California’s Next Climate Mandate Is End to Sales of Diesel-Only Trucks in 2040 – Times of San Diego

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Interagency Commitment to Lower Transportation Emissions and Consumer Costs, Bolster Domestic Energy Security – US Department of Energy (Media release)

EPA Releases Final Determinations of Attainment Status for Air Quality Standards for Smog – EPA (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

At 75, the Father of Environmental Justice Meets the Moment – New York Times

U-M study finds 1 in 4 four US adults experience transportation insecurity – University of Michigan (Media release)
Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Mobility Disability Discrimination Suit Against San Juan, Puerto Rico – Department of Justice (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

A State Wildlife Agency That’s Winning at Twitter – Route Fifty

Florida scientists will study how homeowners affect the water quality of stormwater ponds – WUSF Radio

NCDOT begins second phase of biannual litter sweep, encourages volunteer participation – Daily Tar Heel

Preventing Litter Is “Simple As That,” Says New Washington Campaign – Daily Fly

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Visiting with Huell Howser: Los Angeles Union Station – KCET-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Cincinnati City Council working on long-term plan to address pedestrian safety – WXIX-TV

Gordie Howe International Bridge Will Have Access For Bicycles And Pedestrians – WLHT Radio

How The Twin Cities Is Making Transit Accessible To Immigrants And Refugees – Next City

Centering Bikes in the Future of Mobility – Planetizen

Transit App Adds Pittsburgh Bike-Rental Program POGOH – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Navigating an Electric Vehicle Future: Proceedings of a Workshop – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Preparing for LNG by Rail Tank Car: A Readiness Review – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Enhancing the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users at Intersections; Request for Information – USDOT (Notice)

Air Plan Approval; Missouri; St. Louis Area Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program – EPA (Final rule)
Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group – FAA (Solicitation of applications)
Draft FAA Policy Regarding Processing Land Use Changes on Federally Acquired or Federally Conveyed Airport Land – FAA (Proposed policy; request for comments)

Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Grant Programs – NHTSA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)
Improvements for Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Test Procedures, and Other Technical Amendments – NHSTA (Proposed rule)

Meeting of the Regional Energy Resource Council – Tennessee Valley Authority (Notice)

Four Federal Agencies Planning Broad GHG Reduction Effort

The U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency recently signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions associated with the transportation sector while concurrently ensuring “resilient and accessible mobility options” for all Americans.

[Above photo by USDOT]

The MOU commits the agencies to release within 90 days of its signing a comprehensive blueprint for decarbonizing the transportation sector that will help guide future policy decisions, as well as research, development, demonstration, and deployment in the public and private sectors.

That blueprint will also ensure a coordinated “whole-of-government” approach to address challenges to achieving widespread and equitable de-carbonization of the domestic transportation sector. This includes increasing access to safe, active transportation options, providing clean and affordable transit options, modernizing the grid to meet increased demands from the electric vehicle sector, and reducing emissions from the entire lifecycle of transportation, including emissions from construction.

Domestic transportation – including both passenger and freight modes – produces more GHG emissions than any other sector, those four agencies noted in a joint statement. Thus by working together with states, local communities, tribal communities, labor unions, nonprofits, and the private sector, they hope to promote low- and zero-emission transportation solutions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, create clean transportation jobs, and support the Biden administration’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050. 

Those four agencies said that the billions of dollars in “clean transportation” funding allocated through the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted in November 2021 as well as the $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act enacted in August makes the United States “well-positioned” to take reduced GHGs while creating “millions of jobs” for American workers.

The agencies said they plan to accomplish both goals by increasing access to more efficient modes of transportation such as walking, biking, transit and rail, while lowering the costs of electric vehicles and other zero emission vehicles and fuels. That would allow American families and businesses to benefit from and enjoy the benefits of this “affordable clean energy revolution,” those agencies said.

WSDOT Joins Statewide Anti-Litter Campaign

The Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Ecology are joining forces on a new statewide anti-littering campaign entitled “Simple As That” to help prevent littering by changing the behaviors that cause it.

[Above photo by WSDOT]

According to a 2021 study commissioned by the Ecology department, more than 75 percent of state residents choose not to litter while some 26 percent of the remaining 25 percent said they would be motivated to stop if a friend, family member, or passenger asked them to refrain from littering. The agency said its survey found that not having a “car trash bag” as the top reason why they litter.

While those numbers sound promising, but the truth is that more than 18 million pounds of litter accumulate annually on Washington’s roads, parks and recreation areas. Preliminary results from a 2022 statewide litter study show 24,001 litter items per mile on Washington’s urban interstate highways. Plastic food wrappers, snack bags and cigarette butts are some of the most commonly found items.

Both WSDOT and the Ecology department spend more than $9 million annually on trash cleanup efforts – pickup crews and volunteers collected 357 tons of garbage in July alone. Unfortunately, this is only a small fraction of what ends up on the road, the agencies noted.

“Litter adds up when we don’t make simple choices to properly dispose of garbage. It damages our environment, hurts wildlife, and threatens public health, safety and our economy,” said Governor Jay Inslee (D) in a blog post. “Ultimately, our success is determined by people choosing to not litter.”

As a part of the campaign, Washington’s Ecology department is running statewide advertising in English and Spanish and collaborating with Fred Meyer stores to give away free car litter bags to shoppers across the state. In addition, it is distributing a Litter Prevention Toolkit to allied government agencies, jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations to help reach Washington residents.

“Litter is a big problem with simple solutions. Small actions like keeping a litter bag in your car to collect garbage can make a huge difference,” said Amber Smith, the agency’s statewide litter prevention coordinator. “It’s critical for us to stop litter at its source. When you take care of your trash the right way, you help create a litter free Washington and set a good example for others. We need everyone to do their part.”

This effort is also part of the ongoing We Keep Washington Litter Free campaign also conducted in partnership with WSDOT, the Washington State Patrol, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The campaign focuses on different littering behaviors through several sub-campaigns, including the significant safety and environmental impacts of unsecured vehicle loads. 

State departments of transportation across the country are involved in a wide variety of anti-litter efforts.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation joined several fellow state agencies in August 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.

In July, Ohio launched a new litter control program launched, one administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation, that seeks to broaden engagement by the business community in its trash removal efforts.

That new Ohio program allows businesses and groups to fund litter removal services along one-mile, one-direction segments of state highways. In exchange for their sponsorship, Ohio DOT displays the name of the business or group on a sign within their sponsored segment.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Transportation recruited popular singer, songwriter, and actor Joe Jonas to star in a series of Public Service Announcements as part of the agency’s “Don’t Mess with Texas” anti-littering campaign.

The agency said the “show-stopping” performer – a former Westlake, Texas, resident – takes an “over-the-top” approach in the PSAs to remind folks to keep Texas roadways free of litter.

Environmental News Highlights – September 14, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden administration launches website to help navigate extreme weather, other climate hazards – WHIO-TV

How Biden could help U.S. reach climate goals on his own – Washington Post

Empty Containers Will Overwhelm Ports in 2023 Warns Sea-Intelligence – Maritime Executive

Public Comment Mixed on FHWA’s Electric Charging Infrastructure Proposal – Transport Topics
A natural ally for climate resilience, disaster mitigation – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Public transit across the U.S. is not nearly as crowded as it was before the pandemic – NPR’s All Things Considered

Where You Still Need to Wear a Mask in New York City – New York Times

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

NYSDOT Begins Roadway Flood Control Project – AASHTO Journal

States Play a Central Role in the EV Charger Buildout – Route Fifty

Universities’ research aims to make railroads climate resilient – FreightWaves

A New Tech Tool to Help Communities Confront Climate Risks – Route Fifty

FAA’s Largest Solar Project to Power Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center – FAA (Media release)

Columbia River port managers, Army engineers agree to $2.1 million study – US Army Corps of Engineers (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Pittsburgh Regional Transit announces plan to transition to zero-emission bus fleet by 2045 – WPXI-TV

California Air Resources Board May Speed Fleet Electrification – Government Technology

United buys 200 electric air taxis from Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility – Fox Business

Israel to Ban Boeing 747s, Other 4-Engine Planes Amid Environmental Concerns – U.S. News & World Report

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Was the Climate Law a Win for Environmental Justice? It’s Complicated – Bloomberg

N.C. pushes for more EV charging stations in rural areas – Spectrum News 1

What are some unique transportation solutions in rural Indiana communities? – WFYI Radio

NACTO calls for US bicycle law reformation to decriminalize biking in cities – Cycling Weekly

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tennessee DOT Promoting Delta Region via New Partnership – AASHTO Journal

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Super Bowl visitors will swamp Sky Harbor Airport. Here’s what it’s doing to get ready – Arizona Republic

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Washington Legislature Makes a Quantum Leap on Complete State Highways – The Urbanist

New app aims to keep drivers, cyclists and pedestrians safe on Cary roads – WRAL-TV

Residents push back on proposed Rockford, Illinois bike path expansion – Rockford Register Star

Free dinner? Free parking? Northern Virginia transportation leaders exploring creative options to incentivize commuter behavior – InsideNoVa

New Haven gets rolling on pedestrian, cycling and transit infrastructure – Yale Daily News

Boston Mayor, City Transportation Department Announce Expansion of Bike Network and Safer Streets – City of Boston (Media release)

WSDOT unveils new-look Statewide Human Services Transportation Plan – Washington State DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advancing Low- and Zero-Emission Marine Vessel Technology Options Workshop – TRB (Link to workshop summary)

Microtransit – Innovation in Rural Mobility – TRB (Webinar)

Webinar: NCDOT Roadway Resiliency and Recovery – Roads & Bridges

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Priorities List – EPA (Final rule)

Noise Exposure Map Notice: San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for San Diego International Airport – FAA (Notice of acceptance of a noise exposure map and review of a noise
compatibility program)

Noise Compatibility Program for Laredo International Airport, Webb County, Texas – FAA (Notice of acceptance of a noise exposure map)

Consolidated Port Approaches and International Entry and Departure Transit Areas Port Access Route Studies (PARS) Integral to Efficiency of Possible Atlantic Coast Fairways – Coast Guard (Notice of availability)

ETAP Podcast: Next Generation Highways

In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Jessica Oh – strategic partnerships director in the sustainability and public health office within the Minnesota Department of Transportation – discusses the “next generation highway” her agency is studying.

[Above photo by Minnesota DOT]

The Ray and consulting firm NGI released the NextGen Highways Feasibility Study for the Minnesota DOT in April; a study that examined strategies for “co-locating” electric and communications infrastructure in highway right-of-ways or ROWs.

The study focused on the potential deployment of buried, high-voltage/direct current or HVDC transmission lines within Minnesota interstate and highway ROWs – an effort that offers broader implications for highway ROW strategies in other states.

In April 2021, the Federal Highway Administration released guidance clarifying the highway ROW “can be leveraged by state DOTs for pressing public needs relating to climate change, equitable communications access, and energy reliability.”

Projects listed include renewable energy generation, electrical transmission and distribution projects, broadband projects, vegetation management, inductive charging in travel lanes, and alternative fueling facilities, among others.

“At the heart of this study is the need to examine the energy transmission infrastructure we will need in order to electrify our transportation network; part of a broader effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy,” Oh explained during the podcast.

“The concept we’re evaluating looked specifically at burying [electric power] transmission lines in the highway ROW,” she noted. “Only three states allow for that now. Yet the use of existing distributed ROW could contain the visual impact of expanding our electric grid while lessening the need to acquire more land to support more transmission.”

Building transmission capacity in existing highway ROW could also reduce project-siting timelines by seven to 10 years, Oh added, while reducing the need to work with hundreds of landowners on a project down to dealing with a single state department of transportation.

“There is a great benefit for communities if they allow transmission capacity to be built in the highway ROW,” she emphasized.

To listen to the full podcast, click here.

Oregon DOT Seeks Applications for Mobility Micro Grants

The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking applications for its new Innovative Mobility Micro-Grants. The $5,000 grants are the first project to come forward from the $20 million Innovative Mobility Program, a new initiative created by the agency in March at the direction of the Oregon Transportation Commission.

[Above photo by the Oregon DOT]

The Oregon DOT said its Innovative Mobility Program aims to make it easier for state residents to walk, bike, share rides, and take transit. The program has a special focus on equity and helping historically excluded groups get to where they need to go more quickly, cheaply, and safely.

“There’s a major transportation evolution happening across the country, and we have a chance to make sure that communities of color and other marginalized individuals who have been excluded in the past have place, purpose, and priority in Oregon’s future transportation investments,” said Alando Simpson, vice chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission, in a statement.