editor – Page 34 – Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

Environmental News Highlights – June 15, 2022

FHWA Issues Proposed Rulemaking for Funding EV Infrastructure

The Federal Highway Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on June 9 to outline minimum standards and requirements for projects funded via the five-year $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI formula program launched in February.

[Above photo by the Arizona DOT]

That rulemaking seeks to support the build-out of a national EV charging network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, while also ensuring that the network is “user-friendly, reliable, and accessible to all Americans” yet also interoperable between different charging companies, with similar payment systems, pricing information, charging speeds, and more.

FHWA said its proposed rule would establish the groundwork for states to build federally funded charging station projects across a national EV charging network, an “important step” towards making electric vehicle charging accessible to all Americans. No matter what kind of EV a user drives, what state they charge in, or what charging company they plug into, the minimum standards will ensure a unified network of chargers with similar payment systems, pricing information, charging speeds, and more, the agency noted.

The proposed requirements will help states as they develop their EV deployment plans in concert with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, established along with the NEVI program by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA enacted in November 2021.

“To support the transition to electric vehicles, we must build a national charging network that makes finding a charge as easy as filling up at a gas station,” explained U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “These new ground rules will help create a network of EV chargers across the country that are convenient, affordable, reliable, and accessible for all Americans.”

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy – in coordination with USDOT through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation – unveiled the Electric Vehicle Working Group or EVWG to make recommendations regarding the development, adoption, and integration of electric vehicles into America’s transportation and energy systems.

This advisory group will consist of 25 representatives, federal government employees, and special government employees who will compile reports related to the adoption of EVs to help ensure the sustainable integration of electric vehicles into the electric grid, prepare the workforce for more electric vehicles, and maintain global competitiveness in electric transportation infrastructure and technology. The DOE expects to publish the member nomination process by next week.

Additionally, FHWA said its proposed rule would require consistency regarding the installation, operation, and maintenance of NEVI formula program projects to provide the traveling public with reliable expectations for their charging experience. The proposed rule would further specify the required minimum density of provided chargers, payment methods, and requirements for customer support services.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is already assisting in this build-out effort via a memorandum of understanding signed in February with the National Association of State Energy Officials, USDOT, and DOE to coordinate nationwide investment in EV charging station infrastructure.

AASHTO also helped establish a free repository of information in March on EVs available to state agencies. Called the “EV States Clearinghouse,” it contains a variety of documents such as sample requests for proposals or RFPs, sample contracts, EV infrastructure siting, and assessment tools, plus other resources.

“The focus on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across our national transportation network is a huge step to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and we applauded the administration’s focus on this issue,” explained Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director. “Many state departments of transportation have found success in their own EV charging infrastructure programs and know first-hand that collaboration between state energy offices and other agencies is instrumental to success.”

Several state DOTs recently achieved milestones in their efforts to establish more EV charging locations along highways in their respective regions. For example, the Oregon Department of Transportation recently celebrated the completion of Phase 1 EV charging upgrades to the West Coast Electric Highway. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Department of Transportation unveiled Level 3 “fast chargers” at the I-95 Southbound service plaza in Madison. Connecticut DOT added that more publicly available fast chargers should go online at service plazas in New Canaan, Greenwich, and Fairfield over the next several weeks.

Concurrently, the Arizona Department of Transportation is currently developing a statewide EV charging network plan it expects to submit to FHWA by August, with further plan refinements to follow.

Moreover, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development went a step further by hosting an outdoor EV exposition in April at its headquarters facility in Baton Rouge.

“Overall, we want to convert gas stations into fuel stations where a variety of fuel options, including electric charging, are available,” noted Dr. Shawn Wilson, Louisiana DOTD’s secretary and AASHTO’s 2021-2022 president, at the event. “In order to become a competitor in green energy, Louisiana must make changes, and this starts with our transportation industry.”

Wilson added that Louisiana DOTD plans to start developing the grant programs now through 2023, soliciting applications as well as monitoring and inspecting charging station installations while identifying and correcting weaknesses in the grant programs for use in future rounds of solicitations and awards.

Maryland Initiates Tier 2 NEPA Study for Bay Crossing Project

At a June 12 event, Governor Larry Hogan (R) said the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration are launching a $28 million Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act study for an additional Chesapeake Bay crossing option.

[Above photo by the Maryland Governor’s Office]

“At my direction, we are immediately launching a critical Bay Crossing Tier 2 Study, which will not only study the new crossing but also look at solutions for the entire 22-mile corridor from the Severn River Bridge to the 50/301 split,” the governor said in a statement.

“This is the critical next step which is needed in order to move forward so we can make a new Chesapeake Bay crossing a reality in the years to come, and it is just one more way that together we are truly changing Maryland for the better,” he added.

He noted that, in April, FHWA approved a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Record of Decision for the proposed bridge, with the Tier 2 NEPA study poised to identify and evaluate a “no-build alternative” as well as various crossing alignments and types – such as a new bridge, a bridge/tunnel or replacement of existing spans.

The study would take about four to five years to complete. If it recommends a “build alignment” alternative, another Record of Decision for Tier 2 would be required before proceeding to final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. Meanwhile, a “no-build” recommendation means taking no action of any kind.

The initial Tier 1 study evaluated a range of “modal and operational alternatives” or MOAs, including ferry service, rail, bus, and transportation system management/transportation demand management, and found they could not function as stand-alone options. Subsequently, the Tier 2 study will re-analyze the use of buses, ferries, and transportation system/demand management, especially in conjunction with other mobility alternatives.

Environmental News Highlights – June 8, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

State DOTs Working to Expand EV Charging Network – AASHTO Journal

Biden’s environmental justice office is open. Can it get the money it needs? – Politico

FAA acting administrator calls for collaboration to advance sustainable aviation fuel commercialization – CAPA

The Supreme Court Is Pursuing a Very Dangerous Strategy for the Environment – New York Times (Opinion)

COVID-19

Pandemic sparked ‘aggressive’ driving culture, FMCSA official says – Land Line

US airlines, travel industry push White House to end pre-travel testing – CNN

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Flood sensor project will offer city real-time data as storms intensify

Integrating Resilience into Infrastructure Decision-Making – AASHTO Journal

You Can Build It. But Will They Come? – Slate

Tesla and others lobby for federal funding of charging infrastructure for electric trucks – Electrek

New York Announces New Online Resource Center for State’s Continued Expansion of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – New York Governor’s Office

AIR QUALITY

Manufacturers sue CARB over truck emissions rule lead time – FleetOwner

FAA indicates ban coming on leaded gas for small planes – Columbia Insight

EPA Releases Annual Air Report, Highlighting Trends through 2021 – EPA (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

COMTO, AASHTO and Transportation Equity with April Rai – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

Federal Environmental Justice Program Could Worsen Outcomes in Low-Income Neighborhoods – Planetizen

Shared Micromobility: The Future Of Equitable Transportation – CalBike (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Bill to combat Alaska’s invasive species falls short in Legislature – Alaska Beacon

Rising water makes Lake Michigan wetlands vulnerable to invaders – Great Lakes Echo

Five years after massive manure spill, residents fighting for clean water – Wisconsin Examiner

CULTURAL RESOURCES

A New Elevated Park Offers a Blueprint to Cooling Cities – Surface

Lessons From the Golden Age of the Mall Walkers – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Children who attend schools with more traffic noise show slower cognitive development – ScienceDaily

Guide To Lawrence Loop Aims To Help People With Mobility Limitations Navigate City’s Nature Trails – Lawrence Times

Scooter Partnerships Take Root as Micromobility Expands – Governing

Monroe County, New York to create active transportation plan – WHEC-TV

Green Bay looks to implement bike and pedestrian plan with help from ARPA funds – WLUK-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Health in the Climate Emergency: A global perspective – The InterAcademy Partnership

Infrastructure Equity in Action – Regional Plan Association (Webinar and link to registration)

Electric Vehicle Outlook 2022 – BloombergNEF

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Great Outdoors Month – President of the United States (Proclamation)

Request for Information (RFI) Regarding Wildfire Crisis Implementation Plan – Forest Service (Request for information)

Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project, Onondaga County, New York – FHWA (Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA and other Federal agencies.)

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New York; Ozone and Particulate Matter Controls Strategies – EPA (Final rule)

Determination To Defer Sanctions; California; San Diego County Air Pollution Control District – EPA (Interim final determination)

Air Plan Approval; California; San Diego County Air Pollution Control District – EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; North Dakota; Removal of Exemptions to Visible Air Emissions Restrictions – EPA (Proposed rule)

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification for a Virtual Public Meeting – EPA (Notification for a public meeting)

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

Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft General Conformity Determination for the Proposed Terminal Area Plan and Air Traffic Procedures at Chicago O’Hare International Airport – FAA (Notice)

Establishment of a New Parking Fee Area at Pearl Harbor National Memorial – National Park Service (Notice)

Call for Review Editor Nominations for the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) – NOAA (Request for public nominations)

Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement and Other Geological Hazards – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice; issuance of updated advisory bulletin)

National Towing Safety Advisory Committee; June 2022 Virtual Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice)

Pacific Wind Lease Sale 1 (PACW-1) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf in California – Proposed Sale Notice – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments)

Minnesota DOT Tallies 2021 Litter Clean-Up Efforts

Thousands of Adopt-a-Highway volunteers picked up more than 29,500 bags of trash from highway ditches in 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]

Across Minnesota, over 1,500 Adopt-a-Highway groups volunteered more than 70,000 hours collectively in 2021, with 830 roadway sections currently available for adoption statewide, the agency said.

“We can’t thank our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers enough for the service they provide our state and would love to have more groups on our team,” noted Ann McLellan, Minnesota DOT’s manager for its statewide “Adopt-a-Highway” efforts, in a statement. The Adopt-a-Highway program has been part of Minnesota DOT’s maintenance operations since 1990, she added.

Minnesota DOT provides safety training, trash bags, and safety vests for Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, with agency maintenance crews picking up the filled bags that volunteers leave along the side of the road.

“Volunteers not only help to keep Minnesota roadsides clean, but their work allows our crews to focus on other tasks that help keep highways safe,” McLellan said. “It is a win-win for all involved.”

State departments of transportation across the country have been ramping up litter removal efforts over the past year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many to curtail or even suspend highway trash collection and removal efforts.

State DOTs are also deploying new equipment and policies to clean up highway litter.

For example, the Idaho Transportation Department deployed a new machine in March to pick up trash along Interstate 90 from Washington to Coeur d’Alene.

The new contraption requires two operators – one to drive the machine, which uses metal teeth to comb through the grass, and another to haul the trash away in a dump truck.

“To do [clear trash] one mile by hand takes five operators working together for eight hours,” explained Jerry Wilson, an operations engineer with the agency, in a statement. “With this machine, we can cut that down to two people working five hours and still cover the same distance.”

On the policy front, in April 2021, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development implemented a new policy for its field crews to pick up trash in the footprint where they work for the day. Called the ‘Take 10’ campaign, it commits agency work crews to take 10 minutes per day at their job sites to pick up highway litter.

“I try to never ask anyone to do anything that I’m not willing to do myself,” said Shawn Wilson, Ph. D., Louisiana DOTD’s secretary, in a statement at the time. Wilson – who also serves as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2021-2022 president – noted that his “long-term vision” is to get to a point where this policy is no longer necessary and that “we’re no longer spending millions to help correct a 100 percent preventable problem.”

Meanwhile, Governor Tom Wolf (D) recently presented a group of employees from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with Governor’s Awards for Excellence in recognition of their efforts to develop the first-ever Pennsylvania Litter Action Plan, unveiled in December 2021.

Through coordination with over 100 stakeholders, the employees from both state agencies spearheaded the development of a plan with the goal to shift the focus of Pennsylvania’s response to litter from cleanup to prevention. The plan includes resources and suggestions for the General Assembly, state agencies, local governments, and the public.

Illinois DOT Supporting Highway ROW Bird Habitat Efforts

An initiative to “Give BIRDS the ROW” in terms of creating big habitats in highway rights-of-way is expanding across Illinois – with new support from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by the Illinois DOT]

The program originated with the installation of birdhouses for “prothonotary warblers” along the Lost Bridge Trail near Illinois DOT’s headquarters in Springfield, IL. The program’s goal is to restore diverse bird species on rights-of-way or ROWs under the control of Illinois DOT. In its latest effort, a group of Illinois DOT employees recently helped install bluebird houses, provided by the McHenry County Audubon Society, at the Coalfield Rest Areas on I-55 near Litchfield in Montgomery County.

Posted in short-grass, open-yard habitats, these birdhouses not only provide a resting spot for bluebirds but also attract other native bird species.

“In total, four bluebird houses have been posted so far: two at the northbound Coalfield Rest Area and two at the southbound Coalfield Rest Area,” said Jarod Hitchings, who works as a photogrammetrist for the agency, in a statement. [Editor’s note: “Photogrammetry” is the use of photography in surveying and mapping to measure distances between objects.]

“The installation of more houses are planned for prothonotary warblers along the Spoon River and for bluebird houses at rest areas and other appropriate short-grass, park-like habitats maintained by Illinois DOT,” he said.

Fellow Photogrammetrist Brenda Anderson joined Hitchings – who both work for the agency’s bureau of design and environment – to install those birdhouses. They received assistance from Illinois DOT District 6 Roadside Management Specialist Mike Staab and Junior Construction Inspection Technician Marcell Lare, Roadside Maintenance Manager Stephanie Dobbs, District 8 Acting Rest Area Manager Jacob Cuff, and District 5 Roadside Manager Scott Hall.

Illinois DOT Design and Environment’s Bicycle and Pedestrian/ADA Policy Engineer Steve Letsky also donated handcrafted birdhouses he built on his own for this effort.

“Operations and Design and Environment have worked well together to promote declining bird species,” Hitchings noted. “Partnering with the district offices, we have truly made this a statewide effort to promote a healthy environment for our feathered friends. Birds are a sentinel species and are a signal that the natural landscape is healthy for all wildlife.”

“We hope to grow this program and install a variety of houses at different locations as the habitat and range indicate,” Dobbs added. “In the future, if interesting species find homes on our right of way, we would like to do a webcam or something similar to share it with employees and the public.”

State departments of transportation across the country are involved in a number of efforts to protect and preserve bird species where possible.

For example, a mitigation program operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation aims to reduce the risk of wildlife hazards by providing a variety of training and support options for both airports and aircraft.

“Flocks of birds taking flight, deer crossing runways, and other such hazards can cause serious damage to property and even loss of life,” noted Rajendra Kondapalli, the program’s manager, in a statement. “Our program focuses on reducing that risk and increasing safety for aircraft that fly in and out of airports across our state.”

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation recently helped test ultrasonic bat “deterrence devices” at two bridges to help keep the mammals away from such structures when they undergo maintenance and/or repair activity.

The agency noted that bats like to roost in bridge expansion joints and temporarily preventing such roosting during bridge maintenance repair activity typically requires installing physical barriers that are often difficult to establish effectively, due to the design characteristics of many structures.

More importantly, the Minnesota DOT does not necessarily want to keep bats away permanently from its bridge as they provide safe roosting areas. Thus, the agency worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the last two years testing battery-operated ultrasonic deterrence devices that reduce bat activity at bridge sites when activated but ensure a quick return of bat roosting activity when deactivated.

Environmental News Highlights – June 1, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO, NASAO Applaud Senate Committee For Approving Legislation To Support Advanced Air Mobility Planning – AASHTO

Greening The Federal Government’s Massive Procurement System – Forbes

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Holds Justice40 Week of Action to Highlight Historic Investments in Overburdened and Underserved Communities – White House (Factsheet)

USDOT Announces Initial $13 Million Funding Opportunity from Infrastructure Law for Transit Planning That Addresses Climate Change and Equity in Communities Nationwide – FTA (Media release)

USDOT Begins Accepting Applications for Program Designed to Improve Pipeline Safety, Reduce Gas Distribution Leaks in Communities Across US – USDOT (Media release)

COVID-19

Three ferry routes back at pre-pandemic service levels for start of busy season – Washington State DOT (Media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Texas State, San Marcos collaborate to provide eco-friendly transportation – University Star

With new agreement, Port of Alaska and Sandia lab to evaluate renewable energy for microgrid – Alaska Beacon

Electric vehicles tease a new energy source: Gravity – NBC News

LED Streetlight Replacement Projects Show Huge Savings – Government Technology

NCDOT Has Developed Early Flood-Warning System for Roads – North Carolina DOT (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Port of Virginia Plans to Run on 100-Percent Clean Electricity by 2024 – Maritime Executive

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Transportation gaps may persist for rural older adults despite infrastructure dollars – NBC News

Equitable transportation guidelines adopted by Richmond City Council – Virginia Public Media

App to help blind people navigate public transit to debut in Washington – Reuters

Administrator Michael Regan x Broccoli City: An Environmental Justice Conversation – EPA (link video)

Pa.’s environmental justice policy gets revamped – and scrutinized – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It’s time for true equity in Oregon transportation funding – The Bulletin (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

California Water Regulators Still Haven’t Considered the Growing Body of Research on the Risks of Oil Field Wastewater – Inside Climate News

A vicious cycle of oxygen loss threatens water quality in lakes – Virginia Tech

Bird houses erected near Litchfield as part of “Give Birds the Right of Way” program – Illinois DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Artist Makes Own Traffic-Calming Measures – New Haven Independent

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Navajo Nation Working to Expand Bicycling through New Trails, Kids’ Programs, and Racing – Cycling Utah

Nashville’s debris-filled bike lanes get their own sweeper – WPLN Radio

NJDOT Offers Free Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Assistance for Towns and Counties – Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Replace short car trips with e-bikes: report – ITS International

The Next Growth Spurt for Scooters Is in Partnerships – Government Technology

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Announce $450 Million to Fund up to 35 University Transportation Centers – USDOT (Media release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

U.S. DOT FY22 Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding – Office of the Secretary, USDOT (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit- Oriented Development Planning – FTA (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Restriction of Emissions Credit for Reduced Pollutant Concentrations From the Use of Dispersion Techniques – EPA (Final rule)

Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Repeal of Delegation Authority – EPA (Final rule)

Delegation of New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the States of Arizona and California – EPA (Withdrawal of direct final rule)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); Notice of Grant Funding Guidance for FY 2022 State and Tribal Response Program With Funding Provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – EPA (Notice)

Release of the Policy Assessment for the Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter – EPA (Notice of availability; policy assessment)

Proposed Determination To Prohibit and Restrict the Use of Certain Waters Within Defined Areas as Disposal Sites; Pebble Deposit Area, Southwest Alaska – EPA (Notice of availability and public
hearing)

Notice of Application for Extension of Public Land Order No. 7555 and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Alaska – Bureau of Land Management, Interior (Notice)

Final Guidance for Identification of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land – Natural Resources Conservation Service (Notice)

Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Index 130 MS River Replacement Project – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Notice)

Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex – Department of the Navy (Notice)

Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations – National Marine Fisheries Service (Notice; call for nominations)

Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Stakeholder Representative Members of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

ETAP Podcast: COMTO and Equity in Transportation

In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, April Rai (seen above) – president and CEO of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) – provides an overview of efforts to promote equity in the transportation sector.

[Above photo by COMTO]

Though equity in transportation has become a major topic of interest in the past few years, it is not a new issue.

For example, COMTO – founded in 1961 – has sought to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, as well as minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises over the last 50-plus years.

In this podcast episode, Rai talks about how equity in transportation is becoming a “mainstream concern” and how COMTO seeks to show how equity heavily intersects with other key topics such as environmental justice, workforce diversity, public involvement, and more.

To listen to this podcast, click here.

Connecticut DOT Makes Fast EV Chargers Available

The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently made universal Level 3 “fast chargers” that can fully recharge an electric vehicle or EV in less than 30 minutes available at the I-95 Southbound service plaza in Madison, CT.

[Above photo by the Connecticut DOT]

The agency said this is the first set of universal access fast chargers at a Connecticut service plaza, with additional publicly available fast chargers at service plazas in New Canaan, Greenwich, and Fairfield expected to become available over the next several weeks.

Tesla-specific chargers are already in place at many Connecticut service plazas, operated by Project Service LLC, but these new Level 3 fast chargers are universal, meaning any EV can plug in and charge up.

Applegreen Electric, a private organization with over 500 fast EV charging bays across the globe, funded their installation, Connecticut DOT noted. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and require a credit card for payment.

“These universal fast chargers make it easier for people to travel to and through Connecticut. With convenient access to I-95 and I-395, families and travelers can grab a coffee or snack, charge up, and get back on the road more quickly and enjoy their summer plans,” Connecticut DOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti explained in a statement.

“The future of transportation is green transportation, and by providing these chargers at our clean and convenient service plazas, we are making sure Connecticut is EV ready,” he said.

“Scaling up EV deployment across our state is a major component of our strategy to achieve our Greenhouse Gas Emissions goals and mitigate the climate crisis before it’s too late,” added Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“The transportation sector is responsible for the majority of our greenhouse gas emissions (38 percent) and 66 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions, a significant contributor to harmful air pollution in our state,” she noted. “A key aspect of consumer adoption of EVs will be ease of use, ability to access charging infrastructure conveniently, and ability to charge quickly.”

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National Association of State Energy Officials, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding on February 23 to coordinate nationwide investment in EV charging station infrastructure.

Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director, explained in a statement that the MOU provides a “framework for collaboration” in response to the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program established by USDOT and DOE on February 10 to build and operate a nationwide network of EV charging stations.

Funding for that new program comes from the $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA signed into law in November 2021.

Committee on Environment and Sustainability Announces Annual Meeting Dates

The AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability is excited to invite you to the committee’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The meeting will be held July 11^th-14^th at the Westin Downtown Austin. The meeting will feature speakers from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, as well as other stakeholders. Registration for the annual meeting and hotel reservations can be completed here. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact, Jenn Billo (jbillo@aashto.org) or David Peters (dpeters@aashto.org). If you encounter any problems securing a room at the hotel, please contact Meghan Wozniak (mwozniak@aashto.org).