Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

Detailing Rural America’s Mobility and Accessibility Needs – AASHTO Journal

Sen. Carper, Key Transportation Policy Leader, Retiring in 2024 – AASHTO Journal

Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Power to Address Water Pollution – New York Times

EPA under pressure to revive noise pollution program – E&E News Greenwire

FAA Seeks Public Input on Drone Operations – FAA (media release)

Highway Infrastructure: Better Alignment with Leading Practices Would Improve USDOT’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program – GAO

 

COVID-19

Here’s how far Thurston County, WA Intercity Transit has come since the COVID-19 pandemic – The Olympian

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How a Bay Area Community is Fighting Port Pollution – Earthjustice

Can Boston improve pedestrian safety with redesigned streets, intersections? It’s about to find out. – Smart Cities Dive

The Parking Reform That Could Transform Manhattan – CityLab (opinion)

AIR QUALITY

California seeks EPA approval to ban sales of new gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 – Reuters

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

DC DOT’s Lott Named Vice Chair of Equity in Infrastructure Project – AASHTO Journal

NATURAL RESOURCES

How to Open a National Park for the Summer Season – New York Times

Metro Detroit wetlands: What they are, how they’re shrinking – ClickOnDetroit

Audit finds California water agency not adequately considering climate change in forecasts Los Angeles Times

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Travel and Tourism: DOT Should Improve Strategic Planning and Data Collection – GAO

Expanded mountain bike trail creating new kind of tourism in Michigan – WPBN/WGTU-TV

‘Culture Wars’ Have Not Overlooked Public Transit, Urbanist Ideas – Government Technology

NYC DOT Launches Series of Themed Self-Guided Bike Route Maps to Encourage Cycling – NYCDOT (media release)

New Route 66 U.S. Bike Route signs unveiled in Tulsa – Oklahoma DOT (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

IIHS: Trade-Offs when Mandating Slow E-Scooter Speeds – AASHTO Journal

Philadelphia named “most walkable city” in the U.S. – KYW-TV

Richard Montanez, Deputy Commissioner of Transportation, City of Philadelphia – Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program – ITE Talks Transportation podcast

Restricting ride-hailing apps makes transportation systems less efficient– University of Florida

E-Bikes Are Putting a Dent in Denver’s Vehicle Miles Traveled – Government Technology

North Little Rock opens portion of Arkansas River Trail for bicycles and foot traffic – KATV-TV

New half-mile Southwest Greenway in Detroit opens – Detroit News

Denver has exceeded its goal of 125 miles of new bike infrastructure, mayor says – Denverite

NHTSA Proposes New Crashworthiness Pedestrian Protection Testing Program – NHTSA (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: New Minimum Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Rule – TRB

TRB Webinar: Electrification and Hydrogen Technologies in Airports – TRB

The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs – TRB

Program Evaluation Report Card Tool for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans: User Guide – TRB

Resilient Design with Distributed Rainfall-Runoff Modeling – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee; June 2023 Virtual Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice)

Community Disaster Resilience Zones and the National Risk Index – FEMA (Notice request for information)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Signs MOU with Association for Commuter Transportation – AASHTO Journal

US Lawmakers Want to Bar Automakers From Eliminating AM Radio in New Vehicles – Reuters

Biden plan to sell land leases for conservation gets pushback – AP

FHWA Announces $749 Million to Repair Roads and Bridges Damaged by Natural Disasters and Catastrophic Events – FHWA (media release)

FHWA Highlights Efforts to Improve Safety for People Walking, Bicycling and Rolling Made Possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – FHWA (media release)

FTA Announces Availability of $220 Million to Modernize Ferry Service and Better Connect Rural Communities – FTA (media release)

DOE – DOT Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Launches New Funding Opportunity and Consortium to Improve Reliability and Accessibility of EV Chargers, Expand the Nation’s Clean Transportation Workforce – Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (media release)

EPA and Peace Corps Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Environmental Protection Around the World – EPA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Texas governor signs electric vehicle tax into law – KVUE

Washington governor vetoes collection of drivers’ odometer readings – Seattle Times

California governor wants to make it easier to build roads, dams and more. What’s in his plan? – CalMaters

LEDs Bring Energy Savings—and Light Pollution – Route Fifty

Truckers Are Caught on the Front Line of California’s EV Push – Wired

Mississippi River shipping infrastructure is aging. Who should pay for the repairs? – WWNO Radio

FEMA Announces an Additional $160 Million to Build Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide, Including Over $50 Million for Tribal Nations – FEMA (media release)

EPA to Engage the Public on Great Lakes Restoration and Protection Priorities – EPA (Media release)

NTSB Urges Action for Bridges Nationwide – NTSB (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Boeing’s new tool lets airlines plan for net zero emissions – Axios

Montana’s New Anti-Climate Law May Be the Most Aggressive in the Nation – Inside Climate News

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Ohio DOT adding adult-sized changing tables in 28 highway rest areas by 2026 – Columbus Dispatch

Advancing Equity in Accessibility and Travel Experiences: The Role of Gender and Identity – Minnesota DOT

No matter what: lessons of climate resiliency from environmental justice communities – Harvard University (video)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tennessee Study Charts Six Year Drop in Roadway Litter – AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

Maryland SHA Sprucing Up Roadsides In Advance of Memorial Day Holiday – Maryland State Highway Administration

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Kansas City looking for new transit options for 2026 World Cup – WDAF-TV

New street mural unveiled to help protect cyclists and pedestrians in Tampa – That’s So Tampa

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Suffolk County, New York Launches ‘Transit To Trails’ Map Initiative – Long Island Press

Cape Coral, Florida Officially Opens Section of SUN Trail – Cape Coral Breeze

A Conversation About E-Bikes With a Transportation Researcher – Cobb County Courier

National Spending on Bicycles and Accessories Grew 620% from March 2020 to March 2023; Docked Bikeshare Grew 42% – BTS

UAB researchers working on new app to help keep pedestrians safe – WBRC-TV

Northern Virginia Opens New “66-Parallel” Bike And Walking Trail – Dcist

The Good News/Bad News For E-Scooters And Speed – Forbes

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Risk-targeted Ground Motions for Bridge Design – TRB

TRB Webinar: Innovation in Geoseismic Foundation Design and Performance – TRB

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet Meeting #6 – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Credit Assistance and Related Fees for Water Resources Infrastructure Projects – Army Corps of Engineers (Final rule)

National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee; June 2023 Meetings – Coast Guard (Notice)

Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule – EPA (Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking)

Great Lakes Advisory Board Notice for Virtual Meeting – EPA (Notice)

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC): Notice of Meeting – EPA (Notice)

South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act – Interim Assessment; Notice of Public Meeting – EPA (Notice)

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council – Forest Service (Notice of meeting)

Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary – NOAA (Notice; request for comments)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facilities Offshore New Jersey – Bureau of Ocean Energy (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

America’s aging flood control infrastructure is failing – federal funding is coming, but too often new construction relies on old data – The Conversation

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

EPA Developing $4B Clean Port Infrastructure Grant Programs – AASHTO Journal

Congestion Pricing in Manhattan Clears Federal Hurdle – Route Fifty

Norfolk Southern to set up home value reimbursement fund after Ohio derailment – Reuters

Winter Has No Chance Against WYDOT’s Newest Rig That Chews Through 5,000 Tons Of Snow An Hour – Cowboy State Daily

Here’s how the Port of Savannah is preparing to withstand the upcoming hurricane season – WJCL-TV

How a new digital tool could help cities meet key sustainability and mobility goals – World Economic Forum

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Providing a 5-Minute Pickup Priority for Ridehail Users Agreeing to Pool: Potential Impacts on Curtailing Bus Delay and Enhancing Equity – FHWA Office of Operations

Colombia’s Women-Led Electric Bus Fleet Is Reshaping Bogotá’s Public Transit – CityLab

Racial and ethnic disparities in traffic deaths revealed in NHTSA report – Smart Cities Dive

Los Angeles Metro’s Equity Platform spurs new equity information data hub, encouraging more Angelenos to participate in Metro’s decision-making process – Los Angeles MTA (blog)

NATURAL RESOURCES

This Lawsuit Could Change How the Forest Service Fights Wildfires – The Atlantic

New Hampshire, Vermont Put Measures In Place To Protect Bats At Bridge Worksite – Brattleboro Reformer

What’s Happening to the Trees in New Orleans? – CityLab

SFO is now monitoring airplane wastewater – San Francisco Examiner

FDOT plans state’s first wildlife crossing overpass across I-4 in Polk County – WFTS-TV

Snow fills Colorado mountains. Crews are throwing explosives at it. – USA Today

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Kansas DOT Issues Revised Active Transportation Plan – AASHTO Journal

Supporters Want E-Bikes Allowed on R.I.’s Bicycle Paths – ecoRI

Key concepts to consider when promoting active transportation – The Lancet

Connecticut DOT campaign promotes pedestrian safety during ‘Older Americans Month’ – News 12 Connecticut

Progress Continues On Virginia Capital Trail Extension – Peninsula Chronicle

Pedestrian bridge linking Crystal City and Reagan National Airport set to move forward – WTOP Radio

RTC of Washoe County, NV Asking For Feedback On Active Transportation Plan – KTVN-TV

CDOT Announces Free “Learn to Ride” Bike Riding Classes for Adults and Children in 2023 – City of Chicago (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Air Quality in Transit Buses – TCRP

In Pursuit of Equity: Environmental Justice on Tribal Lands – TRB News

Achieving Highway Runoff Volume and Pollutant Reduction Using Vegetated Compost Blankets: A Guide – NCHRP

Conference on the Marine Transportation System Innovative Science and Technologies Toward Greater Sustainability – TRB

TRB Webinar: Aggregate Sustainability – Production – TRB

A qualitative study of active travel amongst commuters and older adults living in English market towns – BMC Public Health

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Release of Volume 3 of the Integrated Review Plan in the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards – EPA (Notice of availability)

2023 Annual Joint Meeting of the Ozone Transport Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Northeast Visibility Union – EPA (Notice; public meeting)

Inland Waterways Users Board; Request for Nominations – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of request for nominations)

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Issues $21.8M in National Scenic Byways Grants – AASHTO Journal

US settles landmark Alabama environmental justice case – Reuters

The Future of Transportation: The Role of Bike Lanes – Momentum Mag

Now Open: PROTECT Grants to Make Transportation More Resilient – National League of Cities

EPA Announces $4 Billion Through the Investing in America Agenda for Clean Port Upgrades and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Improve Air Quality and Protect Public Health – EPA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

FHWA Offering Grants for Port Electrification, Efficiency Gains – AASHTO Journal

Texas Wants EV Owners to Pay a $200 Annual Fee for Highway Costs – Jalopnik

NOAA to Improve Storm Surge Predictions Ahead of 2023 Hurricane Season – Nextgov

PHMSA Announces Bipartisan PIPES Act Proposal to Modernize Decades-Old Pipeline Leak Detection Rules, Invests in Critical American Infrastructure, Create Good-Paying Jobs, Improve Safety – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (media release)

AIR QUALITY

California enacts first-in-the-nation crackdown on pollution from trains – San Francisco Chronicle

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Troy, New York to audit accessibility of pedestrian infrastructure on city streets – Spectrum News 1

Hidden Treasures: Remote community airports play an essential role in Texas life. – Texas A&M Transportation Institute (podcast)

Pittsburgh Mobility Pilot Builds on Transportation Equity Goals – Government Technology

Pilot Project to Help Patients with Transportation Barriers Get to Appointments – UC San Diego

NATURAL RESOURCES

Supporters plan climate-friendly environment for Lake Superior parks – Capitol News Service

NC Wildlife Commission, NCDOT Renew Focus on Wildlife Passages to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions – North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Wisconsin Bike Fed, partners request increased funding for trail infrastructure – Press Times

USDA Announces $36M to Improve Roads, Trails, Water Quality as part of Investing in America Agenda – USDA (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Philly will increase policing of bike lanes in effort to improve traffic safety – PhillyVoice

Why cities continue to have a love-hate affair with e-scooters – CNBC

Euclid, Ohio seeking community input on transportation plan – News-Herald

Chicago expands Divvy bikeshare program to operate across entire city – WLS-TV

New Yorkers give low marks to city’s bike infrastructure in new ‘Cycling Census’ – amNew York

Bike boulevards bring hope to Durham, North Carolina cyclists – 9th Street Journal

Blind walkers winning safer road crossings – AP

Denver proved the power of e-bike rebates. Now, the discounts are going statewide – Colorado Public Radio

Comment period open for proposed U.S. Bike Route 37 in Indiana – Indiana Department of Transportation (media release)

CTDOT Celebrates National Bike Month this May – Connecticut DOT (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TrainMate Robotic System Making Public Transportation, Public! – TRB (link to PDF)

Committee on Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance Examination Program for Gas Carriers – Meeting 4 – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Official Trail Marker for National Water Trails – National Park Service (Notice of designation)

Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Key West, FL – Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, Northwest Pennsylvania Sub-Committee Vacancy – Coast Guard (Notice; solicitation for membership)

Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: Request for Public Comment – EPA (Notice of availability)

Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles – EPA (Proposed rule)

Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment Under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs – EPA (Notice; request for information)

Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations – EPA (Proposed rule)

Assessment of Biodiversity and Climate Change; Request for Public Comment and Nomination – Geological Survey (Notice)

Climate Adaptation Export Competitiveness Request for Information – International Trade Administration and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (Request for public comments and Information)

Proposals by Non-Federal Interests for Feasibility Studies, Proposed Modifications to Authorized Water Resources Development Projects and Feasibility Studies, and Proposed Modifications for an Environmental Infrastructure Program for Inclusion in … – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area Plan Associated With the Mojave Trails National Monument Management Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment – Bureau of Land Management (Notice of intent)

Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Public Meeting – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Correction)

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate votes to roll back EPA emissions standard on heavy trucks -Commercial Carrier Journal

EPA’s right to mandate EVs disputed -Odessa American

Plan to build N.J. terminal for trains that carry combustible gases hits federal roadblock -NJ.com

FHWA Opens Applications for First Year of $400M Competitive Grant Program to Reduce Truck Air Pollution at America’s Ports -FHWA (media release)

EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver for E15 Sales -EPA (media release)

NEPA

Bureau of Land Management to begin NEPA process for the Bonanza Solar Project Application -Bureau of Land Management (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Why Zero-Emissions Fleet Transformation Starts at the Top -Mass Transit

Electrify everything, California says – including trucks and trains -Grist

Counties directly eligible for $848 million through new USDOT PROTECT transportation resilience grants -National Association of Counties (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Connecticut regulators seek more authority to move the needle on climate goals -Energy News Network

The Filthy Truth About Subway Air -Wired

Colorado adopts new zero-emission big truck rules -Land Line

An Oregon City Banned Natural Gas. The Gas Company Fought Back -CityLab

How Tampa Bay’s air quality is declining -Axios

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Electric vehicle fleet penetration helps address inequalities in air quality and improves environmental justice -Communications Earth & Environment

Over 1 in 5 skip health care due to transportation barriers -Axios

NATURAL RESOURCES

WSDOT crews to use drones to apply herbicides along section of US 12 -Union-Bulletin

EPA proposes settlement with Virginia, other states in Chesapeake Bay cleanup lawsuit -WHRO

Forest Service admits some Clean Water Act violations with use of aerial fire retardants, but says they are still an important tool -Press Democrat

The science to prevent bird strikes at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport -WKYC-TV

When Marylanders Register Their Vehicles, They Can Now Support the Environment and Statewide Tree Plantings -Maryland Department of Natural Resources (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Detroit Book Depository opening highlights next gen mobility innovation -Axios Detroit

Recreation P.E.I. launches interactive trail map for spring hiking season -SaltWire

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Plan OK’d for 20-mile-long pedestrian and bicycle trail in Florida -Miami Today

Oregon DOT wants to help bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees build power statewide -BikePortland

North Carolina DOT Creates Web Page Devoted To On-Demand Microtransit -North Carolina DOT

Miami, Seven Other Cities to Test Cargo Bikes -Transport Topics

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Making Travel More Equitable for People with Disabilities -TRB (blog post)

Truck Parking Strategies, Technologies, and Partnerships -TRB (webinar)

Assessing Airport Programs for Travelers with Disabilities and Older Adults -ACRP

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Intent To Amend the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Golden Currant Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada –Bureau of Land Management, Interior (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Analyze the Potential Environmental Effects From Maintaining Secretary Jewell’s Coal Leasing Moratorium -Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission; Notice Announcing Meeting and Inviting Agenda Topics -Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Notice)

City of Nashua, New Hampshire; Notice Soliciting Scoping Comments -Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Notice)

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

National Wildlife Refuge System; Drain Tile Setbacks -Fish and Wildlife Service (Proposed rule)

Recommendation for the Western Area Power Administration’s Rocky Mountain Region and Colorado River Storage Project Management Center To Pursue Final Negotiations Regarding Membership in the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization, and … -Western Area Power Administration (Notice)

Request for Comments on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Review of the Civil Aviation Noise Policy, Notice of Public Meeting -FAA (Notice)

Public Meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group -Bureau of Reclamation (Notice)

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)

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)

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)

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)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Congress approves measure to toss Biden’s water protections

– AP

US unveils stricter EV tax credit rules, effective April 18

– Reuters

Planning And Engineering Professionals – Fostering Collaboration For Great Communities

– ITE Talks Transportation (podcast)

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program FY 2023 Notice of Funding –

FTA (media release)

USDOT Partners with NASCAR and Arizona 811, Releases Spotify Ad to Promote National Safe Digging Month

– USDOT (media release)

NEPA

Center for Biological Diversity, Save Holland Lake, allege USFS violating NEPA

– Daily Montanan

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Georgia electric vehicle tax bill heads to governor

– WMAZ-TV

California’s new environmental mandates may sink Balboa Island ferry

– KCRW Radio

How a Century of Transit Choices Courted ‘Disaster’

– Governing

AIR QUALITY

California to require half of all heavy trucks sales to be electric by 2035

– CNBC

University of Washington partners with local transit agencies to study fentanyl smoke movement in public transportation

– KIRO-TV

Planes, Shipping Lanes, and Automobiles: Surprising Ways Climate Change Can Affect Transportation

– NASA

Justice Department and EPA File Complaint Against Norfolk Southern for Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants and Hazardous Substances in East Palestine Derailment

– US Department of Justice (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How to get more women on bikes? Better biking infrastructure, designed by women

– The Conversation

Metro Tulsa Transit Authority addresses public transit deserts

– KTUL-TV

NATURAL RESOURCES

Florida environmental agency asks for new rule to cut water pollution from new housing

– Bradenton Times

Wilmington partnering with NC State to ‘retrofit’ a stormwater pond into wetlands

– Wilmington Star-News

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Arizona DOT Plans Upgrades For State Rest Areas

– AASHTO Journal

BNSF knowingly violated easement agreement with Swinomish Tribe, judge rules

– KOMO News

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Oklahoma DOT Launches New Mobility Program

– KOTV-TV

New Study Finds Traffic Noise May Raise Blood Pressure

– Prevention

Truck Parking a Priority for Administration, Buttigieg Says

– Transport Topics

Groups working to convert old railroad line in Paradise Valley, Montana to public trail

– Bozeman Daily Chronicle

New Kansas City Airport Incorporates Dementia-Friendly Features

– University of Kansas Medical Center (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Review of the Draft Fifth National Climate Assessment

– National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today’s and Tomorrow’s Challenges

– National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Promoting Older Driver Safety: Guide for State Practices

– BTSCRP

UMD Survey Indicates ‘New Normal’ for Maryland’s Daily Commute

– University of Maryland (media release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana –

Coast Guard (Notice; correction and extension of comment period)

Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council –

Coast Guard (Notice)

Air Plan Approval; NC; Transportation Conformity

– EPA (Final rule)

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC): Request for Nominations

– EPA (Notice)

Tribal Transportation Facility Bridge Program –

FHWA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council Meeting

– Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

Call for Nominations to the Missouri Basin and Western Montana Resource Advisory Councils

– Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Conservation and Landscape Health

– Bureau of Land Management (Proposed rule)

Renewable Energy Modernization Rule

– Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment period)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO President Millar: Resilience Key to Transportation

– AASHTO Journal

USDOT Issues $94M via New SMART Grants Program

– AASHTO Journal

Electric bike tax credit bill reintroduced, providing up to $1,500 off new e-bikes in US

– Electrek

“Reconnecting Communities” Funding Announced for New York State

– Roads & Bridges

US Fish and Wildlife Service Announces $20 Million in Grants to Support Boating Infrastructure, Local Communities and Outdoor Recreation

– US Fish & Wildlife Service (media release)

EPA Announces Final “Good Neighbor” Plan to Cut Harmful Smog, Protecting Health of Millions from Power Plant, Industrial Air Pollution

– EPA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Rural States Are Moving Ahead With EV Charging Infrastructure

– Government Technology

Louisiana Governor Unveils Online Dashboard for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Projects

– Louisiana Governor’s Office

What Wisconsin Has Gotten Out Of Biden’s Infrastructure Law (So Far) –

UpNorthNews

The Planet Can Do Better Than the Electric Car

– Slate

PHMSA Announces State and Local Funding to Improve Hazardous Materials and Pipeline Safety Nationwide

– PHMSA (media release)

AIR QUALITY

8th Circuit delivers climate blow to Big Oil

– E&E News

Florida EV owners may get their own version of a gas tax

– WFSU Radio

Seattle Requests Federal Help in Planning “Low-Emission Neighborhoods”

– The Urbanist

Decarbonizing Transportation Via Natural Gas-Derived Ammonia Set to Disrupt Maritime Sector

– Natural Gas Intelligence

Solar project to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 600 to 700 tons annually

– University of Notre Dame (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Viewing Urban Geography and History Through an Environmental Justice Lens

– Columbia University

NATURAL RESOURCES

MoDOT, KDOT address abundance of trash seen along highways

– KCTV-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

NCDOT Wins Federal Grant to Expand Traveler Information

– North Carolina DOT (media release)

There Is Much More Work to Do to Shift Cities Away from Cars

– Government Technology (commentary)

What Makes a City Great?

– New York Times (opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The East Coast Greenway – Connecting Maine To Florida For Walkers, Bikers

– Cranford Radio (podcast)

Utah to start planning statewide trail network after initial $90M investment

– St. George News

New legislation could clear up confusion surrounding e-bikes in Alaska

– Alaska Beacon

America’s top 10 bicycle-friendly cities

– American City & County

Investment Could Up Walkability in Bangor, Maine

– Bangor Daily News

Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia, New Jersey Division Of Highway Traffic Safety To Create Innovative Center To Promote Traffic Safety Across State

– Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Safe, Healthy Workforce Keeps Our Transportation Moving

– TRB

Transportation Planning as a Tool for Migrant Integration

– Association For Commuter Transportation (webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2023 Emergency Relief Grants for Public Transportation Systems Affected by Major Declared Disasters in Calendar Years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022 –

FTA (Notice of availability of emergency relief funding)

Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; Emissions Reporting and Infrastructure SIP Requirements

– EPA (Proposed rule)

Request for Nominations to EPA’s National and Governmental Advisory Committees

– EPA (Notice)

Notification of a Public Meeting of the Chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and CASAC Ozone Review Panel

– EPA (Notice)

Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council; Request for Nominations

– Fish and Wildlife Service (Request for nominations)

Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board

– Forest Service (Notice of meeting)

Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board

– USDA (Notice of meeting)

Notice of Competitive Offer for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands in Saguache County, CO

– Bureau of Land Management (Notice)