Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Helps Develop New ‘Mini Guide’ for EVs – AASHTO Journal

Addressing Transportation Insecurity through Equity – AASHTO Journal

Electric Vehicles Poised To Transform Economy, Says USDOT – Engineering News-Record

TSA Considers Using Third-Party Assessors in Coming Pipeline Regulations – Nextgov

What They Are Saying: Environmental Justice and Congressional Leaders, Advocates Applaud the New Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool – White House (media release)

COVID-19

Still recovering from COVID-19, US public transit tries to get back on track – SciLine

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Making Truck Stops into EV Charging Hubs Will Take Small-Town Levels of Power – Car & Driver

Will EV Charging Infrastructure Be Ready for Cyber Attacks? – Government Technology

Resiliency, EV evolution expected to be focus of Florida’s next gen transportation infrastructure
– Florida Politics

Interstate Solar Arrays Will Generate Clean Energy And Reduce Costs – Central Maine News (commentary)

VDOT Announces Resilience Plan To Provide Sustainable Future For Transportation Projects And Infrastructure – Virginia DOT (media release)

Simulations show how bridges are damaged during earthquakes, and how we can prevent it – American Association for the Advancement of Science (media release)

AIR QUALITY

New rules put Vermont on the road to phasing out sales of gas-powered cars – WCAX-TV

FHWA Expands Every Day Counts Program Expands To Curb Crashes And Emissions – Bloomberg CityLab

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Denver International to Build Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation – Flying

NATURAL RESOURCES

Utah DOT Preps Howitzers For Avalanche Control – AASHTO Journal

Invasive Watch: Osage Orange – T&D World (sponsored content)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

South Chicago Set To Get Raised Bike Lanes, Markers Honoring History To Make Streets ‘Vibrant And Accessible,’ Leaders Say – Block Club Chicago

Three Ways to Explore Environmental Justice Through Art this Week – Washington Informer

Pennsylvania trail towns poised to capitalize on increasing access, popularity of rails to trails – Tribune-Review

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New Jersey’s first adaptive mountain bike trail opens for riders with mobility issues – Lehigh Valley Live

Another US state adds electric bike subsidy, this time with up to $1,700 rebate – Electrek

Homeless camps being moved out of Little Rock and North Little Rock – KTHV-TV

The Case for Guerrilla Crosswalks – CityLab

How Green Paint Can Save Cyclist’s Lives – Bicycling

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Developing Employer-Based Behavioral Traffic Safety Programs for Drivers in the Workplace – TRB

It Takes a (Big) Village: How a community of transportation pros is making mobility better. – Thinking Transportation (podcast)

Why ‘activity centers’ are key to greener commutes – Brookings

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Delegations of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Air Permitting Program to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department and the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality – EPA (Notice)

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

Availability of Federally-Enforceable State Implementation Plans for All States – EPA (Notification)

Advisory Council for Climate Adaptation Science Establishment; Request for Nominations – U.S. Geological Survey (Notice)

Reopening of Comment Period for Proposed Voluntary Agreement at Statue of Liberty National Monument and Governors Island National Monument – FAA (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Offers Feedback on Vulnerable Road Users – AASHTO Journal

White House releases environmental justice screening tool – E&E News

Three Midwestern States to Watch as They Navigate Equitable Rollout for EV Charging – Inside Climate News

How to design clean energy subsidies that work – without wasting money on free riders – The Conversation

Manchin’s permitting deal is a major setback for environmental justice – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Washington Ferries won’t rehire unvaxxed workers amid crew shortages – The Center Square

Cities became more pedestrian-friendly during the pandemic. Many aren’t going back – NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How Buffalo Survives Supercharged Snow – CityLab

States Test an Electrifying Idea: Roads That Can Recharge Your EV – Pew

Tackling Supply Chain Challenges and Climate Change – St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.

Hurricanes knock out traffic lights. Could a Tampa solar sidewalk change that? – Tampa Bay Times

Four Considerations for Building Out Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – Route Fifty (Commentary)

AIR QUALITY

Decarbonization of US aviation sector ‘within reach’: study – The Hill

Across New York, a Fleet of Google Street View Vehicles Tracks an Array of Key Pollutants – Inside Climate News

From EV school buses to tractors, US seeks zero-emission heavy-duty transport by 2040 – Electrek

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

In a Rural Corner of the West, a Local Level Push to Revive Passenger Rail – Route Fifty

Researchers Create Toolkit to Address Disparities in Transportation and Mobility – Insight Into Diversity

Buttigieg gets an earful about tribal roads during his stop in N.M – Source NM

Disabilities organizations, individuals sue DC over new bike lane designs – WTOP Radio

Bike advocates sue Portland, Oregon for failing ‘to meet its most basic legal obligations to provide safe streets’ – Cycling Weekly

NATURAL RESOURCES

llinois DOT: Changing Mowing Practices to Protect Landscapes – AASHTO Journal

Arizona DOT Highlights Benefit of Elk Fencing Project – AASHTO Journal

U.S. Department of Transportation Providing the U.S. Forest Service $5.2 Million in ‘Quick Release’ Emergency Relief Funding to Repair Hurricane Fiona Damage in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest – FHWA (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Wisconsin Governor, Joins Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, WisDOT to unveil dual-language highway signs – Wisconsin Governor’s Office (media release)

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Invests $300,000 in Community-Led Projects to Boost Safety, Connection and Inclusion on America’s Trails – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Where ‘Vision Zero’ Is Working – CityLab

Traffic congestion may contribute to lower birthweight – Boston University School of Public Health

Passengers with Disabilities: Barriers to Accessible Air Travel Remain – GAO

Urban planners and the regulation of sound in our cities – Quiet Communities (blog)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Environmental Challenges and Prospects for Community Relocation in Houston and Port Arthur, Texas: Proceedings of a Workshop – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Transit Standards Development – FTA (Notice)

Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations; Consistency Update for Massachusetts – EPA (Final rule)

Control of Air Pollution From Aircraft Engines: Emission Standards and Test Procedures – EPA (Final rule)

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

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit – EPA (Notice, request for public comment)

Official Release of EMFAC2021 Motor Vehicle Emission Factor Model for Use in the State of California – EPA (Notice of availability)

John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin; Draft 5-Year Review Boundaries – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of availability; request for comments)

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Meeting – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

Natural Disaster Procedures: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities of the Corps of Engineers – Army Corps of Engineers (Proposed rule)

Notice of Consideration of Demand Response and Electric Vehicle Standards – Tennessee Valley Authority (Notice with request for comments)

Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program; Northeast Corridor Project Inventory – FRA (Notice of availability)

Notice of the December 7 and 8, 2022, Teleconference Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names – National Park Service (Notice)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Empire Offshore Wind, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore New York – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments

Jefferson National Forest; Monroe County, West Virginia; Giles and Montgomery County, Virginia. Mountain Valley Pipeline and Equitrans Expansion Project Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement – Forest Service (Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement)

Establishment of the Marine and Coastal Area-Based Management Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership – NOAA (Notice)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies – Coast Guard (Request for applications)

FEDERAL ACTION

The ‘Moonshot’ Project: Creating a New Transportation Vision – AASHTO Journal

Biden takes aim at methane emissions with new rules on oil and gas industry – NBC News

Voters weigh in on transportation issues – Land Line

Can a 10-year federal infrastructure plan really sustain itself for 10 years? – WFED Radio

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Roadmap for Nature-Based Solutions to Fight Climate Change, Strengthen Communities, and Support Local Economies – White House (Factsheet)

US Announcements Under the Green Shipping Challenge at COP27 – US Department of State (Factsheet)

EPA Takes Action to Address Illegal Destruction of Streams and Wetlands in Missouri and Nebraska – EPA Region 7 (media release)

COVID-19

COVID-19 Reshaped the Work and Mobility Landscape in U.S. Cities – Government Technology

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

‘There are places where, if you were starting from scratch, cars wouldn’t make sense’: Pete Buttigieg on redesigning cities – Fast Company

City of Tampa testing solar sidewalk to power traffic intersection – WTVT-TV

Study Finds On-Street Lampost EV Chargers Are Lowest-Carbon Solution – InsideEVs

The Move To Re-Route Interstate 80 Has Hit A Roadblock Because Of The $12.6 Billion Price Tag – Cowboy State Daily

Taking action since Hurricane Sandy: Preparing a climate-ready workforce before the next storm hits – Brookings

California voters reject Proposition 30, the ‘millionaires’ tax for electric vehicles – Sacramento Bee

America’s First All-Electric Transit Agency Isn’t What You Might Expect – CityLab

AIR QUALITY

U.S. will consider new locomotive pollution regulations – Reuters

After spending millions, TARC’s downtown Louisville electric bus fleet sits idle – WDRB-TV

Ports of LA, Long Beach, Singapore collaborate on green shipping corridor – Spectrum News 1

Vanderbilt greenhouse gas emissions drop 19 percent in two years, new sustainability report shows – Vanderbilt University

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Louisiana DOTD’s Wilson: ‘Remain Committed to Equity’ – AASHTO Journal

Charlotte plans an EV sharing service at affordable housing sites – WFAE Radio

NATURAL RESOURCES

In bill gutting wetland protection, lawmakers agreed to a study. It found new law harmful – Indianapolis Star

The benefits of wetlands in Florida – WINK-TV

How beavers could help protect water quality from climate change – Colorado Public Radio

Prairies to preservation: Emerging landscape used to its advantage in maintaining roadsides in Ford County, Illinois – Illinois DOT (blog)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Utah DOT Releases All Comments On Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola: There Are Over 13,000  – KSL-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Fairfax County, Virginia leaders celebrate new bicycle, pedestrian bridge over I-495 – WJLA-TV

Hawaii DOT Gets Fast and Furious Installing Raised Crosswalks – FHWA Innovator

Flagstaff adopts Active Transportation Master Plan for improved walking and biking – Arizona Daily Sun

From Rails to Trails: The Making of America’s Active Transportation Network – HistoryNet.com (book review)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

State DOTs Perspective on Pavement Resilience – TRB (Webinar)

Transportation for Veterans Can Use a Blueprint from TRB – TRB

Accessibility Measures in Practice – NCHRP

Accessibility Measures in Practice: A Guide for Transportation Agencies – NCHRP

Language Matters – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lunch & Learn – National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (Webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Pipeline Safety: Notice of Availability of the Tier 1 Nationwide Environmental Assessment for the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements Project – Forest Service (Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental draft environmental impact statement)

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

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast: The Ray Eyes Future Roadway Issues – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Hurricane Panel: Support is the Key to Recovery – AASHTO Journal

A big-city official comes to DC to deal with vehicle electrification infrastructure – Federal News Network

Michigan Test Drives Country’s First Mobility Officer – Route Fifty

Aspen Decarbonization Workshop Remarks by Maritime Administrator – MARAD (transcript)

The pollution EPA refuses to regulate – The Hill (opinion)

COVID-19

Supreme Court leaves TSA mask requirement ruling in place – The Hill

Health Officials Are Now Tracking COVID-19 Variants at Airports – Time

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Hawaii DOT Wants Plastic Waste to Hit the Road – AASHTO Journal

What Is Bike Infrastructure? – Planetizen

Will ‘discontent’ accelerate a sustainable transport future? – GreenBiz

Report On Electric And Alternative Vehicle Infrastructure Summit – National Governors Association (commentary)

New Environmental Standards for City Infrastructure Announced – City of Boston (media release)

Ohio Governor Announces $100 Million for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Now Available – Ohio Governor’s Office (media release)

 

AIR QUALITY

California set a record for greenhouse gas reductions in 2020, but it means nothing – Los Angeles Times

The Fight Against Deadly Soot – The Relevator

Nearly half of voters oppose gas-powered car sale ban in Washington, WA Poll shows – KING-TV

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Chicago Red Line extension is more than a transportation story – Chicago Sun-Times (opinion)

NATURAL RESOURCES

New research and initiatives to help save the Great Salt Lake – KSTU-TV

LA Metro Board Approves New Tree Policy – Metro

Fewer Car-Deer Crashes with Permanent Daylight Savings – Route Fifty

50 years after the Clean Water Act, more must be done to protect Montana’s waterways – Daily Montanan (commentary)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

West Virginia’s ‘Roads to Prosperity’ Gets Cultural Exhibit – AASHTO Journal

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Electric planes could reconnect small US airports – The Hill

First-of-its-kind initiative launched to make shared mobility the first, best option – Intelligent Transport

Highway and traffic pollution could be connected to low birthweight – Popular Science

Scientific study shows how much traffic increases when e-bikes and e-scooters are banned – Electrek

58-mile trail connecting Southwest Michigan to Chicago could be done by 2026 – WGN-TV

The Journey from Parking to Mobility Management – Government Technology (video)

Ireland’s National Transport Authority Launches Active Travel Pilot Scheme For New Zebra Crossings – Intelligent Transport

New York MTA Announces Initial Actions of Landmark Bike, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan – MTA (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Review of Federal Highway Administration Infrastructure R&D – TRB

Advancing Transportation Equity: Conference Summary and Action Brief – TRB

Expanding Microtransit Services and Improving the Rider Experience – TRB (webinar)

Current Methods for Life Cycle Analyses of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels in the United States – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mississippi River Hatchie/ Loosahatchie, MS River Mile 775–736, Tennessee and Arkansas, Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands Ecosystem Restoration Project at James Island – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Exemption From Historic Preservation Review for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment – Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Approval of exemption)

Strategy To Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities – EPA (Notice of availability)

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee – EPA (Notice of charter renewal)

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit – EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit – EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

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

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

Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council – EPA (Notice)

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

Announcing Upcoming Meeting of Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee – EPA (Notice)

Hazardous Materials: Public Meeting Notice for the Research, Development & Technology Virtual Forum – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Dr. Shawn Wilson, Louisiana DOTD: Making the Most of Transportation Change – AASHTO Magazine

FHWA Issues New Vulnerable Road Users Guidance – AASHTO Journal

Biden has ambitious infrastructure goals. Made-in-America rules could slow them. – Vox

Climate Change Realities Drive Federal Resilience Planning – Pew

Feds Call for State-Local Cooperation on Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety – Route Fifty

COVID-19

MassDOT offers jobs back to some workers fired over COVID vaccine mandate – WBZ-TV

FAA Ends COVID Minimum International Flight Waiver at NY, DC Airports – Reuters

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Transportation Electrification: Where We Are And Where We’re Headed – Nick Nigro, Atlas Public Policy – ITE Talks Transportation (podcast)

How pavement can help cool overheated cities, even in chilly Massachusetts – WBUR Radio

Appalachian Regional Port looking toward expansion as growth continues in Northwest Georgia – Polk County Standard Journal

10 years after Sandy, Hudson River tunnel just as vulnerable to flooding – and a fix isn’t coming until 2038 – Gothamist

Renters face charging dilemma as U.S. cities move toward EVs – AP

North Carolina Moves to Electrify Trucks and Buses, Gaining Economic and Environmental Advantages – Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (commentary)

Four Regions Of New Jersey Release Climate Resilience Action Plans Following Community Development Process – NJ Department of Environmental Protection (media release)

AIR QUALITY

The New World: Envisioning Life After Climate Change – New York Times

Coordinating climate and air-quality policies to improve public health – MIT

OIG identifies opportunities for Amtrak to reduce locomotive idling, more easily achieve emission reduction goals – Amtrak Office of Inspector General (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Critics of Move PGH pilot program say it’s not adequately serving disabled, low-income residents – Tribune-Review

Baltimore leaders apply for federal funding to demolish “Highway to Nowhere” – WMAR-TV

Readout of the First USDOT and FTA Roundtable Discussion on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Transit Experience – USDOT (media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

California farmers look to tomato crops as new source for producing clean drinking water – CBS News

While clean water isn’t a partisan issue, it is a faith issue – Religion News Service (commentary)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

WVDOT, Department of Arts, Culture and History celebrate five years of Roads to Prosperity with exhibit at State Culture Center – West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History

Mural painting brings awareness to pedestrian safety on 6th Avenue – Arizona Public Media

Robert Moses Returns to New York City, in Theatrical Form – Bloomberg

The intersection of historic preservation in D.C. and urban planning – Washington Business Journal (commentary)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Completed pedestrian safety projects in Cincinnati cut down on accidents – Spectrum 1

Dementia: Can traffic-related air pollution increase risk? – Medical News Today

Cyclist crash numbers raise questions about OKC infrastructure – Oklahoma City Free Press

Experts Suggest Taxing Large Vehicles Could Curb Pedestrian Deaths – Jalopnik

Evanston Transit Alliance exploring ways to connect local bike trails – Evanston Roundtable

How will Virginia’s new Office of Trails spend $89 million? – Virginia Mercury (commentary)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Managing Severe Storms and Environmental Impacts – TRB (Webinar)

State DOTs Perspective on Pavement Resilience – TRB (Webinar)

Factors influencing bike share among underserved populations: Evidence from three U.S. cities – Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

BNSF Railway Bridge Across the Missouri River Between Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota; Final Environmental Impact Statement – Coast Guard (Notice of availability)

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit – EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

COVID–19 Related Relief Concerning Operations at Chicago O’Hare, John F. Kennedy, Los Angeles, Newark Liberty, New York LaGuardia, Ronald Reagan Washington National and San Francisco Airports for the Winter 2022/2023 Scheduling Season – FAA (Expiration of the limited, conditional waiver of the minimum slot usage requirements)

Noise Compatibility Program for Duluth International Airport, St. Louis County, Minnesota – FAA (Approval of a Duluth International Airport (DLH) noise compatibility program)

Inland Waterways Users Board Meeting Notice – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Teleconference Meeting of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Committee – Office of the Secretary of Interior (Notice)

Pipeline Safety: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Research and Development (R&D) Public Meeting and Forum – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO’s New President to Emphasize Resilience – AASHTO Journal

States Divided on Setting Targets for Curbing Highway Emissions – Route Fifty

50 Years After the Clean Water Act – Gauging Progress – GAO

Remarks by President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – White House (media release)

COVID-19

Trump administration blocked CDC transit mask mandate, report shows – Reuters

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Colorado DOT may be slowing highway expansions, but don’t expect any highway removals – Colorado Public Radio News

The Race to Save a Scenic California Train From Rising Seas – CityLab

Michigan’s Future Mobility Relies on EV Charging Expansion – Morning Sun

Biden advisor says Syracuse’s I-81 plan is “a beautiful project” being replicated across U.S. – Syracuse.com

Game theory could boost access to EV charging stations – Futurity

Reducing noise pollution with acoustic walls and rubberised roads – Horizon: The EU Research & Innovation Magazine

RIDOT Chosen for Climate Challenge Award for Permeable Pavement Project – Rhode Island DOT (media release)

HDOT to Receive Climate Challenge Initiative Funding for Plastic Recycling Research – Hawai’i DOT (media release)

AIR QUALITY

California bill aligning climate goals with transportation funding vetoed – Land Line

Getting to ‘net-zero’ emissions: How energy leaders envision countering climate change in the future – The Conversation

Carbon auctions will bring WA more money than predicted. Transportation could benefit – Seattle Times

Can charging frequent flyers for their carbon solve aviation’s climate problem? – Anthropocene

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

TxDOT I-45 expansion: Houston project on pause, but activists and neighbors still fighting to save remaining homes – KTRK-TV

Lacuna Tech Powers L.A. Pilot for Taxi Ride Equity – Government Technology

Infrastructure Investments Should Be Evidence Informed and Equity Focused – Pew

NATURAL RESOURCES

What to Know About the $350M in New Funding for Wildlife Crossings – Route Fifty

At Minnesota Capitol, goat caucus meets for lunch, fights invaders – Minnesota Public Radio

TVA will open dams to help navigation on Mississippi River – WREG-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Expansion of trail system through North Omaha making headway – WOWT-TV

Ban Cars on Halloween – Slate.com

New electric car ride-share program aims to connect rural communities in Fresno County – Fresno Bee

Revamped ‘NewEngland511’ Aims To Reduce Congestion, Pollution – Public News Service

Baltimore officials have a plan to keep scooters out of the water of the Inner Harbor – WBFF-TV

Bend, Oregon ‘mobility hubs’ project aims to offer one-stop array of transportation services, have fewer cars on the road – KTVZ-TV

City of Omaha seeks community input on plan to improve walking, bicycling conditions – Omaha World-Herald

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Resilience for Compounding and Cascading Disasters – TRB

Federal Vehicle Fleets: Observations on the Transition to Electric Vehicles – GAO

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Funding Opportunity To Establish Cooperative Agreements With Technical Assistance Providers for the Fiscal Year 2022 Thriving Communities Program – Office of the Secretary of
Transportation

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Jersey; Motor Vehicle Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance Program; Diesel Opacity Cutpoints – EPA (Proposed rule)

Local Government Advisory Committee’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee Meeting – EPA (Notification of public meeting)

Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) Meeting – EPA (Notification of public meeting)

U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting – Maritime Administration (Notice)

Notice of Availability for Proposed Voluntary Agreement at Statue of Liberty National Monument and Governors Island National Monument – FAA (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Proposed Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada – Bureau of Land Management (Notice; request for comments)

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

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Comments on FHWA’s Proposed GHG Rules – AASHTO Journal

As Electric Vehicles Shrink Gas Tax Revenue, More States May Tax Mileage – Route Fifty

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

California Strengthens Alliances for Transportation Electrification – Transport Topics

What a rebuilt southwest Florida might look like – AXIOS

Nearly a decade since Superstorm Sandy, New York City’s resilience projects are ‘plodding’ – American City and County

Mississippi River Reopens to Barge Traffic After Low Water Closures – Reuters

Self-Driving Cars Do Not Exist, Yet Drivers Still Think They Have One: Study – The Drive

California sends $300 million to help begin the planning process to move train tracks off Del Mar Bluffs – KGTV-TV

FWC creates hotline to address thousands of vessels displaced by Hurricane Ian – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (media release)

HDOT testing asphalt mixes designed to improve pavement and the environment – Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Sony, Honda aim to deliver premium EV with subscription fees in 2026 – Reuters

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Six State DOTs Sign ‘Equity in Infrastructure’ Pledge – AASHTO Journal

Former Maryland Transit Exec Paul Comfort Authors New Book, ‘Conversations on Equity and Inclusion in Public Transportation’ – Cecil Whig

Most Maryland state agencies earn D’s and F’s on new environmental justice scorecard – The Hill

25 Native Tribes and Alaskan Villages Receive Nearly $9 Million From the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Transit – FTA (media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

KYTC Helps Establish State-Focused Archaeological Website – AASHTO Journal

University Ecologists Studying Idaho’s Roadside Vegetation – AASHTO Journal

CULTURAL RESOURCES

New exhibit in Grand Central Terminal tells NYC’s history through urban planning – Gothamist

“There’s a bit of a cultural issue”: Pete Buttigieg gets real about the EV revolution – Vox

Cincinnati traffic boxes turned into pieces of art with hopes to deter graffiti – WXIX-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Denver’s E-Bike Rebates Are So Hot They’re Gone Within Minutes – CItyLab

Glasgow installs automatic cyclist warning signs – Highway News

Safer streets targeted through Rochester’s bicycle plan update – Post Bulletin

Why are rural roads so much more deadly? New report explores – Family Safety & Health

The e-bike boom is getting increasingly dangerous, creating a push for stricter cycling rules – Fortune

These kids ride a ‘bike bus’ to school. Residents line the streets and cheer. – Washington Post

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity, Black America, and Public Transportation, Volume 1: A Review of Economic, Health, and Social Impacts – TCHRP

E-Scooter Safety: Issues and Solutions – TRB

Research on Pavements and Other Transportation Materials Key to Sustainability – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Announcement of Fiscal Year 2022 Low or No Emission Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Project Selections; Correction – FTA (Notice; correction)

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

Air Plan Approval; California; Innovative Clean Transit Regulation – EPA (Proposed rule)

Federal Implementation Plans Under the Clean Air Act for Indian Reservations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on Proposed Land Use Changes of Surplus Property at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, Union City, Tennessee – FAA (Request for public comments)

Establishment of Lost Trail Conservation Area, Montana – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

Notice of Availability of Draft Study; Extension of Comment Period – Coast Guard (Notice)

National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee; November 2022 Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice)

National Advisory Council; Meeting – FEMA (Notice)

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

Public Meeting of the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee – Department of Interior (Notice of public meeting)

Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Public Meeting, Thompson Divide Area, Colorado – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

State DOTs Joining White House Infrastructure Summit – AASHTO Journal

US House Lawmakers Introduce EV Tech Bill – Transport Topics

$39 Million In Marine Highway Grants Awarded – Waterways Journal

Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Program to Help Communities Seek Infrastructure Projects – USDOT (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Historic homes may prove to be more resilient against floods – Washington Post

Cities push back against Legislature’s environmental policy preemptions – Florida Politics

California Finds Truck Parking Shortage Complicated by EV Mandates – Transport Topics

Barge Groundings Create Headaches on the Lower Mississippi – Maritime Executive

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Finance Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure – USDOE (media release)

FAA, Universities Pursue Critical Research to Achieve U.S. Aviation Climate Goals – FAA (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Feds Open More Funding for Diesel School Bus Phase-out – Route Fifty

Vermont’s new ‘Replace Your Ride’ funds cleaner transportation options – Vermont Business Magazine

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Six State DOTs Sign ‘Equity in Infrastructure’ Pledge – AASHTO Journal

As EVs Become More Mainstream in NC, Equal Access is Critical – Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (blog)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Forest Service reactivates planning for West Yellowstone-area timber project – Bozeman Daily Chronicle

The Dreadful Toll of Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions – and What We Can Do About It – Governing (commentary)

EPA Highlights Boston Harbor as a National Success Story to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act – EPA (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Tribes ask US Supreme Court to hear case over destruction of sacred site near Mount Hood – Oregon Capital Chronicle

Restored rock road sign in Halifax County dates back to era of George Washington – Gazette-Virginian

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Connecticut DOT Awards Grant for Pedestrian Study – AASHTO Journal

California Governor Signs Bill Decriminalizing Jaywalking – Fox News

KDOT grants almost $30 million for “transportation alternative” projects – KSNW-TV

Proposed bicycle-pedestrian bridge over Potomac receives $20 million in federal funding – ARLnow

In Times of Crisis, Bikeshare Rolls On – Bloomberg CityLab

St. Louis mayor proposes $40M to make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists – KSDK-TV

Caltrans Identifies Locations to Increase Safe Walking and Bicycling Options for Communities Statewide – California DOT (media release)

USDOT Marks the Start of National Pedestrian Safety Month, Stresses the Need to Protect Vulnerable Road Users – USDOT (media release

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Preparing the Next Generation of Airport Industry Professionals – TRB (webinar)

Historic Damage in Wake of Hurricane Ian – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Should Coastal Communities Rebuild or Retreat After Hurricane Ian? – Columbia University

Demand-driven design of bicycle infrastructure networks for improved urban bikeability – Nature Computational Science

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Environmental Justice Scorecard Feedback – Council on Environmental Quality (Notice of extension for request for information)

Air Plan Approval; Louisiana; Repeal of Excess Emissions Related Provisions – EPA (Final rule)

Local Government Advisory Committee and Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee: Request for Nominations – EPA (Notice of request for nominations)

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

Request for Information: Better Indoor Air Quality Management To Help Reduce COVID–19 and Other Disease Transmission in Buildings: Technical Assistance Needs and Priorities To Improve Public Health – EPA (Request for information through public comment)

Good Neighbor Environmental Board – EPA (Notice of meeting)

Proposed Policy on Enabling the Use of Unleaded Aviation Gasoline in Piston Engine Aircraft and Aircraft Engines Through the Fleet Authorization Process – FAA (Notice of availability; request for comments)

National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council – Forest Service (Solicitation for members)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Comments on ‘Buy America’ EV-Focused Waiver – AASHTO Journal

Delaware, California Launch New Litter Cleanup Efforts – AASHTO Journal

Supreme Court to hear high-stakes challenge to Clean Water Act – Washington Post

Bipartisan group of senators press Buttigieg on overdue tourism infrastructure plan – The Hill

Historic Step: All Fifty States Plus D.C. and Puerto Rico Greenlit to Move EV Charging Networks Forward, Covering 75,000 Miles of Highway – FHWA (media release)

COVID-19

Transport Canada to Remove All COVID Restrictions From October 1 – Travel Agent Central

Public Transportation Ridership Rises to More than 70 Percent of Pre-Pandemic Levels – American Public Transportation Association (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Illinois DOT weighing EV tax to offset gas tax revenue loss – WTVO-TV

Remnants Of Hurricane Ian Will Test North Carolina DOT’s New Flood Early-Warning System For Roads – Charlotte Observer

Electric School Buses Aid Power Grid in Moments of Need – Government Technology

Hertz is teaming up with oil giant BP to install thousands of EV chargers in the U.S. – CNBC

Port of Albany passes on federal funding for wind project – WNYT-TV

AIR QUALITY

New Mexico to be Part of ‘Clean Freight Corridor’ – Transport Topics

Exxon’s Long-Shot Embrace of Carbon Capture in the Houston Area Just Got Massive Support from Congress – Inside Climate News

NY proceeds with plan for zero-emission vehicles by 2035 – AP

‘It makes climate change real’: How carbon emissions got rebranded as ‘pollution’ – Grist

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

People of color are as interested in buying electric cars as white consumers – the biggest obstacle is access to charging – The Conversation

As Self-Driving Cars Hit the Streets, New Equity Concerns Emerge – Route Fifty

Advocates say speed-limiting tech in new cars could address gender disparity in crash statistics – Cox Media Group Washington Bureau

EPA Finalizes Environmental Justice Action Plan for Land Protection and Cleanup Programs – EPA (media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Beachwalk and trees fall into the ocean due to erosion at popular Maui beach

Beachwalk and trees fall into the ocean due to erosion at popular Maui beach

Winter swells could bring back beach, but long-term fix elusive – Maui News

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Infrastructure Law Sends $1.1 Million To National Park Service For Transportation Needs – National Parks Traveler

Dual-Language Highway Signs Unveiled By Oneida Nation, Wisconsin DOT – WITI-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation “Insecurity” Increasing Among Americans – AASHTO Journal

Grappling With the Traffic Safety Crisis – National Conference of State Legislatures (podcast)

NYC Proposal Offers Cash for Spotting Parking Violations in Bike Lanes – CityLab

Maryland transportation authorities celebrate “Walktober” by promoting pedestrian safety – WJZ-TV

‘We’re about 20 years behind’: Improving bike and pedestrian safety in the City of Omaha – KMTV-TV

New Jersey lawmakers want to study goal of zero traffic deaths by 2035 – New Jersey Monitor

Push for suicide prevention barriers on Taft Bridge prompts DDOT review of all DC bridges – WJLA-TV

Flint hosts workshop about becoming more bicycle friendly – WJRT-TV

Las Vegas Isn’t a City for Pedestrians, But We Could Make It One – Las Vegas Weekly (commentary)

SEPTA Offers New Way For Customers To Report Cleanliness Issues on System – SEPTA (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Era of Smart Infrastructure Demands Strong Data, Technology Management – TRB

Safer Intersections for Pedestrians and Bicyclists – TRB (webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Airport Terminal Program; FY 2023 Funding Opportunity – FAA (Notice of funding opportunity)

Announcing Two Virtual Public Outreach Events – Coast Guard (Notice of outreach events)

FEDERAL ACTION

Four Federal Agencies Plan Broad GHG Reduction Push – AASHTO Journal

MARAD Initiates Low Carbon Shipping Study – AASHTO Journal

Biden’s point man on infrastructure law – Politico

Wildfire Smoke Is Erasing Progress on Clean Air – New York Times

DOE and DOT Announce Gabe Klein to Lead Joint Office of Energy and Transportation – US Department of Energy (Media release)

COVID-19

Can E-Bikes Rescue the Covid Bicycle Boom? – Bloomberg (Commentary)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Unwinding really backward policy:’ California abolishes decades-old parking requirements – Sacramento Bee

Michigan DOT enters 5-year partnership to build first public in-road EV charging system in Detroit – WDIV-TV

In Houston, a generations-deep community is being dismantled by mandatory buyouts. – Grist

Hawaii’s road usage charge for EVs could have twists and turns – The Center Square

US’s Top Ports Face Calls to Go Green After ‘Unmitigated Growth’ – Bloomberg

NJ Transit Advances Zero-Emission Bus Conversion With Design And Investment Planning Study – NJ Transit (Media Release)

AIR QUALITY

California orders 29 hydrogen trains for inter-city services – International Railway Journal

The airline race for a breakthrough fuel to cut one billion tons of carbon is just starting – CNBC

Oregon on track to follow California emission standards – no new gas vehicles sold by 2035 – KPIC-TV

Minneapolis is the latest US city to demand emissions-free shipping – Grist

15 Most Polluted Cities in the US – Earth.org

Amtrak Aims to Achieve Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2045 – Amtrak (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Biden administration launches environmental justice office – AP

University Program Opens Highway To Success For Drivers With Autism Spectrum Disorder – Mercyhurst University

DOJ to tackle environmental justice issues that have ‘too long beleaguered’ communities – NBC News

NATURAL RESOURCES

Welcome to the High Desert highway that is one-of-a-kind in Oregon – Central Oregon Daily News

Weed Wranglers wanted for Bloomington Parks and Recreation – WBIW Radio

Delaware Governor, Keep Delaware Beautiful, Delaware DOT Launch Litter Free School Zone Program – State of Delaware (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Higher Ground: America’s oldest Black town is trapped between rebuilding and retreating. – Grist

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Michigan Governor Unveils Statewide Mobility Strategy – AASHTO Journal

Denver Pedestrian Bridge Closed Because No One Knows Who Owns It – Denverite

New protected bike lanes causes confusion and anger over parking in Tower District – KMPH-TV

New Joe Louis Greenway will stretch through 23 communities, 4 cities – Detroit News

San Francisco May Require E-Scooters To Have Anti-Sidewalk Technology – Route Fifty

DC lawmakers vote to end right turns at red lights; making ‘Idaho Stop’ legal – WTTG-TV

FHWA Applauds RIDOT’s Leadership in Pedestrian Safety and Financial Stewardship – Rhode Island DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions – Public Engagement across the Transmission Development Lifecycle: from Planning to Permitting – TRB (Webinar)

Withstanding Climate Change – Resilient & Flexible Pavement – TRB (Webinar)

The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Risks and Rewards for Electrifying Fleets – Association for Commuter Transportation (Webinar, link to registration)

Minimobility: The next big thing in urban mobility? – McKinsey & Company

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration – FTA (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Use of Inland Ports for Storage and Transfer of Cargo Containers – USDOT Office of the Secretary (Notice of request for information)

Notice of Recreational Target Shooting Closure on Public Lands in the Anderson Butte Area of Jackson County, OR – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Notice of Receipt and Request for Review of Noise Compatibility Program – FAA (Notice)