Environmental News Highlights – September 21, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Approves 35 State EV Charging Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal

State DOTs Increase Multimodal, Active Transportation Support – AASHTO Journal

ETAP Podcast: The Next Generation Highways Concept – AASHTO Journal

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

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

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

COVID-19

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

NEPA

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

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

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

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

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

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

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

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

AIR QUALITY

The Fog of San Francisco – New York Times

Feds Launch New Climate Resilience Planning Portal – Government Technology

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

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

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

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

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

U-M study finds 1 in 4 four US adults experience transportation insecurity – University of Michigan (Media release)

Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Mobility Disability Discrimination Suit Against San Juan, Puerto RicoDepartment of Justice (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

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

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

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

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

CULTURAL RESOURCES

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

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

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

Centering Bikes in the Future of Mobility – Planetizen

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

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Air Plan Approval; Missouri; St. Louis Area Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program – EPA (Final rule)

Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group – FAA (Solicitation of applications)

Draft FAA Policy Regarding Processing Land Use Changes on Federally Acquired or Federally Conveyed Airport LandFAA (Proposed policy; request for comments)

Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Grant Programs – NHTSA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Improvements for Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Test Procedures, and Other Technical Amendments – NHSTA (Proposed rule)

Meeting of the Regional Energy Resource CouncilTennessee Valley Authority (Notice)

Environmental News Highlights – September 14, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

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

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

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

Public Comment Mixed on FHWA’s Electric Charging Infrastructure Proposal – Transport Topics

A natural ally for climate resilience, disaster mitigation – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

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

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

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

NYSDOT Begins Roadway Flood Control Project – AASHTO Journal

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

Universities’ research aims to make railroads climate resilientFreightWaves

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

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

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

AIR QUALITY

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

California Air Resources Board May Speed Fleet Electrification – Government Technology

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

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

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

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

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

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

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

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tennessee DOT Promoting Delta Region via New Partnership – AASHTO Journal

CULTURAL RESOURCES

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

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Microtransit – Innovation in Rural Mobility – TRB (Webinar)

Webinar: NCDOT Roadway Resiliency and Recovery – Roads & Bridges

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Priorities ListEPA (Final rule)

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


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

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

Environmental News Highlights – September 7, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Adventure Cycling Unveils ‘Short Route’ Bicycle Guide – AASHTO Journal

Five State DOTs Honored with Keep America Beautiful Awards – AASHTO Journal

President Biden Announces Appointments to the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council – White House (Media Release)

FHWA Announces $513.2 Million in Emergency Relief for Roads and Bridges Damaged by Natural Disaster and Catastrophic Events – FHWA (Media release)

California’s new emissions rule speeds up the future of cars – Washington Post (Opinion)

COVID-19

Seattle was a transit success story before COVID. How’s it doing now? – Marketplace

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

September Webinar to Offer EV Infrastructure Guidance – AASHTO Journal

As Airports Rush To Electrify, Important Questions Remain Unanswered, And Unasked – Forbes

Atlantic City fortifies to fight a rising sea – AP

In Alabama’s battle of beach bridges, ALDOT sticking with Gulf Shores project – AL.com

Will America Get “Vertical Integration” of Transport? – Catalyst

Commuter Tunnel Under the Hudson Won’t Be Finished Until 2035New York Times

DOE Establishes Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $335 Million Battery Recycling Programs – Department of Energy (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Florida DEP Awards $68 Million For 227 Electric Transit Buses – Tampa Dispatch

When Driving, Tires Emit Pollution. And EVs Make the Problem Worse – Bloomberg News

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The link between water quality and social inequality – NPR

We Can’t See the Work-Forest for the Disabili-Trees! – Mass Transit

Group Looks To Make Navigating Houston Without A Car Equitable And Inclusive – OutSmart Magazine

NATURAL RESOURCES

Maryland DOT, USACE Join Forces on Restoration Project – AASHTO Journal

Tennessee DOT Promoting Delta Region via New Partnership – AASHTO Journal

More trees, more composting, fewer emissions: Supervisors approve trio of sustainability measures – San Diego Union-Tribune

One, two, three – newly completed construction lets fish swim free north of Kalaloch – Washington State DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Louisiana DOTD Unveils Aviation Tourism Program – AASHTO Journal

St. Louis paints colorful crosswalks on the Hill. But could they be a hazard? – Post-Dispatch

How a Dangerous Highway in San Francisco Turned into a Kids’ Paradise – Governing

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New Utah Bridge Features Pedestrian, Bicyclist Path – AASHTO Journal

NCDOT awards multimodal planning grant to Wrightsville Beach bicycle, pedestrian plans – WWAY-TV

St. Louis regional planning agency hopes grant will help reduce pedestrian deaths – St. Louis Public Radio

Boston Transit Disruptions a Boon for Bike-Share Program – Government Technology

Portland, Maine made changes to bicycle infrastructure this summer, plans to continue next year – WCSH-TV

New Haven transit plan to increase protected bike lanes, safety for pedestrians – New Haven Register

Santa Claus Lane Bikeway Construction Starts Next Week – Santa Barbara County Association of Government (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pedestrian Analysis – Current Practice, Resources, and Applications – TRB (Webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Proposed Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers – FHWA (Notice; request for comments)

Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements ProgramFRA (Notice)

Finding of Failure To Submit Regional Haze State Implementation Plans for the Second Planning Period – EPA (Final action)

State Enforcement of Inland Navigation RulesCoast Guard (Interim rule and request for comment)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Revolution Wind, LLC’s Proposed Revolution Wind Farm Offshore Rhode Island – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice and request for comments)

Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board Environmental Justice Screen Review Panel – EPA (Notice)

Board on Coastal Engineering Research – Corp of Engineers (Notice of advisory committee meeting)

Environmental News Highlights – August 31, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Responds to Proposed NEVI Program Rulemaking – AASHTO Journal

USDOT Provides List of its Justice40 Initiative Programs – AASHTO Journal

Federally Funded Research to be Free and Publicly Accessible Under New White House Guidance – Nextgov

The EPA Just Quietly Got Stronger – The Atlantic

What is a 1,000-year flood? – US Geological Survey

COVID-19
COVID-19 Travel Reductions: Lessons for Relieving Traffic Congestion – Minnesota DOT

California’s public bus and urban transit workers have caught COVID at a rate more than 5 times higher than all other industries, CDC report says – Business Insider

Cyclists, Pedestrians and Motorists Clash Over COVID Street Changes – Pew
NEPA

Why Doesn’t America Build Things? – Vice

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Oklahoma, Arkansas Forge Regional Mobility Hub Partnership – AASHTO Journal

Oregon DOT wants to use right-of-way for landslide control – News Times

Government Electric Vehicle Efforts Requires New Charging Infrastructure – Nextgov

Hundreds Sound Off at 1st Public Meeting Over Controversial Congestion Pricing Plan – WNBC-TV

Losing Your Neighborhood to Climate Change Is Sometimes Necessary – New York Times (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

DC region leaders want to halve transportation emissions by 2030 despite road widening plans – Virginia Mercury

Could An Air Traffic Control System For The Oceans Help Cut Carbon Emissions? – Forbes

NREL’s 6th Partner Forum Digs Deep on Sustainable Aviation Opportunities – National Renewable Energy Laboratory

USDA Begins Accepting Applications for $100 Million in Biofuel Infrastructure Grants – Department of Agriculture (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Colorado Travel Website Designed To Cater To People With Disabilities, Mobility Limitations – OutThere Colorado

Transit Equity Builds Communities – The Wilderness Society (blog)

TDOT Makes Accessibility Improvements at Tennessee Rest Areas and Welcome Centers Tennessee DOT – (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Bloomington Parks and Recreation looking for Weed Wranglers – WBIW Radio

CULTURAL RESOURCES

NYC DOT Reinstalls Chinatown Bilingual Street Signs – Bowery Boogie

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

First coast-to-coast trail would be boon for Indiana pathways – News and Tribune

How Five U.S. Cities Built 335 Miles of Bike Lanes in 24 Months – Next City

Fully accessible trail coming to Burlington County, New Jersey – Burlington County Times

Indiana NAACP leaders express concerns over new infrastructure plan – WFIE-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Marathon, Not a Sprint’ – How Can Cities Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Also Improve Mobility? – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Removal of the Reformulated Gasoline Program From the Southern Maine Area – EPA (Final rule)

Request for Nominations of Candidates for the National Environmental Education Advisory Council – EPA (Notice)

Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee; Solicitation for Nominations – Office of the Secretary USDOT – (Solicitation of memberships for appointment)

Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Final rule)

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy GuideFEMA (Notice, request for comments)

Port Access Route Study: The Pacific Coast From Washington to California – DHS (Notice of availability of draft study and request for comments)

Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group; Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1: Terrebonne HNC Island Restoration ProjectDepartment of the Interior (Notice of availability; request for public comments)

Tribal Tourism Grant Program; Solicitation of Proposals Bureau of Indian Affairs (Notice)

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fee Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (Final rule)

Request for Statements of Interest Regarding the WAPA Transmission System in the Area of Boulder City, Nevada – Western Area Power Administration (Request for statements)

Public Meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory CommitteeGeological Survey (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Amend the Taos Resource Management Plan and Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Recreational Shooting Range Project on Public Lands in Santa Fe County – Bureau of Land Management (Notice of intent)

Establishing an Advisory Council Pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and Solicitation for Applications for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council – Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Notice of solicitation)

Environmental News Highlights – August 24, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

USDOT Issues Over $2B in New RAISE Grants – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Comments on Clean Water Certification Rule – AASHTO Journal

FHWA Announces $100 Million in Grant Awards, $125 Million in New Funding Availability for Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects – FHWA (Media release)

FHWA Announces $45.7 Million Grant to Alaska’s Native Village of Eyak to Improve Multi-Modal Transportation Access to Oil Spill Response Facility – FHWA (Media release)

COVID-19

More stringent COVID restrictions linked with better air quality – Harvard University

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

NCDOT Hydraulics Unit Wins Water Quality Award – AASHTO Journal


Kentucky transportation secretary gives update on flood recovery, points to lessons from tornado outbreak – WKMS Radio

Burying just 5 percent of power lines can improve resilience in hurricane-prone regions The Hill

Dulles solar farm would be the nation’s largest at an airportWashington Post

A Frustrating Hassle Holding Electric Cars Back: Broken Chargers – New York Times

1 million square feet of L.A. roads are being covered with solar-reflective paint – Fast Company

Ports Employ Solar Power in Efforts to Improve Environment – The Maritime Executive

Hit by Wet Weather and Mudslides, Pittsburgh Seeks New Ways to Adapt – Route Fifty (Commentary)

Governor announces first ever Nevada Infrastructure Summit – Nevada Governor’s Office (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

How 3 US cities are protecting air quality – despite the West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court ruling – CDP

New NACTO Report: Improving Bus Service is Key to Fighting Climate Change – National Association of City Transportation Officials

L.A. is spending tens of billions of dollars to make climate change and traffic worse – Los Angeles Times (Op-ed)

Metra to create battery-powered locomotives – Metra (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Ideas abound as USDOT eyes wheelchairs in the cabin – Runway Girl Network

This is the tip of the iceberg’ – Colorado is tracking pollution in the state’s most impacted communities – Colorado Public Radio

NATURAL RESOURCES

PennDOT Helps Launch New Anti-Littering Effort – AASHTO Journal

FHWA Announces $54.3 Million Grant to National Park Service to Improve Safety along Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi – FHWA (Media release)

FHWA Providing National Park Service $11.7 Million in ‘Quick Release’ Emergency Relief Funding to Repair Flood Damage in Death Valley National Park – FHWA (Media release)

EPA Announces Availability of $3.6 Million for Tribes to Protect and Expand Critical Wetland Habitats – EPA (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Maryland DOT Archeologists Excavate Iron Furnace Site – AASHTO Journal

Too Darn Hot: How Summer Stages Are Threatened by Climate Change – New York Times

Chapel Hill Art + Transit partners with local artists for LGBTQ+ themed designs – Daily Tar Heel

Vienna: A city in the fast lane of the smart mobility revolution – GovInsider

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Gates added to Park City, Utah pathways to make bicycling safer for riders – Park Record

New Pa. state park near Lehigh Valley to be first dedicated to ATVs, other motorized recreation – Morning Call

Oregon to take steps to reduce the risk of suicides at Astoria Bridge – Daily Astorian

How Evolutions in Transportation and Mobility Are Creating Opportunities within the Built Environment – MarketScale

Why Golf Carts Are A Transportation Mode Of The Future – Slate

New York City’s Greenways Get Another Boost as Officials Plot Expansion – Gotham Gazette

Bolt Mobility abandoned electric bikes all over US cities. Here’s what’s happening to them – Electrek

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Untangling Major Societal Issues on the Road to Environmental Health – 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 – FTA (Notice)

Notice of Final Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad Project in California on Behalf of the California High Speed Rail Authority – FRA (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Tiered Environmental Impact Statement for the New York and New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; New Jersey; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Model Years 2027 and Beyond Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards and Model Years 2029 and Beyond Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program Standards – NHTSA (Notice; request for scoping comments)

Security Zone; Port of Miami, FloridaCoast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

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

Board Meeting – Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Notice)

Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Alabama Swift Tract Living Shoreline Project: Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment – National Marine Fisheries Service (Notice of availability)

Environmental News Highlights – August 17, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Comments on Clean Water Certification Rule – AASHTO Journal

What Scientists Say about the Historic Climate Bill – Scientific American

Is the climate bill ‘historic’? Maybe not, historians say. – E&E News

The E-Bike Tax Credit Is Only Mostly Dead As Supporters Plot Next Steps – The Verge

FHWA Announces Final Rule to Reduce Roadway Fatalities in Dark Conditions by Improving Visibility with Retroreflective Pavement Marking – FHWA (Media release)

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $3 Billion in Funding for Two FEMA Programs to Increase Climate Resilience Nationwide – FEMA (Media Release)

COVID-19

The Pandemic Wasn’t Supposed to Hurt New York Transit This Much – New York Times

How global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions shed light on the relationship between transport and air pollution – University of Melbourne

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Delaware launches initiative to expand electric vehicle charging – WHYY

New York City EV pilot may lead to 10,000 on-street chargers by 2030electrive.com

California’s first ‘inland port’ to be built in Kern County – KERO-TV

Satellites Monitor Tiny Roadway Changes Along Texas Highway – Government Technology

Transportation recovery after disasters: A collaborative university/community model – National Institute for Transportation and Communities

Gov. signs infrastructure bond bill, with some amendments and vetoes – Massachusetts Municipal Association

AIR QUALITY

Electric Vehicles and State DOTsAASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

Are electric trucks zero-emission vehicles? – FreightWaves

The new climate bill abandoned the type of electric vehicle that can make the biggest differenceElectrek

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New Jersey Debates ‘Overburdened’ in Environmental Justice Rule – Bloomberg Law

Does the Climate Bill Throw Environmental Justice Under the Bus? – The Nation

NATURAL RESOURCES

Outsmart Vegetation-Related Power Outages – T&D World

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Illinois DOT to remove unmarked gravesites to complete upgrades to I-64 in Metro East – KMOV-TV
(Video)

Iowa’s first dual-language road signs added to US Highway 30 near Meskwaki Settlement – Des Moines Register

Law Department predicts challenges ahead for equity-based preservation programs – Austin Monitor

NYC’s public spaces are becoming increasingly hostile toward homeless people – City & State New York

Artwork In Northeast Kansas City Aims To Improve Pedestrian Safety – KSHB-TV

Our national parks still need fixing – The Hill (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Houston’s new funding formula for building bike lanes – Axios

A neighborhood fights to be heard as Dulles planes drown out daily life – Washington Post

Can Greater Access to E-Bikes Get More People Biking? – Portland State University

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Adaptive Flood Relief Techniques to Enhance Resiliency – TBR (Webinar)

Climate Conversations: Wildfire – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Mobility, Access, & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Demonstration Research: Program Lead – FTA (Notice)

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

Safe Loading, Safe Powering and Flotation Compliance Guidance for Electrically Powered Recreational Vessels Policy Letter – Coast Guard (Notice of availability and request for comments)

The Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest (e-Manifest) System Advisory Board; Notice of Public Meeting – EPA (Notice)

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; New Source Performance Standards for Stationary Internal Combustion Engines; Court Vacatur – EPA (Final rule)

Proposed Settlement, Clean Water Act Claim – EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

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

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Future Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight; Extension of Comment Period – Bureau of Ocean Energy (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Line 5 Tunnel Project, Mackinac and Emmet Counties, Michigan – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of intent)

Bureau of Land Management Request for Information on Federal Old-Growth and Mature Forests – Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (Request for information; Extension of comment period)

Joint Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Energy Project; Notice of Availability of Record of Decision Supplements – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Environmental News Highlights – August 10, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Every State DOT Formally Submits EV Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal

Senate Approves Democrats’ Sweeping Climate and Health Bill – Route Fifty

White House Summit Champions Advanced Air Mobility National Business Aviation Association

Biden administration announces initiative to improve wastewater sanitation in underserved rural communities – The Hill

States to Target Lower Transportation Emissions Under Proposed Rule – Governing

10 Ways the Biden-⁠Harris Administration Is Making America Resilient to Climate Change – White House (Fact sheet)

COVID-19

Diary of a Pandemic Bus Driver – CityLab

Transportation Department proposes stricter rules for airline refunds after complaints surge – CNBC

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Oregon DOT Begins South Coast Landslide StudyKPIC-TV

Georgia officials want federal help to pay for electric vehicle infrastructure – The Center Square

We haven’t built for this climate – Axios

Think Your Street Needs a Redesign? Ask an AI – CityLab

Groundbreaking marks construction of new Portal Bridge – WCBS-TV (Link to video)

CTDOT Submits National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan – Connecticut DOT (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

U.S. fuel retailers rail against green aviation fuel tax credit – Reuters

How Businesses Can Help Reshape Urban Transportation To Improve Air Quality – Forbes (Op-ed)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Implementing Equity in the Transportation Industry – AASHTO Journal (link to video)

A Tree Planter’s Guide to Environmental Justice – North Carolina State University

Automated vehicles and underserved populations – University of Texas at Arlington

NATURAL RESOURCES

Louisiana DOTD Initiates Tree Replacement Program – AASHTO Journal

The End of Snow Threatens to Upend 76 Million American Lives – Bloomberg

EPA Kicks Off Tour of Iconic Waters, Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act – EPA (Media release)

Colorado’s newest wildlife overpass and underpass provide safe passage for wildlife and motorists – Colorado DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Change in vacation habits placing strain on Gulf Coast traffic – WPMI-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

As more states legalize pot, safety advocates issue guidelines to keep people from getting high and drivingPittsburgh Post-Gazette

Everyone loves e-bikes – except some who have to share roads with them – Washington Post

Gates installed to slow bike traffic on busy Park City, Utah trails – KPCW Radio

Amid a summer of more cyclists and fatal crashes, advocates push for better bike infrastructure – WGRZ-TV

Downtown Tampa has e-scooters, bikes and streetcars. Ready for golf carts? – Tampa Bay Times

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Growing the Impacts of Climate-Smart Agriculture – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Toward a Touchless Airport Journey – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for ReviewFAA (Notice)

Request for Comments in Minimum Seat Dimensions Necessary for Safety of Air Passengers (Emergency Evacuation) – FAA (Notice)

Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group – FAA (Solicitation of applications)

Environmental Justice Scorecard FeedbackCouncil on Environmental Quality (Request for information)

Federal Railroad Administration Notice of Final Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad Project in California – FRA (Notice)

Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Funding Opportunity – Natural Resources Conservation Service (Notice of availability and finding of no significant impact)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Ocean Wind, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore New Jersey; Extension of Comment Period – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Draft environmental impact statement; extension of comment period)

Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats and Finding of No Significant Impact – NOAA (Notice)

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

Environmental News Highlights – August 3, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Reconciliation Bill Includes Climate, Transportation Funds – AASHTO Journal

USDOT Outlines Infrastructure Funding Availability – Transport Topics

Transit groups bemoan Dems’ car-centric climate deal – Politico

EV tax credits are back – and bigger – in new Senate climate bill – The Verge

Experts to Congress: Restore EPA Enforcement Staffing and Funding for Environmental Justice – Government Executive

Biden Administration Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Make Public Transportation Rail Stations Accessible for All – FTA (Media release)

COVID-19

Mandatory masks are back on BART, in fourth policy change since April – Mercury News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

NREL Plans to Study Airport Electrification for FAA – AASHTO Journal

CT Transit pulls entire electric bus fleet – WTNH-TV

TxDOT proposes to raise portions of I-10 prone to flooding – KPRC-TV

Bridge designed to avoid flooded road opens on NC coast – WSOC-TV

New York moving ahead with ‘congestion pricing’ toll plan – AP

MetroLink flooding damage estimated at $18 million or more – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Is This the Future of Urban Resilience? – CityLab

Long Island Rail Road ends development of battery-electric equipment – Trains

AIR QUALITY

N.J. will chip in up to $4K to help you buy an electric vehicle, Murphy says – NJ.com

Tailpipe Dreams? Big Cities Plot the Death of Car Reliance – Government Technology

Air quality can be better for active commuters than drivers, research shows – University of Leicester

Uber expanding electric car service – The Hill

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Chicago made its Southeast Side a polluter’s haven, violating civil rights – Grist

Could the US highways that split communities on racial lines finally fall? – The Guardian

National Highways: Analysis of Available Data Could Better Ensure Equitable Pavement Condition – GAO (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Ohio DOT Launches New Litter Control Program – AASHTO Journal

Nevada DOT-Led Study Offers Wildlife Crossing Insights – AASHTO Journal

DeWine announces plans for new wetland projects in 22 Ohio counties – WKEF-TV

A federal funding program has helped clean up the Great Lakes. Could it work for the Mississippi River? – Wisconsin Public Radio

Meet the Canine Officers Guarding American Agriculture – New York Times

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $132 Million for EPA’s National Estuary Program from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – EPA (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How SoCal’s Automobile Club Paved the Way For Road Development in the Name of Historic Preservation – KCET Radio

How Gilded Age Bicyclists Paved the Way for the Modern Highway System – Governing

As e-bike use grows, Pennsylvania looks to accommodate riders in state parks, forests – Pocono Record (Commentary)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

How One Suburban New Jersey Town Is Addressing Pedestrian And Bicycle Safety – Cranford Radio (Podcast)

Bolt Mobility has vanished, leaving e-bikes, unanswered calls behind in several US cities – Tech Crunch

As Riders Return to the Streets, Cities Turn to Scooters – Government Technology

These brilliant maps helps you see – and hear – noise pollution in your city – Fast Company

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Research for Equitable Infrastructure Investments – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: All Stations Accessibility Program – FTA (Notice)

Clean Air Act Grant; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District; Opportunity for Public Hearing – EPA (Notice)

Clean Air Act Grant; Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District; Opportunity for Public HearingEPA (Notice)

Air Plan Approval; Arizona, California, Nevada; Emissions Statements Requirements – EPA (Final rule)

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

Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program – Forest Service (Notice)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; August 2022 Virtual Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice)

Notice of Segregation of Public Land for the Esmeralda Solar Projects, Esmeralda County, Nevada – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Environmental News Highlights – July 27, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Republican Energy Roundtable Elicits State DOT Insights – AASHTO Journal

On climate, Democrats and Republicans don’t inhabit the same reality – Ars Technica

Are Wetlands the Next Target on the Supreme Court’s Radar? – Bloomberg Law

The U.S. plan to avoid extreme climate change is running out of time – Washington Post (Commentary)

President Biden’s Executive Actions on Climate to Address Extreme Heat and Boost Offshore Wind – White House (Fact sheet)

COVID-19

Gov. Hochul extends New York’s COVID state of emergency, discusses back-to-school plans – CBS New York

US sees decline in post-pandemic plastic recycling volumes – Circular

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Weather Responsive Management Strategies – FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovation

Designing longer-lasting, sustainable roadways for New Jersey – Rowan University

Support Slips for Phase Out of Gas-Powered Cars and Trucks – Route Fifty

UDOT moves million-pound bridge in Cedar City with dish soap and a bit of elbow grease – St. George News

City of Philadelphia Partners with EVgo to Support Electrification of Municipal Fleet – City of Philadelphia (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Connecticut governor announces new climate bill with plans to create zero-emission school buses – WTIC-TV

U.S. Drivers Have Lost $8 Billion to Red Lights – Can AI Traffic Signals Save Us? – LX

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

For State Transportation Agencies, a Long Road To Increase Diversity – Route Fifty

NATURAL RESOURCES

Michigan taps funding sources to support water infrastructure – MI Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Funding is on the way for drought resilience and aging water infrastructure throughout Colorado – KRDO-TV

Saving the monarchs: Pollinators dictate state’s mowing approach – Hearst Midwest

Stop Ruining Starry Nights – New York Times

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Improving the mechanics, restoring the 1870s feel to the Monongahela Incline – Pittsburgh Post-Gazett

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

T-Mobile T IoT To Support Bicycle/Motorist Safety – Telecompetitor

Cyclists Plead for Bike Lanes as Part of Waiānuenue Avenue Project – Big Island News

Rail Trail: Abandoned 1800s railroad could become linear park, trail through Durham – WRAL-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Renewing U.S. Infrastructure for Resilience and Equity – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Complete the Puzzles in Planning and Environmental Linkages Practice – TRB (Webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice To Establish the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC)Office of the Secretary, USDOT (Notice)

Notice To Solicit Members for the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC) – Office of the Secretary, USDOT (Notice)

Air Plan and Operating Permit Program Approval; TN; Electronic Notice (e-Notice) Provisions – EPA (Proposed rule)

National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Delegation of Authority to Washington – EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Approval Plans; Louisiana; Repeal of Excess Emissions Related Provisions – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice To Postpone Public Hearing and Extend Public Comment Period for Supplement to the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles Acquisitions Final Environmental Impact Statement – Postal Service (Notice)

Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock; Codifying Existing Waivers – FRA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; California High-Speed Rail Authority Audit Report – FRA (Notice; request for comment)

Termination of the Preparation of an Air Tour Management Plan at Everglades National Park, Florida – FAA (Notice)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat – Fish and Wildlife Service (Final rule)

United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board: Request for Applications for Membership – International Trade Administration (Notice)

Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Liquid Pipeline Advisory CommitteePipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

Rail Tie Wind Project Record of DecisionWestern Area Power Administration (Notice)

Inland Waterways Users Board Meeting NoticeArmy Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Florida Trustee Implementation Group: Final Phase V.4 Florida Coastal Access Project: Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment; and Finding of No Significant Impact – Department of the Interior (Notice of availability)

Environmental News Highlights – July 20, 2022

FEDERAL ACTION

Energy & Environment – Are the feds closing the door on climate action? – The Hill

Nation’s governors gather in Portland, Maine to discuss infrastructure, economy – WGME-TV

All Senate Republicans Back Effort to Undo Restrengthening of Environmental Permitting RegsRoute Fifty

NEPA

FTA Publishes ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter Regarding NEPA and Early Acquisition of Real Property – FTA

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Colorado DOT Begins Rural Bridge Replacement Project – AASHTO Journal

New Mexico DOT looking for eco-friendly approach to roadways – KRQE-TV

Md. Senators and Congressman to MDOT: Don’t demolish Nice bridge – WBFF-TV

Georgia partners with firm on electric vehicle charging infrastructure – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Will Los Angeles Join a Ban on New Gas Stations? – CityLab

Electric vehicles and rural transportation: Is Alaska ready? – KTUU-TV

Switzerland will build an autonomous, underground freight transport system – Interesting Engineering

Great Lakes cruise industry rides wave of sustainability – Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Four companies are top sources of US greenhouse gas, methane emissions: report – The Hill

Charlotte mobility plan aims to slash car use, transform access to lower-emission options – Smart Cities Dive

Washington State’s new tax on CO2 emissions projected to add 46 cents per gallon to the cost of gas – Washington Policy Center

Long Haul To Decarbonization For Aviation Industry – Barron’s

Despite Biden Push for Green Transportation, U.S. Trucking Still Drives on Diesel – InsideSources

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

MassDOT Incorporates Equity Factors into Pedestrian Safety Analysis – FHWA Innovator

How The Ride-Sharing Revolution Failed Passengers With Disabilities – The Verge

Draft Environmental Justice Action Plan for EPA’s Land Protection and Cleanup Programs – EPA (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Environmental groups allege L.A. River Master Plan was approved without proper review – Los Angeles Times

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How the Amusement Park Conquered America – Bloomberg

How to greenify all aspects of your vacation – Washington Post

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Brevard County, Florida Partners With Groups To Reduce Deadly Crashes Involving Bicyclists, Pedestrians – WFTV-TV

South Carolina Nonprofit Uses Database To Track Encounters With Motorists And Pedestrians – WCSC-TV

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission wants to make outdoor ‘active transportation’ saferWYSO Radio

Austin transportation department launches pilot program to clear up scooter congestion downtown – KTBC-TV

Microtransit Changes Up the School Commute for Arizona Students – Government Technology

Study Shows Bike Sharing Leads to Higher Property Values – Metro

Des Moines hopes to use railroad tracks to connect Riverwalk to state Capitol – KCCI-TV

NDOT, Community Celebrates Opening of Multi-Use Trail in Caliente – Nevada DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

SEAHIVE – Sustainable Estuarine and Marine Revetment – NCHRP

Considering Quality of Life in Transportation Planning and Development – TRB (Webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of FTA Transit Program Changes, Authorized Funding Levels and Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and FTA Fiscal Year 2022 Apportionments, Allocations, Program Information and Interim Guidance; Correction – FTA (Notice, correction)

Multistate Conservation Grant Program; Priority Lists for Fiscal Years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
– Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure – FHWA (Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments)

Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-growth and Mature Forests – Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (Request for information)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles – NHTSA (Final rule)

Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee Meeting – Coast Guard – (Notice)

Evaluation of State Coastal Management Program; Public Meeting; Request for Comments (Michigan) – NOAA (Notice)

Evaluation of State Coastal Management Program; Public Meeting; Request for Comments (Virginia) – NOAA (Notice)

Marine Highway Project Designation Open Season and Renewal of Project Designations – Maritime Administration (Notice)

Air Plan Approval; California; Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District – EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; Arizona; Maricopa County Air Quality DepartmentEPA (Final rule)