Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

USDOT, DOE Launch EV Formula Program – AASHTO Journal

How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming – New York Times

Secretary Buttigieg talks road safety, self-driving cars, EVs, and unruly airline passengers – Yahoo Finance Live

USDOT can do more to ensure climate resilience, GAO reports – Government Matters

Congress must find common ground on climate – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Traffic Remains Below Pre-Covid Levels as Work Habits Change – Bloomberg

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Challenges to Electrifying City Fleets – Planetizen

4 federal agencies join Rockford airport asking for dismissal of lawsuit seeking to protect Bell Bowl Prairie – Chicago Tribune

Electric vehicles pose challenges for Montana highway plans – Longview News-Journal

Michigan Moves Ahead With Electric Vehicle Charging Road Project – Route Fifty

Demonstration shows how Washington State’s transportation system can go electric – KIRO-TV

An Infrastructure Bill with a Sustainable Twist – Innovation & Tech Today (Commentary)

CTDOT Releases Updated Five-Year Capital Plan with Renewed Sustainability Commitment – Conecticut DOT (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Caltrans Helps SBCAG Deploy Zero Emission Bus – AASHTO Journal

Air Board Agrees to Hold Clean Cars Rulemaking Hearing – City of Albuquerque

Are Trains or Buses Better for the Environment? – Governing

New Study Links Traffic Pollution to Pediatric Asthma – Discover

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Biden administration seeks equity in guidance for electric vehicle charging network – The Hill

Supervisors Adopt Road Map for Environmental Justice Office to Protect Vulnerable Communities – Times of San Diego

NATURAL RESOURCES

AASHTO Comments on Proposed WOTUS Revisions – AASHTO Journal

How Mapping Beaver Wetlands Can Chart a Path to a Better Water Future – Walton Family Foundation

An unexpected item is blocking cities’ climate change prep: obsolete rainfall records – NPR

FAA Raises Concerns After Sunnyvale Uses Lasers To Keep Crows Out Of Downtown – KPIX-TV

What causes a city to issue a boil water notice? – KXAN-TV

Rhode Island’s CRMC needs fundamental change – Providence Journal (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

New York City’s Plan for a Queens Greenway Moves Forward, Connects Parks for Bicyclists and Pedestrians – Flushing Post

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Burgeoning bike cities emerge across America – Axios

With Bike Buses, Kid Cyclists Dominate the Road – CityLab

Stop, look, go: Project in Jacksonville, NC created to keep pedestrians safety – WNCT-TV

FDOT to update A1A in Brevard County to improve pedestrian safety – WOFL-TV

How Micromobility Impacts Cities…And You – Metro (Blog)

ConnectSmart: Making Houston More Connected and Less Congested – Texas Department of Transportation (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions: Just Transition Webinar Series – Government Perspectives – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Enhancing Highway Workforce Development Opportunities Contracting Initiative – FHWA (Notice)

Land Uses; Special Uses; Procedures for Operating Plans and Agreements for Powerline Facility Maintenance and Vegetation Management Within and Abutting the Linear Right-of-Way for a Powerline Facility – Forest Service (Final rule; technical amendment)

Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Proposal To Find That Texas Has Satisfied Conditions on Earlier Approval – NOAA and EPA (Notice of proposed finding; request for comments)

National Advisory Council – FEMA (Solicitation; request for applicants for appointment to the National Advisory Council; correction)

Virginia Resource Advisory Committee; Meeting – Forest Service (Notice of virtual meeting)

FEDERAL ACTION

Registration Open for AASHTO’s Washington Briefing – AASHTO Journal

House T&I Subcommittee Holds Hearing on CAVs – AASHTO Journal

Biden, automakers face cultural divide on U.S. push for EVs – Automotive News

White House and EPA pen scathing letters to USPS over next-gen vehicle plan, including EV misinformation – Electrek

President Biden, USDOT Releases Toolkit to Help Rural Communities Build Out Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure – USDOT (Media release)

COVID-19

Airlines, travel groups urge White House to remove testing requirement for vaccinated travelers – The Hill

Traffic roars back: The pandemic driving lull is over, but mutated commuter habits have changed the transportation equation – Deseret News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

AASHTO Comments on FEMA Floodplain Plans – AASHTO Journal

Michigan finalizing plan to build first-ever wireless charging road for electric cars – WJBK-TV

How Computer Vision Can Create Smart Transportation Systems – Forbes

AIR QUALITY

Transportation overtakes energy as leading greenhouse-gas producer in North Carolina – News & Observer

Is Key California Pollution Law Working? – Governing

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Transit Buses Across US Are Reserving A Front Seat In Honor Of Rosa Parks – Because of Them We Can

How Michigan agencies are addressing inequalities in infrastructure projects – WDET Radio

Austin to spend $65 million this year to reduce displacement near future transit lines – Austin Monitor

White House Council on Native American Affairs’ Engagement Session with Tribal Leaders Focuses on Infrastructure, Public Safety – Native News Online

Evaluating Transportation Equity: ITE Quickbite – Planetizen

From walking to cycling, how we get around a city is a gender equality issue – new research – The Conversation

NATURAL RESOURCES

Nevada DOT Adds Fences to Reduce Animal Collisions – AASHTO Journal

Los Angeles Is Building a Future Where Water Won’t Run Out – Bloomberg

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Preserving Post-WW2 Historical Homes – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

What Was Lost in Pittsburgh’s Broken Bridge – CityLab

Nevada DOT Launches Cultural Resources Latino Project and Seeks Input to Inform Future Projects – Nevada DOT (Media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

WA lawmakers advance bill to create office to address homeless encampments near highways – Seattle Times

Batavia Launches Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Effort – Kane County Connects

Bike advocates ask for aid to finish Lincoln-to-Omaha trail – AP

How to Jump-Start Cycling Infrastructure Improvements – Route Fifty

Austin Urban Trails Program to Break Ground on Violet Crown Trail North – City of Austin (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Coverage of 2022, TRB Annual Meeting: Creating Pathways to Equity – AASHTO Transportation TV News (Link to video)

Making Travel More Equitable for People with Disabilities – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan; Request for Information; Extension of Comment Period – USDOT (Request for Information; extension of comment period)

Operational Risk Assessments for Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas as Fuel, and Updates to Industry Standards – Coast Guard (Final rule)

Notification of Public Meeting (Local Government Advisory Committee and the Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee) – EPA (Notice)

Delegation of Authority to the State of West Virginia To Implement and Enforce Additional or Revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Standards and New Source Performance Standards – EPA (Notice)

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Panel – Forest Service (Call for nominations)

Investigation Into Conditions Created by Canadian Ballast Water Regulations in the U.S./Canada Great Lakes Trade – Federal Maritime Commission (Request for comments)

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ferry Berth Improvements in Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska – NOAA (Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments on proposed authorization and possible renewal)

Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Safety Enhancement Programs – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

Coalition Urges Passage of Full FY 2022 Appropriations – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Provides EV Charging Feedback to FHWA – AASHTO Journal

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consider limiting wetlands regulation – Reuters

Environmental groups aren’t pushing Supreme Court picks. Here’s why. – Washington Post

The electrical grid of the future must be built around community need – The Hill (Opinion)

USDOT Announces Availability of $1.5 Billion in RAISE Grants Made Possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – USDOT (Media release)

COVID-19

NYC Transit Tech Lab Names COVID-19 Response Challenge Winners – Government Technology

During COVID-19, Road Fatalities Increased and Transit Ridership Dipped – GAO (Blog)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

WYDOT Proposes Reroute Of I-80 To Avoid Winter Closures – Cowboy State Daily

Urban Villages: The Key to Sustainable Community Economic Development – Planetizen

Alaska’s only Arctic deep draft port will get hundreds of millions of dollars from infrastructure bill – KNOM Radio

Massachusetts to install solar noise barrier along highway – PV Magazine

North Carolina Governor: A gas tax in a world that’s turning away from gas isn’t sustainable – Charlotte Observer (commentary)

High-Speed Rail Board Clears Final Environmental Hurdles to Advance Service into Los Angeles – California High-Speed Rail Authority (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Critics say infrastructure projects won’t make a big enough impact on climate change – NPR

Tech giants call on SCOTUS to let EPA regulate CO2 emissions – The Verge

All-Electric, Zero-Emissions Intercity Bus Makes Its Debut in Santa Barbara County – Santa Barbara Independent

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New Jersey Pioneers Transportation Solutions For Mobility-Marginalized Communities – Forbes

How Can A Road Be Racist? Don’t Ask That Question In Michigan. – Deadline Detroit

Improving Transit Options for Underserved Youth in Kansas City – Government Technology

Public transportation in Central NY falls short for people with disabilities – Post-Standard

Fact Sheet: A Year Advancing Environmental Justice – The White House (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Georgia DOT Expanding Adopt a Highway Partnership – AASHTO Journal

Central Park Is Opening a Lab to Study Climate Change – CityLab

Walton planners, commissioners seek more input from public on tree protection, preservation proposals – Northwest Florida Daily News

Fishermen Discouraged by EPA’s Delayed Timeline to Protect Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery – Alaska Native News

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

WisDOT program aims to improve transportation accessibility – WKBT-TV

5 U.S. Cities Where Bike Commuting Is Booming – CityLab

Wilmington, North Carolina Launches Mobility-As-A-Service Solution – SmartCitiesWorld

Construction begins on Pershing Bikeway – KGTV-TV

County Executive, Office of Transportation Announce Interactive Map Tool for County’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan – “Walk & Roll Anne Arundel!” – Anne Arundel County (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Preparing for Winter Weather with Transportation Resources – TRB

Highway Capacity Manual 7th Edition – TRB

Advancing the Role of Women in Transportation with Laura Chace, ITS America President and CEO – ITE Talks Transportation (Podcast)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Proposal To Find That Louisiana Has Satisfied All Conditions of Approval Placed on Its Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program – NOAA and EPA (Notice) (Click here for link to correction)

Air Plan Approval; FL; Removal of Motor Vehicle Rules – EPA (Final rule)

Air Plan Approval; New Hampshire; Conformity – EPA (Proposed rule)

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

Visitor Experience Improvements Authority Contracts – National Park Service (Proposed rule)

Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of Operators’ Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

National Institute of Standards and Technology Standards and Performance Metrics for On-Road Autonomous Vehicles: Workshop – National Institute of Standards and Technology (Notice)

National Advisory Committee on Coal – Department of Energy (Notice of re-establishment)

National Advisory Council – FEMA (Solicitation; request for applicants for appointment to the National Advisory Council)

FEDERAL ACTION

Transportation Committees Prep New Waterways Bill – Transport Topics

White House to ask mayors nationwide to name infrastructure coordinators – Spectrum News

U.S. Army Plans $14 Billion for Ports, Waterways and Climate Help – Bloomberg Green

EPA, blue states push back on Republicans’ SCOTUS bid to curb agency powers – Reuters

Cassidy, Coons, Murkowski Unveil Landmark Bipartisan Climate Resilience Legislation – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (Media release)

COVID-19

Supreme Court rejects bid to block mask mandate on airplanes – The Hill

Air quality back to pre-pandemic levels – KARE-TV

NEPA

Court may back Mountain Valley pipeline, despite NEPA fight – E&E News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

AASHTO Issues Bridge Guide for Tsunami Effects – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Supporting EV Infrastructure Webinar Series – AASHTO Journal

The U.S. is divided over whether nuclear power is part of the green energy future – AP

14 streetlight sensors are collecting data on a Center City block as part of a ‘smart cities’ pilot – Billy Penn

AIR QUALITY

Two Governors Issue ‘Clean Transportation’ Executive Orders – AASHTO Journal

National coalition to advance the development of hydrogen fuel cell buses formed in the U.S. – Intelligent Transport

How can transportation companies reach their sustainability goals? With better data – Fast Company

Projects would harvest CO2 for transport in pipelines across five states – KELO-TV

Clean fuel standard would build economy, reduce emissions – Las Cruces Sun News (Opinion)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Universities may fall short promoting biking to underserved populations – Penn State University

Giant sky-high train bridge through downtown will ruin Fort Lauderdale, mayor says – South Florida Sun-Sentinel

To Skirt Air Pollution Oversight, States Can Play Hide and Seek – Undark

Can AI-powered congestion pricing improve transportation equity? – GCN

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Maine highway planners look to new federal funding for village projects – Portland Press Herald

Bicyclists & Pedestrians Must Wait to Use New, I-74 Bridge Trail – WVIK Radio

New bike lanes coming for Richmond cyclists – Richmond News

CVRD to host virtual open houses on its active transportation plan – Cowichan Valley Citizen

Small Electric Shuttles Ideal for Last-Mile Transit – Government Technology

Show the City Where You Want to See Walking and Biking Route Improvements with New Public Input Map – City of Austin (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Breaking Barriers: Alternative Approaches to Avoiding and Reducing Highway Traffic Noise Impacts – TRB

Flying in the COVID-19 Era: Science-based Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies on the Ground and in the Air – TRB

Embracing the Unknown – Strategic Transportation Planning in the Pandemic Age – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 2022 Issuance of General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities – EPA (Notice of final permit issuance)

Control of Air Pollution From Aircraft Engines: Emission Standards and Test Procedures; Rescheduling of Public Hearing – EPA Proposed rule; rescheduling of public hearing)

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden Spending Bill Ignites Debate Over Dairy Methane Pollution – U.S. News and World Report

DOE Launches New Initiative From President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law To Modernize National Grid – US Department of Energy (Media release)

COVID-19

2021 ferry ridership nears 75% of pre-pandemic levels – Washington State DOT

Omicron disrupts transit, emergency services as workers call out sick: ‘Most people are going to get Covid’ – CNBC

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Northwest Progressive Institute’s Polling Shows Washingtonians Want State’s Next Transportation Package To Be Safety And Climate Focused, Not Car-Centric – Cascadia Advocate

Cities Want Ebikes to Stay in Their Lane – but Which One? – Wired

How U.S. Infrastructure Plans Shrank in Ambition – CityLab (Commentary)

AIR QUALITY

U.S. emissions surged in 2021, putting the nation further off track from its climate targets – Washington Post

EPA to review general aviation lead emissions risks – Reuters

This startup pays Bay Area residents to monitor their air quality – in crypto – SFGATE

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

TRB Panel Examines Ways to Create Equity in Transportation – AASHTO Journal

A California City Is Taking Electric Transit Into Its Own Hands – Jalopnik

Vt. lawmakers look to create statewide environmental justice policy – WCAX-TV

NATURAL RESOURCES

How Does a Cougar Cross a Washington Freeway? Their Future May Depend on the Answer – U.S. News and World Report

World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing Is Finally Underway in Los Angeles – Curbed

CULTURAL RESOURCES

As St. Louis’ historic buildings crumble, city eyes little-used powers some say can help save them – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New Colorado DOT Documentary Depicts New Era Of Archeology – Estes Park Trail Gazette

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Old Florida Keys bridge reopening to pedestrians, bicyclists – AP

Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive Revs Up for a Car Comeback – Bloomberg CityLab

E-Scooters Set to Return to Chicago’s Streets, But They’ll Be Banned from 606 Trail – WTTW-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB 2022 Annual Meeting – Keynote USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg – TRB (Video)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program To Allow Persons Ages 18, 19, and 20 To Operate Commercial Motor Vehicles in Interstate Commerce – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Notice and establishment of pilot program)

Notice To Reestablish the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety Charter – FTA (Notice)

Notice of Designation of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve – NOAA (Notice)

Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 8 (ATLW-8) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the New York (NY) Bight – Final Sale Notice (FSN) – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fee – Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (Interim final rule, request for comments)

FEDERAL ACTION

Top White House environmental justice official to depart post – CNN

Five Parts of the Infrastructure Bill You Might Have Missed – Government Technology

US AGs Call for ‘Prompt Suspension’ of LNG Transport by Rail Rules – Natural Gas Intelligence

Amtrak struggles to recover from winter weather challenges – Trains

As spending bill stalls, Biden climate goals remain elusive – Washington Post

COVID-19

What the Pandemic’s ‘Open Streets’ Really Revealed – Bloomberg CityLab

Transit agencies concerned about impact of Omicron variant – RT&S

Gallup: U.S. air travel still down as working adults curtail trips – UPI

NEPA

Lake Restoration Solutions begins NEPA assessment process – Daily Herald

Attorney General Bonta Asks Ninth Circuit to Review Ruling in Litigation Challenging San Bernardino Warehouse Project – California Attorney General (Media Release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

After I-95 fiasco, a ‘road weather’ expert digs into snow, ice and jackknifed trucks – Washington Post

Lessons from Washington Metro, America’s Last Great Subway System – Governing

Why Infrastructure is First Step in Electric Vehicle Transition – Trucks.com

In frozen ports on Lake Superior, it’s up to tug operators to keep shipping channels open – Park Rapids Enterprise

Waze adds EV charging station locations to its driving map – Mashable

Kansas City Airport installs wireless electric bus charging system – Future Travel Experience

AIR QUALITY

With executive order, governor targets transportation for next NC emissions cuts – News & Observer

How Six States Could Transform the U.S. Trucking Industry – CityLab

GM recognizes California’s authority to set vehicle emissions rules – Reuters

Pollution in the West: ‘You could travel a hundred miles and not find air quality that is any better’ -Deseret News

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Public Transit Systems Refocus on Their Core Riders – Wired

Maine grants to improve senior transportation in rural areas – AP

Public Transit Systems Refocus on Their Core Riders – Wired

Oakland Gives $150 Prepaid Cards for Use on Transit, Bike, Scooter Programs – Bay City News

NATURAL RESOURCES

Florida has lost 44% of its wetlands since 1845. What is the environmental impact? – Northwest Florida Daily News

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Europe to put bicycles front and center in mobility plans – Momentum

What happened to the 1,300 Lime bikes that vanished from South Bend? – South Bend Tribune

Transit, cycling and pedestrian improvements begin as part of BC’s Highway 99 Tunnel Program – Mass Transit

Houston bike share hopes to expand transportation options in underserved communities – KUHF Radio

How e-mobility is driving a foundational shift in transportation – Intelligent Transport

Electric bicycles, scooters, hoverboards banned from St. Pete Beach – St. Pete Catalyst

Ozarks Transportation Organization seeks input on sidewalks & on-street bicycle and pedestrian lanes – KYTV-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Annual Meeting And The Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Technology Conference Conference Preview – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

Transportation in an Aging Society – The Future is Now – TRB (Webinar)

How universities and the Transportation Research Board find solutions together through science and innovation – Thinking Transportation (Podcast)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Demonstration Program – Build America Bureau, USDOT (Notice of funding opportunity)

Ozark National Scenic Riverways; Motorized Vessels – National Park Service (Proposed rule)

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

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Public Comment on the Annotated Outline of the Fifth National Climate Assessment – NOAA (Notice of request for public comment)

FEDERAL ACTION

New EPA Rule Mandates 55 MPG by Model Year 2026 – AASHTO Journal

Four environmental fights to watch in 2022 – The Hill

White House and Congress Made Significant Strides in 2021 to Improve U.S. Flood Policies – Pew

Study: Spending infrastructure funds on highway expansion could increase emissions – The Hill

Coalition Letter on the Resilient AMERICA Act – US Chamber of Commerce

COVID-19

Omicron Suddenly Upends the World’s Return to the Office – CityLab

As Traffic Roars Back, Neighborhoods Outside Manhattan Feel the Pain – New York Times

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Golden Gate Bridge announces fix for noise nuisance – Marin Independent Journal

It’s ‘everyone’s job:’ Delaware offers more details on climate action plan – WHYY Radio

Experts Debate Where EV Charging Infrastructure Needs to Be – Government Technology

Caltrans to Require ‘Complete Streets’ Features in Planning and Design of All New Projects – California DOT (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

N.J. will now be able to follow California’s clean air standards for cars – NJ.com

Ports eliminating old trucks as a step toward improving air quality – Spectrum News 1

Public transit in rural Maine is sparse. Improving it could help the state fight climate change – Maine Public Radio

MassDEP Files New Regulations to Reduce Emissions, Advance Market for Clean Trucks in the Commonwealth – Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Racial reckoning turns focus to roadside historical markers – NPR

How Detroit’s inequitable transit costs Black Detroiters more – and what we can do to change it – Metromode

‘Universal Basic Mobility’ Speaks to a City’s Values – Government Technology (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Florida manatee deaths: EPA sued over Indian River Lagoon water quality by Earthjustice – TCPalm

Why millions of dollars are being invested in local water quality, and the innovative way it’s being spent – NorthCentralPA.com

Minnesota’s cleaned-up lakes and rivers show path forward for polluted waters – Star Tribune

Mississippi projects aim at improving oyster reefs – AP

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bicycling alone, no more: Maine moves toward active transportation – Maine Monitor

FAA shoots down Lakeland’s first plan to reduce jet noise – The Ledger

I-74 bike and pedestrian path opening delayed to spring 2022 – KWQC-TV

After 10 years, Lake Street Bridge opens to pedestrians. What it means for downtown Elmira – Star-Gazette

Endangered species ruling puts bike lanes in jeopardy – Redlands Community News (Editorial)

Active Transportation Plan: A new compass to guide the state’s active transportation future – Washington State DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Options for Improving the Safety of DUKW Type Amphibious Vessels – TRB

Measuring and Managing Freight Resilience Workshop – TRB (Workshop Summary)

Partnerships and Cross-Sector Collaboration Priorities to Support Climate Research and Policy – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Workshop proceedings)

How We Move Matters: Exploring the Connections Between New Transportation and Mobility Options and Environmental Health – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Workshop proceedings)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan; Request for Information – USDOT (RFI)

Design Standards for Highways – FHWA (Final Rule)

On-Site Civil Inspection Procedures; Rescission – EPA (Final rule; rescission of regulations)

State of New Mexico Underground Injection Control Program; Primacy Revisions – EPA (Final rule)

Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards – EPA (Final rule)

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

Air Plan Approval; California; San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District; Open Burning – EPA (Proposed rule)

Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC)Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Subcommittee Meeting – January 2022 – EPA (Notice of public meeting)

Fire Safety of Small Passenger Vessels – Coast Guard, DHS (Interim rule)

Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight – Coast Guard (Notice of availability; final
report.)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and Associated Environmental Assessment for an Alternate Route for the Gateway South Transmission Line at the Colorado/Utah Border – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Call for Nominations or Expressions of Interest for Solar Leasing Areas on Public Lands in the States of Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Hydrographic Services Review Panel – NOAA (Notice of call for nominations)

Intent To Request an Extension From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Cybersecurity Measures for Surface Modes – DHS (60-Day notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Provides Comments on USDOT Strategic Plan – AASHTO Journal

White House adds two key coordinators to implement $1 trillion infrastructure law – CBS News

White House unveils plan to replace lead pipes in U.S., set new water quality standards – UPI

Harris rolls out plan for electric vehicle charging network – The Hill

Rolling Coal vs. Biking. How Politics Has Changed Transportation. – Governing

Democrats request probe of White House EJ actions – E&E News

COVID-19

CDC program offers travelers free at-home COVID test kits at select US airports – USA Today

Bay Area transit faces ‘fiscal cliff’ as ridership collapse endures – East Bay Times

Amid rise of omicron, businesses ease up on return-to-work policies – NBC News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Public Review Period Extended for Port Master Plan Update Draft Program Environmental Impact Report – The Log

Remote Sensing Could Predict Well Water Quality After Floods – EOS

Amtrak Works to Keep the NYC Rail Tunnel Open Until Its Gateway Project Is Done – Bloomberg

Winds damage hundreds of traffic signs across Kansas – Kansas DOT (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Washington State Ferries to debut first hybrid-electric ferry in 2025 – KOMO News

Colorado enacts new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with fewer road expansions, more mass transit options – KMGH-TV

Lamont’s executive order mirrors Transportation Climate Initiative policies – WSHU Radio

A rush to mine lithium in Nevada is pitting climate advocates and environmental groups against each other – KAKE-TV

Oregon DOT responds to concerns raised by climate organizers – Oregon Public Broadcasting

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Climate Activists and Environmental Justice Advocates Join the Gerrymandering Fight in Ohio and North Carolina – Inside Climate News

Colorado, Montana and Utah projects among $14.1 million in environmental justice grants nationwide – Ark Valley Voice

Proposed California law seeks to ban freeway expansions in underserved communities – Los Angeles Times

Air pollution still disproportionately harms communities of color, study says – Washington Post

NATURAL RESOURCES

AASHTO Comments on Proposed Migratory Bird Rule – AASHTO Journal

BNSF fined $1.5 million for alleged Clean Water Act violations – National Hog Farmer

Why Pittsburgh Is Dimming Its Streetlights – CityLab

This is how we solve Utah’s land, water and air problems – Deseret News (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Conservative Backlash Erupts Over Notre Dame’s Restoration – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

AASHTO Issues Revised Pedestrian Facilities Guide – AASHTO Journal

New bike-share company to bring 1,500 e-bikes to Seattle streets by spring to boost mobility options – GeekWire

Missouri closing in on second major bike trail on former Rock Island corridor – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Windsor, Colorado’s new pedestrian bridge, Pelican Bridge, is turning heads – Coloradoan

Cities ditch parking spaces in favor of bicycles and people – Momentum

Pittsburgh’s bike-share program to get upgrade with electric bikes, mobility hubs – Tribune-Review

New study will guide pedestrian safety improvements around Orlando – WESH-TV

Missouri Department of Conservation expands bicycle use on many conservation areas – Missouri Department of Conservation (Media release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

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

Colonial National Historical Park; Vessels and Commercial Passenger – Carrying Motor Vehicles National Park Service (Final rule)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Re:source Podcast Examines the IIJA – AASHTO Journal

WH has new slogan on infrastructure, but message the same – AP

FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability – White House (Media release)

MARAD Announces $12.6 Million in Grants for America’s Marine Highways – MARAD (Media release)

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan – The White House (Media release)

 

COVID-19

US Supreme Court dismisses challenge to air travel mask mandate – Jurist

Near pre-pandemic travel volumes expected to continue through December holidays – TSA (Media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

A Conversation With Connecticut DOT Commissioner Joe Guilietti – Taking Transportation blog

Oklahoma secretary of transportation tempers expectations for funding boost from bipartisan infrastructure deal – KWGS Radio

TikTok Influencer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Break Down Build Back Better Agenda – Teen Vogue

Alaska Governor, DOT Commissioner Announce AMHS Infrastructure Plan – Alaska Governor’s Office (Media release)

UNH Research Finds Future Snowmelt Could Have Costly Consequences on Infrastructure – University of New Hampshire (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Union Pacific Railroad Works to Cut Its Carbon Emissions – AP

Whitmer Executive Directive: Electric Cars And Clean Energy Jobs – WBCK Radio

Skagway works to pioneer one of the first electric ferry programs in the country – KHNS Radio

Biden praises Kansas City’s free electric buses as the future of infrastructure – KCUR Radio

FAA research grants aim to tackle aviation’s massive deficit of greener fuel – CNBC

California truckers could soon have to worry about pollution tickets along with speeding tickets – KFSN-TV

Seattle, Tacoma Ports Plan to Phase Out Maritime Emissions – Maritime Logistics Professional

Oregon Joins Other Western States With Electric Truck Rules – Government Technology

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The problem and potential of Oakland’s parks – Oaklandside

Better Ways for FTA to Measure Transit Equity – TransitCenter (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Houston-based flood warning system to bring life-saving alerts to Southeast drivers during severe weather events – KBMT-TV

A northern extension of the Florida Turnpike is moving ahead, despite public opposition – WMFE Radio

Farmers Embrace State-Federal Partnerships to Protect Water Quality – American Farm Bureau Federation

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Expansion of U.S. Bicycle Route System Continues – AASHTO Journal

FDOT focuses on pedestrian safety – West Volusia Beacon

Northwest Arkansas receives 9 grants for trails, sidewalks – KFSM

More cities are embracing scooters, e-bikes. This urban planner sees growth in shared mobility. – Washington Post

IDOT meeting will study pedestrian, bicycle accommodations on Bob Michel Bridge – WEEK-TV

CTDOT Announces Launch Of Vision Zero Council Website For Traffic Safety Information And An Invitation For Public Engagement – Connecticut DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Resource Guide for Improving Diversity and Inclusion Programs for the Public Transportation Industry – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Revised Definition of ‘‘Waters of the United States’’ – Corps of Engineers and EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Availability of a Final General Conformity Determination for the California High-Speed Rail System, Burbank to Los Angeles Section – FRA (Notice)

Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program – FRA (Notice)

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee Notice of Public Meetings National Park Service (Notice)

Request for Nominations for the National Park System Advisory Board – National Park Service (Notice)

Public Hearing for RFS Annual Rules – EPA (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Comments on CEQ’s Proposed NEPA Changes – AASHTO Journal

EPA Outlines $7.4B for Water Infrastructure Headed to States – AP

What’s Next for Biden’s Build Back Better Act? – Illuminem

Reconciliation bill: Transportation secretaries from rural states raise alarm over green energy provision – Fox Business

Federal Highway Administration Unveils Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act `One-Stop Shop’ Website, Publishing Request for Information – FHWA (Media Release)

COVID-19

New US travel rules: What you need to know about the changes prompted by Omicron – CNN

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Governors, State DOT CEOs Talk Infrastructure At Summit – AASHTO Journal

Illinois DOT Working to Develop Sustainable Pavements – AASHTO Journal

A changing climate is buckling concrete and flooding roads. States are moving slowly to guard the nation’s infrastructure. – Washington Post

AIR QUALITY

Port slowdowns worsen air pollution in neighboring communities – Marketplace

Could Roads Recharge Electric Cars? The Technology May Be Close. – New York Times

Port of LA seeks proposals for zero-emission truck project – Container Management

Why doesn’t Indiana have a car emissions inspection program? – Indy Star

Researchers eye alternative energy to power North Carolina state ferries – Coastal Review

Autonomous trucks can drastically cut emissions (Here’s how) – ZDNet

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

A Conversation with Louisiana DOTD Secretary and AASHTO President Dr. Shawn Wilson – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

Public Transit Pivots Toward Equity, Accessibility in 2021 – Government Technology

NATURAL RESOURCES

NCDOT is building highway bridges for wildlife as well as humans – News & Observer

Siesta Key residents hope mini reefs will help improve water quality, ecosystem in canals – WFLA

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Highway Historical Sign Repair And Replacement Underway In Idaho – Idaho Transportation Department

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Automating the War on Noise Pollution – CityLab

Golden Gate Bridge bicycling speed limit takes effect Jan. 1 – Marin Independent Journal

Bikes and pedestrians over cars envisioned for busy downtown Aspen corridor – Aspen Times

Cleveland Metroparks awarded $950,000 to advance transportation projects – Cleveland Jewish News

Signage Along Cleveland Bike Lanes Causing Frustrations For Cyclists, Confusion For Drivers – WJW-TV

Electric Bicycle Demo Program ‘EZBike Project’ Gets Underway In Santa Maria, California – Santa Barbara County Association of Governments

Why Are Cities Hostile to Strollers? – The New Republic

Abandoned rail line to be converted into 32-mile recreational trail through central Maine – Morning Sentinel

LA Paves the Way to Closing Gap in 14-Mile Bicycle Network From Santa Monica to Exposition Park – KNBC-TV

Bike infrastructure will help prevent crashes and fatalities, advocates and researchers say – Capital News Service

Why Communities Should Adopt Vision Zero to Curb Traffic Fatalities – Route Fifty (Commentary)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: The Mighty River – Inland Waterway Resilience Analysis – TRB

TRB Webinar: Examining Exclusions – What’s Missing in the Historic Review Process? – TRB

TRB’s Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Technology (SETT) Conference – TRB

Address Climate Change and Breathe Easier with Research on Transportation Emissions – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

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

Air Plan Approval; FL, GA, NC, SC; Interstate Transport (Prongs 1 and 2) for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone Standard – EPA (Final rule)

Broadband Infrastructure Deployment – FHWA (Final rule)

Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act Request for Information – FHWA (Notice)

National Forest System Land Management Planning; Correction – USDA (Technical correction)

Development of Guidance for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Deployment – FHWA (Notice)

Buy America Request for Information – USDOT and EPA (Notice)