Highlights

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)

FEDERAL ACTION

The Supreme Court will hear cases that could undercut Biden’s climate agenda. Here’s what to know. – Washington Post

Biden’s infrastructure bill includes $50 billion to fight climate change disasters – CNBC

USDOT Releases State by State Fact Sheets Highlighting Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – USDOT (Media release)

COVID-19

Report Examines Potential Post-Pandemic Travel Changes – AASHTO Journal

Wall Street Grudgingly Allows Remote Work as Bankers Dig In – New York Times

Biking Boom or Bust? Cities See New Numbers Post-Pandemic – Government Technology

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Gov. Lamont says he will no longer push for climate change legislation that Republicans say could raise gasoline prices. – Hartford Courant

MDOT Executive Director Brad White talks Infrastructure Act, legislative agenda – Y’all Politics

LA Metro Broadens Its Definition of Regional Mobility – Government Technology

Brookville repurposing NYCT passenger cars to pump train specialty vehicles for emergency use in underground subway system – Mass Transit

The infrastructure package boosts an unsung hero of rural transportation: ferries – Popular Science

AIR QUALITY

Rhode Island, the final state, pulls out of TCI – Boston Herald

Can a climate-conscious CDOT build new roads and cut greenhouse gases at the same time? – Colorado Sun

Play the Game: Can You Fix Smogtown? – City Lab

It’s Not Easy to Convert Diesel Buses to Electric – But Some Cities Are Doing it Anyway – Next City

Hawaiian Electric sees geothermal expansion as one key element in cutting carbon – ThinkGeoEnergy

Governor Hogan Announces State of Maryland Joins National Climate Challenge to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Office of Governor of Maryland

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

EPA Gets Serious About Environmental Justice – National Law Review

Highways become a culture war battlefield – Yahoo News

Bringing racial equity into transit planning for the Chicago region – WBEZ Radio’s Reset (Audio)

American cycling has a racism problem – Washington Post (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

MnDOT researches technology that combines bridge repairs with protecting the state’s bat population – KSTP-TV

US national parks to offer look into green-friendly transit – AP

Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Secures Major Conservation Investments – Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Gov. DeSantis pushes for $3B investment in water quality by end of his first term – Florida Politics

Why hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage are still being dumped into the Susquehanna River – WPMT-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Portland’s historic Union Wharf is being sold and preserved for maritime use – Maine Public Radio

Long-running battle over sacred tribal site near Mount Hood back in court – Oregon Public Broadcasting

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Improving Public Transit Makes It Easier For People To Stay Healthy – Vox

LA County to Consider Allowing Bicycles on Sidewalks, Decriminalize Riding – City News Service

Discussion of allowing e-bikes on Central Oregon trails sparks debate – KTVZ-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

State of Emergency: What Transportation Learned From 9/11 – TRB

Funding Transportation Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic – TRB

TRB Webinar: Power Up! Implementing an Airport Microgrid – TRB

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

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

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

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

Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Alaska – Forest Service (Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comment)

Importations of Water Into and Exportations of Water From the Delaware River Basin; Discharges of Wastewater From High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing and Related Activities – Delaware River Basin Commission (Notice of proposed rulemaking; public hearing)

Notice of Proposed Methodology for the 2022 Delaware River and Bay Water – Quality Assessment Report – Delaware River Basin Commission (Notice of proposed methodology)

Request for Information on the National Flood Insurance Program’s Floodplain Management Standards for Land Management and Use, and an Assessment of the Program’s Impact on Threatened and Endangered Species and Their Habitats; Public Meeting; Extension of Comment Period – FEMA (Announcement of additional public meeting; extension of comment period)

FEDERAL ACTION

With President Biden’s Signature, State DOTs Ready to Implement Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO

Biden chooses Mitch Landrieu to coordinate infrastructure plan implementation – NBC News

The High Stakes of Infrastructure – The New Yorker

How Biden’s infrastructure win falls short in one big area – Politico (Commentary)

Fact Sheet: What the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Will Mean for American Mobility – USDOT (Media release)

USDOT Announces Key Priorities, Funding for Public Transportation Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal – FTA (Media release)

COVID-19

Government Groups Voice Support COVID-19 Funding Flexibility – AASHTO Journal

Executive Q&A: Biggest Lesson Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic – Metro Magazine

NY, NJ, Conn. agree on dividing up federal transit aid – AP

On the Horizon: Planning for Post-Pandemic Travel – APTA (Media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Amtrak chief outlines expansion plans with infrastructure spending – The Hill

Biden rolls out multibillion-dollar plan to upgrade aging U.S. ports after passage of infrastructure bill – CNBC

The Detroit Smart Parking Lab: Mobility Meets Infrastructure – Detroitisit

Homeowners on Hook for Repairs After San Diego Airport ‘Free’ Soundproofing – KNSD-TV

AIR QUALITY

U.S. unveils roadmap for net-zero aviation emissions by 2050 – Axios

America Isn’t Ready for the Electric-Vehicle Revolution – New York Times (Editorial)

Hawaii Administrative Rules Changed To Allow Electric Vehicles To Use HOV Lanes – Hawaii DOT (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Ohio DOT Project Helping Revitalize Cleveland Neighborhood – AASHTO Journal

A state pollution trading program aims to improve air quality, but critics worry about environmental justice – Delaware Public Media

Despite calls to improve, air travel is still a nightmare for many with disabilities – NPR’s Morning Edition

Like Basic Income, But for Transportation – CityLab

Officials target undoing racial divides created by Florida highways, interstates – WTVT-TV

How we reported the story on highway displacements – Los Angeles Times

NATURAL RESOURCES

Montana Department of Transportation tests a new way to decrease wildlife collisions – NBC Montana

LA Metro Installs Early-Warning Earthquake Alerts – Next City

Think green – clean your vehicle at a car wash – LI Herald (Editorial)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Commuting on a bike – Washington State DOT

Wyoming Pathways Seeks Project Ideas That Need Federal Funds – Big Horn Radio Network

Vehicle noise radar may be coming to Philadelphia – Axios

There’s a New 750-Mile Bicycle Route in New York. Take a Look. – New York Times

Localities Pose Stricter Rules on E-Scooter Use, But Challenges Remain – Route Fifty

U of Minnesota study shows how small changes can make big improvements to pedestrian safety – KMSP-TV

Officials across Central Florida push for pedestrian safety – WKMG-TV

Lane County sets ambitious goals of safety, reliability with proposed Bicycle Master Plan – Register-Guard

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Research Can Help Micromobility Have a Supersized Effect on Future Transportation – TRB

TRB Webinar: Paving the Way Toward Carbon-Neutral Concrete – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants; Colorado; Control of Emissions From Existing Municipal Solid Waste Landfills – EPA (Final rule)

FY 2021 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Enhancing Mobility Innovation – FTA (Notice)

Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People; Technical Amendments – FAA (Technical amendments)

Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary – NOAA (Notice)

Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting Requirements, Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Final rule)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Praises Passage of Historic Transportation Bill – AASHTO

Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal – The White House

EPA tells court it will reconsider air quality standards for ozone – Reuters

FHWA 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS – FHWA (Request for Nominations)

COVID-19

Pandemic milestone: U.S. ends international travel ban, opening the door to vaccinated tourists – CNBC

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

AASHTO’s Tymon Talks Infrastructure on C-Span – AASHTO Journal

Public transportation can save the world – if we let it – The Verge

The battle over a vast New York park: is this climate resilience or capitalism? – The Guardian

Kansas City hopes its vision for airport solar will be ready for takeoff soon – Energy News Network

Industry still behind in race for enough truck parking spaces – FleetOwner

AIR QUALITY

Pennsylvania Governor Awards $9.5 Million to Reduce Pollutants and Increase Clean Transportation – Pennsylvania Governor’s Office

Port of Seattle Sets 2040 Net Zero Emissions Target – Ship & Bunker

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

AASHTO President: Embrace the “New Normal” of Equity – AASHTO Journal

Biden wants to ‘reconnect communities’ cut off by interstates – this infamous Baltimore highway shows what’s at stake – MarketWatch

PA Governor Wolf Establishes PA Office of Environmental Justice – WKOK Radio

The event that changed the environmental justice movement forever – Grist

Delays frustrate White House environmental justice advisers – E&E News

NATURAL RESOURCES

California desert high-speed rail line could block sheep, mountain lions. Democrats want more crossings. – Merced Sun-Star

How Minneapolis’ simple change to newly constructed boulevards will improve water quality – MinnPost

Hundreds of SCDOT employees participating in “Grab a Bag SC” litter pickup Tuesday – WOLO-TV

NCDOT Wildflower Program among the most recognized in the country – WGHP-TV

ARDOT Rolls Out Anti-Litter Campaign With Keep It Clean, Arkansas Video – Arkansas DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Wisconsin DOT Unveils Dual Language Signs – WJFW-TV

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is setting new standards for public art – The Points Guy

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New and expanded trail system in north Shelby County, Alabama – Bham Now

Online Survey To Gather Comments on Hawaii Bikeway Needs – Hawaii DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

COP26 Presents Historic Opportunity for a More Sustainable Future, Say Presidents of U.S. National Academies – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Transit and Micromobility – TRB

TRB Webinar: Creature Comforts – Designing Terminal Restrooms and Ancillary Spaces – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Arizona Department of Transportation Final FHWA Audit Report – FHWA (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project on Interstate 101, in Del Norte County, California – FHWA (Notice)

National Wetland Plant List – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Subcommittee Meeting – December 2021 – EPA (Notice of public meeting)

Announcement of the Board of Directors for the National Environmental Education Foundation – EPA (Notice of appointment and re-appointment; correction)

Deadline Extension for Regional Roundtable Discussions Regarding ‘‘Waters of the United States’’ – Corps of Engineers and EPA (Notice of events; extension of deadline request for nominations)

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

Hazardous Materials: Suspension of HMR Amendments Authorizing Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Rail – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Notice of Competitive Offer for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands in the State of Arizona – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID–19 Pandemic – CDC (Notice)

Requirement for Negative Pre- Departure COVID–19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery From COVID–19 for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving Into the United States From Any Foreign Country – CDC (Notice of agency amended order)

Requirement for Airlines and Operators To Collect and Transmit Designated Information for Passengers and Crew Arriving Into the United States; Requirement for Passengers To Provide Designated Information – CDC (Notice of agency order)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Disappointed with Yet another Transportation Bill Extension – AASHTO News

Here’s what’s in the bipartisan infrastructure bill – CNN

Buttigieg defends bipartisan infrastructure bill, ‘optimistic’ it will pass – ABC News

U.S. Supreme Court to hear bid to curb federal power to limit carbon emissions – Reuters

COVID-19

Alaska Railroad rescinds employee vaccine mandate just days after announcing policy – Anchorage Daily News

FTA Recognizes Outstanding Rural Transit Agencies That Have Gone Above and Beyond for Their Communities Amid the Pandemic – FTA (Media Release)

Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Releases Additional Detail for Implementing a Safer, More Stringent International Air Travel System – White House (Media release)

NEPA

Proposed Legislative and Executive Branch Changes to NEPA Process – JDSupra

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Reconstruction of an urban highway in NC named nation’s top transportation project – Charlotte Observer

MoDOT project intends to help flood-prone stretch of Highway 67 rise above traffic woes – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

NJ TRANSIT Continues Resiliency Upgrades In Hoboken – NJ Transit (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

EPA Chief Michael Regan Touts Collaborative Approach of SmartWay Program – Transport Topics

FAA Administrator: Freedom to fly brings environmental responsibility – Runway Girl Network

More Urban Chargers Will Prompt EV Adoption, Experts Say – Government Technology

London expands vehicle levy to improve air quality – Reuters

Connecticut drivers have paid hundreds of millions in clean air and emissions fees. Where did they go? – Yankee Institute

States With Highest Portion Of Their CO2 Emissions Coming From Transportation: California, Washington, & Hawaii – US Department of Energy

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

This Squad of Researchers Is a Real-Life Justice League – Boston University

NATURAL RESOURCES

Arizona DOT Tests New ‘Watch for Animals’ Placards – AASHTO Journal

Keep it Clean, Arkansas campaign launched by ARDOT – Arkansas DOT

GDOT’s Wildflower Program provides pop of color along state highways – WMAZ-TV (Video)

Environmentalists and Chicago Rockford airport officials beg to differ over the Bell Bowl Prairie – WREX-TV

Wetlands are a nature-based solution to climate change – Vermont Business Magazine (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Loss of Fire Lookouts Spurs Questions About Historic Preservation – Columbia University

Can a Map Rekindle London’s Love of Walking? – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Massachusetts Considers Letting Electric Bikes in Bike Lanes – AP

DC makes roadway changes as part of fall safety campaign to protect pedestrians, bicyclists – WTOP Radio

Burlington airport monitoring sound levels following jet-noise complaints – VTDigger

Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs Legislation Cracking Down On Noise Pollution – WCBS-TV

A controversial connection? Thomasville Road multi-use trail in Tallahassee draws fire as planners gather input – Tallahassee Democrat

San Luis Obispo installs new pedestrian-bicycle bridge as part of Railroad Safety Trail project – The Tribune

Orlando Crosswalk Uses Infrared Heat Technology To Detect Pedestrians – WRBW-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Clearing the Skies with Research on Electric Vehicles – TRB

TRB Webinar: Building Information Modeling for Infrastructure – TRB

Equity in University Research Centers Workshop – C2SMART Center (Link to registration)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Port Access Route Study: Alaskan Arctic Coast; Reopening of Comment Period – Coast Guard (Notice)

Proposed Consent Decree, Safe Drinking Water Act Claims – EPA (Notice of proposed consent
decree; request for public comment)

Air Plan Approval; NC; Removal of Transportation Facilities Rules for Mecklenburg County – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mayflower Wind Project on the Northeast Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments)

Request for Information on NOAA Actions To Advance the Goals and Recommendations in the Report on Conserving and Restoring America The Beautiful, Including Conserving At Least 30 Percent of U.S. Lands and Waters By 2030 – NOAA (Notice)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – (Proposed rule)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries (Proposed rule)

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate unanimously redirects COVID relief money for infrastructure projects – WIS-TV

What’s in, and what’s out, as Democrats trim Biden infrastructure bill – AP

White House, EPA tout climate wins and goals ahead of COP 26 – E&E News

Can the Biden Administration Meet Its Offshore Wind Goals? – Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Billions in environmental justice funds hang in the balance – AP

COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations on the Ongoing Recovery of the Aviation Industry – GAO

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

WSDOT Project Keeps Traffic, Fish Moving During Construction – AASHTO Journal

Pa. to Pave Road With Asphalt, Recycled Plastic Mixture – Times Leader

Downtown Brooklyn’s Greener, Car-Free Future Is Taking Root – CityLab

For Uber and Lyft, the Rideshare Bubble Bursts – New York Times (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

New Software Puts Rail Freight On Express Track To Net-Zero Emissions – US Department of Energy

Fly more, pollute less — the great aviation conundrum – France 24

Study: Charging Up EVs Costs More Than Filling Up Gas Tanks – Detroit Free Press

CDOT issues updated air pollution reduction standard proposal – Colorado Department of Transportation (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

‘Mobility Justice’: How cities are rethinking public transportation after COVID – Grist

NATURAL RESOURCES

Environmental groups say state’s trash reduction plan not strong enough – WBUR Radio

CULTURAL RESOURCES

WSDOT archaeologist solves mystery of structure under Maple Valley Highway – KIRO Radio

Michigan City’s new trail connects the dunes, arts, a wild river and (eventually) Chicago – South Bend Tribune

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Guide aims to help blind, low-vision pedestrians navigate Montgomery County streets – Radio WTOP

R.I. will not try to stop the South Water Street bike lane project – Boston Globe

Public comment sought on bike plans in Joplin – Joplin Globe

Group seeks to convert old South Dakota railroad line to recreation trail – AP

As e-bikes soar in popularity, a proposed Massachusetts law would clarify how and where they can be used – Boston University Statehouse Program

SCAG Receives Grant for Go Human Safety Program – Southern California Association of Governments (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Confronting a ‘Triple Existential Threat’ – NAM President Victor Dzau Discusses How Health and Medicine Can Respond to Current Crises – National Academy of Medicine

Equitably Connecting Rural and Urban Populations – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Re-Designation of the Primary Highway Freight System (PHFS) – FHWA (Notice of extension of comment period)

Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Mexico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Notification of continuation of temporary travel restrictions)

Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Notification of continuation of temporary travel restrictions)

COVID–19 Related Relief Concerning Operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, New York LaGuardia Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National and San Francisco International Airport for the Winter 2021/2022 Scheduling Season – FAA (Extension of limited, conditional waiver of the minimum slot usage requirement for international operations only)

Fire Protection for Recreational Vessels – Coast Guard (Final rule)

Port Access Route Study: Approaches to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia – Coast Guard (Notice of availability)

Notification of Regional Roundtable Discussions Regarding ‘‘Waters of the United States’’ – Corps of Engineers and EPA (Notice of events; request for nominations)

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

Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings; Green Building Advisory Committee; Notification of Upcoming Web-Based Meetings – GSA (Notice of public meetings)

FEDERAL ACTION

Federal, State Agencies Ramping Up Pedestrian Safety Efforts – AASHTO Journal

Democrats Scramble for Climate Options After Manchin Rejects Clean-Energy Plan – New York Magazine

State-level carbon tax climate agreement ‘having a hard time getting off the ground’ – Fox News

COVID-19

TSA says 40 percent of workforce unvaccinated ahead of November deadline – The Hill

Mayor Eyes COVID Vaccine Mandate for Airport Arrivals During Mardi Gras Season – Nola.com

Should Passengers Be Vaccinated or Tested to Fly Within the U.S.? – New York Times

How recovery from COVID-19’s impact on energy demand could help meet climate targets – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

NEPA

Udall Foundation and Udall Center Hosting Two Virtual Forums on Engagement and Consultation in the NEPA Process – Udall Foundation

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Rural Alaska needs new bridges as permafrost thaws and crossing river ice gets riskier – the infrastructure bill is only a start – The Conversation

Michigan must better prepare for electric vehicles to maintain mobility leadership, report says – Detroit News

One-fourth of US infrastructure is at risk of floods. These 4 states are in the most peril. – USA Today

MBTA plans removal of buses’ overhead wires and a fleet overhaul; transit group isn’t aboard – Cambridge Day

Governor Murphy and NJ TRANSIT Announce Portal North Bridge Project Construction Award – State of New Jersey Governor’s Office (Press release)

AIR QUALITY

Southern New England Lawmakers Rally in Support of Initiative to Reduce Transportation Emissions – ecoRI News

MTD Unveils Zero Emission Fleet Technology – Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District

CDOT aims to be “at the forefront” with greenhouse gas rules that would have far-reaching impact – Denver Post

LA’s Busy Anchorages Attract Environmentalists’ Scrutiny – Maritime Executive

Make electric vehicles lighter to maximize climate and safety benefits – Nature (Commentary)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Native American tribes push to get Biden’s infrastructure bill passed – NPR’s Morning Edition

New York vs. New Jersey: Law, Equity and Politics – Railway Age

NATURAL RESOURCES

A climate specialist sees ‘managed retreat’ from the coast a solution for Long Island and beyond – WSHU Radio

Researchers work to better understand possible environmental impacts of fracking – Scripps Media

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Tourism officials say California, Nevada border traffic jams need to be addressed – KSNV-TV

How France Turned the Humble Roundabout Into a Showcase for Art – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

City designs Neighborhood Bikeway in Billings to make biking and walking safer – KVTQ-TV

As e-mobility booms, safety challenges grow – New York Times

WSDOT working to improve state’s sidewalk network, address mobility concerns – KIRO-TV

Separate paths on W&OD Trail for cyclists and pedestrians unveiled in Falls Church – Tysons Reporter

New Underpass For Cyclists And Pedestrians Provides Important Connection In West St. Paul – WCCO-TV

Accessible trail to be added in Waterworks trail renovations in Montana – KWYB/KFBB/KTMF-TV

Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania aims to make streets safer for pedestrians – WBRE/WYOU-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3 Electric Vehicles Workshop – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee; November 2021 Teleconference – Coast Guard (Notice)

Announcement of the Board of Directors for the National Environmental Education Foundation – EPA (Notice)

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

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

Public Meeting/Notice of Availability for Proposed Air Tour Management Plan at Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Muir Woods National Monument; San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park; and Point Reyes National Seashore – FAA (Notice)

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project in Virginia Beach, Virginia – NOAA (Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments on proposed authorization and possible renewal)

FEDERAL ACTION

Remarks by President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Build Back Better Agenda – White House

25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk of failure due to flooding, new report finds – CNN

Failure on infrastructure will hit local governments the hardest – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Tulsa Transit is now requiring medical exemption forms for riders who want to go maskless on buses – Public Radio Tulsa

Transportation Leaders Push Transformative Updates Post-COVID – Transport Topics

NEPA

How Biden’s NEPA plan could change the energy sector – E&E News

Winston enviro chair, ex-Trump DOJ official unpacks Biden’s NEPA overhaul – Reuters

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Reports Highlight Growing Federal Focus on Resiliency – AASHTO Journal

Lagging funds leaves Michigan’s aging infrastructure in critical need of funding – WJRT-TV

FAA Invests $479.1M in Safety, Sustainable Infrastructure at Airports – FAA

After biking boom, some cities beef up infrastructure – Smart Cities Dive

Officials outline progress in Cairo river port development – Capitol News Illinois

America’s Ports are Preparing Large Infrastructure Projects – Maritime Executive

AIR QUALITY

Five Midwest States Plan Build-Out of EV Charging Network – AASHTO Journal

Google is updating Maps, Search and other products to help consumers save energy and reduce emissions – CNBC

UTA electric buses being outfitted with air quality monitors for better data, better policies. – KSL.com

Investing in electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a win for our climate, US workers – The Hill (Opinion)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Study: Black, Latino Bicyclists in Chicago Face More Ticketing and Less Infrastructure – WTTW-TV

New report from Johns Hopkins finds stark transit inequity in Baltimore – Johns Hopkins University

Pollution from freight traffic disproportionately impacts communities of color across 52 US cities – American Geophysical Union

NATURAL RESOURCES

Ship’s anchor may have caused massive California oil spill – AP

New Chicago River Sensors Give Real-Time Updates On Water Quality – Block Club Chicago

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Rehab of Former Lackawanna Station in Roxbury Wins Award – TAPinto Roxbury

Have you driven along PA Route 6? Find out why you should – NorthcentralPA.com

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

More bike paths? Safer sidewalks? Biden’s infrastructure bill has money for them – Fresno Bee

New Haven safety plan would prioritize bicyclists, pedestrians and buses – WSHU Radio

Ohio DOT is working to make dozens of intersections safer for pedestrians – WTOL-TV (Video)

With San Francisco transit still struggling, shared bikes and scooters are booming – San Francisco Examiner

At the George Washington Bridge Casino, Your Bets Are a Bike Ride Away – New York Times

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Climate Change and ‘A New Normal of Extremes’ – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions – Council on Environmental Quality (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Fiscal Year 2021 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program – FTA (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Release of the Draft Policy Assessment for the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards – EPA (Notice of availability)

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

Proposed Consent Decree; Clean Air Act Citizen Suit – EPA (Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment)

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Long Beach Cruise Terminal Improvement Project in the Port of Long Beach, California – NOAA (Notice; issuance of incidental harassment authorization)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Continues Fight to Pass Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal

Transportation Stakeholders Press Congress on $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill – Transport Topics

Infrastructure bill tangled in D.C. mess – Land Line (link to podcast)

States will decide the climate impact of the US infrastructure bill’s road budget – Quartz

Supreme Court should revisit its 2006 navigable waters decision – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Copper kills up to 99.9% of bacteria on transit surfaces, study finds – TransLink (Media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Heartland Port Authority looking at how to use MoDOT funds for New Missouri River port – News Tribune

Freight Groups Press Biden Administration on AV Policy – Transport Topics

Idaho law limits how infrastructure bill can aid transit, leaves future riders waiting – Idaho Statesman

Trying to cool off neighborhoods with a new kind of road surface – Arizona State University

How to Tear Down an Oil Refinery in the Middle of Philadelphia – Bloomberg Green

AIR QUALITY

Can public transit adjust fast enough to meet Vermont’s emissions deadline? – VTDigger

More Companies Pledge ‘Net-Zero’ Emissions to Fight Climate Change, but What Does That Really Mean? – Governing

There’s a major gap in the new methane pledge: Agriculture – Grist

Nuclear power will be critical in race to cut carbon emissions, Dominion Energy CEO says – Fortune

An “attack on American cities” is freezing climate action in its tracks – Vox

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Existing Laws Offer Environmental Justice Tools, Official Says – Bloomberg Law

What will mobility equity look like in practice? – Cities Today

Baltimore’s first transit equity analysis seeks to guide federal money to the city’s long-neglected ‘Black Butterfly’ – Baltimore Sun

Project Connect panel looks at planning, equity concerns attached to transit system – Austin Monitor

National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Calls – EPA (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Environmental groups welcome volunteers back to oyster planting in the Baltimore Harbor for the first time since the pandemic began – Baltimore Sun

Could giant yoga mats full of plants help clean North Carolina’s dirty lakes and ponds? – USA Today

Wildlife crossings integral to Colorado’s transportation future, Gov. Polis says – Colorado Newsline

UConn Joins State Initiative to Support Urban Forestry Grant Program – University of Connecticut (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Boise proposes new penalties for historic preservation violations – KTVB-TV

New Georgia License Plate Supports Historic Preservation – AllOnGeorgia

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

People Are Walking More Than Ever As Mobility Climbs – GlobeSt.com

Portland, Maine, Considers Long-Term Closure of Two Roads – Portland Press Herald

San Francisco’s downtown bike paths are being remade in the pandemic. This map shows how – San Francisco Chronicle

Flagstaff Releases Draft Active Transportation Master Plan For Public Comment – City of Flagstaff

States Step Up Efforts to Protect People Walking Amid Surge in Unsafe Driving During Pandemic – Governors Highway Safety Association (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

TRB Webinar: Air Quality Impact Models for Electric Vehicle Fleets – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Draft FY 2022–2026 Environmental Protection Agency Strategic Plan – EPA (Notice of availability; request for public comments)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; Oct 2021 Teleconference – Coast Guard (Notice)

Safety Zone; Columbia River Outfall Project, Columbia River, Vancouver, WA – Coast Guard (Temporary final rule)

Pipeline Safety: Joint Meeting of the Gas and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committees – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice of advisory committees meeting)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Signs Letter Urging Passage of Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal

Pelosi Says House Will Take Up $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Thursday – New York Times

Here’s what’s in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that the House aims to pass – and how it’s paid for – MarketWatch

These Republicans helped craft the infrastructure bill. They might not vote for it. – Politico

States Use Hurricane Ida Damage to Push Infrastructure Bill – Stateline

COVID-19

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, Valley traffic returns and carbon emissions rise – KTAR Radio

SFO becomes first US airport to mandate vaccinations for all workers – The Hill

Longer mass transit commutes in NYC linked to higher coronavirus rates, study says – Staten Island Advance

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Idaho law limits how infrastructure bill can aid transit, leaves future riders waiting – Idaho Statesman

New Yorkers sound off at MTA’s first congestion pricing public hearing – amNew York

The case for funding bike infrastructure – Vox

Will controversial Book Cliffs Highway proposal increase tourism or boost oil and gas production? – Salt Lake Tribune

Florida needs infrastructure built to last – Herald Tribune (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

Gov. Wolf Announces ‘Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021,’ Calls for Statewide Action Now on Climate Change – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Massachusetts utilities propose plans to ramp up electric vehicle infrastructure – Energy News Network

Growing a zero-emissions transportation network in Cincinnati – GreenBiz

American Airlines Partners with Bill Gates and Puts up $100 Million for Green Tech Research – AviationPros

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Why the Most Populous U.S. County Just Ended Oil and Gas Drilling – CityLab

D.C.-area leaders consider prioritizing equity in transportation and land use planning – Washington Post

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

NYSDOT Wraps Up Pedestrian Safety Improvement Projects – AASHTO Journal

As SUVs and trucks get bigger, more cyclists and pedestrians die on Colorado roads – KUSA-TV

Bike Paths On Super Highways? – EHS Today

Hardly a peep over return of Bird scooters – Columbia Missourian

King County’s Eastside to receive major multi-modal transportation investment – Bellevue Reporter

County considers pilot program to allow e-bikes on Warren County Bikeway – Post-Star

MDOT State Highway Administration Launches New Project To Enhance Bicycle Safety – WJZ-TV

Regional project seeks to improve walking, bicycle, transit options – News Tribune

Chicago looks to add 100 miles of bike lanes by end of 2022 – Chicago Sun-Times

Active transportation requires a lot of planning, preparation – Daily Herald (Commentary)

Agency of Transportation Announces 2022 Transportation Alternatives Program Grant Opportunity – Vermont Agency of Transportation (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

Paths to Biking, Walking Improvements Supported by Wealth of Research – TRB

TRB’s Transportation Explorers Podcast – TRB

Webinar: Transportation Resilience Metrics – TRB

Climate Resilience: Options to Enhance the Resilience of Federally Funded Roads and Reduce Fiscal Exposure – GAO

Fostering Equity in the Practice of Travel Demand Management – Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Link to webinar registration)

Ready or Not, Here They Come: Preparing for the electric vehicle transformation. – Texas A&M Transportation Institute Thinking Transportation podcast

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notification of Public Meetings of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Particulate Matter Panel – EPA (Notice)

Request for Nominations for the 2022 Clean Air Excellence Awards Program – EPA (Notice)

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

Port Access Route Study: Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware – Coast Guard (Notice of availability of draft report; request for comments)