Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

White House announces target of 20 percent aviation emissions reduction by 2030 – The Hill

Ida Damage Shows Need for Infrastructure Funding, Lawmakers Agree, But Divides Persist on Bills – AP

FAA Awards $100M to Develop Next Generation of Sustainable Aircraft Technology – FAA

Biden must appoint a climate justice champion to address fracked gas – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

A Guide for Covid-19 Risk in Your County – New York Times

Pre-flight COVID testing drastically reduces risk of infection: study – The Hill

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Lake Mead corridor option removed as I-11 public meetings continue – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Massive rail project at Port of Long Beach remains stalled as officials wait for federal approval – Long Beach Post

A Climate-Friendly Shift In Transportation Planning Would Bring Economic Benefits Too, A New Report Says – Colorado Public Radio

AIR QUALITY

ETAP Podcast: Lower Rolling Resistance Cuts Emissions – AASHTO Journal

Report: CT not meeting emissions goals; Transportation to blame – Connecticut Mirror

Chevron to sell test batch of sustainable aviation fuel to Delta Air – Reuters

AG Healey Settles With School Bus Company Over Unnecessary Idling at New Bedford Schools; Launches Public Information Campaign to Curb Illegal Idling – Massachusetts Attorney General (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How Can Transit Deliver Urban Equity and Sustainability? – Government Technology

Black people are about to be swept aside for a South Carolina freeway – again – Washington Post

Matthew Tejada is keeping the EPA’s eyes on environmental justice – Grist

To Have or Have Not: When transformative mobility options are beyond the reach of underserved populations – Thinking Transportation podcast

NATURAL RESOURCES

Getting Manufacturers to Help Pay for Recycling – CityLab

Floating Wetlands Planned for Inner Harbor to Revive Urban Ecosystems, Clean Water – Maryland Matters

‘Sink this project’: Emails show concern of environmental review on machine-gun range – Cape Cod Times

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Lessons from the Rise and Fall of the Pedestrian Mall – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Scooter companies push back against proposed permit system in D.C. – Washington Post

UDOT grants Logan $4.1 million for pedestrian underpass – Herald Journal

Groundwork Jacksonville Breaks Ground On Emerald Trail – Resident Community News

Developers Offer Mobility Services to Lure Car-Free Renters – CityLab

Achieving sustainable cities: The link between Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and road safety – MarketScreener

Pittsburgh Looks at New E-Scooter Rules After Complaints – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Exposure to traffic noise linked to higher dementia risk – British Medical Journal

Connecticut Launches Campaign to Alert Residents of New Pedestrian Laws – Connecticut DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

Predicting, Managing, and Preparing for Disasters Like Hurricane Ida – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight – DHS (Notice of availability of draft report; reopening of the comment period)

Air Plan Limited Approval and Limited Disapproval, California; Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District – EPA (Final rule)

Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Air Climate and Energy Subcommittee Meeting – October 2021 – EPA (Notice of public meeting)

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Mitigation Planning Regulations – FEMA (Final rule)

FY 2021 American Rescue Plan Additional Assistance – FTA (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Wild Bird Protection Act; Receipt of Permit Applications – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments)

Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment – Mine Safety and Health Administration (Proposed rule; request for comments)

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Berth III New Mooring Dolphins Project in Ketchikan, Alaska – NOAA (Notice; issuance of incidental harassment authorization)

Floating Cabins – Tennessee Valley Authority (Final rule)

FEDERAL ACTION

State DOTs Highlight Benefits of $1.2T Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal

‘On Time with Tymon’ Discusses the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Transportation TV

Lawmakers vow action after Ida floods Gulf Coast, Northeast – AP

As Congress Begins to Draft Infrastructure Reconciliation Legislation, Senate and House Have Competing Visions for the Future of Renewable and Clean Energy Tax Credits – Novogradac

These charts show which states will get the most money from Biden’s infrastructure bill – CNBC

COVID-19

FMCSA extends historic 50 state COVID-19 Hours of Service waiver, fuel haulers now covered – CDLLife

Majority of NJ Transit riders headed back to work, survey says. Do they feel safe getting there? – NJ.com

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Colorado Infrastructure Projects Include Emphasis On Green, Rail, Transit, Electric Vehicles – KCNC-TV

Ida exposes weak infrastructure as storms grow stronger – E&E News

Missouri Department of Transportation testing use of recycled materials in roads – KDOE-TV

Climate Change Is an Infrastructure Problem – Map of Electric Vehicle Chargers Shows One Reason Why – Governing

AIR QUALITY

Electric Vehicle Sales Are Booming In The U.S., But The Southeast Lags – WFAE Radio

30 kph max: Paris shrinks speed limit to protect climate – AP

Colorado DOT Pledges To Track Air Quality As Part Of I-270 Rebuild, But Pollution-Choked Commerce City Residents Are Skeptical – Colorado Public Radio

Port of San Diego Partners with Maritime Administration to Study Eelgrass Carbon Capture – Times of San Diego

Reliability problems stall transition to electric buses in Minnesota – Minnesota Reformer

NATURAL RESOURCES

Judge Vacates Trump’s Rollback Of Protections For Streams, Wetlands – WESA Radio

Ohio plans to discontinue use of controversial road deicer AquaSalina – Columbus Dispatch

Lake George Association unveils new tool for reporting water quality concerns – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Documenting the Last Pay Phones in America – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

With e-bike use growing, Port Authority of Allegheny County will allow them on transit vehicles – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The battle over a pedestrian-bicycle trail plan continues in The Village – KFOR–TV

California will offer e-bike rebates with new Electric Bicycle Incentive Project – Spectrum News 1

Building Back Bicycle-Friendly – The American Prospect

Tell Austin Where To Build Sidewalks, Bike Paths And Urban Trails – KUT Radio

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation Planning to the Extreme for Weather and Climate Change – TRB

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

TRB Represented on “Future of Infrastructure” Webinar – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate 405 ExpressLanes Project, in Los Angeles County, California – FHWA (Notice)

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements – FRA (Notice)

Public Meeting of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) Federal Advisory Committee – U.S. Geological Survey, (Notice of public meeting (via teleconference))

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

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Sunrise Wind Farm Project on the Northeast Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf; Extension of Comment Period and Corrections – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Safety Zones; Delaware River Dredging, Marcus Hook, PA – Coast Guard (Interim final rule; request for comments)

National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice of federal advisory
committee meeting)

Public Meeting/Notice of Availability for Proposed Air Tour Management Plans at Bandelier National Monument; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Arches National Park; Glacier National Park; Canyonlands National Park; Natural Bridges National Monument; and Bryce Canyon National Park – FAA (Notice)

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2024–2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks – NHTSA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

FEDERAL ACTION

House votes to advance Biden’s jobs and infrastructure plans, breaking logjam – NBC News

Schumer says infrastructure bills edge U.S. close to Biden climate goals – Reuters

Bipartisan infrastructure plan could create over 800K new jobs by 2030, S&P analysis shows – Fox Business

White House taps veteran transportation official to help break log jams at the nation’s ports – Washington Post

COVID-19

TSA sees lowest air travel numbers since May – CBS Evening News

Will the Pandemic Make Los Angeles More Pedestrian-Friendly? – New York Times

Hawaii’s Governor Asks Tourists To Stay Away Because Of COVID – AP

Can Rush Hour Be Banished? – CityLab

NEPA

Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and the Promise of NEPA Reform – Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

A midwestern town moved uphill to survive the elements. Can others do the same? – The Guardian

Rapidly electrifying fleets: Adaptive planning and a phased approach are key – Mass Transit (Op-Ed)

FAA Invests $766M to Build Safer, More Sustainable Airports – FAA (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Port of Long Beach completes new all-electric container terminal – Splash

The Best Cities for Low Carbon Emissions Aren’t the Tallest – CityLab

Green hydrogen could be the fuel of the future. Here’s why it’s not yet a silver bullet – CNN

It’s time to rethink air conditioning – Vox (Commentary)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Some Portlanders speak up about environmental justice concerns – KOIN-TV

NATURAL RESOURCES

Utah DOT’s Use of Video to Stop Litter and Save Lives – AASHTO

Wild fire guards should be part of urban planning – The Interior News (Opinion)

Litter push removes 11,000 pounds of roadside garbage in Tucson region – Arizona DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Minnesota’s Metro Transit unveils rain art at more than a dozen bus, LRT stops – KMSP-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Deployment of MaaS/MOD Strategies with Carol Schweiger – ITE Talks Transportation podcast

Cities that favored pedestrians over cars are reversing course – Quartz

Grants aim to improve bike, pedestrian access across Greater Boston – Boston Globe

Abandoned Kansas City Railroad Bridge to Get New Life as Tourist Hot Spot – Engineering News-Record

People with disabilities demand better sidewalks, transit in Snohomish County, Washington – Herald

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

Conference on Advancing Transportation Equity – September 9-14 – TRB

(In)Justice in Managed Retreat as Climate Adaptation – Princeton University (Webinar)

2021 Florida Commuter Transportation Summit – FDOT (Agenda and link to registration)

MobilityXX Presents: Advancing Gender Equitable Transportation for Los Angeles – ITS America (Webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Re-Designation of the Primary Highway Freight System (PHFS) – FHWA (Notice; request for information)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Buffalo-Amherst-Tonawanda Corridor Transit Expansion, Erie County, New York – FTA (Notice)

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Surveying and Mapping Projects in U.S. Waters for Coastal and Marine Data Acquisition, Extension of Public Comment Period – NOAA (Notice; extension of comment period)

Safety Zone; Piscataqua River Turning Basin Dredge Project, Portsmouth, NH – Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Manti-La Sal National Forest; Utah; Revision of the Manti-La Sal National Forest Land Management Plan – Forest Service (Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement)

Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Purchase of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles – Postal Service (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

Pelosi sets Oct 1 target for infrastructure, Biden spending bill – Reuters

Biden’s pro-car, pro-gasoline moves leave green allies fuming – Politico

Bills Gates Promises $1.5 Billion for Green Infrastructure if Congress Passes Plan – ForConstructionPros.com

Federal program to cut bus emissions gets a Senate mandate: Some buses must pollute – Washington Post

COVID-19

As people took up cycling during pandemic, Seattle went on a bike-lane-building binge – Seattle Times

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

DOT Secretary: Infrastructure Bill Would Give Big Boost To State’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Wisconsin Public Radio

The Long, Slow Drowning of the New Jersey Shore – New York Times

5 Ways the Infrastructure Bill Would Improve America’s Flood Resilience – Pew

ExxonMobil’s Oil Trucking Plan Hits Environmental Roadblock in Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara Independent

Can The Private Sector Bring About The ‘Greening’ Of Infrastructure? – Forbes (Commentary)

BART releases Sustainability Report showing progress toward goals despite COVID-19 pandemic – Bay Area Rapid Transit District (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

SC Ports given federal grant for emission-reducing trucks – WCIV-TV

How to Win the War on Car Idling – CityLab

Tennessee is ending vehicle emissions testing in these 5 counties – WTVF-TV

First US Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Passenger Ferry Launched – Maritime Executive

Colorado Developing New Pollution Reduction Planning Standards to Address Climate Change and Air Quality – Colorado DOT (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The Role of Microtransit for Better Equity and Inclusion – Mass Transit

NATURAL RESOURCES

Fracking linked to surface water quality for first time in new study – The Hill

A Playbook for Wildfire Mitigation – Utility Products

What does it mean when a community runs out of water? Many in California are finding out – SF Gate

“Pokey picker upper” makes cleaning up highway shoulders easier, reduces waste – Arizona DOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

EPA agreement with Kennedy Center protects water quality of Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay – National Law Review

Two Struggling Icons – Route 66 and Monarch Butterflies – Make for Strange Bedfellows – WTTW-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Sarasota Police launch education patrols aimed at pedestrian, bicycle safety – WWSB-TV

Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision unveils training sidewalk – WSAV-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

AASHTO Hosting Environmental Webinar Series – AASHTO Journal

Resilience Primer for Transportation Executives – TRB

From Shellfish to Sunny Day Flooding – Why a GRP Fellow Is Dissecting Water Quality in North Carolina – National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Washington; Low Emission Vehicle Program – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Proposed Supplementary Rules for the Klondike Bluffs Area of Public Lands Managed by the Moab Field Office in Grand County, UT – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Temporary Restrictions of Specific Uses on Public Lands Within the Black Rock Desert – High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (Black Rock Desert Playa) Humboldt County, Pershing County, and Washoe County, NV – Bureau of Land Management, (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka Counties, Idaho – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Conduct a Review of the Federal Coal Leasing Program and To Seek Public Comment – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

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

Reopening of Solicitation of Nominations for the Marine Debris Foundation Board of Directors – NOAA (Notice)

Civil Penalties – NHSTA (Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking)

Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for South Fork Wind, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water – Related Contract Actions – Bureau of Reclamation (Notice of contract actions)

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill, Awaits House’s Vote – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Lauds Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO

Senate infrastructure bill could take years to transform U.S. – Washington Post

Top Ten: What You Need to Know About the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – National Law Review

COVID-19

Judge rules Florida can’t ban Norwegian Cruise Line ‘vaccine passport’ – The Hill

Poor air quality causing worsening symptoms for some COVID-19 long haulers. – KSTU-TV

In Philadelphia, Mass Transit Officials Hope Redesigning Bus Routes Will Boost Post-Pandemic Ridership – Inside Climate News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

What Cuomo’s Resignation Could Mean for Mass Transit and Infrastructure – WNYC Radio

U.N.’s urgent call for emissions cuts means fewer cars, experts say – Marketplace

‘Hats off’ to CDOT: I-70 reopening through Glenwood Canyon met with appreciation – Citizen Telegram

FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Nearly $5 Billion in Resilience Funding to Help Communities Prepare for Extreme Weather and Climate-Related Disasters – White House (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

Hundreds of U.S. cities adopted climate plans. Few have met the goals, but it’s not too late. – USA Today

Here’s what the census results mean for Biden’s efforts to clean up air and water – Grist

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Biden’s unlikely plan to use roads to fight racism – BBC

The Infrastructure Bill Is a Trillion-Dollar Test for Environmental Justice – CityLab

NATURAL RESOURCES

AASHTO Suggests Changes to Section 401 of Clean Water Act – AASHTO Journal

Monarch Butterfly Conservation with Arizona DOT’s Kris Gade – AASHTO ETAP Podcast

Connecticut DOT Helping Battle Spotted Lanternfly Invasion – AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

Klamath Tribes partner with Oregon Department of Transportation on wetland restoration – Herald and News

Destruction of milkweed by New Jersey DOT crews alarms protectors of monarch butterflies – The Record

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Biggest Expansion yet for U.S. Bicycle Route System – AASHTO Journal

America’s 690 Mile-Long Yard Sale Entices a Nation of Deal Hunters – Bloomberg

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

TxDOT working to combat rise in pedestrian, bicyclist deaths on El Paso roads – KFOX -TV

Maple Grove project shows how suburban transit stations are morphing into mobility hubs – Star Tribune

Easing parking anxiety: a revolutionary idea – Talking Michigan Transportation podcast

Pittsburgh’s mobility platform aims to expand transportation options – GCN

Louisiana DOTD announces 23 statewide projects to improve transportation for pedestrians and bicyclists – WVLA-TV

NMDOT adopts Pedestrian Safety Action Plan – New Mexico DOT (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Resilience Research Becoming a Bigger Part of Transportation Planning – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Proposed First Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Certain Federal Environmental Responsibilities to the State of Nebraska, Including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Authority for Certain Categorical Exclusions (CEs) – FHWA (Notice of proposed first renewal of MOU; request for comments)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate 405 ExpressLanes Project, in Los Angeles County, California – FHWA (Notice of Intent)

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

Ambient Water Quality Criteria To Address Nutrient Pollution in Lakes and Reservoirs – EPA (Notice of availability)

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, CA; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of availability)

Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program – Forest Service (Request for applications)

Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to the 2014 Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Study, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist Parishes – Corps of Engineers (Notice of intent)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Lauds Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO News Release

Fuel Efficiency, Electric Vehicle Mandates on the Horizon – AASHTO Journal

Booker Reintroduces Sweeping Environmental Justice Bill – Senator Cory Booker (Media release)

COVID-19

More workers are returning to the office. The pandemic-era commute might be changed forever. – Washington Post

Governor mandates vaccinations for transit workers as New York’s Covid cases surge – CNBC

NEPA

Revived Trump reforms in infrastructure bill could be freight-project windfall – American Shipper

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Pete Buttigieg And Michael Regan On What The Infrastructure Deal Does For The Climate – NPR’s All Things Considered

Climate in the infrastructure bill: A substantial investment in resilience. – New York Times

AIR QUALITY

New Mexico to impose new rules on vehicle emissions, aims to curb greenhouse gas – Carlsbad Current-Argus

Chicago Bus Shelters Monitor Air Quality – ITS International

Old and new solutions pave way to net-zero emissions farming, studies show – Mongabay

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Governors aim to reduce racial disparities in traffic enforcement, safety – WTOP Radio

Cut in infrastructure money for communities hurt by highways disappoints advocates – NBC News

NATURAL RESOURCES

AASHTO Suggests Changes to Section 401 of Clean Water Act – AASHTO Journal

19 AGs to EPA: Roll back Trump’s clean-water rule ASAP – Reuters

The Darker Side of Tree-Planting Pledges – CityLab

Governor DeWine Announces $5 Million in H2Ohio Grants for Ohio River Basin Wetland Projects – Office of the Governor, State of Ohio (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How Cleveland’s ‘Guardians of Traffic’ Made the Big Leagues – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Moving Caltrans Into The Future Of Active Transportation – ITE Talks Transportation (Podcast)

Drivers must now move over when passing people walking and on bikes – NJ.com

After voted ‘Most Dangerous City for Driving,’ Dallas embraces Vision Zero goal to eliminate fatal crashes – Spectrum News 1

Here’s how e-scooter unicorn Bird plans to use geofencing tech to protect pedestrians – Silicon Canals

Transit Leaders Praise Innovative On-Demand Programs – Government Technology

Agency of Transportation Awards $3.3 Million in Bicycle and Pedestrian Grants – Vermont Agency of Transportation (Media release)

Hawaii DOT & Partners Launch 12th Annual Statewide Pedestrian Safety Month – Hawaii DOT (Media Release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

TRB Webinar: LED Roadway Lighting’s Effect on Driver Sleep Health and Alertness – TRB

Environmental Resilience of Transportation Infrastructure Should Be Assessed for All Federally Funded Projects, Says New Report – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Media release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Public Meetings Regarding ‘‘Waters of the United States’’; Establishment of a Public Docket; Request for Recommendations – Corps of Engineers and EPA (Notice; announcement of public meeting dates and solicitation of pre-proposal feedback)

Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. – EPA (Notice of rulemaking initiative)

Public Hearing for Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards – EPA (Notification of public hearing)

FY 2021 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Passenger Ferry Grant Program – FTA (Notice of funding opportunity)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska – Bureau of Land Management (Notice of intent)

Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; North Slope, Alaska – Fish and Wildlife Service (Final rule)

Alaska Region Supplement to Forest Service Manual 2720: Special Uses; Outfitting and Guiding Permit for Strictly Point-To-Point Commercial Transportation To, From, and Within the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Subunit of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area – Forest Service (Extension of comment period)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Announcement of Public Meetings – NOAA (Notice of virtual public meetings; correction)

Wyoming Regulatory Program – Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (Proposed rule; opening of public comment period and opportunity for public hearing on proposed amendment)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate Moves $1.2T Infrastructure Package Forward – AASHTO Journal

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg On Wins, Losses, Future Of Infrastructure Deal – NPR’s All Things Considered

A Look at What the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Would Do – New York Times

Macroeconomic Consequences of the Infrastructure and Budget Reconciliation Plans – Moody’s Analytics (link to PDF)

COVID-19

Boston transportation leaders speak on sharing spaces, investing in communities post-COVID – Boston Herald

Public Transportation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and how it shapes transit’s future – Community Transportation Association of America (link to PDF)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

North Dakota uniquely positioned for emerging carbon capture infrastructure revolution – KXMA/KXMB/KXMC/KXMD-TV

LaGuardia Airport Terminal First In The World To Achieve LEED v4 Gold Status – Environment and Energy Leader

 

AIR QUALITY

Hybrid Pioneer Toyota Pushes Congress To Slow Down Transition To Electric Cars – Forbes

EVs Growing in Rural Calif. Thanks to Local Partnership – Government Technology

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Building the future by recruiting a diverse workforce, developing talent – Michigan DOT’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast

What It Looks Like to Reconnect Black Communities Torn Apart by Highways – CityLab

NATURAL RESOURCES

Sound Transit teams with regional agencies for ‘Trees for Rail’ – Progressive Railroading

Keep It Clean, Utah – Utah DOT

Forgotten oil and gas wells linger, leaking toxic chemicals – AP

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

More Art, Fewer Accidents? – The Philadelphia Citizen

National parks are so crowded that Congress is getting involved – Bloomberg

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Study Examines Links between Commuting, Air Pollution – AASHTO Journal

MnDOT, Tourism Center asking for input on teleworking project – Minnesota DOT

Moovit Integrates Lime Electric Scooters, Bikes, Mopeds Into Transit Planning App – TechCrunch

Senate’s E-BIKE Act could make electric bikes a lot cheaper – The Verge

Midland City Council approves updated U.S. bike route plan – Midland Daily News

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

Transporting New Energy Options Safely is Key for U.S. Economy – TRB

TRB Webinar: Road Passages and Barriers for Small Terrestrial Wildlife – TRB

TRB Webinar: Roadsides as Transportation Assets – Georgia Case Study – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Port Access Route Study: The Pacific Coast From Washington to California – Coast Guard (Notification of study; request for comments)

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; Monitoring Requirements for Use of Dispersants and Other Chemicals – EPA (Final rule)

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (Renewal) – EPA (Notice)

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

Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group – FAA (Solicitation of applications)
Public Meeting/Notice of Availability for Proposed Air Tour Management Plans at Mount Rainier National Park; Death Valley National Park; Everglades National Park; and Olympic National Park – FAA (Public meeting/notice)

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

Notice of Matching Fund Opportunity for Ocean and Coastal Mapping and Request for Partnership Proposals – NOAA (Announcement of matching fund program opportunity, request for proposals, and request for interest by October 29, 2021)

Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Morro Bay, California, East and West Extensions – Call for Information and Nominations – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind Project Offshore North Carolina – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate infrastructure bill ‘90%’ done, but hits new roadblock over transit funding – AP

Bipartisan infrastructure bill in the Senate is an island in a sea of partisanship – Washington Post

$47 billion for coastal resilience included in Senate infrastructure bill – WVEC-TV

Majority support key parts of sweeping new infrastructure bill: poll – The Hill

COVID-19

COVID-19 Affecting Transportation in Massachusetts – AASHTO Journal

House passes bill to require TSA plan on improving airport security screenings during pandemic – The Hill

Parking Startups Are Cashing In on America’s Traffic Surge – Businessweek

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Here Are People Not Blown Away by NJ’s Offshore Wind Power Plans – WCAU-TV

Disputed LaGuardia AirTrain Plan Gets Federal Approval – Patch

After Oregon’s Heat Wave, State’s Leading Environmental Groups Call for Transportation Overhaul – Willamette Week

Pittsburgh Airport’s Microgrid Is A Worthy But Tough To Duplicate Example Of Resiliency – Forbes

Colorado backs off plan to require large employers to encourage reduced car travel – Colorado Newsline

Calif.’s Push Toward Electric Cars May Harm Planet Anyway – Los Angeles Times

Iowa has a big opportunity to pave the way for electric vehicles – Des Moines Register (Opinion)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New actions report unveiled by California Transit Association to impact equity in transit arena – California Transit Association

Some In the Environmental Justice Movement Oppose A Carbon Tax. That’s A Problem For Democrats. – Forbes

How Va. pipeline ruling may reshape environmental justice – E&E News

Building a bridge to equity in transportation planning – Portland Business Journal

NATURAL RESOURCES

North Carolina Department of Transportation collects more than 8 million pounds of roadside litter – WXII-TV

How Cities Can Live Through Climate Change With ‘Managed Retreat’ – Honolulu Civil Beat

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How Philly transformed a trolley station into a garden – WHYY Radio

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New study examines commuter characteristics and traffic pollution exposure among commuters – George Mason University

N.H. DOT Targets $15 Million Annual Budget For Bike Lanes, Sidewalks And Other Active Transportation – New Hampshire Public Radio

Can Pittsburgh Make ‘Mobility as a Service’ Succeed? – CityLab

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Racial Equity Addendum to Critical Issues in Transportation – TRB

TRB Webinar: Road Passages and Barriers for Small Terrestrial Wildlife – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight; Correction – Coast Guard, (Notice; correction)

Ocean Dumping; Modification of an Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Offshore Port Everglades, Florida – EPA (Final rule)

Availability of Record of Decision for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed LaGuardia Access Improvement Project at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York City, Queens County, New York – FAA (Notice of availability for Record of Decision)

Notice of Limitation on Claims Against Proposed Public Transportation Project – FRA, FTA (Notice)

Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines – Mine Safety and Health Administration (Request for public comments)

Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines – Mine Safety and Health Administration (Request for public comments)

Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, CA – National Park Service (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

House Appropriations Releases USDOT Funding Bill – AASHTO Journal

Transportation Stakeholders Renew Calls for Congressional Action – Transport Topics

Congress returns to face big to-do list – infrastructure, social spending, debt limit – MarketWatch

Senate Budget Has Funds To Ensure Infrastructure Works As The Climate Changes – NPR

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez: Progressives May Sink Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Without Reconciliation Deal – Democracy Now

COVID-19

Transit systems dangle discounts, new tech as they try to turn the corner on the pandemic – NBC News

Clarence Thomas rejects appeal to halt federal mask mandate on public transportation – Fox News

CDC defends U.S. transit mask mandate as some call for scrapping – Reuters

Transportation Agencies Grapple With Lasting Effects of Telework – Route Fifty

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

New York Issues $110M to Support Local Transportation – AASHTO Journal

Identifying Communities ‘Most at Risk’ During Evacuations – AASHTO Journal

Senator Collins & Maine DOT Commissioner Van Note Survey Two Planned Infrastructure Projects in Searsport – Senator Susan Collins (Media release)

AIR QUALITY

USDOT, power sector seen as partners in creating infrastructure for net-zero economy – DailyEnergyInsider

“Ambitious” plan to reduce emissions at Pacific Northwest ports open for public comment – KING-TV

Transportation innovations could boost public health – Cornell University (Media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How Local Governments Can Spend Their Federal Funds To Boost Equity – Route Fifty

Congressional plan would reconnect neighborhoods like Philly’s Chinatown, fractured by highways – Philadelphia Inquirer

Maine joins debate over how to define environmental justice – Energy News Network

PennDOT Releases Transportation Equity Report, Highlights Efforts to Dismantle Systemic Racism and Inequity in Transportation – PennDOT (Media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Challenges with Enforcing the Clean Water Act and Monitoring Pollution – GAO (Podcast)

EU Plans to Plant Three Billion Trees Under Forestry Strategy – Bloomberg Green

Company, Wisconsin Airport at Odds Over Proposed Trash Facility; Birds, FAA Certificate Among Concerns – WXPR Radio

A concrete solution to fish passage barriers – WSDOT (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Ohio DOT Unveils Quaker Heritage Scenic Byway – AASHTO Journal

In Metcalfe Park, organizers use murals to build community — and slow traffic – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Pilot Seeks Better Micromobility Safety at Intersections – AASHTO Journal

Will Ohio DOT’s New Walking and Biking Plan Make a Difference? – Columbus Underground

After 5-year wait, bike racks finally being installed in Ventnor and Margate, New Jersey – Downbeach

Drivesmart column: Where do non-traditional ‘vehicles’ fit in on the roads? – Cowichan Valley Citizen (Opinion)

Union County, NJ to be Awarded Grant for Cranford-Elizabeth Rails to Trails Feasibility Study – County of Union (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Public Transit as a Climate Solution – TRB

Infrastructure for a Changing Climate – National Academies

Report Outlines How Public Transit Agencies Can Advance Equity – University of Texas at Austin

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight – Coast Guard (Notice of availability of draft report and public meeting; request for comments)

Removal of the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program From the Southern Maine Area – EPA (Notification of final action on petition)

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

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Bicycling – National Park Service (Proposed rule)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Updates Key Surface Transportation Priorities – AASHTO Journal

Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus backs Senate infrastructure deal, calling for House vote – CBS News

Business groups, unions join together on infrastructure plan – AP

Senate eyes taking up bipartisan infrastructure deal as soon as July 19 – The Hill

The rocky road ahead for the House surface bill – Politico

PHMSA Seeks Ideas to Improve Safe Hazmat Transportation – Transport Topics

COVID-19

Sen. Rand Paul vows to repeal federal mask mandate for passengers on flights – WLKY-TV

NEPA

Tree Thinning, The Federal Government and NEPA – How It All Works – The Good Men Project

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Caltrans Awards Funds for Sustainable Transportation Projects – AASHTO Journal

Solar Is Dirt-Cheap and About to Get Even More Powerful – Bloomberg Green

Gov. Signs Climate Change Bill to Protect Coastal Communities – WVIT-TV

LAX, Van Nuys Airport To Eliminate Plastic Water Bottles By June 30, 2023 – KCAL-TV

Environmental group sues Gulf, Shell over New Haven oil terminal concerns – New Haven Register

AIR QUALITY

Battery-powered trains could be a climate game changer. Is everyone all aboard? – Los Angeles Times

County plans to lower emissions to comply with Clean Air Act – Austin Monitor

Gov. Burgum wants to get North Dakota carbon neutral by 2030. It’s a tall task. – Grand Forks Herald

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

ATCMTD Grants Include Racial Equity, Environmental Factors – AASHTO Journal

The Gender Divide in Transport Is Starting to Crumble – CityLab

Memphis pipeline canceled after environmental justice feud – E&E News

NATURAL RESOURCES

Some locals say a Bitcoin mining operation is ruining one of the Finger Lakes. Here’s how. – NBC News

California lawmakers approve more than $60 million budget to fund wildlife crossing projects – KGO

In Wildfire Country, It’s Time to Lay Off the Fireworks – CityLab

Hawaii DOT Outlines Actions Taken To Protect Endangered Seabirds At Airports, Harbors – Hawaii Governor’s Office (Media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Brad King: Tearing down some common myths about historic preservation – Muncie Star Press (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

GTC announces online bicycling map – Livingston County News

How a trail in rural Oregon became a target of far-right extremism – High Country News

Can ride-sharing technology change local transit? Seattle-area county testing app-based bus system – GeekWire

As infrastructure and transportation bills make their way through Congress, demand for e-bikes soar in the US – Greater Greater Washington

Love Them Or Hate Them, Fort Collins Is Going All-In On E-Scooters And Bikes – KUNC

Montgomery County Department of Transportation Commuter Services Participants Win Three Regional ‘Commuter Connections’ Awards – Montgomery County, MD (Media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

How Technology Can Create a More Sustainable and Resilient Transportation System – ITS America (Webinar announcement)

Webinar: The New Mobilities: Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies – ENO Center for Transportation

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Announcement of Public Meetings; Request for Public Comments – Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Notice)

Frequently Asked Questions on 911 Notifications Following Possible Pipeline Ruptures – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice; draft frequently asked questions)