Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

House Passes ‘INVEST in America’ Reauthorization Bill – AASHTO Journal

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $905.25 Million in Proposed Awards for the FY 2021 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program – USDOT

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Secretary Buttigieg Speaks at NYC Penn Station on Infrastructure, Hudson Tunnels – USDOT

Maryland Awards Climate Resilience Grants to Seven Communities – Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Massachusetts Senate passes $300 million transportation infrastructure bill – Boston Herald

Will Miami’s Growth Be Cut Short by Sea-Level Rise? – CityLab

Infrastructure deal offers far-reaching ag benefits – Agri-Pulse

Infrastructure spending has always involved social engineering – The Conversation (Commentary)

AIR QUALITY

Nine State DOTs Win ‘Low-No’ Emission Grants from FTA – AASHTO Journal

As car-centric Cape Cod tries to cut emissions, transportation is a challenge – Energy News Network

Tennessee Valley Authority Considers Replacing Coal With Gas – AP

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Flood relocation programs more disruptive to those who don’t live in white or affluent neighborhoods – Rice University

The U.S. Transportation Department’s Quest to Become a Driver of Justice – CityLab

Can public-private collaboration boost transport equity? – Cities Today

NATURAL RESOURCES

A watershed moment: How Boston’s Charles River went from polluted to pristine – Grist

L.A. Is Now a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Here’s Why It’s a Big Deal – Los Angeles Magazine

A wake-up call for water resilience in the West – The Hill (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

National Parks Could Receive Billions For Repairs From Transportation Bill – National Parks Traveler

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Making the Route 1 Corridor More Walkable and Safer for Pedestrians, Bicyclists – Hyattsville Wire

GO Transit increases walking and cycling access to GO Stations – Metrolinx

Capital Bikeshare gears up for expansion as commuters resume pre-pandemic routines – Washington Post

Paddle Safe Twin Ports: A data-based website keeping Lake Superior paddlers safe – KBJR-TV

Q&A: North Park’s bikeway project should be complete this month. How will it impact the community? – San Diego Union-Tribune

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

How We Move Matters: Exploring the Connections between New Transportation and Mobility Options and Environmental Health–A Workshop – TRB

TRB Webinar: Are We All in the Same Boat? Involving Communities in Coastal Resilience – TRB

TRB Webinar: Public Transit as a Climate Solution – TRB

Deploying Transportation Resilience Practices in State DOTs – NCHRP

TTI Publishes 2021 Urban Mobility Report – Texas A&M Transportation Institute

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; New York; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2015 Ozone, National Air Quality – EPA (Proposed rule)

Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; New York; 2011 Periodic Emission Inventory SIP for the Ozone Nonattainment Areas – EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; Michigan; Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval for Infrastructure SIP Requirements for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS – EPA (Proposed rule)

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

Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Blue Valley Land Exchange, Grand and Summit Counties, CO – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Virginia – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments)

FEDERAL ACTION

White House, Senators Agree on Infrastructure Funding Proposal – AASHTO Journal

Infrastructure deal would boost investments in transportation, with infusions for rail and transit
Washington Post

Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal May Be A Tough Sell To The Rest Of Congress – NPR

Portman, Manchin Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Finish Appalachian Development Highway System – Senator Rob Portman (News release)

Factsheet: President Biden Announces Support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework – White House (News release)

COVID-19

Pandemic experiments morph into long-term solutions for SF transit agency – San Francisco Examiner

For Disabled Users, the ‘Open Streets’ of the Pandemic Remain Closed – CityLab

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

State DOTs Bracing for Highly Active Hurricane Season – AASHTO Journal

Some say “no climate, no deal” as EVs, green energy lose traction in infrastructure compromise – Green Car Reports

Plan to let many San Diego businesses eliminate parking spots clears key hurdle – San Diego Union-Tribune

Small Cities Can’t Manage the High Cost of Old Infrastructure – Governing

AIR QUALITY

Oregon lawmakers approve ambitious carbon-reduction goals for state energy grid – Oregon Public Broadcasting

Regional initiative to cut road emissions wins RI Senate approval – Providence Journal

Germany Confronts the Future of Short-Haul Flights – CityLab

Activists push back against rising air pollution from Sea-Tac Airport – KUOW Radio

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $182 Million in Grants to Expand Low or No Emission Transit Vehicles & Facilities Nationwide – FTA

DOE researchers examine biofuels for maritime shipping – US Department of Energy

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The White House Wants To Fight Climate Change And Help People. Cleveland Led The Way – NPR’s Morning Edition

EPA Creates $50 Million Fund For Environmental Justice Initiatives – Rolling Stone

How Climate-Proofing Mass Transit Can Make Cities More Equitable – Bloomberg Green

5 Ways to Shape a Greener, More Equitable Recovery Through Transport – TheCityFix

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tennessee Agencies Work Together to Support Pollinators – AASHTO Journal

New Yorkers fled to the Hamptons in 2020 – and sparked a major sewage crisis – The Guardian

Nationwide evaluation of tree cover shows huge opportunity to reduce heat exposure and boost air quality and employment – American Forests (News release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Lehigh Valley lands $1.4 million for bike trails, cycling organizations and pedestrian safety – Morning Call

State rules out I-90 pedestrian path despite feasibility study – Billings Gazette

A downtown Aspen without cars? Not so fast, council says – Aspen Times

How walkable Delaware beach towns are trying to prevent pedestrian and bike crashes this summer – Delaware News Journal

TransLink launches new on-demand bike lockers – South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (News release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Official Trail Marker for the New England National Scenic Trail – National Park Service (Notice of designation)

Air Plan Approval; Nebraska; Revisions to Title 129 of the Nebraska Administrative Code; Chapter 39 Visible Emissions From Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicles – EPA (Final rule)

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Jersey and New York; 1997 Ozone Attainment Demonstrations for the NY-NJ-CT Nonattainment Area – EPA (Proposed rule)

Request for Nominations of Candidates for the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Panel – EPA (Notice)

Petition for Approval: Alaska Railroad Corporation Approval Extension – FRA (Notice of conditional approval)

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 (Notice of availability for public comment)

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Designation; Final Regulations – NOAA (Final rule)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Empire Offshore Wind, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facilities Offshore New York – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement)

FEDERAL ACTION

Senate Committee Leaves AV Bill out of Transportation Package – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO Co-Signs Letter Urging Action on Surface Reauthorization – AASHTO Journal

Schumer vows to only pass infrastructure package that is ‘a strong, bold climate bill’ – The Hill

11 GOP senators back bipartisan infrastructure plan, boosting its chances of moving forward – CNBC

GOP, Democrats trade places on drivers paying for infrastructure – Bloomberg

What Over 400 Local Leaders Want to See in an Infrastructure Deal – Route Fifty

COVID-19

COVID-19: TSA Could Better Monitor Its Efforts to Reduce Infectious Disease Spread at Checkpoints – GAO

Research finds links between air quality and COVID vulnerability: UCLA – KTTV-TV

Alcohol-involved Utah traffic deaths doubled during pandemic – AP

Innovating airports for post pandemic resilience – Aerospace Manufacturing

NEPA

Analysis: Biden may hinder oil and gas drilling even after court loss – Reuters

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

A Little More Remote Work Could Change Rush Hour a Lot – New York Times

Louisiana steers federal money to infrastructure upgrades – AP

House passes bills to expedite airport upgrades, improve notams – AOPA

Reframing strategic, managed retreat for transformative climate adaptation – Science Magazine

AIR QUALITY

Vermont is in wait and see mode on the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Will it join in full? – Bennington Banner

Committee Moves Transportation Emissions, School Recycling and Environmental Justice Bills to Full Senate – ecoRI News

OCTA takes another step toward transitioning to zero-emission buses – Orange County Transportation Authority (Press release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Milwaukee Aims to Fight Disparities, Reduce Emissions With All-Electric Bus Line – Up North News

Bulldozed and bisected: Highway construction built a legacy of inequality – NBC News

Introducing the Transit Equity Dashboard – TransitCenter

NATURAL RESOURCES

Las Vegas pushes land swap to balance growth, conservation – AP

More than noise: Cicadas cause car trouble, AAA warns – WHBQ-TV

North Carolina set to exceed a record amount of roadside litter collection, NCDOT says – WXII-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Improv theater training is helping a once-hidebound transit agency learn to work smarter. It’s a trend that’s catching on. – Philadelphia Inquirer

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Grand Rapids grows micromobility pilot with more e-scooters, bikes – Grand Rapids Business Journal

Burlington airport exhibit takes aim at stigma of mental illness – WVNY-TV

Former West Virginia railroad designated as national trail – AP

NY running campaign to promote pedestrian safety – WTEN-TV

City Seeks Input on Downtown “People Powered” Transportation – Fullerton Observer

Less driving = better lives – Commonwealth (Op-ed)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Annual Meeting Will Be an In-person Event in 2022 – TRB

TRB Webinar: Addressing Justice in Transportation – TRB

Building Socioeconomic Equity Through Transportation Research – TRB (Blog)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Hazardous Materials Route Registry – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Notice; revisions to the listing of designated and restricted routes for hazardous materials)

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Relocation of the Port of Alaska’s South Floating Dock, Anchorage, Alaska – NOAA (Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments on proposed authorization and possible Renewal)

FEDERAL ACTION

House T&I Approves 5-Year Surface Transportation Bill After Contentious 17-hour Mark Up – AASHTO Journal

Bipartisan group of U.S. senators says it has a deal on infrastructure framework – Reuters

$5.6B in Earmarks Included in Transportation Bill – Route Fifty

Rural Transit Gets Rare Bipartisan Backing for Infrastructure – Bloomberg Government

What Is Pete Buttigieg Doing? – The Atlantic

Why Infrastructure Spending Should Empower Megaregions – Governing (Commentary)

COVID-19

Requirement for Face Masks on Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs: Summary of Recent Changes – CDC

U.S. Department of Transportation Thanks Transit Agencies for Helping Americans Access COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Nationwide and Encourages More to Step up as Part of National Month of Action – USDOT

NEPA

U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney Introduces NEPA Reform Bill to Streamline Regulations and Empower State/Local Leaders – Sierra Sun Times

Infrastructure funding might throw environmental protections under the bus – The Hill (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Climate emerges as infrastructure sticking point – The Hill

City earns Gold LEED-certification from U.S. Green Building Council – WCTV-TV

Oregon beefs up graffiti removal along Portland freeways but struggles to eradicate it – The Oregonian

Los Angeles will Use Data to Promote Sustainable Transportation: Here’s How –

Environment + Energy Leader

AIR QUALITY

Connecticut DOT Climate Initiative Program and Partnership with Department of Environmental Protection – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

U.S. EPA to re-examine health standards for harmful soot – Reuters

New Colorado Air Quality Plan Encourages Alternatives To Driving To Work – KCNC-TV

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New data maps transit’s racial inequities – Journal of Oak Park and River Forest

Biden’s Energy Department Pick Seen As Staunch Environmental Justice Advocate – NPR

NATURAL RESOURCES

Arizona DOT Continues Work to Preserve Rare Cactus – AASHTO Journal

Illinois DOT Mowing Program also Protects Pollinator Habitat – AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

Biden pushes protection for more streams and wetlands, targeting a major Trump rollback – Washington Post

NDOT Encourages Nevadans to Use Best Practices in Landscaping to Protect Stormwater Runoff – Nevada Department of Transportation (News release)

Vital clean-water protections are under legislative threat in Ohio: George A. Elmaraghy – Cleveland Plain Dealer (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

RIDOT: Plan to make East Bay Bike Path detour safer in the works – WPRI-TV

St. Louis using zebra-style delineators to help separate car and bike traffic – KTVI-TV

What Will It Take to Finish This Bike Trail Across the U.S.? – CityLab

Railroad track removal underway for Parkline Trail – Daily Inter Lake

Dover Community Trail celebrates grand opening of latest expansion – Foster’s Daily Democrat

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Compost It! Environmental Benefits of Compost in Highway Roadsides – TRB

AASHTO Executive Institute Now Taking Applications – AASHTO Journal

The Interplay Between Environmental Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies

Inaugural Trails and Greenways Summit Announced for September 2021 – New Jersey DOT

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Pipeline Safety: Statutory Mandate To Update Inspection and Maintenance Plans To Address Eliminating Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas From Pipeline Facilities – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin)

Public Meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee – U.S. Geological Survey (Notice of public meeting)

Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee – Forest Service, USDA. (Notice of meeting)

Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 8 (ATLW-8) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf in the New York Bight – Proposed Sale Notice – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (Proposed sale notice; request for comments)

FEDERAL ACTION

House T&I Committee Unveils $547B Surface Transportation Bill – AASHTO Journal

Proposed House Surface Transportation Bill Provides Step Toward Reauthorization – AASHTO

USDOT Seeks Transportation Equity Assessment Input – AASHTO Journal

How both Democrats and Republicans alike traded away their principles for bipartisanship in the Senate’s transportation proposal – Transportation for America (Blog)

COVID-19

KYTC Focused on Infrastructure Work as Pandemic Recedes – AASHTO Journal

Buttigieg defends mask mandates on public transportation as a matter of ‘safety’ and ‘respect’ – Business Insider

NEPA

Death by a thousand cuts”: How Congress continues to whittle away at a critical environmental policy – Grist

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Wyoming’s infrastructure wishlist – WyoFile

Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities? – New York Times

Utah’s ‘road usage charge’ gives a road map for future tax on green drivers – Deseret News

State looks to build on Kern’s success employing homeless people in highway cleanup work – Bakersfield American

As storms become more frequent and volatile, some ports plan for the risk – but most do not – Supply Chain Dive

How Boeing and Alaska Airlines are Tackling Sustainability in Aviation – Environment + Energy Leader

AIR QUALITY

U.S. cities hire specialists to counter climate change as impacts worsen – Reuters

Democrats Punt on Carbon Caps as Republicans Claim Victory on Taxes – Connecticut Examiner

Wildfires Are Getting Worse, So Why Is the U.S. Still Building Homes With Wood? – Time

Google Street View data pinpoints Copenhagen’s traffic pollution hotspots – Cities Today

As electric vehicle sales surge, discussions are now turning to noise and safety – CNBC

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

End Of The Road? A highway expansion project in Houston is the site of a battle over environmental justice – The Architect’s Newspaper

NATURAL RESOURCES

Biden administration suspends oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – Anchorage Daily News

Why we should look to nature for climate crisis solutions – Canada’s National Observer

Transportation crews to set Asian giant hornet traps – AP

Old farmland evolves into wetlands forest project near Frankford – Coastal Point

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Fort Worth bike rentals are booming, and electric ebikes are providing the jolt – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Hartford’s LINK Scooters top over 17,000 rides within first month since its introduction to the capital city – Hartford Courant

Amazon’s Cost Saving Routing Algorithm Makes Drivers Walk Into Traffic – Vice

New trail segment will complete 5-mile pedestrian and bicycle loop in south Fayetteville – Fayetteville Flyer

E-Scooter Proposal Raises Liability Concerns in Iowa City – Government Technology

“Bicycles are making our cities better, but what about our suburbs?” – Dezeen (Commentary)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Deploying Connected and Automated Infrastructure – TRB

Multiple Modes of Transportation, Shared Rides Are the Future of Mobility – Northwestern University (Video)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Port Authority Bus Terminal Replacement Project, City of New York, New York County, New York – FTA (Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement)

Notice of Intention To Reconsider and Revise the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule – EPA (Notice of intent)

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

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

FEDERAL ACTION

Center for Environmental Excellence Unveils New Website Packed with Resources – AASHTO News

Senate Democrats prepare to work on Biden infrastructure plan ‘with or without’ Republicans – CNBC

Senate Republicans Release $928 Billion Infrastructure Counteroffer – NPR

Climate resilience is the new sustainability – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Empty airports and full delivery trucks: Covid’s toll on infrastructure, by the numbers – Politico

NEPA

Environmental Justice Advocates Seek Changes to Permitting Law – Bloomberg Law

To Fight Climate Change, President Biden Needs to Retire NEPA – RealClear Energy (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

What Jacksonville Can Learn From Nashville About Fighting Climate Change – WUSF

Infrastructure plan calls for fixing the nation’s existing roads. Some states are still focused on expansion – Washington Post

New Study Reveals Impact of Flooding on Maryland’s Transportation Infrastructure – Pew

Photovoltaic roof for highways – pv magazine

How to Fix America – CityLab

It’s time to get imaginative about Washington transportation – Chinook Observer (Editorial)

AIR QUALITY

Why Republicans won’t fund EVs – E&E News

Million-dollar battery could help charge Casco Bay hybrid ferry – Mass Transit

How the US Can Cut Carbon Emissions in Half by 2030, with or without Congress – Boston University

Albertsons marks milestone with 100% zero-emission truck delivery – Supermarket News

A Big Climate Problem With Few Easy Solutions: Planes – New York Times

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The Inequality of American Parks – Bloomberg CityLab

NATURAL RESOURCES

Putting nature’s infrastructure to work for North Carolina – WRAL (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

FDOT investigating erased veteran and Black cemeteries under I-175 ahead of possible project – WTSP-TV

TxDOT looks to Texas rapper Chamillionaire for inspiration on new highway sign – Laredo Morning Times

Goodbye to a Yankee Farmer, the Ghost of Exit 8 – New York Times

Biden Purges Trump Appointees from D.C. Design Commission – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Creative methods making better Miami mobility possible – Miami Today

NOACA seeks public input on transportation connections for bikes, pedestrians, transit riders and drivers in downtown Cleveland – Plain Dealer

Elected officials weigh in on noise at Brightridge-linked Bitcoin ‘mine’ – WJHL-TV

Sidewalks, bike lanes and trails are essential transportation infrastructure – The Hill (Opinion)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

An Update on Public Transportation’s Impacts on Greenhouse Gas Emissions – TRB

Seeking Panel Members for FY 2022 Projects in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP): Nominations due June 30 – TRB

Seeking Panel Nominations for FY 2022 National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis Topics: Nominations due June 30 – TRB

FAA Seeks Applications for Grants to Reduce Airports’ Environmental Impacts – FAA

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: Looking Back, Looking Forward with Jeff Lindley, PE, ITE Chief Technical Officer – ITE Talks Transportation (Podcast)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Air Plan Approval; Texas; Revisions to the Texas Diesel Emissions Reduction Incentive Program – EPA (Final rule)

Information Collection; Application for Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order – Forest Service (Notice; request for comment)

Agency Information Collection Activities; National Digital Trails Project – Trails Data Portal – Geological Survey (Notice of information collection; request for comment)

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Applauds Senate EPW Leaders’ Bipartisan Reauthorization Legislation – AASHTO Journal

Bipartisan group of senators introduces surface transportation bill – The Hill

House Republicans unveil $400 billion Starter Act proposal – Land Line

U.S. lawmakers to propose tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel – Reuters

Fixing Transit Is More Than Just Infrastructure – CityLab (Opinion)

COVID-19

California To Provide COVID-19 Relief For Ports – Escalon Times

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Infrastructure Funding Options Debated at Senate Hearing – AASHTO Journal

State DOTs Share Transportation Resilience Strategies – AASHTO Journal

Pipeline Security Act Reintroduced in House – Nextgov

Colorado Is Sure It Can Expand Highways While Also Meeting Climate Goals. History Suggests That’ll Be A Tough Climb – Colorado Public Radio

Electric vehicle charging: Can Michigan meet the demand? – Michigan DOT’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast

AIR QUALITY

Environmental Trade-Offs of Autonomous Vehicles: Convenience Will Likely Come at a Cost – SciTechDaily

Inslee signs climate bills, but vetoes parts that tie them to passage of a transportation package – Seattle Times

Crackdown on Emissions ‘Defeat Devices’ Has Amateur Racers Up in Arms – New York Times

Living walls installed to tackle roadside emissions – Highway News

Vermont makes progress in carbon reduction in new state report – Vermont Business Magazine

A ‘narrow’ pathway to a net zero future for greenhouse gases, IEA says – Washington Post

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New Environmental Justice Measures Might Revive Cap-and-Trade – Stateline

How electric cars can advance environmental justice: By putting low-income and racially diverse drivers behind the wheel – The Conversation

NATURAL RESOURCES

Act now to save salmon, regardless of dams’ fate – Daily Herald (Editorial)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How Parking Destroys Cities – The Atlantic (Commentary)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Oregon Transportation Commission approves more than $233 million for public and active transportation projects – Mass Transit

Metro Detroit’s bike infrastructure is growing. Here’s how. – Model D

Orlando exploring noise ordinance – WOFL-TV

When Cities Say No to New Transportation Technology – CityLab

Health and the city: using urban design to promote heart health – European Society for Cardiology (Press release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Redesigning Transit Networks for the New Mobility Future – TRB

TRB Webinar: Not Easy Being Green–Colorizing Bicycle Lanes to Enhance Safety – TRB

Pedestrian Resources to Help Talk the Walk – TRB

Pedestrians and Cyclists: Better Information to States and Enhanced Performance Management Could Help DOT Improve Safety – GAO

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Funding Opportunity for America’s Marine Highway Projects – Maritime Administration (Notice of funding opportunity)

Limitation on Claims Against Proposed Public Transportation Projects – FTA (Notice)

Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits; Correction – Army Corps of Engineers (Final rule; correction)

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), Glades, Martin, Palm Beach, Hendry, Lee, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties, Florida. Effects May Extend to Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collie – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of intent)

Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills That Commenced Construction On or Before July 17, 2014, and Have Not Been Modified or Reconstructed Since July 17, 2014 – EPA (Final Rule)

National Institute of Standards and Technology National Conference on Weights and Measures 106th Annual Meeting – National Institute of Standards and Technology (Notice)

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specific Activities; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Pile Driving and Removal Activities During Construction of the Hoonah Marine Industrial Center Cargo Dock Project, Hoonah, Alaska – National Marine Fisheries Service (Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization)

FEDERAL ACTION

Earmarks are back, and they could be key to Biden’s infrastructure plans – Marketplace

Green Transportation Act introduced to reduce pollution – Transportation Today

House Panel Ready for Transportation Bill, Rep. Peter DeFazio Says – Transport Topics

GOP weighs going bigger on infrastructure – Politico

Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions Are a Big and Costly Problem and Congress Can Help – Pew

How The White House Is Reaching Out To Congress As It Seeks A Deal On Infrastructure – NPR

COVID-19

Where Covid’s Car-Free Streets Boosted Business – CityLab

MDOT PSA encourages Covid-19 vaccination – Michigan DOT (Press release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

State DOT Panel Stresses Funding, Storytelling as Key Infrastructure Issues – AASHTO Journal

The Congressman in Charge of Transportation Fears Oregon Is Squandering Its Chance to Replace the Columbia River Bridge – Willamette Week

Keene, N.H., Considers Guidelines to Boost EV Infrastructure – Keene Sentinel

Growth without traffic? Madison traffic management plan aims to curb congestion, pollution – Wisconsin State Journal

Before building sustainably, let’s define ‘sustainability’ – The Hill (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

Air pollution from farms leads to 17,900 U.S. deaths per year, study finds – The Washington Post

Taking to the Road to Measure Air Quality – Tufts University

Jersey City’s new Climate and Energy Action Plan is a win-win, officials say – NJ.com

The Transportation & Climate Initiative is worth it – CT Mirror (Opinion)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

State DOT CEOs Talk Transportation Equity at Hearing – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO, COMTO Sign MOU at Spring Meeting – AASHTO Journal

Federal bill would help reconnect areas with highways running through them – WTEN-TV

‘Environmental justice’ bill is a ‘hot mess’ – Colorado Springs Gazette (Opinion)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Not just any flotation device—this one saves the environment – Fort Bend Independent

College of EMS offsets carbon emissions one tree at a time – Penn State

NMDOT revives ‘Toss NO Mas’ litter campaign – New Mexico DOT (Press Release)

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

After walking and biking gained momentum during pandemic, CT towns become more pedestrian friendly – Fairfield Citizen

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Kansas City leaders turn to art installations to slow traffic at busy intersections – WDAF-TV

Newsom offers $1 billion to complete ‘critical’ transit projects before 2028 Olympics – Los Angeles Times

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Providing Transportation Access, Mobility during Emergencies – AASHTO Journal

New York City announces record creation of bus, bicycle lanes planned for 2021 – WABC-TV

New Mobility Study shows how people use bike share, car share, and ride hail to get around Seattle – SDOT (Blog)

Cyclists ‘target of prey’ on Mesa streets – East Valley Tribune

NDDOT provides grants for alternative transportation – KFYR-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Physical Infrastructure: Preliminary Observations on Options for Improving Climate Resilience of Transportation Infrastructure – GAO

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Rescinding the Rule on Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process – EPA (Interim final rule; request for comments)

Federal Aviation Administration Policy: Review of Solar Energy System Projects on Federally-Obligated Airports – FAA (Notification of policy)

Information Collections: Clauses and Forms for Operating Plans and Agreements for Powerline Facility Operation and Maintenance, Inspections, and Vegetation Management and Clause for Vegetation Management Pilot Program Projects – Forest Service (Notice; request for comment)

Notice of Intent To Rule on Request To Dispose 5.3 and .8 Acres of Land at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, Sanford, ME – FAA (Request for public comments)

 

 

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

In Louisiana, Biden makes infrastructure pitch local – NBC News

McConnell says GOP open to $600 billion for infrastructure – AP

“Long overdue”: The Senate just passed $35 billion for clean drinking water – Grist

Agricultural exporters want DOT to address shipping challenges – Capital Press

EPA leader connects recycling and environmental justice – Resource Recycling

Women Break Ground in Shaping Infrastructure Plans in Congress – Bloomberg Government

COVID-19

MTA to restore 24-hour subway service as New York City prepares to fully reopen – Fortune/Bloomberg

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Bolster Resiliency of U.S. Ports – Homeland Security Today

The Dakota Access Pipeline faces possible closure – Reuters

Statewide campaign highlights need for investment in Missouri’s transportation infrastructure – Ozark Radio News

‘It’s time to finally fix our damn roads’: Polis, Colorado state legislative leaders announce transportation bill – KUSA-TV

Implementing CHANGE in Vermont – FHWA Innovator

Micro, electric and car-free: Nine takeaways from CNN’s panel on the future of urban transport – CNN

AIR QUALITY

Updated EV Bill Seeks to Electrify America’s Highway System – AASHTO Journal

Entire U.S. transit bus fleet could transition to zero emission at a cost of $56 billion to $89 billion – Mass Transit

Legislation Would Start Rhode Island Down Road to Reduced Transportation Emissions – ecoRI

As ‘diesel death zones’ spread in California, pollution regulators place new rules on warehouse industry – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service

As a transportation choice ride-sharing found to be less ‘green’ than walking or public transit – Air Quality Matters (Commentary)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Transportation Equity and Minnesota’s Rethinking I-94 Project – AASHTO ETAP Podcast

Memphis pipeline faces environmental justice reckoning – E&E News

NATURAL RESOURCES

Why California Is Planning to Ban Fracking – New York Times

Controversial hazard tree removal project sparks protests – East Oregonian

Roadside Litter Collection Soars Past 5 Million Pounds – North Carolina DOT (Press release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Sartell wants to reopen historic bridge over Mississippi River to pedestrians, bikers – Bring Me the News

Scenic Route guide provides 8 ways artists contribute to equity-driven transportation projects – Kresge Foundation

Free To A Good Home: An 83-Year-Old Western Colorado Bridge – CPR News

How a $180 Million Parking Lot Could Change N.Y.C.’s Historic Character – New York Times

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Ozarks transportation group proposes 45 miles of new trails by 2045, asks for public input – Springfield News-Leader

Legislation classifies electric-assist bikes as bicycles, not motorcycles – WCAX-TV

‘Capital to Coast’ campaign stops in Macon – WMGT-TV

Ross County Health District’s new transportation plan seeks to improve safety and mobility – Chillicothe Gazette

The Scoop with Amy Doyle: ‘Mobility’ – a buzzword whose time has come – Greenville Journal (Commentary)

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

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Untangling Major Societal Issues on the Road to Environmental Health – TRB

The Future of Mobility Summit – The Hill

2021 Transportation Summit: Revisiting the Urban Interstate: Freeway to the Future, or Road to Ruin? – Move Minneapolis

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program – FAA (Notice of funding opportunity)

Modernization of Coast Guard Base Seattle; Preparation of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement – Coast Guard (Notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement; notice of virtual scoping; and request for comments)

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden Pushes Infrastructure Investment during Joint Address – AASHTO Journal

Republicans hammer Biden on infrastructure while administration defends plan – The Hill

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on finding a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure – CNBC

14 Infrastructure Weeks: Assessing Biden’s First 100 Days – Regional Plan Association

Q&A with Stanford experts: Why is climate change at the center of a $2.3 trillion federal plan? – Stanford University

Republican AGs Press Supreme Court on EPA Climate Authority – Bloomberg Law

COVID-19

State’s transportation commissioner talks COVID, tolls and access with NE CT chamber members – The Bulletin

2020 Motor Vehicle Fatalities Estimates and COVID-19 Safety with Lorraine Martin, National Safety Council President and CEO – ITE Talks Transportation (Podcast)

Can ‘Open Streets’ Outlast the Pandemic? – CityLab

NEPA

NEPA and State Law Condemnation in Pennsylvania – National Law Review

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

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

U.S. Cities Offer Guideposts for Federal Infrastructure – Government Technology

Unsnarling Traffic Jams Is the Newest Way to Lower Emissions – E&E News

Amtrak Releases FY20 Sustainability Report – Amtrak

AIR QUALITY

EPA moves to give California right to set climate limits on cars, SUVs – Washington Post

New USDOT drive for more roadside solar panels – Transportation Technology Today

The U.S. Will Need a Lot of Land for a Zero-Carbon Economy – Bloomberg Green

On Earth Day, Wu Calls for End of Dirty Diesel Polluting School Bus-Fleet, Full Electrification by 2030 – Charlestown Patriot-Bridge

Colorado Democrats’ Fight Over Environmental Policy Plays Out in the Headlines – 5280

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Environmental justice advocates plan to hold Massachusetts officials accountable – Energy News Network

Max & Murphy Podcast: An Environmental Justice Agenda for the Next Mayor – Gotham Gazette (Podcast)

Chronic health problems linked to pollution fuels environmental justice movement – Great Lakes Echo

NATURAL RESOURCES

Maine DOT works to help endangered turtles in Eliot – WGME-TV

Revised NC highway litter bill drops higher fines but adds money for inmate cleanups – News & Observer

Without Commuter Traffic, Pandemic-Era Boston Drivers Are Speeding Up, Increasing Noise Pollution – Boston University

CULTURAL RESOURCES

UCLA professors use art and technology to increase bike commuting in L.A – Transfers

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

NYC hits new Citi Bike rival with cease and desist order – New York Post

Closed walkways force pedestrians into the road at Hains Point. Now, two people are dead – WUSA-TV

Putnam Valley Residents Oppose Latest Noise Ordinance Proposal – The Examiner

Does Virginia need an Office of Trails? – Virginia Mercury

May is Bicycling Safety Month: A message for all road users – Oregon DOT (News Release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation Research Record Special Issue on COVID-19: Deadline Extended to June 30 – TRB

Transportation in the Face of Communicable Disease – TRB

Transportation System Resilience: Research Roadmap and White Papers – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Response to Clean Air Act Section 176A Petition From Maine – EPA (Notice of proposed action on petition)

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

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

Moore County Solar Project – Tennessee Valley Authority (Notice of Intent; request for comments)