Highlights

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden to enlist Agriculture, Transportation agencies in climate fight – The Hill

Telework may be the recruitment and retention solution agencies – and Congress – are looking for – Federal News Network

Neal eyes massive coronavirus relief, climate and infrastructure package – Roll Call

Feds Deny Permit for Mine Planned Near Pristine Alaska Bay – Courthouse News Service

COVID-19

Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand – Ohio State News

Female chiefs of Arkansas, Mississippi highway agencies discuss COVID, tell their stories – Talk Business & Politics

Complete Streets in a Pandemic and Beyond with Jennifer Toole, Toole Design – ITE Talks Transportation (podcast)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How Trump’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Pledge Added Up – CityLab

Airport continues aircraft noise update – High Point Enterprise

Regional initiative targets transportation, climate change in underserved rural communities – Boston University News Service

5 maritime sustainability trends for 2021 – Freightwaves

Along the crumbling Sonoma coast, an ambitious project paves the way for ‘managed retreat’ – Los Angeles Times

AIR QUALITY

GM hits reverse on Trump effort to bar California emissions rules – Reuters

Illegal Tampering by Diesel Pickup Owners Is Worsening Pollution, E.P.A. Says – New York Times

It’s time to dump diesel trucks in N.J. – NJ.com (Opinion)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Bearing the Brunt of Expanding E-Commerce: Logistics Sprawl, Goods Movement, and Environmental Justice – Transfers

Racial Injustice in Environment Policy Becomes White House Focus – Bloomberg Law

NATURAL RESOURCES

Artificial floating islands will help safety of water for Ohioans – The Lantern

EPA fights suit forcing it to act on Pennsylvania, New York cleanup plans – Bay Journal

Wildlife uses Utah’s first interstate crossing just for them – KCRG-TV

Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It. – CityLab

Weed Science Societies Announce Plans for Virtual Annual Meetings – Weed Science Society of America (Press release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Oakley adopts ban on shared-mobility devices – The Press (California)

Ford unveils plans for mobility innovation district around Michigan Central Station – SmartCitiesWorld

TxDOT puts down signs to help pedestrians, bicyclists find walkways in construction zones – KXXV-TV

Some Residents Push For Denver’s ‘Shared Streets’ Program To Become Permanent – KCNC-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building resilient transportation networks – TRB

Webinar: Cross-Cutting Issues in Urban Congestion Pricing – TRB

A Pandemic Playbook for Transportation Agencies – NCHRP/TCRP

Availability and Use of Pedestrian Infrastructure Data to Support Active Transportation Planning – NCHRP

Last Mile in General Aviation – Courtesy Vehicles and Other Forms of Ground Transportation – ACRP

RFP: Toward a Touchless Airport Journey – ACRP

NCST Webinar on Monday, December 7: “Development of an Innovation Corridor Testbed for Shared, Electric, Connected, and Automated Transportation -NCST

Toward Universal Access: A Case Study in the Los Angeles and Puget Sound Regions – Eno Center for Transportation (link to PDF)

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces First Ever Comprehensive ‘Pedestrian Safety Action Plan’ – USDOT (Press release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Design Standards for Highways – FHWA (Notice of proposed rulemaking, request for comments)

State Highway Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Programs – FHWA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance; Public Meetings – EPA (Notice)

Agency Programs Subject to Intergovernmental Review Under Executive Order 12372, Section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act, and Section 401(a) of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 – EPA (Notice and request for comments)

Proposed Settlement Agreements, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act – EPA (Notice; request for public comment)

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance – Forest Service (Final rule)

Deepwater Port License Application: Bluewater Texas Terminal LLC; Correction – Maritime Administration (Notice; correction)

Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Commercial Air Tour Limitations in the Grand Canyon National Park Special Flight Rules Area – FAA (Notice and request for comment)

Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Miscellaneous Petitions To Reduce Regulatory Burdens – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Final Rule)

Regulated Navigation Areas; Harbor Entrances Along the Coast of Northern California – Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Transportation Policy Forum Maps out Post-Election Political Landscape – AASHTO Journal

USDOT Transition Team Unveiled by Incoming Biden-Harris Administration – AASHTO Journal

Infrastructure is key to Biden’s climate dreams – E&E News

Congressman Earl Blumenauer bullish on transportation under Biden – BikePortland

No One’s Riding Transit. So Why Did Voters Support It? – Wired (Commentary)

COVID-19

More Than Half of Americans Plan Thanksgiving Travel Despite Pandemic, TripAdvisor Says – WBTS-TV

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Regional initiative targets transportation, climate change in underserved rural communities – Daily Hampshire Gazette

Vermont groups urge state to join regional climate/transportation plan – Vermont Business

America’s Forgotten Marine Highway Network That Could Green Global Freight Transport – Forbes

The ‘order of planning’ determines transit priorities. What if we inverted it to prioritize people? – GreenBiz (Commentary)

AIR QUALITY

Mapping air pollution at the neighborhood level – Axios

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Chicago’s Mayor Turns City’s Infrastructure Into Weapons Against Protesters – The Appeal (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

State shares framework for new surface water quality protections – Arizona Public Media

Toll-road plans fall short on wildlife protection, urban sprawl – Orlando Sentinel (Commentary)

Oil pipeline a step closer to approval in Minnesota – Courthouse News

Analysis: Mississippi pump proposal evokes strong reactions – Associated Press

CULTURAL RESOURCES

AASHTO Releases Historic Bridge Preservation Guide – AASHTO

Redesigning Slow Streets to reflect community & culture in East Oakland – Smart Growth America (Blog)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation council considers signing on to national bicycle route – KWCC-TV

Cecil Township Taking Pa. Turnpike Commission, Construction Company To Court Over Noise Complaints – KDKA-TV

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free? – 6sqft

Escooter startup Voi uses AI to detect pedestrians and sidewalks – VentureBeat

Northern Kentucky foundation establishes $3M ‘active transportation’ fund – WCPO-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

State of the Industry Report on Air Quality Emissions from Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels – ACRP

2021 TRB Annual Meeting: Spotlight Sessions Include Coronavirus (COVID-19), Equity, and the Future of Transportation – TRB

Unfold Podcast, Episode 8: Transitioning to Low-Carbon Transportation – UC Davis

[Webinar] The New NEPA Regulations: A Practical Guide to What You Need to Know – JD Supra

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Hazardous Materials: Notice of Applications for Modifications to Special Permit – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (List of applications for modification of special permits)

Hazardous Materials: Notice of Applications for New Special Permits – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice of actions on special permit applications)

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Survey of State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) – EPA (Notice)

Forest Service Manual (FSM) 3800, Zero Code; State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration Program – Forest Service (Notice of availability for public comment)

Indefinite Delivery and Indefinite Quantity Contracts for Federal-Aid Construction – FHWA (Interim Final Rule; request for comments)

Jurisdiction in Alaska – National Park Service (Final rule)

Hazardous Materials: Information Collection Activities – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice and request for comments)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Key House transportation figures win reelection – Trains

Biden to Move Fast to Strike Down Trump’s Environmental Agenda – Bloomberg Law

Public transit emerges a big winner in election – Marketplace

President Biden Promises To Boost Transit And Build For Bicyclists But Won’t Tackle Car Dependency – Forbes (Op-ed)

COVID-19

Supporting healthy urban transport and mobility in the context of COVID-19 – World Health Organization (Report)

Ontario allocates roughly $1 billion for COVID-19 resilience projects – REMI Network

NEPA

Video: How State DOTs Work to Ensure NEPA Compliance – AASHTO Journal

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast: Georgia DOT’s Innovative PEL Study – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

USDOT loan to aid rural California infrastructure project – Transportation Today

Proposition B: Austin approves $460M in transportation infrastructure bonds – KVUE-TV

Unmanned Aerial Systems Support Flood Management Activities – Innovator (FHWA)

What we’re voting for: infrastructure – The Verge (Commentary)

AIR QUALITY

Why IKEA is investing in sustainable mobility – GreenBiz

Port of L.A. seeks input on zero-emission technology from private companies – City News Service

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How one San Diegan uses his bicycle obsession to make the sport more inclusive and accessible to others – San Diego Union-Tribune

Hurricane Relief Through Mutual Aid – Yes!

National E-Mobility Equity Virtual Conference – Forth Mobility Fund (Blog)

NATURAL RESOURCES

If Florida takes over permitting, its life-giving wetlands will be lost to development – Miami Herald (Opinion)

It’s not too late to protect Northern New Mexico – Santa Fe New Mexican (Op-ed)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Parks Canada to create expert panel to advise on a long-term framework for how visitors will get around the Bow Valley and experience Banff National Park in the future – Parks Canada (Press release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

State DOTs Issue Transportation Alternatives & Trail Grants – AASHTO Journal

The Capital of Sprawl Gets a Radically Car-Free Neighborhood – New York Times

Bike Shortages Will Likely Last Until Next Year, and Possibly into 2022 – Bicycling

Boulder talks transportation: Future of bike share, which wheels go where – Boulder Beat (Blog)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Date Correction) TRB Webinar: Planning an Effective Airport Deicing Runoff Management Program – TRB

Improving Mid-Term, Intermediate, and Long-Range Cost Forecasting for State Transportation Agencies – NCHRP

Improving Mid-Term, Intermediate, and Long-Range Cost Forecasting: Guidebook for State Transportation Agencies – NCHRP

TRB Webinar: Rail in the Time of Coronavirus – Planning, Operating, & Constructing Rail – TRB

TRB Webinar: Cross-Cutting Issues in Urban Congestion Pricing – TRB

Webinar – Protecting Traffic Infrastructure with Weigh In Motion (WIM) – CS2SMART (Link to registration)

2020 Moving Together Conference – UMass Transportation Center

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Deepwater Port License Application: Blue Marlin Offshore Port, LLC (BMOP) – Maritime Administration (Notice of intent; Notice of virtual public meeting; Request for comments)

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; Snowmobiles – National Park Service (Proposed rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

The gas tax was already broken. The pandemic could end it. – Smart Cities Dive

What a Senate flip means for transportation – Politico

One-on-one with U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao – WAOW-TV

Republicans ready to restart critical infrastructure initiative in 2021 – The Hill (Commentary)

Climate Policymaking in the Shadow of the Supreme Court – Resources Magazine

Lawmakers say infrastructure efforts are falling victim to deepening partisan divide – The Hill

COVID-19

COVID-19 Creating Winter Challenges for State DOTs – AASHTO Journal

Two Reports Offer COVID-19 Transit Recovery Advice – AASHTO Journal

How COVID is paving the way for participatory transit planning – Grist (Commentary)

Economic Consequences of Proposed Pandemic-Related Cutbacks in MTA Transportation Services and Capital Spending – NYU Rudin Center for Transportation

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

What has four years of President Donald Trump meant for Florida’s environment? – Tampa Bay Times

Former Walmart exec brings ride-share technology to fresh produce transport – Green Biz

Eyes Will Be on Biden to Act Fast on Resilience for NYC – City Limits

Amsterdam will use flowers to keep its bridges clear of locked bicycles – Lonely Planet

Virginia breaks ground on largest infrastructure project in state history – InsideNoVa

Will ‘game-changing’ new runway quiet O’Hare jet noise conundrum? – Daily Herald

AIR QUALITY

GM, Ford knew about climate change 50 years ago – E&E News

Trump administration funds projects to more efficiently charge and deploy electric buses – Utility Dive

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How infrastructure improvements can aid inclusive revival – CT Mirror

NATURAL RESOURCES

Clean Water Act rollbacks hurt rivers and drinking water – Baltimore Sun (Commentary)

Moose deaths don’t sway WYDOT on 390 speed – Jackson Hole News & Guide

City plans to reduce sewage discharges into region’s rivers. – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oregon DOT begins cleanup from wildfires along state highways and private properties – KTVL-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

What’s behind Virginia’s increasing pedestrian death toll and how to reverse the trend – Virginia Mercury

More streets added to Montgomery County’s ‘Shared Street’ program for pedestrians – WDVM-TV

California Gets an A Grade in Surfrider’s Annual Beach Report – San Clemente Times

Can the Bike Boom Keep Going? – CityLab

Gov. Justice awards over $1.6 million in Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program grants benefitting Metro Valley region – WV Office of the Governor (Press release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation Research Record (TRR) Special Issue on COVID-19: Deadline October 31 – TRB

TRB Webinar: Celebrating TRB’s Centennial by Exploring the Future of Transportation Research – TRB

TRB Webinar: Planning an Effective Airport Deicing Runoff Management Program – TRB

AASHTO to Examine Election Impact on Transportation at Annual Meeting – AASHTO Journal

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Information Collection: Interagency Generic Clearance for Federal Land Management Agencies Collaborative Visitor Feedback Surveys on Recreation and Transportation Related Programs and Systems – Forest Service (Notice; request for comment)

NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule— Phase 2 Extension – EPA (Final Rule)

National Wildlife Refuge System; Use of Electric Bicycles – Fish and Wildlife Service (Final rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO to Examine Election Impact on Transportation at Annual Meeting – AASHTO Journal

Congressional Policymakers Propose Infrastructure Resilience Review Board – Transport Topics

Alan S. Boyd, Nation’s First Transportation Chief, Dies at 98 – New York Times

House Transportation leader in the race of his life – Politico

On Infrastructure, Trump Touts Regulatory Streamlining, Biden Eyes Clean Energy – Transport Topics

Biden says he would if elected mandate masks in interstate transportation – Reuters

COVID-19

Emissions Exposure May Increase COVID-19 Mortality – Stateline

The Pandemic Kick-Started an Urban Motorcycle Boom. Are Cities Ready? – CityLab

Interim Guidance: Wearing of face masks while on public conveyances and at stations, ports, and similar transportation hubs – Centers for Disease Control

NEPA

The Supreme Court’s Environmental Legacy Was Tarnished Even Before Barrett – Jewish Journal (Commentary)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

A Green Way Forward: Can we lead with nature in addressing NYC’s climate crisis? – Regional Plan Association (Webinar)

Interacting Infrastructure Disruptions Due to Environmental Events and Long‐Term Climate Change – Earth’s Focus

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signs $1.9 billion public works bill – Star Tribune

Virginia releases sweeping plan to prepare for sea level rise, increased flooding – Virginian-Pilot

Wildfire shuts down major US transportation corridor, signaling yet more climate disruption – PRI’s Living on Earth

AIR QUALITY

Prosecutions under the Clean Air and Water acts dropped in half after Trump took office – Popular Science

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Climate policy, environmental justice, and local air pollution – Brookings Institution

NATURAL RESOURCES

Caltrans Resumes Litter Cleanup on California Highways – Caltrans (Press release)

Iowa finds new tools to control stormwater erosion and sediment at construction sites – Iowa DOT (Blog)

HDOT Harbors Division Announces Award for Critical Improvements Project – Hawaii Department of Transportation (News release)

Georgia Department of Transportation Aims to Combat Litter Statewide with Launch of Keep It Clean Georgia – Georgia DOT (Press release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Process to regulate electric bikes, scooters underway in Colorado Springs – KRDO-TV

Tahoe transportation plan means more trails over 25 years – KCRA-TV

Research Report 669 Transport impacts on wellbeing and liveability – NZ Transport Agency

Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled, Encouraging Walk Trips, and Facilitating Efficient Trip Chains Through Polycentric Development – University of Utah (Registration required)

Fun, safe transportation: Artist creates active transportation toolkit for WCI – Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Expanded pedestrian area around Town Square to be removed – Jackson Hole News & Guide

CVAG approves nearly $53 million for CV Link construction – KESQ-TV (Coachella Valley)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Flight Plan to Recovery: Preparing Airports for the Return of the Traveling Public – TRB (Report)

TRB Offers a Running Start to Transportation’s Next Generation – TRB (Press release)

TRB Webinar: Keep on Truckin’- Using Simulators for CDL Testing During COVID-19 – TRB

Comparing the Promise and Reality of E-Scooters: A Critical Assessment of Equity Improvements and Mode-Shift – Portland State University

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Off-Road Vehicle Use – Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Final rule)

Anchorage Grounds; Atlantic Ocean, Jacksonville, FL – Coast Guard (Final rule)

Agency Information Collection Activities; The National Map Corps (TNMCorps)—Volunteered Geographic Information Project – Geological Survey (Notice of information collection; request for comment)

Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce; Notice of Opportunity To Apply for Training and Education Designation – Maritime Administration (Notice)

Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance – EPA (Proposed rule)

Security Training for Surface Transportation Employees; Compliance Dates; Amendment – TSA (Final rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Rep. Rodney Davis Introduces Highway Funding Measure – Transport Topics

A Regulatory Rush by Federal Agencies to Secure Trump’s Legacy – New York Times

Administration wants to exclude ‘anarchist jurisdictions’ from coronavirus safety grant – Washington Post

COVID-19

FTA COVID-19 Recovery Listening Sessions – FTA

Gov. Baker says public transit safe to ride amid pandemic: ‘People have done a lot of work to make it safe.’ – Boston Globe

Fear of Crowds May End Up Haunting U.S. Transit Agencies – CityLab

Defense Department study finds low risk of coronavirus infection through air on a packed airline flight – The Washington Post

Metro-North Railroad tests new air filtration to combat coronavirus – Stamford Advocate

NEPA

Graves’ bill delivers solutions to rural communities and the environment – Livingston Parish News (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Mayor Baraka Launches Planning Process For Newark’s Port-Industrial District – City of Newark (Press release)

New solar parking canopy at EVV complete, will produce half of terminal’s power – Courier & Press

Geolocation Data Could Help Planners Design Communities that Require Less Driving – Route Fifty

Port of San Francisco study warns of $30 billion damage from earthquake & sea level rise – American Journal of Transportation

Minnesota Senate passes $1.9 billion infrastructure bill loaded with local projects – Pioneer Press

AIR QUALITY

Vermont leadership releases bold proposal to reduce carbon emissions from the largest source: transportation – Mountain Times

Funds to aid Kentucky transportation initiatives – Transportation Today

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

EPA awards $200,000 grant to DHEC for environmental justice in North Charleston – WCIV -TV

The Equity Case For Caltrain’s Measure RR – San Jose Inside (Op-ed)

Why highways were designed to run through Black communities. SC faces historic dilemma again. – Post and Courier

The road to transportation equity – Roads and Bridges (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Report: Animal-Vehicle Crashes Jump in North Carolina – AASHTO Journal

Pitkin County’s highway pot signs serve cleaner purpose; sponsorship helps one of Colorado’s dirtiest sections of road – Aspen Times

Refining Right-of-Way Management with IVM – North American Oil & Gas Pipelines

Swatting litterbugs: North Carolina lets people report trash tossers caught in the act – Citizen-Times

Mn/DOT abruptly pulls no-spray signs – Winona Post

Boston seeks partners for $500,000 ‘urban forest’ plan – Cities Today

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

IIHS Report Focuses on E-Scooter Safety Issues – AASHTO Journal

Washington law allows bikes to use stop signs as yield signs – Associated Press

Caltrans Highlights Efforts to Reduce Pedestrian Injury and Death – Caltrans (Press release)

UDOT touts biking and walking to improve family well-being, relieve traffic congestion – KSL-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Protection Detection – Making Roads Safe for Drivers and Wildlife – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Release of Waybill Data – Surface Transportation Board (Notice)

EPA Guidance; Administrative Procedures for Issuance and Public Petitions – EPA (Final rule)

Environmental Protection Agency Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR); Scientific Integrity – EPA (Final rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Elaine Chao: Long-Term Plan Needed for US Infrastructure – Transport Topics

White House Blocked C.D.C. From Requiring Masks on Public Transportation – New York Times

New York Transit Authority Taps Into Federal Reserve Borrowing Program – Pew

Where the 2020 Election Is a Referendum on Public Transit – CityLab

EPA Authority Over Power Sector’s Climate Impacts Heads to Court – Bloomberg Law

COVID-19

Mobility Analytics in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic – AASHTO Journal

Study: COVID-19 Changing Commuter Traffic Patterns – AASHTO Journal

Covid, science and urban legend – an interview with Greg Winfree – Traffic Technology International (Podcast)

Second phase of VDOT commuter survey open to help gauge coronavirus impact on travels – WAVY-TV

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Philadelphia’s traffic congestion was bad before the pandemic. It could get worse. – Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington DC airport operator unveils new sustainability plan – Airport World

Amazon to deploy 10K electric last-mile vans en route to net-zero carbon – Retail Dive

AIR QUALITY

Studies Examine Benefits, Hurdles of ‘Decarbonization’ Strategies – AASHTO Journal

San Diego Utility Company Launches Program to Build Charging Infrastructure – Transport Topics

Why Is the EPA Really Repealing Methane Emissions Regulations? – Sierra

Exxon’s Plan for Surging Carbon Emissions Revealed in Leaked Documents – Bloomberg Green

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

On equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice in transportation – Roads & Bridges (Column)

For Some Near the Cross Bronx Expressway, COVID-19 is an Environmental Justice Issue, Too – The City

NJDEP Issues Environmental Justice Guidance for Entire New Jersey Executive Branch – Lexology

NATURAL RESOURCES

Cargill salt ponds subject to Clean Water Act protections, judge rules. – Climate Online

USDA Seeks New Partnerships to Safeguard, Restore Wetland Ecosystems – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

70th Annual Washington State Weed and Invasive Species Conference Going Virtual on November 3-6 – Big Country News

When it comes to our water quality ‘challenge the messenger’ – News-Press (Opinion)

Homes complicate Arizona wildfire response – Arizona Public Media

CULTURAL RESOURCES

After 25 years, Houston’s historic preservation law faces Supreme Court test – Community Impact Newspaper

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New TRECH Project Research Update on Health Benefits of TCI Policy Scenarios – Harvard University

Missoula planners consider road safety improvements for bicycles, pedestrians – NBC Montana

Women have been biking in record numbers during the pandemic. As traffic returns, will they keep riding? – New York Times

Lime adds Wheels shared e-bikes to its app as it seeks to become a one-stop shop for mobility – The Verge

Bicycles And Buses Will Be Future’s Dominant Modes Of Urban Mobility, Predict 346 Transport Experts – Forbes

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation’s Roles in Equitable Vaccine Allocation – TRB

TRB Webinar: Make it Count–Estimating Market Values for Small Airports – TRB

TRB Webinar: Wetland Mitigation at Airports – TRB

TRB Webinar: Finding the Path–Messaging Before, During, and After Weather Events – TRB

TRB Webinar: Advancing Innovative Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility Research – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Competitive Funding Opportunity: Public Transportation COVID–19 Research Demonstration Grant Program – FTA (Notice of funding opportunity)

Port Access Route Study: Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware – Coast Guard

Request for Comment; Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone – NOAA (Notice of public comment)

Request for Information; Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone – NOAA (Notice of public comment)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

CR Secures Federal Funding, Extends FAST Act for One Year – AASHTO Journal

FHWA Issuing $574M in Emergency Funds For a Variety of Disasters – AASHTO Journal

Water case offers a window into Barrett’s jurisprudence – E&E News

New Bill Aims to Make Communities and Infrastructure More Flood-Ready – Pew

DOT’s Transportation Self-Governance Program for Tribes Takes Effect – Transport Topics

Supreme Court to Hear Energy Companies’ Appeal in City Climate Change Lawsuit – Route Fifty

Infrastructure investment is the best idea that never happens: Could 2021 be different? – Roll Call (Opinion)

COVID-19

Study: No Direct Correlation Between COVID-19, Transit System Use – AASHTO Journal

Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program – FTA

Gas Tax Spikes in N.J. Because of Pandemic’s Impact – New York Times

How COVID-19 repurposed city streets – Marketplace

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

FAA funds to aid airport safety, infrastructure – Transportation Today

Indiana Seeking to ‘Future-Proof’ Infrastructure Investments – Inside INdiana Business

Public transit agencies can skip long environmental reviews under bill signed by Newsom – San Francisco Chronicle

Montana Selling Bonds As Part Of Infrastructure Funding Package – Montana Public Radio

Paradise Is Going Underwater. What Can We do? – Honolulu Civil Beat (Opinion)

Rising Waters Threaten Great Lakes Communities – Stateline

AIR QUALITY

Pennsylvania Joins 6 States in Commitment to Plan for CO2 Transport Infrastructure – Pennsylvania Governor’s Office (Press release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How EPA rollbacks evade 1994 environmental justice order – E&E News

Dickinson College to host virtual panel on environmental justice in Pa. – Patriot-News

Yale Experts Explain Environmental Justice – Yale University

Why environmental justice needs to be on the docket in the presidential debates – Union of Concerned Scientists (Blog)

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality file a lawsuit against the City of Corpus Christi – KIII-TV

Butterflies are free: Illinois Monarch Action Plan takes flight – The Telegraph

Judge to Decide If San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds Are Protected US Waters – Courthouse News Service

Vermont seeks public input on clean water budget priorities by Oct 30 – Vermont Business Magazine

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Historic Preservation Is Great, Except When It Isn’t – Governing (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Caltrans’ Director Talks Active Transportation – AASHTO ETAP Podcast

The Murky Case for Mass Telecommuting – CityLab

Safer with sharrows? – World Highways

Imagine a statewide network of NC greenway trails. Officials want your ideas. – The News & Observer

Santa Maria releases plan for biking, pedestrian infrastructure, seeks public feedback – Santa Maria Times

U.S. Department of Transportation Designates October as National Pedestrian Safety Month – NHTSA

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

AASHTO Virtual Annual Meeting Registration Now Open – AASHTO Journal

Airport Renewable Energy Projects Inventory and Case Examples – TRB/ACRP (Report)

Transportation Resilience 2019: 2nd International Conference on Resilience to Natural Hazards and Extreme Weather – TRB (Circular)

TR News: Integrating Stormwater Infrastructure into State Department of Transportation Processes – TRB

2020 Virtual Forum on Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Technology (part 1) – TRB

Good to Go? Assessing the Environmental Performance of New Mobility – International Transportation Forum (link to pdf)

Webinar: Telework During COVID and Beyond: Leveraging Behavioral Science to Improve Virtual Work and the Future of Commuting – Eno Center for Transportation

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning – FTA (Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Deprecation of the United States Survey Foot – Department of Commerce (Notice; final determination)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House’s Continuing Resolution Would Extend FAST Act – AASHTO Journal

Ginsburg left a long environmental legacy – Politico

At a glance: enforcement of environmental law in USA – Lexology

COVID-19

Pandemic not leading to overflow of medical waste, says waste management company – KMOX

What We Actually Know About How Americans Are Moving During Covid – CityLab

NEPA

House Republicans Unveil NEPA Reform Bill – Transport Topics

Ugly founding of Shenandoah National Park helps explain NEPA’s importance – Daily Sentinel (Op-Ed)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Study: State DOTs Could Gain Revenue from Solar Arrays – AASHTO Journal

Chattanooga to trial energy-saving adaptive traffic control systems – CitiesToday

CU Denver Researcher Analyzes the Use of Solar Energy at U.S. Airports – University of Colorado Denver

Commentary: A strategy for tactics? – Freight Waves

Miami has resilience plans in place. Now it’s time to put them into action – Miami Herald (Op-Ed)

Electrifying California Cars Could Crush the Grid, or Save It – Bloomberg Green

AIR QUALITY

EPA to Defend Clean Air Rule as Compliant With Ozone Limits – Bloomberg Law

California is ready to pull the plug on gas vehicles – AP

Walmart Aims to End Emissions From Global Operations by 2040 – Bloomberg Green

Energy Transitions, Carbon Reduction and Climate Change: Diesel Technology’s Role in the Future – Diesel Technology Forum (Press release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Transportation linked to push for equity in San Antonio – KSAT-TV

A sustainable new normal doesn’t have to cost the earth – Environment Journal

NATURAL RESOURCES

Social scientists study visitation patterns in Glacier National Park to mitigate environmental damage – KPAX-TV

A new decision support tool for collaborative adaptive vegetation management in northern Great Plains national parks – UC Berkeley

Trump Administration Releases Plan to Open Tongass Forest to Logging – New York Times

Clean Water Act rewrite may leave popular lakes vulnerable to pollution – Detroit News

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Discover America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2020 – National Trust for Historic Preservation

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Living Sustainably: Green commuting encourages healthier community – Holland Sentinel

State of Oregon to consider new carfree bridge near Willamette Falls in Oregon City – BikePortland

Fine for hitting cyclists while opening car door has quadrupled – Daily Hive Vancouver

Spin app goes live with bike and micromobility lane route optimization – Intelligent Transport

D.C. Council unanimously approves Vision Zero bill aimed at reducing traffic fatalities – Washington Post

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Critical Issues in Transportation 2019 – TRB (Report Announcement)

TRB Webinar: Balancing the Scales–Equity Analysis in Transportation Planning – TRB

TRB Webinar: Weathering the Storm – Climate Resilience at Airports – TRB

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $320.6 Million for Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements – USDOT (Press release)

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $460,000 for Emergency Repairs to Infrastructure Destroyed by Wildfires in Washington State – USDOT (Press release)

Federal Transit Administration Announces $6.2 Million for Transit Planning in Communities Nationwide – FTA (Press release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Guidance Procedures – Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Final rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Congressional Transportation Leaders Back One-Year Extension of FAST Act – Transport Topics

Groups to Congress: extend surface transportation funding, add emergency funds for states – Transportation Today

House Republicans issue post-election infrastructure plan – American Shipper

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Announces $1 Billion to Upgrade American Infrastructure – USDOT (Press release)

Space weather bill passed by US Congress to improve forecasting, mitigation – GPS World

Trump Administration’s New Natural Gas Transportation Rule Sparks Safety Concerns – NPR’s Morning Edition

COVID-19

Report: Full return to on-site work in DC area could be a year away – WTOP

Covid-19 could reverse much of the D.C.’s region’s progress on transportation funding, Bowser, Hogan and Northam warn – Washington Business Journal

NEPA

The New NEPA Regulations Were a “Political Act.” Is That Enough to Invalidate Them? – JD Supra (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

ASCE: Civil Engineers give Wisconsin’s infrastructure a “C” – WisBusiness

Effects Of Climate Change On Transportation Are Not Always Obvious, Immediate – NPR

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.3 Million for Emergency Repairs to Infrastructure Destroyed by Wildfires in Lassen National Forest – FHWA (Press release)

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $5 Million in Emergency Relief for Roads and Bridges Damaged by Wildfires in Oregon – FHWA (Press release)

Central Florida Leaders Say Transportation Was Hard Hit By Coronavirus, But Expansion Still Possible By 2030 – WMFE

AIR QUALITY

Metrolink Tier 4 locomotive project receives environmental certification – MetroLink (Press release)

New York State Agencies and Authorities Launch “Car Free for Climate” Campaign – New York State

US reaches $1.5B settlement with Daimler AG over emissions cheating in Mercedes-Benz diesels; civil penalty of $875M – Green Car Congress

Environmental Groups Sue Los Angeles Over Rollback of Port Pollution Rules – Courthouse News Service

Clean truck partnership targets last-mile transportation – DC Velocity

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

EPA postpones environmental justice training after White House memo – The Hill

California water company withdraws desalination proposal as battle over environmental justice heats up – Los Angeles Times

N.J. Gov. Murphy signs environmental justice law designed to protect minority communities – Philadelphia Inquirer

A Just Transition: Energy Equity – Regional Plan Association (Webinar announcement)

NATURAL RESOURCES

EPA proposes 2020 Financial Capability Assessment for the Clean Water Act – WaterWorld

Can a floating island in the Charles River rescue its water quality? – WFXT-TV

The world is burning and drowning. We have to vote for the planet’s future. – The Washington Post (Editorial)

Fish Exposed to Noise Pollution Likely to Die Early: Study – Courthouse News Service

CULTURAL RESOURCES

How Cities Can Reclaim Their Streets From SUVs – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Maryland gears up for first-ever ‘Walktober’ – NottinghamMD.com

Why San Francisco International Airport is turning off the loudspeaker – CNN

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Modeling Long-Distance Intercity Travel for Sustainable Global Travel – TRB

18th Biennial National Harbor Safety Committee Conference – TRB

Attitudes and behaviors related to cycling – Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University

What are the barriers to and motivators for walking? – New Zealand Transport Agency

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Reconsideration – EPA (Final rule)

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Utah Department of Transportation Audit Report – FHWA (Notice; Request for comment)

Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Link Union Station Project, Los Angeles, CA – FRA (Notice)

Florida’s Request To Assume Administration of a Clean Water Act Section 404 Program – EPA (Notice and request for comments)