Highlights

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Letter Calls on Congress to Make ‘Turn-Key’ Transportation Deal – AASHTO Journal

Congress Returns for Fall Legislative Sprint – CitiesSpeak

Maryland, Chesapeake Bay Foundation sue EPA, claiming failure to enforce cleanup plan – Baltimore Sun

Highlights Of Joe Biden’s Energy Plan – Forbes

House Lawmakers to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Advance Agencies’ Use of Electric Vehicles – Route Fifty

House Transportation Leaders Call for Investigation Into EPA – Transport Topics

EPA’s birthday gift to America: More pollution – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

COVID-19 Could Slow City’s Efforts to Curb Water Pollution – City Limits

COVID-19 disrupts local-level efforts to clean up Chesapeake Bay – Bay Journal

Hazardous Air Pollutant Exposure Linked as Contributing Factor to COVID-19 Mortality in the United States – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

NEPA

White House Environmental Review Rule Survives Legal Test – Bloomberg Law

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

FHWA Issues Emergency Funds to Louisiana for Storm Recovery – AASHTO Journal

Uber Pledges to Go All-Electric, but It Doesn’t Own the Cars – Wired

How states can finance coastal resilience before the next disaster – Environmental Defense Fund (Blog)

Leading political environmental organization opposes NJ Transit “Transitgrid” microgrid project – Insider NJ (Press release)

AIR QUALITY

How to read and understand air quality numbers and maps – Los Angeles Times

A misguided strategy – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Editorial)

The Struggle to Crack Down on a Cottage Industry Sabotaging Vehicle Pollution Controls – FairWarning

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

WITF’s ‘Toward Racial Justice’ panel links environmental justice with health, human rights and self-determination – StateImpact Pennsylvania

How NC can tackle the climate crisis and address environmental justice – NC Policy Watch

NATURAL RESOURCES

EPA funding impacting Twin Ports research projects – KBJR-TV

Why We Still Can’t Stop Oil Spills From Damaging the Environment – Bloomberg Green

New Mexico Environment Department Works To Combat Wetland Loss – KRWG

Why some in Nevada see Utah pipeline plan as ‘first salvo in coming water wars’ – Las Vegas Sun

Kentucky Officials Award Funds to Freight-Moving River Ports – Transport Topics

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

How micromobility has transformed the transportation industry – Governors’ Highway Safety Association

Revel Moped Representatives To Meet With NYC DOT Over Safety Concerns – WCBS-TV

San Jose revised bike plan aims to tackle city’s traffic-related accidents, make roads safer – KRON-TV

Appeals Filed Against SFMTA and SF Planning Department Put Roadblocks in Front of City’s Slow Streets Program – SFist

From free electric bikes to new infrastructure, the fabric of our cities is changing – CNBC

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

AASHTO re:source Launches Podcast – AASHTO Journal

National Competition Will Select America’s Two Best Transportation Projects – AASHTO Journal

TRB Webinar: A Resilient Path Forward for the Marine Transportation System – TRB

TRB Webinar: Advancing Transportation Equity – TRB

TRB Webinar: Determining Social and Economic Qualifications in the DBE Program – TRB

Cost, Congestion, and Emissions Benefits of Centralized Freight Routing and Efficiencies in Alternative Fuel Freight Modes – National Center for Sustainable Transportation

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notice of Charter Renewal – EPA (Notice of charter renewal)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Groups Call for Federal Program Extension, State DOT COVID Aid – AASHTO Journal

U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Applicants for Railway-Highway Crossings Grants – USDOT (Press Release)

DOT rolls out National Freight Strategic Plan – Freightways

Centering Planning in the Federal Surface Transportation Debate – American Planning Association (Blog)

Trump’s deregulatory disregard for law and science – The Hill (Opinion)

Tribes and Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration to Preserve Clean Water Protections – Earthjustice

Trump’s U.S. EPA chief claims climate-change fight hurts the poor – Reuters

The Forest Service’s rule changes undercut its once-proud mission – The Hill (Opinion)

COVID-19

Daily Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic – USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics

E-scooters and bikes rebound as COVID-19 crisis keeps on rolling – Marketplace

NEPA

FAA Releases LaGuardia AirTrain Draft Environmental Review – FAA (Press release)

21 States Sue Trump Administration for Rollback of NEPA – One Green Planet

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

ETAP Podcast: Hawaii DOT’s Ed Sniffen – AASHTO Journal

FAA Disburses $1.2B in Airport Safety/Infrastructure Grants – AASHTO Journal

Large states with small populations use more energy for transportation – Talk Business & Politics

GDC Announces Updated Financial Plan Submission for Hudson Tunnel Project – Gateway Program Development Corporation (Press release)

Virginia rail deal on track with completion of environmental planning for new Potomac River crossing – Richmond Times-Dispatch

MY VIEW: Transportation development districts offer innovative way to fund infrastructure projects – Cincinnati Business Courier (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

Mid-Atlantic, Northeast states collaborate to cut carbon emissions from transportation – Yale Climate Connections

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New Jersey Passes Landmark Environmental Justice Legislation – National Law Review

Can Planting Trees Make a City More Equitable? – CityLab

NATURAL RESOURCES

VTrans Offers Water Quality Improvement Project Grants – AASHTO Journal

Study: Fewer wildlife deaths as traffic dips during pandemic – AP

Goats take a bite out of Brainerd park invasive species – Bemidji Pioneer

CULTURAL RESOURCES

A citywide survey is not enough. Philly needs a holistic approach to make historic preservation more equitable – WHYY (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Connecticut DOT Offering Community Connectivity Grants – AASHTO Journal

84 Million Trips Taken on Shared Bikes and Scooters Across the U.S. in 2018 – NACTO (Press Release)

GDOT officials explain noise effects of Ga. 400 toll lanes during Q&A session – Reporter Newspapers

‘They seem to be up to no good’: Late-night joyriders led to electric scooters’ suspension in Dallas, officials say – Dallas Morning News

Oregon could better reach out to bike, pedestrian groups before construction projects, audit finds – The Oregonian

San Diego Airport gets $18 million federal grant to reduce noise in nearby homes – KUSI-TV

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Measuring Quality of Life in Communities Surrounding Airports – TRB ACRP

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

Future Electric Vehicle Charging Demand at Highway Rest Areas and Implications for Renewable Energy Penetration in California – National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Early Scoping Notice for Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Proposed LYNX Silver Line Project in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, North Carolina – FTA (Early Scoping Notice)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles – NHSTA (Interim final rule; request for comments)

National Priorities List – EPA (Final Rule)

Hours of Service of Drivers; Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Drivers To Pause Their 14-Hour Driving Window – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Notice of proposed pilot program; request for comments)

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

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Court for second time strikes down Trump admin rollback of automaker penalties – The Hill

Climate Change Debate Adds to Busy Fall Congressional Agenda – Transport Topics

Green groups fight EPA rollback limiting states from blocking projects – The Hill

American Highway Users Alliance encourages FAST Act extension – Transportation Today

COVID-19

Avoiding Gridlock: Strategies to Keep Cities Moving in a Pandemic & Beyond – September 3 – NACTO (Webinar announcement)

IBTTA releases five-month update to State of US Transportation during COVID-19 – Transportation Today

Safety, Data, and Green: Transport Sector’s Sustainable Recovery from COVID-19 – Modern Diplomacy

NEPA

NEPA Rules Rewrite: Public Involvement Process – JD Supra

U.S. Chamber coalition to defend NEPA in court – Transportation Today

Trump Touts Infrastructure Permitting Reforms – Transport Topics

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dairy Farmers Of America Sets Sustainability Goal To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 30% For The Decade – Dairy Farmers of America (Press Release)

AIR QUALITY

Coalition Releases New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Guide – Renewable Energy

A Look at Title V Permits for MSW Landfills Under the Clean Air Act. – EHS Daily Advisor

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Marsha Jackson Is Trying to Move Shingle Mountain – Texas Observer

NATURAL RESOURCES

Are abandoned mines affecting our drinking water or could they soon? – Deseret News

‘I’m not the bad guy here’: Eastern Oklahoma mine operator stands firm against Clean Water Act legal challenges – KMIZ-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Virginia Coastal Policy Center announces partnership with tribes, N.C. institutions – William and Mary

Historic Landmark Commission vetoes skyscraper design for historic building – Austin Monitor

Trump Administration Invests $4.8 Million in Grants to Support Historic Preservation in Rural Communities – National Park Service (Press release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bicycles: A Refuge for Transit Commuters? – New Geography

Ann Arbor’s 4M campus to mix health living, working and mobility practices – ClickOnDetroit

How accessible is active travel infrastructure? – BikeBiz

Calif. Shared Mobility Bill Amended to Remove Liability Waiver Ban – Law Street

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Stay Current on Research in Progress – TRB

Proposed AASHTO Guidelines for Performance-Based Seismic Bridge Design – TRB

TCRP 2019 Annual Report of Progress – TRB/TCRP

Shared Mobility and the Transformation of Public Transit – TRB/TCRP

New Review Finds NYC Watershed Protection Program Successful in Maintaining and Enhancing Water Quality – National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (News Release)

Providing opportunities to learn about transportation-related careers – Mineta Transportation Institute

The Future of Transportation – San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Rail System, Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section, CA – FRA (Notice)

Notice of Final Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad Project in California, on Behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority – FRA (Notice)

Public Hearing for Control of Air Pollution From Airplanes and Airplane Engines: GHG Emission Standards and Test Procedures – EPA (Notice of public hearing)

Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan Regulation, Subpart J (Renewal) – EPA (Notice)

Administration of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Trading Program Assurance Provisions for 2019 Control Periods – EPA (Notice of date availability)

Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities; A Holistic Approach to Closure Part A: Deadline to Initiate Closure – EPA (Final rule)

Draft National Spatial Data Infrastructure Strategic Plan; Comment Request – Geological Survey (Request for public comment)

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Planning Regulations – FEMA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Q&A with Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao – Mass Transit

Trump Reboots Obama Climate Rules by Axing Methane Curbs – Bloomberg Green

Under the radar rollback of stream and wetland protections – The Hill (Opinion)

Trump Administration Finalizes Plan to Open Arctic Refuge to Drilling – New York Times

COVID-19

ETAP Podcast: Arizona DOT Details COVID-19 Impact – AASHTO Journal

SEPTA’s ‘social-distancing coaches’ are the newest part of your commute – Philadelphia Inquirer

Covid Flight From Transit Forces Shift to Riders Without Choices – Bloomberg Government

Partnership Announced To Reduce Litter And Improper Disposal Of PPE – Tennessee DOT (Press release)

Mobility in the Pandemic – and After – UC Davis (Press release)

NEPA

Our Turn: Miriam Goldstein and Kelly Kryc: Rolling back environmental protections will prove costly – Providence Journal (Opinion)

After Almost Four Decades, White House Issues New NEPA Regulations–Lawsuits Likely – National Law Review

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

California’s Rich and Desperate Homeowners Are Buying an Unproven Wildfire Cure – Bloomberg Green

Strain on electrical grid shuts down pollution-cutting measure at LA, Long Beach ports – Daily Breeze

Enhanced Vegetation Management Planned For Indy Metro Area Highways – WBIW

As climate change threatens Florida, resilience should not be a part-time job – Florida Times-Union (Editorial)

AIR QUALITY

Watchdogs criticize EPA’s move to approve air quality around Ameren’s biggest coal plant – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Reports Blast Bay States’ Pollution Diet Plans, Lawsuits Loom – Chesapeake Bay Magazine

Agency OKs $27M to Boost Zero-Emission Vehicles in California – Transport Topics

Citi CEO Says Banks Must Walk If Clients Won’t Reduce Emissions – Bloomberg Finance

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Mass Transit’s Role in Racial Justice (Podcast) – Bloomberg

How Environmental Justice Fits Into the Democratic Party Platform – WNYC

NATURAL RESOURCES

Google Maps is tracking the spread of America’s wildfires hour by hour – Engadget

EPA administrator sees farm conservation practices up close – Wisconsin State Farmer

Keeping It Blue: Old septic systems pose a threat to water quality – Lake Geneva Regional News (Commentary)

High Time to Tackle Toxic Algae Blooms’ Source – Trade Only Today (Commentary)

Celebrate bi-partisan leadership on resiliency and water infrastructure – News-Press (Opinion)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

The impacts of gentrification on transportation and social support – Portland State University

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bird, Lime and Spin hit Chicago and New York – ITS International

Footwear display in Denver is solemn reminder of pedestrians killed by autos – Denver Post

A Controversial Scooter Data Tracking Program Gains Traction – CityLab

Cyclists work on bicycle routes Adding signage, bike lanes, bike racks – Taos News

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

COVID-19 trends impacting the future of transportation planning and research – TRB

How electric vehicles impact the electric grid – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Advances in Unstable Slope Instrumentation and Monitoring – TRB NCHRP (Report availability)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Streamlining Procedures for Permit Appeals – EPA (Final Rule)

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

Tribal Technical Assistance Program – FHWA (Notice; request for comments.)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval: Driver Interactions With Advanced Driver Assistance Technologies – NHSTA (Notice and request for comments on a request for approval of a new information collection.)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

State DOTs Still Seeking Emergency Funding from Congress – AASHTO Journal

FERC advises Congress how transmission may be added along transportation corridors – pv magazine

Highway Bill Stuck in Limbo Amid Negotiations – Transport Topics

U.S. Department of Justice to Utilize Enforcement Discretion on “Overfiling” Authority for State-led Clean Water Act Civil Enforcement Matters – JD Supra (Commentary)

Transportation Groups Keep Pressing Congress for COVID-19 Relief – Transport Topics

6 former EPA bosses call for agency reset after election – Associated Press

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $464 Million in Grant Awards Nationwide to Revitalize America’s Bus Infrastructure – FTA (Press release)

COVID-19

Technology Is Creating New Mobility Solutions For Cities To Manage Covid-19 – Forbes

Covid-19 blurs the picture of future Miami-Dade mobility – Miami Today (Opinion)

Fixing the Covid Food Disaster Can Slash Climate Emissions – Bloomberg Green

NEPA

Dakota Access review may test Trump’s NEPA overhaul – E&E News

NEPA: Re-Animated Or Is It Wee-Animated? – National Law Review (Commentary)

Keown: The price of Landscape Vegetation Analysis – Casper Star Tribune (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

CTE releases guidebook for deploying zero-emission transit buses – Intelligent Transport

Atlanta Fast-Tracks Its Sustainable Transportation Goals – National Resources Defense Council (Blog)

One-Two Punch Hits ExxonMobil Trucking Plan – Santa Barbara Independent

MDOT and MEMA team up to promote hurricane preparedness – Mississippi DOT (Press release)

San Diego planners unveil a $177 billion plan to expand transit, toll highways – San Diego Union-Tribune

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Governor Cuomo Proposes New Environmental Justice Provisions for State’s Water Infrastructure Loan Programs – NY State (Press release)

With the Biden-Harris Ticket, Environmental Justice Is a Focus – New York Times

When Street Design Leaves Some People Behind – CityLab

NATURAL RESOURCES

Wildlife Services rereleases predator-killing plans for Wyoming – Jackson Hole News & Guide

While ‘not perfect,’ Potomac River shows progress – Herald-Mail

Revisions to rule on pollution in limbo – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bogotá Is Building its Future Around Bikes – CityLab

Now Is The Time To Start Biking – NPR

How Columbus Is Evolving Its Smart Mobility Program – State Tech

City Hopes 2nd Scooter Pilot Can Boost Transportation Equity – WTTW-TV

In Denver’s future street design, cars are guests – KUSA-TV

Israeli researchers develop AI route planning system for blind pedestrians – Xinhua

Indego, Inde-gone: Philly begins installing GPS after record 330 bikes go missing – Billy Penn

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dates and times announced for virtual 2021 TRB Annual Meeting – TRB

AASHTO Transitions to a Virtual Annual Meeting – AASHTO Journal

59th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law – TRB

Research Day at ITF Annual Summit – Transport Innovation for Sustainable Development – TRB

TRB Webinar: Capacity Impacts of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles – TRB

Transportation Research: Additional Actions Could Improve DOT’s Internal Collaboration and Reliability of Information on Research Activities – GAO

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Land Uses; Special Uses; Procedures for Operating Plans and Agreements for Powerline Facility Maintenance and Vegetation Management Within and Abutting the Linear Boundary of a Special Use Authorization for a Powerline Facility; Correction – Forest Service (Final rule; correction)

Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides for 2020 Control Periods – EPA (Notice of data availability)

Meetings: Draft Invasive Species Strategic Plan; Tribal and Alaska Native Corporation Consultations, Public Listening Sessions – Interior Department (Notice)

Broadband Infrastructure Deployment – FHWA (Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments)

Notice of Issuance of Final Circular: Guidance on Joint Development – FTA (Notice of availability of final circular)

Review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards – EPA (Proposed action)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House Passes Fiscal 2021 Transportation Funding Bill – Transport Topics

At EPA, coronavirus disrupts research and raises questions over air quality impact – McClatchy

Climate Hawks Urge Biden to Shun Obama-Era Energy Moderates – Bloomberg Green

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Nearly $5 Million to 4 New University Transportation Centers – USDOT (Press release)

Harris, Ocasio-Cortez introduce environmental justice bill – The Hill

COVID-19

Is the Subway Risky? It May Be Safer Than You Think – New York Times

New York City sets up quarantine checkpoints as it toughens state travel restrictions – CNBC

Chicago-Area Transit Agency Bosses on COVID-19’s Impact on Transportation – WTTW-TV

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Podcast: AASHTO’s Tymon Talks National Infrastructure Needs – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO’s Tymon Named a ‘Top 25 Newsmaker’ by ENR – AASHTO Journal

What’s in store for the future of infrastructure? – Infrastructure

Road Revenue Plummets – New Ways To Fund Infrastructure Projects Needed – CleanTechnica

NVTA adopts $539M funding program to reduce congestion in the region – Fairfax County Times

FEMA Offers $500M in Resilience Grants. An Opportunity for Microgrids & DERs? – Microgrid Knowledge

Florida Gov. DeSantis: 50 transportation projects were accelerated saving 650 calendar days of construction during COVID-19 pandemic – WTLV-TV

AIR QUALITY

The EPA is taking a ‘first step’ toward addressing Chelsea’s air quality problems – Boston.com

Why climate change is about to make your bad commute worse – Washington Post

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Across America, Five Communities in Search of Environmental Justice – Great Lakes Now

NATURAL RESOURCES

With wildlife corridor plan, Virginia officials hope to reduce highway collisions with animals – Virginia Mercury

Finger Lakes Land Trust says toxic and harmful HABS most pressing threat to water quality – WHCU

New EPA guidelines on cost-benefits analyses are path to better forestry and much more – Crain’s Cleveland Business (Blog)

Judge Tosses Ranchers’ Challenge to Weakened Clean Water Rules – Courthouse News Service

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Historic preservation at Pima Air & Space is Absolutely Arizona – KGUN-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Going Dutch? New bicycle signal is part of a study on bike infrastructure – KGW-TV

Residents complain crosswalks are consuming curb space in ‘parking deprived’ Stamford – Stamford Advocate

The Problem With ‘Mobility as a Service’ – CityLab

Micromobility Isn’t Dead – Bloomberg

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Public Transit Ridership Trends – TRB (Webinar announcement)

Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes, Volume 2: Research Overview – TRB TCRP (Report availability)

TRB Webinar: How Women Fare in the Transit Industry – TRB (Webinar announcement)

Conference on Health and Active Transportation Circular – TRB

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) soliciting FY2022 problem statement submittals by November 2, 2020 – TRB NCHRP

Rescheduled: Advancing Demand Management in Resort Towns and Communities – FHWA Office of Operations

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; General Administrative Requirements for Assistance Programs – EPA (Notice)

Notice of Availability of One Updated Chapter in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Pollution Control Cost Manual – EPA (Notice of availability and public comment period)

Public Water System Supervision Program Approval for the State of Illinois – EPA (Notice of tentative approval)

Requests for Nominations: National and Governmental Advisory Committees to the U.S. Representative to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation – EPA (Notice of request for nominations)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Proposed rule)

Notice of Indirect Cost Rates for the Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program for Fiscal Year 2018 – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Notice)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

COVID-19 Relief Stalls, House Passes THUD Appropriations – AASHTO Journal

New DOJ Guidance Seeks to Limit Federal Enforcement under the Clean Water Act – National Law Review

House Passes New Water Resources Development Bill – Engineering News Record

Senate Democrats introduce environmental justice bill – The Hill

COVID-19

Israel’s ‘smart commuting’ shows what public transport could be like after COVID-19 – World Economic Forum

Transit-Based COVID-19 Monitoring Pilot Launched in Mission District – University of California San Francisco

MTA Announces Installation of Mask Dispensers Inside Buses for Customers to Easily Access Masks When Boarding – MTA (Press release)

G7 High-Level Transportation Principles in Response to COVID-19 – US Department of State

There Is Little Evidence That Mass Transit Poses a Risk of Coronavirus Outbreaks – Scientific American

COVID-19 AND TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION Part 8: Lessons Learned – Getting Prepared for Possible Stimulus Funding – Roads and Bridges

COVID-19 and the Future of Transportation in California – JD Supra

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Caltrans Repaves Roadway with Recycled Plastic Bottles – Caltrans (Press release)

Pritzker administration announces $250 Million in infrastructure grants to Illinois counties, municipalities and townships – Illinois DOT (Press release)

AIR QUALITY

California’s Air Pollution Cops Are Eyeing Uber and Lyft – Wired

Los Angeles Accelerates Efforts to Electrify Its Infamous Traffic – Scientific American

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

‘Who’s this for?’: Without looking at Richmond’s racial disparities, some worry push for ‘open streets’ could widen inequities – Richmond Times-Dispatch

Pollution Is Killing Black Americans. This Community Fought Back. – New York Times

NATURAL RESOURCES

New port brings tourism hope and pollution fears to Alaskan town – Thomson Reuters Foundation

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Why Historic Preservation Needs a New Approach – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Revel is shutting down its NYC moped service after another death – CBS News

New Orleans mayor releases updated plan on making French Quarter pedestrian-focused – WDSU-TV

Shared-use roads improve physical distancing, research shows – University of Alberta

From ‘smart mobility hubs’ to crowdsourcing traffic data, Columbus tests new transportation tech – Statescoop

SamTrans Launches Ride Now Taxi Subsidy Pilot Program – SamTrans (Press release)

Electrifying transportation will jumpstart the U.S. economy and protect public health – The Hill (Opinion)

Lyft seeks to ease return-to-work woe with custom ride-share benefit – HR Dive

Mineta Transportation Institute releases study showing carpooling for cash could help clear congestion – Mineta Transportation Institute

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Guide to Emergency Management at State Transportation Agencies – TRB

Developing a Guide to Emergency Management at State Transportation Agencies – TRB

Arizona DOT’s Approach to Virtual Public Involvement – AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Nearly $5 Million to 4 New University Transportation Centers – USDOT (Press Release)

Two AASHTO Management Courses to go Virtual– AASHTO

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology Council – USDOT (Request for comment)

Discretionary Funding Opportunity: Grants for Pilot Program for Expedited Project Delivery – FTA (Notice of funding opportunity)

Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Jefferson National Forest; Monroe County, West Virginia; Giles and Montgomery County, Virginia; Mountain Valley Pipeline and Equitrans Expansion Project – EPA (Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO, Industry Letters Highlights Immediate Fiscal Need of State DOTs – AASHTO Journal

Five things Congress can do to save transit – Transportation for America (Blog)

Senate still quiet as House moves forward on infrastructure – Politico

21 state attorneys general sue over new Trump water rule – AP

Environmentalists threaten suit over push to transport liquefied natural gas by rail – The Hill

COVID-19

Transportation safety: A growing COVID-19 concern – Safety+Health

Creating COVID-19 Jobs Through Small Transportation Projects Endorsed – KXAS-TV

COVID-19 quarantines reduce seismic noise across the globe – CNET

NEPA

White House Updates Bedrock Environmental Rules, Setting Up Legal, Legislative Battle Over Energy, Infrastructure Permitting – National Law Review

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Caltrans Releases Freight Plan, Final Two Climate Reports – AASHTO Journal

Florida moves ahead with more electric-vehicle plans – Fresh Take Florida

Illinois River Infrastructure Updates Could Improve Basis – Ag Web

Amtrak Sustainability Report – Amtrak

MnDOT releases annual sustainability report – Minnesota DOT (Press release)

Rhode Island’s First-Ever Infrastructure Report Delivers Mixed Marks – Engineering News-Record

Will Clean Energy Projects Face Troubles That Have Bedeviled Pipelines? – New York Times (Opinion)

Recent gutting of regulations is inhibiting adequate review of renewable energy projects – The Hill (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

A Surprise Surge in Air Pollution May Be Causing More Coronavirus Complications – Elemental

US says it will adopt global climate standards for aviation – KSAT

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

EPA Must Focus on Environmental Justice, Inspector General Says – Bloomberg Law

NATURAL RESOURCES

Closing a Concocted Clean Water Act Loophole – The Regulatory Review (Opinion)

Conservation Groups Support Lawsuit To Overturn “Waters of the United States” Rule – SGB Media

A community approach to improving water quality – News-Press (Opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Google Maps just made it way easier to rent a bike in 10 cities – Mashable

DC-area leaders approve transportation network to serve walkers, cyclists – WTOP Radio

Do bicycles slow down cars on low speed, low traffic roads? Latest research says ‘no’ – Portland State University

Teleworking Can Reduce Car Travel – But Not As Much As You May Think – KPBS

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

2021 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting is Going Virtual – TRB

TRB Webinar: The Relationship between Bicycle Facilities and Increasing Bicycle Trips – TRB (Webinar announcement)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Chao Releases Pathways to the Future of Transportation – USDOT (Press release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Rubber Tire Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Review – EPA (Final rule)

Air Plan Approval; WA; Interstate Transport Requirements for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards – EPA (Proposed rule)

Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Landfill Expansion within Wetlands that Drain to Burnetts Mill Creek at the Existing Regional Landfill off Merged U.S. Routes 58, 13, and 460 in Suffolk, Virginia – Army Corp of Engineers (Notice of intent)

Information Collection Request Number 2265.04; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With the SmartWay Transport Partnership – EPA (Notice)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Trump Administration Formally Overhauls NEPA Rule – AASHTO Journal (See Federal Register listing below)

House Transportation Panel Advances Water Infrastructure Bill – Transport Topics

One-Third of U.S. Solar Projects Relied on Rule That’s Changing – Bloomberg

House leaders introduce COVID-19 maritime relief legislation – Transportation Today

House panel approves measure requiring masks on public transport – The Hill

COVID-19

Public Transit Officials Fear Virus Could Send Systems Into ‘Death Spiral’ – New York Times

Fear In an Elevator – Bloomberg (Video)

Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: Only Vaccine Can Restore ‘Normalcy’ For Transit Agencies – WBUR Radio’s Here & Now

Survey: Transportation & Mobility for All during the COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery – C2SMART (Survey availability announcement)

NEPA

Nixon signed this key environmental law. Trump plans to change it to speed up pipelines, highway projects and more. – Washington Post

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Wind And Solar Can Power Green Recovery With Lower Risk Projects – Forbes

City of Houston’s Office of Sustainability Seeking Input on Strategy to Make Electric Vehicles More Accessible – City of Houston (Press release)

Joe Biden unveils $2 trillion green infrastructure and jobs plan – CNBC

Rising Seas Mean More Flooding Will Be Coming to New York City – Bloomberg Green

The Case for ‘Managed Retreat’ – Politico (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

15 states will follow California’s push to electrify trucks and buses – The Verge

EPA rejects tougher air-quality standards, says 2015 limits are sufficient – Washington Post

Understanding Air Quality Alerts in Your Area – Spectrum News

Masks neither help nor hurt during air quality alerts, experts say – WATE

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Seventy percent of Superfund sites are within a mile of public housing, report finds – Philadelphia Inquirer

You Asked About Environmental Justice And The Effects Of Pollution. We’ve Got Answers. – Indiana Public Media

John Lewis And His Environmental Legacy – Forbes (Op-Ed)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Pennsylvania environmental group sues EPA over Clean Water Act – Jurist

EPA: Waters Around Two Hawaii Beaches Impaired by Plastic Pollution – Center for Biological Diversity (Press release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Oklahoma City adopts first historic preservation and sustainably plan – KOKH

Study: Public Transit Benefits Exceed Costs in Rural and Small Urban Areas – Crossroads (Blog)

At the Hirshhorn, a Battle Over Plans for Its Sculpture Garden – New York Times

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Michigan lawmakers put priority on recycling not dumping – MLive.com

The Impact of Ride-sharing in New York City – C2SMART (Webinar announcement)

Coronavirus has forced escooter providers and cities to work out their differences – TNW

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

2021 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Is Going Virtual – TRB

RFP: Mapping the Common Interests of AASHTO Committees – NCHRP (RFP announcement)

Building socioeconomic equity through transportation research – TRB (Blog announcement)

TRB Webinar: Enter the Portal–The Transportation Performance Management (TPM) Portal – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act – Council on Environmental Quality (Final rule)

Notice of Final Adoption and Effective Date for a Revised Federal Transportation Element and Transportation Addendum for the Federal Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital – National Capital Planning Commission (Notice of final adoption of and effective date)

Applications for Credit Assistance under the State Infrastructure Finance Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program – EPA (Notice of funding availability)

Applications for Credit Assistance under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program – EPA (Notice of funding availability)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Wicker, Bennet Introduce American Infrastructure Bonds Act – Y’all Politics

EPA wants to help cities keep their transit systems clean – WFED Radio’s Federal Drive

COVID-19

AASHTO Council Meeting Highlights COVID-19 Impact on Transportation – AASHTO Journal

Millions of Americans Have Moved Due to Coronavirus – CItyLab

Understanding Resilience: The Impact of COVID-19 – Lehigh University

Mayor Durkan Announces Six-Year Seattle Transportation Benefit District Proposal to Aid in Equitable COVID-19 Recovery – Seattle DOT

‘Time Is Always Money’: Pandemic Lockdowns Hasten Infrastructure Work – New York Times

Bikeshare Ridership Down 44% During COVID-19 – USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (Press release)

MTA and Transit Innovation Partnership Launch COVID-19 Response Challenge to Strengthen Public Transit – Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Press release)

How Urban Transport is Changing in the Age of COVID-19 – Earth Institute/Columbia University

NEPA

Make America Build Again: Reform NEPA Now – Forbes (Commentary)

President Trump, Secretary Chao to announce major policy change in Atlanta – WAGA-TV

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

EPA battles Rover Pipeline in Ohio Supreme Court – Columbus Dispatch

Have a brilliant idea? Our research section wants to hear about it. – Iowa DOT

Meet Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer – Talking Michigan Transportation (Podcast)

Paving a stable pathway to future-proof transport systems – GreenBiz

It’s Time to Try Congestion Pricing in L.A. – CityLab (Opinion)

Stop Falling For The Congestion Con – Honolulu Civil Beat (Opinion)

Draft EIS unveiled for Port of Long Beach on-dock rail facility – Progressive Railroading

AIR QUALITY

SoCal Experienced Worst Air Quality In A Decade Over July 4th Weekend – CBSN Los Angeles

Carbon emissions in electricity fell in 2019, even as economy grew – Washington Examiner

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Meet the Nuns Who Created Their Own Climate Solutions Fund – Mother Jones

Roundtable: The Urgency of Delivering Environmental Justice – and Clean Energy – in New Jersey – NJ Spotlight

Why the Larger Climate Movement Is Finally Embracing the Fight Against Environmental Racism – Time

NATURAL RESOURCES

Noise is air pollution – The Daily Item (Opinion)

Feds scrap plans to reintroduce grizzlies to North Cascades – Associated Press

Handheld platform technology uses single sample to deliver fast, easy results on water quality – Northwestern University

What’s the water quality in Alaska harbors like without cruise ship traffic? State scientists will find out this summer. – KHNS

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Nashville’s Downtown Tests the City-Within-a-City Concept – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Fort Worth Bike Share hacked, users’ credit card info and names possibly compromised – Star-Telegram

New initiative opens some low-speed state roadways to healthy uses – Washington State DOT (Press release)

Caltrans Adopts Action Plan to Increase Walking, Bicycling Statewide – Caltrans (Press release)

New York as a Biking City? It Could Happen. And It Should. – New York Times (Commentary)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

RFP: Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Involvement at Five State Departments of Transportation: Implementation of the NCHRP Research Report 905 Toolkit – TRB (RFP announcement)

TRB Committee on Environmental Analysis and Ecology Virtual Seminar – TRB

Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox Demonstration: Fair Value Commuting, Final Report – FTA

FHWA HEP research quarterly newsletter: Spring 2020 – FHWA

U.S. Department of Transportation Launches Summit on Pedestrian Safety – Virtual Series – FHWA

EDC News: Reduce Costs and Expedite Project Delivery with Project Bundling – FHWA

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Forest Service Handbook: Operation and Maintenance of Developed Recreation Sites – US Forest Service (Notice of availability for public comment)

Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule – EPA (Final rule)