Highlights

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)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House Passes $1.5T Infrastructure Package – AASHTO Journal

House Climate Report Urges Transit Expansion, VMT Study – AASHTO Journal

GOP irked as $14 billion for water systems became $40 billion – Roll Call

Blumenauer’s bike-related bills move forward in $1.5 trillion House transportation bill – Bike Portland

Could the Coronavirus Kill the Gasoline Tax? – Pittsburgh Today

House Highway Bill Sets Up Showdown On Energy Tax Breaks – Law360

COVID-19

Lessons continue to be learned in TRB events on COVID-19 – TRB

Recycling stakeholders say years of turbulence helped prepare industry for pandemic – Waste Dive

EPA must consider COVID-19 when setting air pollutant standards – The Hill (Commentary)

CEOs Drop Climate Change Talk to Focus on Surviving Covid-19 – Bloomberg

Webinar Series: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Tele-Activities, Travel and Purchasing Behaviors – Rensselaer Institute of Technology (Webinar announcement)

NEPA

Column: For communities and climate, federal government should leave environmental protections alone – Columbus Dispatch (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Developers cancel long-delayed, $8B Atlantic Coast Pipeline – AP

Judge orders Dakota Access pipeline shut down pending review – AP

In New York City, ‘Managed Retreat’ Has Become a Grim Reality – InsideClimate News

AIR QUALITY

House Climate Change Plan Tackles Heavy-Duty Equipment at Ports – Transport Topics

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

‘The Wrong Complexion For Protection.’ How Race Shaped America’s Roadways And Cities – NPR

Video: Access to Nature and Outdoor Recreation are Critical, Underappreciated Environmental Justice Issues – InsideClimate News

Time for California communities to step up on environmental justice – Cal Matters (Commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Mapping America’s Underwater Real Estate – Bloomberg Green

Understanding Wildlife Behavioral Responses to Traffic Noise and Light to Improve Mitigation Planning – UC Davis

ADOT, USGS partnership is a model for sustainable transportation solutions – Arizona DOT

Roadkill Reduced During Lockdowns, but Traffic Is Increasing Again – Smithsonian Magazine

CULTURAL RESOURCES

As summer gets underway, a look at this year’s 10 best U.S. cities for parks – Washington Post (subscription)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Regional Plan Association Calls For Proposed 425-mile Connected and Protected Five Borough Bikeway – RPA (Press release)

He Coined The Word ‘Gridlock’ Now New York City’s Sam Schwartz Plans A Bicycle Bridge To Prevent It – Forbes

It’s Not Too Late to Turn the Electric Scooter Industry Around – Bloomberg Green

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Guidebook for Managing Data from Emerging Technologies for Transportation – TRB

Seeking principal investigators for FY2021 NCHRP Synthesis Projects: Letters of interest due August 27, 2020 – TRB

Guidelines to Incorporate the Costs and Benefits of Adaptation Measures in Preparation for Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change – TRB

Incorporating the Costs and Benefits of Adaptation Measures in Preparation for Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change – Guidebook – TRB

Advancing Demand Management in Resort Towns and Communities – FHWA (Office of Operations)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program (WIFIA) Criteria Pursuant to the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 – EPA (Notice)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports— Native Endangered and Threatened Species – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of information collection; request for comment)

Petition for Partial Reconsideration of Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter: Revision of Federal Implementation Plan Requirements for Texas – EPA (Notice of action denying petition for reconsideration)

Hours of Service of Drivers; Exemption Applications: U.S. Department of Energy – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Notice of final disposition; grant of application for exemption)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House Wraps Surface Transportation Bill into Infrastructure Package – AASHTO Journal

Judge: EPA Has No Duty to Periodically Review Industrial Pollution Risks – Courthouse News Service

Legislation introduced to improve sustainability measures at U.S. ports – WorkBoat

Who’s suing over Trump’s WOTUS rule? – E&E News

Navajo Nation Sues EPA Over Clean Water Act – KNAU

COVID-19

COVID-19 transportation website is available from TRB and the National Academies – TRB

How the Coronavirus Recovery Is Changing Cities – Bloomberg CityLab

As commuters weigh options, Lyft adds transit directions for Philly users – Philadelphia Inquirer

Air Travel and Communicable Diseases: Status of Research Efforts and Action Still Needed to Develop Federal Preparedness Plan – GAO

Why Covid-19 Stimulus Needs To Account For Future Infrastructure Risks – World Economic Forum

New Report from American Society of Civil Engineers Shows Dire Impacts of COVID-19 on Nation’s Infrastructure Sectors – ASCE (Press release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dual Disaster Handbook Offers Practical Guidance Amidst Chaos – AASHTO Journal

Minnesota Department of Transportation’s online meetings about construction draw surprising number of viewers – Star Tribune

Oregon Department of Transportation to Convert 8,000 Street Lights to LEDs – Environment + Energy Leader

West Coast Utilities Offer Plan for Charging Stations Along Interstate 5 – Transport Topics

Federally Funded Research to Study, Improve Houston Wastewater System’s Resilience – Black & Veatch (Press release)

Governors eye expanding public-private partnerships for infrastructure financing – Transportation Today

Mayors, policy leaders release playbook for infrastructure – Transportation Today

AIR QUALITY

John J. Mooney, an Inventor of the Catalytic Converter, Dies at 90 – New York Times

California takes bold step to reduce truck pollution – California Air Resources Board (Press release)

Nevada to adopt California’s stricter car pollution standards, rejecting Trump rollback – Los Angeles Times

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How can transportation planners better serve Black and brown people? – Seattle Times

NATURAL RESOURCES

Regulatory Rollbacks: Loss of federal water protections impacts Great Lakes region – Great Lakes Now (Commentary)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

There’s more to geography than just 50 states and their capitals – Education Dive

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

KDOT calls for Transportation Alternatives Program project concepts – Kansas DOT (Press release)

Google Maps may offer routes connecting bikes and cars to public transit – Engadget

Columbus Has One Year to Make Its Transportation ‘Smart’ – Governing

Segway To End The Production Of Its Iconic Personal Transportation – NPR’s All Things Considered

The Impact Of Innovation On MaaS/MOD With FTA’s Vincent Valdes – ITE Talks Transportation Podcast

Moovit and Tranzito to bring transit information to the curb – Mass Transit

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

2020 Competition: Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations – TRB (Call for entries)

TRB Webinar: Transportation Asset Management in a COVID-19 World – TRB

“Tell Us ‘Our’ Story” by Susan Shaheen – TRB

Completing the 2020 U.S. Census is key for local transportation improvements – TRB

Advancing Mode Options in Managed Lane Projects – National Operations Center of Excellence (Webinar)

Nominations Sought – New Voice In Transportation Award – Center For Urban Transportation Research

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Availability of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement – Bureau of Land Management

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House T&I Advances Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill – AASHTO Journal

Federal judge denies Democratic AGs’ bid to halt Trump WOTUS rule – Politico

USDOT to Award $906M in INFRA Grants – AASHTO Journal

Delgado, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Identify PFAS Contamination at Federal Water Infrastructure Projects – Congressman Antonio Delgado (Press release)

Trump’s push for major infrastructure bill faces GOP opposition – The Hill

Democrats unveil $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan – The Hill

COVID-19

U.S. traffic has rebounded to about 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, analysts say – The Washington Post

COVID-19’s transportation implications for people with disabilities – The Hill (Commentary)

Gov. Inslee sends letter to Pres. Trump for federal COVID-19 safety measures for airports and airlines – KNDO/KNDU-TV

Talking can spread coronavirus, so new NJ Transit commuting rules say to keep quiet – NJ.com

Pandemic Travel Patterns Hint at Our Urban Future – CityLab

NEPA

Senators introduce NEPA reforms to cut red tape – Transportation Today News

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

CA: Proposed California law would fast-track environmentally sustainable transit – San Francisco Chronicle

MDOT seeks input on long-range transportation plan – MLive.com

Expert: ‘Shovel-ready’ projects ignore important aspects of community resilience – Phys.org

AIR QUALITY

Looking Back at 50 Years of the Clean Air Act of 1970 – Resources (Blog)

Md., Other States Push EPA to Force Stricter Pollution Standards for Pa. Power Plants – Maryland Matters

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

AASHTO Hosting Environmental Justice Virtual Peer Exchange – AASHTO Journal

Philly police no longer welcome in Vision Zero as bicyclists reckon with racism – WHYY

Group targeting environmental racism relaunches amid disparities in coronavirus impact – The Hill

Murphy backs New Jersey environmental justice bill – KYW

NATURAL RESOURCES

State environmental officials fail to report critical water data, according to state audit – Boston Globe (Sign-in Required)

Ohio EPA Accepting Public Comments About Plan to Study Large Rivers – Ohio EPA (Press release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Georgia’s heritage bill worries preservation advocates – Albany Herald

National Trust for Historic Preservation Statement on Confederate Monument – National Trust for Historic Preservation (Press release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bicycle, pedestrian path opens on Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge – WABC

Why Car-Free Streets May Be Here to Stay – Bloomberg (Video)

Scooters will return to Chicago streets this summer as the city launches an even larger pilot program – Chicago Tribune

After coronavirus, bicycles will have a new place in city life – Fortune

The High Cost of Bad Sidewalks – CityLab

Helsinki pushes off with data study on e-scooter services for sustainable mobility – Conference & Meetings World

Lyft vows ‘100 percent’ of its vehicles will be electric by 2030 – The Verge

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reducing the complexity of decision making through a roundabout renaissance – TRB/NCHRP

TRB Centennial video on the future workforce wins three Telly Awards – TRB

Featured Centennial Paper – Transportation Demand Management: A Focus on Moving People – TRB

Commercial Space Operations Noise and Sonic Boom Measurements – TRB/ACRP

Public Roads – Spring 2020 – FHWA

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process; Public Hearing – EPA (Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period and notification of public hearing)

Safety Zones: Illinois River, Miles 10 to 187, Grafton, IL to Peoria, IL – Coast Guard (Temporary final rule)

Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast – Coast Guard (Advance notice of proposed rulemaking)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

As EPA Steps Back, States Face Wave Of Requests For Environmental Leniency – NPR

With transportation’s future unclear, some question spending – Roll Call

Transportation Funding Bill Part of Congress’ Summer Agenda – Transport Topics

Federal Transit Administration Announces $22.97 Million to Improve Transit Access in Selected Communities Around the Country – Federal Transit Administration (Press release)

Wyoming jumps aboard for Trump water rule – Laramie Boomerang

Outside/In: How Massachusetts v. EPA Forced the U.S. Government to Take On Climate Change – New Hampshire Public Radio

Trump Team Weighs $1 Trillion for Infrastructure to Spur Economy – Bloomberg Tax

COVID-19

Transportation Industry Asks President to Support State DOT COVID-19 Relief – AASHTO Journal

COVID-19: President Trump’s Invocation of Emergency Authority to Streamline Environmental Review for Infrastructure Projects – National Law Review (Analysis)

Google Maps adding pandemic-critical information for commuters – Mass Transit

New poll shows Michigan voters rank fixing roads and infrastructure as top priority after COVID-19 economic recovery – Arab American News

Explore U.S. Mobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic – US Bureau of Transportation Statistics

A Playbook for Transit Recovery from D.C. – City Lab

CDOT creates fund to help cities extend restaurants onto streets – BizWest

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Energy and Transportation Each Have a Powerful ‘Sustainable Story’ – Bloomberg (Interview)

Florida’s Flooded Future: ‘Retreat While There’s Still Time’ – The Nation

North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan – NCDOT

Resilience Is Good Public Policy – US Chamber of Commerce (Commentary)

Board of Trustees commits to accelerating transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, reports major reduction in fossil fuel investments – Stanford University

California Regulators Approve Changes to Support Microgrids as State Braces for Wildfire Season – Microgrid Knowledge

New Florida Law To Bring More Electric Charging Stations To State Highways – WUFT Radio’s Fresh Take Florida

AIR QUALITY

First-of-its-kind dust detection and warning system set for monsoon – Arizona DOT

AECOM, AT&T, Toyota, and More Partner on Dallas’ First Climate Action Plan – Dallas Innovates

New Documentary Celebrates Clean Air Act, Highlights Communities Still Waiting for Clean Air – American University

Salt Lake City, Provo closer to reaching Clean Air Act compliance for first time in decade – KSL

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Study examines environmental justice impact of Senate Bill 181 in Colorado – University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Why ‘I can’t breathe’ is resonating with environmental justice activists – NBC News

Where can I learn more about environmental racism? – National Catholic Reporter

“Two different realities”: Why America needs environmental justice – CBS News

NATURAL RESOURCES

Will Trump’s EPA rule backfire on ‘energy dominance’? – E&E News

A Canal That Opened the Montana Prairie May Soon Dry Up – New York Times

Officials want Amtrak to preserve river access – Hudson Valley 360

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

2020 City Ratings: Top 5 U.S. Cities for Bikes – People for Bikes

‘Corona Cycleways’ Become the New Post-Confinement Commute – New York Times (subscription)

The Definitive Rules of the Road for Urban Cyclists – CityLab

WILDLIFE

Understanding Wildlife Behavioral Responses to Traffic Noise and Light to Improve Mitigation Planning – UC Davis National Center for Sustainable Transportation

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

RFP: The Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program – TCRP (RFP announcement)

TRB Webinar: COVID-19 Impacts on Managed Lanes – TRB

TRB Webinar: Forecasting Zero Emission Vehicles Fleet Scenarios and Emissions Implications – TRB

TRB Webinar: Human Trafficking and Mobility of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – TRB

Agent-based Simulation Model and Deep Learning Techniques to Evaluate and Predict Transportation Trends around COVID-19 – C2SMART Center (White paper)

MOD Webinar #6: Mobility Marketplace: Integration, Integration, Integration – USDOT

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process – EPA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Environmental Impact Statement for the Western Rail Yard Infrastructure Project in New York County, New York – Federal Railroad Administration (Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

House T&I Releases Five-Year $494B Surface Transportation Bill – AASHTO Journal

AASHTO’s Statement on House Surface Transportation Bill – AASHTO Journal

Proposed Rule: Increasing Consistency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process – EPA (Announcement)

Trump seeks to scale back environmental reviews for projects – Associated Press (see Federal Register Notices below)

Gateway Tunnel opposed by Trump could get funding from new House bill – NJ.com

Conservation bill clears one Senate hurdle, but more remain – Roll Call

COVID-19

Transportation Industry Asks President to Support COVID-19 Funding Relief for State DOTs – AASHTO Journal

RTD taps national medical researcher for insights on recovering from COVID-19 – Regional Transportation District (Press release)

How COVID-19 could speed up smart-city visions – Deutsche Welle

The pandemic response slashed traffic; what did it teach us about transportation planning? – Wisconsin State Journal

NEPA

What Trump’s permit order means for NEPA, energy and race – E&E News

Outdated NEPA needs modernizing. Just ask Warren Buffett – Utility Dive (Opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Michigan DOT Assesses Needs, Starts Repairs After Extensive Flooding – Transport Topics

North Texas Innovation Alliance Consortium Launches to Create the Most Connected, Smart and Resilient Region in the Country – North Texas Innovation Alliance (Press release)

Environment Report: Climate Plans Across the Region Are Hitting Roadblocks – Voice of San Diego

U.S. Water Infrastructure Has One Dam Big Problem – Triple Pundit

Siting Board Approves Its Largest Wind Farm to Date – New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Press release)

With Fewer People in the Way, Transportation Projects Speed Ahead – New York Times (subscription)

Issues Of The Environment: Prioritizing Urban Planning In Combatting Impacts Of Climate Change – WEMU

Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Investments Are Necessities, Not Luxuries – Earth Institute/Columbia University (Opinion)

AIR QUALITY

Carbon Neutral vs Carbon Negative: What’s the Difference? – Business News Wales

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

EPW Hearing: Infrastructure Vital to Economic Recovery, Social Equity – AASHTO Journal

Why communities fighting for fair policing also demand environmental justice – Los Angeles Times (subscription)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Planners who want to restore East Bay marshland seek public input – East Bay Times

Australia’s Water Is Vanishing – Bloomberg

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Amid Protest and Pandemic, Urban Parks Show Their Worth – CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Trails for two-wheelers: A look at the United States Bicycle Route System – MultiBriefs

Michigan moves to overhaul its waste industry to favor recycling over landfills – Lansing State Journal

Cities criticized for shutting down bikeshare amid protests, pandemic – CNN

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: “INVEST in America Act” Goes Far To Deliver the Transportation Infrastructure America Needs – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (Press release)

House draft transportation bill contains $6.3B for biking and walking infrastructure – Bicycle Retailer

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Tell Us ‘Our’ Story”: “What is your vision for the Transportation Research Board 100 years from now?” – TRB

TRB 2021 Annual Meeting: Paper submissions due August 1 – TRB (Announcement)

RFP: Emergency Response: Organizational and Operational Models Used by State DOTs – TRB (RFP availability)

TR News: Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness – TRB (Publication Announcement)

Asset Management Approaches to Identifying and Evaluating Assets Damaged Due to Emergency Events – NCHRP (Publication Announcement)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

EO on Accelerating the Nation’s Economic Recovery from the COVID-19 Emergency by Expediting Infrastructure Investments and Other Activities – White House (Executive Order)

Bighorn National Forest; Wyoming; Invasive and Other Select Plant Management – Forest Service (Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement)

Forest Service Manual 2750; Special Uses Management Manual; Leasing Forest Service Administrative Sites – Forest Service (Notice of availability)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

EPA Narrows States’ Veto Power Over Infrastructure Projects – Bloomberg Law (see Federal Register Notices below)

23 states sue Trump to keep California’s auto emission rules – Associated Press

Injunction Sought Against Water Rule – Progressive Farmer

Colorado files lawsuit defending streams, wetlands – Conejos County Citizen

Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – June 2020 – National Law Review

At last, a climate policy platform that can unite the left – Vox

Lawsuit Launched to Fight Trump EPA’s Delay in Reducing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution – Center for Biological Diversity (Press release)

Big Oil loses appeal, climate suits go to California courts – Associated Press

Senate Chairman Roger Wicker Unveils Rural Transportation Bill – Transport Topics

COVID-19

Enlisting Science and Technology in the Fight Against COVID-19 – and the Ongoing Struggle for Sustainable Development – National Academies

Oh No, Here Comes the Transportation Hellscape – New York Times (subscription)

Supporting commuters returning to worksites during covid-19 – Association for Commuter Transportation (Report)

Democrats Push Pandemic Aid, Highlight Infrastructure Package – Transport Topics

The Pandemic Cut Down Car Traffic. Why Not Air Pollution? – NPR

How to Safely Travel on Mass Transit During Coronavirus – CityLab

NEPA

Heber Wild Horse plan development reaches milestone – White Mountain Independent (Arizona)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Building Highways and Preserving the Environment – Transfers (Report)

What Role can Infrastructure Play in the COVID-19 Recovery Effort? – Novogradac (Commentary)

Managed Retreat in the Face of Climate Change, Part 2 – CleanTechnica

Sustainability vs. Conservation: Key Similarities and Differences – Conservation Folks

Repeated Hurricanes Reveal Risks and Opportunities for Social-Ecological Resilience to Flooding and Water Quality Problems – American Chemical Society (Report)

A Climate for Reading: A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety – Climate in Emergency (Blog)

AIR QUALITY

Study Examines COVID Shutdowns and Air Quality in Cities Worldwide – The George Washington University

Why We Must Close Polluting Urban Power Plants – US News and World Report (Commentary)

Cutting Air Pollution Is Crucial to Avoiding Second COVID-19 Peak, Reveals New Report – Interesting Engineering

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Chelsea and East Boston deserve true transit equity – CommonWealth

NATURAL RESOURCES

With Summer Heat Waves, Hurricanes, and Flooding on the Horizon, Disaster Responders Grapple with Planning for Extreme Weather in the Time of COVID-19 – National Academies

The Tragedy of the Compost – Scientific American (Opinion)

Road markings can be ‘microplastics risk’ – new report – ITS International

When States Get Serious About Phasing Out Natural Gas – JD Supra

Final Report: Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management – EPA (Report)

Aera retreats from coastal project – Bakersfield Californian

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Uncovering Our Ancient Past – Archaeologist employs total stations to create photorealistic 3D GIS models – American Surveyor

Great Falls group, VDOT, Park Service collaborate on traffic hot-spot – InsideNoVa

State Parks Releases Final Scoping Document for Draft Historic Preservation Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement – New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Press release)

How to Detect the Distortions of Maps – CityLab

‘Plano did not just fall out of the sky:’ Why preserving the city matters – Plano Star Courier

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

How mobility startups can help authorities fix public transport after the pandemic – Urban Mobility Daily

Alaskans want to ride. But a pandemic bicycle boom is making supplies scarce. – Alaska Public Media

Atlanta Ordinance Establishes New Permit Structure For Micro-Mobility Companies – WABE

Uber destroys thousands of bikes and scooters – BBC News

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Forecasting through COVID-19 will be crucial for the future of transportation – TRB NCHRP

Best Workplaces for Commuters Announces Telework Certificate Program – Yahoo Finance

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

EPA Issues Final Rule that Helps Ensure U.S. Energy Security and Limits Misuse of the Clean Water Act – EPA (Press release)

Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Habitat Conservation Plan for the Proposed Rooney Ranch Wind Repowering Project, Alameda County, California; Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program – USDOT (Final Rule)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Outdoor Industry groups call on Congress to invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure – KSL

Virginia, Maryland, D.C. to sue EPA over failure to enforce pollution reduction targets in Chesapeake Bay – Virginia Mercury

EPA Clean Air Panel Chair Dismisses His Oil Industry Ties, Slams Harvard Study on Air Pollution and COVID Risks – DESMOG

Trump’s EPA must strengthen standards for deadly particle pollution – The Hill (Opinion)

AG opposes federal effort to scale back environmental regulations by replacing WOTUS rule – WNEM

Federal appeals court rules on ‘Good Neighbor’ provision of Clean Air Act – Jurist.org

A Stimulus Proposal Emerges From The Ashes With GOP Support: Infrastructure Spending – Forbes

COVID-19

Carbon emissions dropped 17 percent globally amid coronavirus – NBC News

Minnesota, other states sue EPA for ‘blanket waiver’ as nation fights pandemic – StarTribune

Coronavirus is reshaping urban mobility – Axios

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Groups Propose Tweaks to FEMA Infrastructure Resilience Guidance – Transport Topics

Disaster-heavy year risks a FEMA ‘code red’ for hurricane season – Virgin Islands Daily News

Bill Would Direct $50M Annually for Clean Energy to Low-Income Areas – NJ Spotlight

SunZia offers to move project out of White Sands – Albuquerque Journal

AIR QUALITY

Texas’ Air Quality Improved During The Stay-At-Home Order. Here’s Why It Probably Won’t Last – Houston Public Media

Pollution case against U.S. Steel dismissed – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crisis Demands Environmental-Justice Response – NJ Spotlight (Opinion)

Op-ed: Environmental Justice Task Force reveals first draft definition – Washington State Wire (Opinion)

Report says removing state energy mandates would save consumers money – Bakersfield.com

NATURAL RESOURCES

Guest opinion: It’s not a food fight, it’s a water fight – Naples Daily News (Opinion)

Tree Deaths in Urban Settings Are Linked to Leaks from Natural Gas Pipelines Below Streets – InsideClimate News

Ripple Effect: When politics ignores science, it jeopardizes local clean water – The Hill (Opinion)

Loss of Louisiana marshes that protect New Orleans is ‘probably inevitable,’ study finds – Washington Post (subscription required)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

UO archaeologists help keep state road projects moving – University of Oregon

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Transit Is Being Drawn to an On-Demand Model in Kansas – Government Technology

Want to buy a bike? Get ready for a long wait thanks to the coronavirus pandemic – Changing America

CDC Issues Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit – NPR

As recycling rate drops, California should embrace innovative recycling technologies – CalMatters (Commentary)

Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) – FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovation

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Data sharing presents major opportunities for transportation – National Academies

TRB Webinar: How Much Will COVID-19 Affect Travel Behavior? – TRB

TRB Webinar: Transportation Experiences and Next Steps in the COVID-19 Pandemic – TRB

TRB Webinar: A Research Roadmap for Transportation and Public Health – TRB

TRB Webinar: Forecasting Zero Emission Vehicles Fleet Scenarios & Emissions Implications – TRB

Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019 – University of California (Report)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

EPA Guidance; Administrative Procedures for Issuance and Public Petitions – EPA (Proposed Rule)

Environmental Impact Statements; Notice of Availability – EPA (Notice)

Request for Nominations for the 2020 Clean Air Excellence Awards Program – EPA (Notice)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Requirements for Generators, Transporters, and Waste Management Facilities Under the RCRA Hazardous Waste Manifest System – EPA (Notice)

Proposed Fourth Renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Certain Federal Environmental Responsibilities to the State of Utah, Including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Authority for Certain Categorical Exclusions (CEs) – FHWA (Notice of proposed MOU and request for comments)

National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions – National Park Service (Notice)

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

Ranchers, conservation groups unhappy with the new clean water rule, but for different reasons – NM Political Report

Buffett-backed giant solar project near Las Vegas wins Trump’s blessing – Los Angeles Times

Green Groups Ask D.C. Circuit to Uphold Pollution Safeguards for Freight Trailers – Environmental Defense Fund (Press release)

Lawsuit: US plan for Indiana forest could taint water supply – Daily Independent

Trump Administration Waives Environmental Safeguards to Fast-Track 69 Miles of Border Fence Construction – Government Executive

COVID-19

Proposed Phase 4 COVID-19 Relief Bill Contains $15B for State DOTs – AASHTO Journal

More People Turning to Cars Because of Fears of Coronavirus Infection on Public Transit – Weather Channel

COVID-19 Will Exacerbate Rural Transportation Funding Needs, TRIP Finds – Transport Topics

How Will Americans Commute After Lockdowns End? – CityLab

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Approves FEMA Section 106 Emergency Procedures for COVID-19 Emergency/Disaster Response Undertakings – Insurance News Net

NEPA

Public Strongly Opposes CEQ’s National Environmental Policy Act Proposal – EHS Daily Advisor

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Illinois to ‘Fast Track’ $25M in Infrastructure Grants – AASHTO Journal

Transformative solar power agreement will help Emory reduce greenhouse gas emissions – Emory News Center

New Jersey Makes Significant Commitments to Transportation Electrification – ActNews.com

Changes for 2020 Atlantic hurricane season: New storm surge map, 60-hour forecast message – Times-Picayune

AIR QUALITY

Many cities around the globe saw cleaner air after being shut down for COVID-19. But not Chicago. – Chicago Tribune

Cleaner Air Is Actually Hobbling California’s Climate Fight – Bloomberg Green

Lawsuit Targets Arch Coal’s Illegal Air Pollution at Colorado Coal Mine – Center for Biological Diversity (Press release)

Has the pandemic cleaned up our air? Answers could lie on your doorstep – WHYY

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

House Dems’ stimulus bill aims to fight coronavirus with ‘environmental justice grants’ – Fox News

Restarting Florida’s economy by weakening water quality and growth management is a bad idea | Column – Tampa Bay Times (Opinion)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Reusing wastewater at Minnesota’s truck stations could help conserve state’s water resources – Catalyst

In a First, Renewable Energy Is Poised to Eclipse Coal in U.S. – New York Times (account required)

Utah Inland Port Authority signs deal with Rocky Mountain power for renewable energy – Salt Lake Tribune

Navigable Waters Protection Rule (formerly the Clean Water Rule) – JD Supra

Panel to consider petition seeking Pecos River protections – KOB

For the first time, Washington will regulate Columbia-Snake River dams if they violate federal pollution rules – Inlander

CULTURAL RESOURCES

What’s a historic district, anyway? – Greater Greater Washington

How Historic Preservation Shaped the Early United States – Smithsonian Magazine

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Coronavirus News: 58 days since last pedestrian killed in NYC; longest stretch ever recorded: Officials – WABC

Transportation Ushers In A New Age Of Agile Experimentation – Forbes

Ten Cities Recognized with “Walk Friendly” Designation – Walk Friendly Communities

Uncharted Territory: Building New Pathways To E-Mobility Resilience – Forbes

Boston is planning to repurpose streets for pedestrians during the coronavirus outbreak – Boston.com

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Paths to biking, walking improvements supported by wealth of research – TRB

TRB Webinar: Traffic Trends and Safety in a COVID-19 World – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the Omaha Lead Superfund Site – EPA (Proposed Rule)

Withdrawal of Certain Federal Water Quality Criteria Applicable to Washington – EPA (Final Rule)

Final Flood Hazard Determinations (LA & WA) – FEMA (Notice)

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations (MI) – FEMA (Notice, correction)

Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations (AR, CO, CT, FL, KY, GA, MA, MS, OK, NC, TX, VA) – FEMA (Notice)

Emergency Management Priorities and Allocations System (EMPAS) – FEMA (Interim Final Rule)

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

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

A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

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FEDERAL ACTION

Senate Committee Approves Water Infrastructure Measures – Transport Topics

Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Introduce Legislation to Block Implementation of Trump’s Dirty Water Rule – House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Press release)

The Trump administration is planning to protect fewer waterways. New Jersey is suing to stop that.– NJ.com

National Transportation Groups Call on Congress to Fast-Track Investments in Transit and Active Transportation – Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

Agency leans on 1870s ‘housekeeping’ law to block science – E&E News

Lawmakers Still Eyeing Highway Bill Despite Coronavirus Relief Efforts – Transport Topics

The Trump Administration Is Reversing Nearly 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List. – New York Times (subscription required)

COVID-19

Transportation Fallout from COVID-19 Pandemic Continues – AASHTO Journal

Coronavirus cuts transportation funding, puts major road and bridge projects on hold – USA Today

Apple, Google ban use of location tracking in contact tracing apps – Reuters

Mobility Trends in New York City During COVID-19 Pandemic: Analyses of transportation modes throughout March 2020 – University Transportation Research Center (Report)

Coronavirus: Environmental Savior or Devastator? – Fordham Observer

IPATH Recorded Webinar: Transport Impacts And Innovations: COVID-19 – IPATH

A Pandemic That Cleared Skies and Halted Cities Isn’t Slowing Global Warming – Bloomberg (subscription required)

NEPA

Public Strongly Opposes CEQ’s National Environmental Policy Act Proposal – EHS Daily Advisor

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Multiple flooding sources threaten Honolulu’s infrastructure – University of Hawai’i

Fortress Charleston: Will Walling Off the City Hold Back the Waters? – Yale Environment360

AIR QUALITY

NOAA Researchers: Air Quality In Colorado Improving, Some Other States Not So Much – KCNC

New data shows how much cleaner Utah’s air is during the pandemic. Will it drive future decisions? – Salt Lake Tribune

NATURAL RESOURCES

EPA’s Clean Water Act rollbacks must be stopped – Orlando Sentinel (Commentary)

Louisiana DOTD Launches Highway Cleanup Effort – AASHTO Journal

CULTURAL RESOURCES

National Trust urges Congress to support historic preservation efforts during coronavirus crisis – The Architect’s Newspaper

Historic downtown San Jose building could pose issues for Jay Paul’s proposed mega campus -Mercury News (subscription required)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bike detection sensors installed at busy Saanich intersection – Victoria (B.C.) News

Safe Transportation For Every Pedestrian – FHWA’s EDC News

Seattle to permanently close 20 miles of streets to traffic so residents can exercise and bike on them – CNN

What do ATA’s peer organizations across the country think of open streets? – Streetsblog Chicago

The Pandemic Will Mean Big, Lasting Changes for Urban Mobility – Government Technology

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Enhancing Monarch Butterfly Habitats Along Roadway Corridors – TRB

TRB Webinar: Evolution of Project Delivery Information Systems – TRB

TRB Straight to Recording for All: Landscape Design Practices for Roadside Water Management – TRB

Telework transportation research in light of the COVID-19 pandemic – TRB

Agencies Capture Value From Transportation Improvements – Innovator (FHWA)

Webinar: Impact Of Covid-19 On Mobility And New York’s Response – Intelligent Transportation Society of New York (link to registration)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Southern Bighorn Solar Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Clark County, NV – Bureau of Indian Affairs (Notice of Intent)

Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center – NOAA (Notice)

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, Lake County, OR; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Bighorn Sheep Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

Dos Osos Reservoir Replacement Project, Contra Costa County, California; Draft Categorical Exclusion and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan – Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice)

West Virginia Regulatory Program – Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (Final Rule)

Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air Act – Justice Department (Notice)