Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations -New York Times

President Advances Plan to Make Freight Shipping Carbon-Free -Transport Topics

What’s New in the 11th Edition of the MUTCD with Kathy Falk, Vice President, Kimley-Horn -ITE Talks Transportation (podcast)

BTS Updates National Transportation Statistics -Bureau of Transportation Statistics (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Omaha airport takes significant damage from EF-2 tornado -Fox Weather

Amtrak can take control of Washington Union Station, federal judge rules -WTTG-TV

How the Baltimore bridge collapse upended a D.C. coffee chain’s business -Washington Post

NJ Transit releases first sustainability plan -Mass Transit

Smart streetscape to pilot mobility program in Buffalo -Public Square

Administration’s Investing in America Agenda Supports Flood Reduction Infrastructure Project in Historic Savannah Community -FEMA (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Planning for climate change, Delaware State Senate passed new legislation -WRDE-TV

Vehicle platooning in TN designed to increase road safety, decrease pollution -WKRN-TV

Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum? -National Geographic

FAA Finalizes Rule to Reduce Carbon Particle Emissions from Aircraft Engines -FAA (media release)

FHWA Announces Nearly $150 Million in Grants to Help Reduce Truck Air Pollution Near America’s Ports -FHWA (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

Buttigieg and Black mayors preview transportation projects designed to heal historic inequities –CNN

MassDEP Investing in Air Quality Sensors in Environmental Justice Communities -iBerkshires.com

In a push for more housing density near transit lines, highway dollars have become a political football -Colorado Public Radio

CDTA to bring mobility hubs to Albany, Troy -WTEN-TV

Understanding Environmental Justice In Rural Communities -Forbes (opinion)

NATURAL RESOURCES

MnDOT seeks more volunteers to keep roads clean -KARE-TV

The Minnesota Mayor Making Space for Monarch Butterflies –CityLab

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Amtrak expansion grabs interest from tourism organizations in South Dakota -KSFY-TV

Can You Compost That? A Cheat Sheet on What Goes in the Bin -Bloomberg Green

Maryland DOT State Highway Administration Wins Preservation Award Railroad Report -Maryland Department of Planning (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Lessons on how (and how not) to build a bike-friendly city -Corporate Knights

Unsanctioned signs installed along San Francisco’s Wiggle bike route –SFGATE

Minnesota’s Metro Transit Steps Up Safety Efforts With Monitors Displaying Bus Behavior For All To See -Star Tribune

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Future of Ferry Electrification in Rural Areas -TRB (webinar)

Navigating public transport during a pandemic: Key lessons on travel behavior and social equity from two surveys in Tehran –ScienceDirect

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All -The President (Executive Order)

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program -FHWA (Notice)

California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; In-Use Diesel-Fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRU) and TRU Generator Sets and In-Use Off-Road Diesel Fueled Fleets; Requests for Authorization; Opportunity for Public Hearing and Comment -EPA (Notice)

Notice of Availability of Programmatic Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Transit Projects -FTA (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project, New York, NY for Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties -Natural Resources Conservation Service (Notice)

Anchorage Regulations; Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, California -Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Adoption of a Department of the Air Force Categorical Exclusion Under the National Environmental Policy Act -NASA (Notice)

Kootenai National Forest; Montana; Kootenai National Forest Over-Snow Motorized Use Travel Plan –Forest Service (Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement)

Notice of Determinations on the Demand Response and Electric Vehicle Standards -Tennessee Valley Authority (Notice of determinations on the PURPA Standards set forth in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021)

FEDERAL ACTION

USDOT Issues $23M in Thriving Communities Funds -AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence

US Infrastructure Is Broken. Here’s an $830 Million Plan to Fix It –Wired

FAA Weather Stations In Rural Alaska Are Consistently Not Reporting Data, Legislature Wants Congress To Address Issue -KMXT Radio

EPA & the Army Corps of Engineers have less ability to protect wetlands than they’ve had in 40 years but Florida still isn’t satisfied -JD Supra (opinion)

EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver for E-15 Sales -EPA (media release)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How Amazon Became the Largest Private EV Charging Operator in the US -Bloomberg Green

Google Maps Will Use AI To Help You Find Out-Of-The-Way EV Chargers -The Verge

Houston Metro finding shift to electric or hydrogen buses an uphill effort -Houston Chronicle

A new chapter for transport decarbonization awaits –GreenBiz

EPA New England issues three air permits for offshore wind farm projects -EPA (media release)

 

AIR QUALITY

EPA Reveals Slight Increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions -Environmental Protection

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Weather Sensors Will Aid Autonomous Trucks in Fort Worth -Transport Topics

Second ‘bathtub’ grant won’t fix Parkway East flooding before 2026 -Pittsburgh Union Progress

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

WisDOT announces two new additions to Rustic Roads Program -Daily Jefferson County Union

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New $4.5 million East Bay trail path will connect bicyclists, pedestrians to BART -East Bay Times

 

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Subgrade Soil Susceptibility to Shrink/Swell and Frost Heave: Effects on Pavement Performance –NCHRP

Tactile Wayfinding in Transportation Settings for Travelers Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired –TCRP

Aggregate Sustainability—Production -TRB (webinar)

Strategies to Respectfully Address Homelessness at Airports -ACRP (webinar)

 

FEDERAL REGISTER

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3 -EPA (Final rule)

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Public Meeting -EPA (Notification for a public meeting)

Withdrawal of the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Dredged Material Management Plan Feasibility Study, Los Angeles County, CA –Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of intent; withdrawal)

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council -Forest Service (Notice of meeting)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Issues $830M in PROTECT Resiliency Grants -AASHTO Journal

Court upholds California’s authority to set nation-leading vehicle emission rules –AP

Senate rebukes Biden administration on effort to reduce vehicle pollution -Route Fifty

 

SOLAR ECLIPSE

See Maps of Where Eclipse Seekers Flocked and the Traffic That Followed -New York Times

These US Cities Benefited Most From Solar Eclipse Tourism –CityLab

Traffic gets eclipsed in Texas -Texas Department of Transportation (media release)

Thousands Travel to NH to View the Solar Eclipse -New Hampshire Department of Transportation (media release)

 

COVID-19

APTA: Transit-ridership levels continue post-pandemic recovery -Progressive Railroading

 

RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Colorado pumps $21 million into fast-charger expansion for electric vehicles -Powers Journal

This Florida highway will wirelessly charge electric cars on the go -Tampa Bay Times

Port of Albany awarded $9.9M in funding for rail and maritime infrastructure improvements from NYS DOT -American Journal of Transportation

This lamppost EV charger just went commercial in the US –Electrek

Biden urged to ban China-made electric vehicles -BBC News

 

AIR QUALITY

California’s Clean Air Act Exemption Targeted in Lawsuits Challenging Truck GHG Rules -HDT/Truckinginfo

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

Civil engineering researcher looks to remedy inequities in traffic safety -University of Arizona

Extra Step Added For Transit-Oriented Housing -New Haven Independent

Biden’s environmental justice scorecard offers more questions than answers –Grist

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Boy Scouts Join Tennessee DOT Litter Cleanup Campaign -AASHTO Journal

Resilience to Natural Hazards and Historic Buildings -National Park Service

Urban planning should consider building height, shape, and arrangement to best protect pedestrians during severe precipitation and wind -Physics of Fluids

WYDOT Widens Access to Road-Closure Data to Save Lives in Severe Weather -Wyoming DOT (media release)

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

An Ode to the Northeast Corridor, the Rail Line That Keeps Amtrak Alive –CityLab

Jersey Shore hangout spot for 4×4 beach vehicles could disappear without more sand -NJ.com

UTA plans to expand, redesign transit by possible 2034 Olympics -KSTU-TV

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

WVDOT Helps Develop Unique ‘Rail Bike’ Offering -AASHTO Journal

Houston’s New Mayor Pumps the Brakes on Street Safety Projects –Governing

Metra sees surge in bikes on trains following change in policy –Trains

How climate change is beginning to be built into employee pay and benefits –CNBC

Minnesota touts e-bike rebates worth up to 75% off cost of new purchase -WCCO-TV

 

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transformational Technologies and Mobility Inclusion Playbook –NCHRP

Airport Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic -TRB (webinar)

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Public Transportation Safety Plan -FTA (Notice of availability and response to comments)

Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans -FTA (Final rule)

Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE); Notice of Public Meeting -Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (Notice of public meeting)

Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice; extension of comment period)

Renewal Package From the State of Arizona to the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program and Proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Federal Highway Administration’s Environmental Review Responsibilities to the State -FHWA (Notice, request for comments)

Renewal Package From the State of California to the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program and Proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Environmental Responsibilities to the State -FRA (Notice, request for comments)

Notice of Adoption of a Fish and Wildlife Service Categorical Exclusion Under the National Environmental Policy Act -EPA (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Federal Judge in Texas Vacates FHWA’s GHG Rule -AASHTO Journal

EPA’s new heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards are effort to fight climate change -ABE News

EPA extends credits for automakers, further relaxing car rule -E&E News

NYC becomes first U.S. city to approve congestion toll with $15 charge to drive into part of Manhattan –AP

U.S. losing valuable wetlands at alarming rate -States Newsroom

USDOT Opens Applications for More than $5 Billion in Funding for Significant National Infrastructure Projects -USDOT (media release)

 

SOLAR ECLIPSE

States Prepare For Solar Eclipse Traffic Tie-Ups With Advanced Tech –Forbes

Arkansas Department of Transportation releases traffic forecast map for eclipse – KTAL-TV

Texas restricts oversize truck loads on the day of the eclipse –CHRON

VDOT: Make plans to rotate travel around solar eclipse -WTOP Radio

Solar Eclipse 2024 – Illinois Department of Transportation

Solar Eclipse Oversize Restrictions -Medallion Transport and Logistics

COVID-19

CTA to restore bus service on some routes cut during the pandemic -Chicago Sun-Times

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Virginia DOT Allocates $11.3M for EV Chargers -AASHTO Journal

FHWA Administrator: EVs a Charged Topic With High-Level Support -Government Technology

Cars are king of the commute. But employers may have a once-in-a-generation chance to change that. -HR Dive

Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5°C cooler in urban setting, field study finds -Phys.org

Greenlane announces LA to LV charging corridor for commercial trucks– Electrek

The benefits of bridge-tunnels -WAVY-TV

 

AIR QUALITY

Understanding the Federal Highway Administration’s Greenhouse Gas Rule -Environment and Energy Leader

Colorado air quality bills call for summer fracking pause, ‘repeat violator’ crackdown -Colorado Newsline

Air quality at many train stations is alarmingly bad. Here’s how to improve it -The Conversation

Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands rank among worst national parks for air quality -The Santa Fe New Mexican

FAA Invests $27 Million on Research to Reduce Emissions and Noise -FAA (media release)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

A Number Of States Adding Native American Translations To Road Signs Promoting Awareness -Milwaukee Independent

Transit called ‘lifeline’ for rural Pennsylvania residents -WVIA Radio

Disabled People Are Dying in America’s Crosswalks. We Need to Protect Them. -Governing (commentary)

NATURAL RESOURCES

NCDOT Prepping for Annual Litter Cleanup Effort -AASHTO Journal

These glowing orbs can tell you if water is clean or polluted -Fast Company

Floating wetlands bring beauty, benefits to South Carolina ponds -The Times and Democrat

Alaska’s New Robotic Dog Will Be Used To Haze Wildlife At Fairbanks Airport -Anchorage Daily News

New approach to monitoring freshwater quality can identify sources of pollution, predict their effects -University of Cambridge

PennDOT Invites Pennsylvanians to Share Feedback on Winter Services -Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (media release)

EPA announces $12M to protect salmon by reducing toxic tire dust, other pollutants in stormwater -EPA (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Florida legislature passes bill easing demolition, replacement of old buildings with bigger structures -Florida Politics

Georgia DOT and We Are Teachers Launch Free K-12 Car and Road Safety Program -Georgia Department of Transportation (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

TxDOT Launches Pedestrian & Bike Safety Campaign -KIAH-TV

Cyclist group launches crash-tracking survey after rise in DC traffic fatalities -GW Hatchet

How can more U.S. cities become more walkable? Here’s one urban planner’s approach -NPR’s TED Radio

Residents Taking It Upon Themselves To Update Maps Showing Raleigh’s Walkability -WRAL-TV

Deadly fires from phone, scooter batteries leave lawmakers playing catch-up on safety –Stateline

Pennsylvania Taking Steps to Combat Human Trafficking -Pennsylvania DOT (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

When Our Technology Solutions Do Not Work for Everyone -TRB (webinar)

Homes on Track: Building Thriving Communities Around Transit -Regional Plan Association (webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Petroleum-Equivalent Fuel Economy Calculation -Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Final rule)

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

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; April 2024 Meetings -Coast Guard (Notice)

Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

Notice of Availability of a Joint Record of Decision for the Proposed Sunrise Wind Farm Offshore New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island -Bureau of Ocean Energy (Notice)

National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies -Coast Guard (Notice; request for applications)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

New EPA Rules Tighten Vehicle Tailpipe Emission Levels -AASHTO Journal

FHWA Offering $44M in Active Transportation Grants -AASHTO Journal

 

What’s driving the surge in pedestrian deaths on roadways across the US -NBC News Now

EPA Didn’t Ban Gas Cars. It Cut Air Pollution So We Can Breathe Easier. -Forbes (Opinion)

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Preparing for the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse –FHWA

FAA warns of air travel disruptions in path of April 8 eclipse -The Hill

Find Your Path to the Total Solar Eclipse -511NY Rideshare/New York State Department of Transportation

Total guide to Texas eclipse travel -Texas Department of Transportation

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet making preparations ahead of April 8 solar eclipse -WPSD-TV

2024 Missouri Solar Eclipse -Missouri Department of Transportation

Agencies prepare for solar eclipse traffic flooding into southeast Oklahoma -Tulsa World

 

COVID-19

USDOT expects to deliver national aviation plan for communicable disease outbreaks by 2025 -Passenger Terminal Today

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Electrifying Trucking: $1 Trillion Needed for Infrastructure -Transport Topics

Governor signs bills creating electric vehicle charging station network across Wisconsin –AP

Drones could soon be used to remove graffiti from Washington highways -KING-TV

Which Mountain West cities have the most climate-friendly transportation systems? -Mountain West News Bureau

Native American tribes ditches traditional transportation with multimillion-dollar EV initiative -The Cool Down

Shell to focus on EV charging, closing 1,000 retail locations -Yahoo Finance Live

 

AIR QUALITY

Louisiana lawmakers move to protect combustible engine vehicles from future restrictions -Shreveport Times

As electric vehicle sales slow, US relaxes plans for stricter auto emissions standards for a while –AP

Trees and bushes near highways improve air quality -Earth.com

More testing facilities and new website enhance service for emissions program customers –Wisconsin DOT (media release)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

Texas Air Quality Measurements Fail Hispanic Communities –Governing

Disabled riders need comprehensive public transportation planning –Prism

ODOT’s Mobility Management Program Provides Transportation To Oklahomans In Need -KWTV-TV

Blue Grass Airport Launches Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program -Blue Grass Airport (media release)

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

DelDOT caring for more than just the roads -WDEL Radio

CULTURAL RESOURCES

F1 and IndyCar Street Races Can Be an Economic Boon – and a Big Headache –CityLab

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

District of Columbia DOT Program Offers Vouchers for E-Bike Purchases -AASHTO Journal

TxDOT highlights rising bicycle, pedestrian crashes -Marshall News Messenger

Las Vegas advocate appeals for reinstatement of jaywalking fines amid pedestrian deaths -KSNV-TV

Houston deemphasizing commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ traffic safety initiative under new mayor -Houston Public Media

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Integration of Contingency Planning for Small Airports –ACRP

Former TRB Executive Director Neil Pedersen Has a Question: Are we willing to stick our necks out? -Thinking Transportation podcast

A national survey on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school travel in the US. – Parents perspective -Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Safety Zone; Storms With High Winds; Sector Maryland-National Capital Region Captain of the Port Zone -Coast Guard (Final rule)

Notice of Adoption of Department of Energy Categorical Exclusion Under the National Environmental Policy Act -EPA (Notice of adoption of categorical exclusion)

FEDERAL ACTION

National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Plan Unveiled -AASHTO Journal

45 states, large metro areas submit climate action plans under Inflation Reduction Act -EPA (media release)

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Solar Eclipse Preparations -The Stream by AASHTO

Ohio governor signs executive order ahead of total solar eclipse -WLWT-TV

Wyoming Officials Share Lessons Learned From 2017 Eclipse Ahead Of Texas April Eclipse -WFAA-TV

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

New Jersey’s transit stations can help spur more affordable housing -WNET-TV’s NJ Spotlight News (video)

San Diego gets first electric tug boat in US -KUSI/KSWB-TV

Coastal US Cities Top Ranking of Climate-Friendly Transportation –CityLab

National League of Cities Launches New Mapping Resource to Support Transit Planning in Municipalities -National League of Cities (media release)

 

AIR QUALITY

Maryland DOT announces $55 million in federal funding to reduce transportation emissions -WBFF-TV

The Remarkable Potential of Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Carbon Emission Reduction -Greek Reporter

The Role of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in a Zero Emission Future -American Public Transportation Association (webinar)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

Caltrans Unveils New Transportation Equity Index Tool -AASHTO Journal

Aging advocates aim to expand public transit across New Hampshire -New Hampshire Bulletin

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland on Environmental Justice and Confronting the Climate Crisis -University of Michigan (livestream)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Wetland and Beaver Dam Water Quality Workshop to be held in Oskaloosa, OK -Oskaloosa Herald

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Washington State DOT’s Paint Maps: The Origin Story -WSDOT Blog

‘Drive with Aloha’ murals educate about drunk driving -Spectrum News

Husband, wife buried on runway at US airport greet thousands of planes every year -Fox Weather

How green is your next vacation? Here’s how to tell –USA Today (opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Hawaii DOT Launches Statewide Aviation Noise Study -Island News

To Incentivize E-Bikes, First Map Your Destination -Government Technology

New York City Just Had Its Safest-Ever Year For Pedestrians. What Went Right? –CityLab

$50 Million to Enhance Active Transportation Across British Columbia –Momentum

DC transit officials will give city residents money toward a new electric bike -Washington Times

Coon Rapids, MN awarded state grant for active transportation plan -ABC Newspapers

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advanced Air Mobility and Community Outreach: A Primer for Successful Stakeholder Engagement –ACRP

Advancing Gender Equity in the DOT Workforce –NCHRP

Respectful Response to People Experiencing Homelessness in Transit -TRB (webinar)

Artificial Intelligence Lets Bicycles ‘See’ -Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs -Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)

Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting -Surface Transportation Board (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Atlantic Shores North Project on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance, Site Characterization Activities, and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Maine Offshore the States of Maine, … -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

USDOT issues $3.33 billion to 132 projects through its Reconnecting Communities Pilot and Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant programs –USDOT (media release)

AASHTO Participates in USDOT’s Air Mobility Meeting -AASHTO Journal

The Power Of Community Engagement In Transportation -ITE Talks Transportation (podcast)

FHWA Announces Request for Information on Updating Federal Standards for EV Charging -FHWA (media release)

NEPA

NEPA Reform Long Overdue Say Western Tribes, Ranchers, And Local Governments -Western Wire

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Oregon court rejects cities’ request to toss climate rules -Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ensuring Climate-Smart Transportation Planning -National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (blog)

Governor discusses progress in Rhode Island’s EV charging infrastructure effort -WJAR-TV

USDA invests nearly $66M to improve roads, trails, and water quality as part of Investing in America Agenda -Forest Service (media release)

 

AIR QUALITY

Air quality in AZ is already bad, but Republicans want to end most vehicle emissions testing -AZ Mirror

House Bill Would Reset Connecticut’s Emission-Reduction Goals, Incentivize Businesses to Adopt Environmentally Sustainable Practices –CTNewsJunkie

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

Caltrans Launches Equity Tool to Help All Communities Benefit from Transportation Projects –Caltrans (media release)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Georgia DOT Forges Historic Bat Conservation Agreement -AASHTO Journal

Snowy days often lead to salty streams. Ohio’s trying to fix that -WYSO Radio

FAQs: Air Quality in National Parks -National Parks Conservation Association

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Red Covered Bridge: Illinois DOT Fixing an Antique –Illinois DOT (blog)

Ambassadors for active transportation, honoring women in flight –KUAF Radio

Arkansas governor, agency heads lay out plans for April 8 solar eclipse -KARK-TV

A Vote for Safer Streets from the Heart of Car Culture –Governing

Sioux Falls, South Dakota opens trail system to more motorized bicycles -Dakota Scout

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Pittsburgh wants to make streets safer with Vision Zero -KDKA-TV

Hawaii’s e-bike dilemma: Safety, laws, confusion -KHON-TV

Silencing the Roar: Noise Pollution in Aviation –Airways

Los Angeles voters approve ‘Safe Streets’ Measure HLA -KTLA-TV

A new approach to transportation: Pairing off-street parking with electric scooters -Argonne National Laboratory

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments seeking public’s input in 2050 “Active Transportation Plan” survey -KRDO-TV

WisDOT joins nationwide effort to prevent traffic deaths -Wisconsin DOT (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lessons of Agency Resilience During Periods of Disruption -TRB (webinar)

Concrete Pavement Preservation -TRB (webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Request for Information on the J3400 Connector and Potential Options for Performance-Based Charging Standards -FHWA (Notice)

Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE); Notice of Public Meeting -Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (Notice of public meeting)

Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE); Notice of Public Meeting -Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (Notice of public meeting)

Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE); Notice of Public Meeting -Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (Notice of public meeting)

Electric Vehicle Working Group -Department of Energy (Notice of open meeting)

Request for Information; Extension of Comment Period (Vessel Response Plans) -Coast Guard (Notice)

National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee Meeting; April 2024 Meeting -Coast Guard (Notice)

Notice of Final Federal Agency Action on the Authorization for the Revolution Wind Farm and Revolution Wind Export Cable Project Offshore Rhode Island -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Florida Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 3 and Environmental Assessment: Water Quality -EPA (Notice of availability; request for public comments)

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) (Renewal) -EPA (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Offering $250M in Congestion Reduction Grants -AASHTO Journal

EPA Making $3B Worth of Clean Port Grants Available -AASHTO Journal

To Electrify Trucking, Start With a Blueprint -Government Technology

The Transportation Department proposes new rules for how airlines handle wheelchairs –NPR

America’s small cities value sustainability -Share America (US Department of State)

Green groups to petition Biden for cleanup rules for offshore oil infrastructure -The Hill

EPA fights push to regulate noise pollution -E&E News

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Meeting held to discuss West Virginia’s plan to address electric vehicle infrastructure -WCHS-TV

Construction begins on barrier wall along railroad beneath San Clemente landslide -San Diego Union-Tribune

New York City rolls out new e-bike charging stations for delivery workers -WABC-TV

Norway Orders World’s First Battery-Power Autonomous Ferries -Maritime Executive

 

AIR QUALITY

E-bike incentives are a costly way to cut carbon emissions, but they also promote health, equity and cleaner air -The Conversation

EPA has tightened its target for deadly particle pollution – states need more tools to reach it -Alaska Beacon (commentary)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/EQUITY

With national spotlight on Baltimore, transportation equity problems shine through -WYPR Radio

California’s polluted communities could miss out on billions under state’s flawed system –CalMatters

Equity Guides Initiatives at USDOT -Transport Topics

Equity in Practice: Strengthening Transit Through Community Partnerships –TransitCenter

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Virginia takes steps to track ‘forever chemicals’ in water sources -Environmental Health News

‘Beer bottles, mattresses, ladders’: Maryland crews tackle cleanup of 17,000 miles of roadway -WTOP Radio

Mitigating the impacts of invasive species in Texas -Texas A&M Forest Service (media release)

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Forrest County, MS seeks grant to fund walking trail down the Leaf River -WDAM-TV

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Spokane looks to make roads safer for pedestrians and bikers -KHQ-TV (video)

Pedestrian deaths fell modestly last year, but there’s still a safety ‘crisis’ –NPR

How Hoboken Has Gone Years Without a Traffic Death –Governing

Why Is Everyone in San Francisco Freaking out about a Protected Bike Lane? –Velo

Colorado lawmakers consider annual fee for larger vehicle registrations to fund cyclist, pedestrian infrastructure -KMGH-TV

Columbus planning two-mile urban pathway through downtown for bikes and pedestrians -WSYX-TV

Geofencing proposed to stop speeding on Hermosa Beach Strand -Easy Reader and Peninsula

 

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Foundations in Shrink Swell Soil—Innovation and State of Practice -TRB (webinar)

Fresh Perspectives: Native American Artists Portray Transportation’s Impact -TR News

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Draft Criteria for Product Category Rules to Support the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials; Notice of Availability, Webinar and Request for Comment –Environmental Protection Agency (Notice)

Notice of Public Meeting of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee -Office of the Secretary, Interior (Notice)

Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations -Office of the Secretary, Interior (Notice)

Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Notice of Public Meetings -EPA (Notice)

Information Regarding Allowances Used in Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Trading Programs -EPA (Notice of data availability)

Request for Nominations to the EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) -EPA (Notice)

Notice of President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council Meeting -Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (Notice; request for comments)

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council -Forest Service (Notice of meeting)

Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission Notice of Public Meeting -National Park Service (Meeting notice)

Adoption of Categorical Exclusions Under the National Environmental Policy Act –Northern Border Regional Commission (Notice)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Expected Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight; Extension of Comment Period -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for Park City Wind LLC’s Proposed New England Wind Farm Offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Names Chris Collins Vice Chair of Water Council -AASHTO Journal

SEC drops some emissions disclosure requirements from draft climate rules –Reuters

Supreme Court seems willing to block EPA ‘good neighbor’ air pollution rule -NBC News

FAA Finalizes Rule to Reduce Carbon Pollution from New Jets and Turboprops -FAA (media release)

COVID-19

Commuting in the United States: 2022 -Census Bureau (link to PDF)

Cell Phone Use In Cars Went Up During The Pandemic And Never Went Back Down –Jalopnik

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

San Francisco to set new rules for e-bikes, scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries -KGO-TV

Indiana Toll Road completes solar energy project -Elkhart Truth

In a US first, Seattle to deploy double-decker electric buses with inductive wireless charging –Electrek

How a small town with limited resources is planning for climate change -High Country News

Experts: Best Bet in $300M Osage Nation Wind Farm Dispute Is Negotiation -ENR Texas and Louisiana

 

AIR QUALITY

Switching to EVs and clean power would save infant lives, help millions of kids breathe easier: Report -The Hill

EPA has tightened its target for deadly particle pollution − states need more tools to reach it -The Conversation

What Critics of the EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ Regulations Get Wrong About the Clean Air Act’s History -Time (opinion)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Imperial To Start $3M Highway 86 Beautification By May? -Calexio Chronicle

How Central Texas airports are planning for the total solar eclipse -KCEN-TV

To keep whales safe, Coast Guard launches boat alert system in Seattle –AP

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Purchases Building for Transportation Hub -Peninsula Clarion

An Online Film Festival That’s All About Cycling –Hyperallergic

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bend, Oregon could see new mobility hub as early as this summer-The Bulletin

The Impact of Ridesharing on Urban Mobility -The Weekly Driver

Study shows why bike lane projects are controversial and what cities can do to make it easier –Momentum

London Bike Boom Risks Becoming a Victim of Its Own Success -CityLab (perspective)

Albuquerque Launches Affordable Mobility Platform -City of Albuquerque (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/RESEARCH/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Elevating Equity in Transportation Decision Making: Recommendations for Federal Competitive Grant Programs -TRB (Special report)

The effect of climate vulnerability on global carbon emissions: Evidence from a spatial convergence perspective – ScienceDirect

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Amending Regulations Relating to the Safeguarding of Vessels, Harbors, Ports, and Waterfront Facilities of the United States -The President (Executive order)

Exemptions From Average Fuel Economy Standards; Passenger Automobile Average Fuel Economy Standards -NHTSA (Final rule; final decision to grant exemption)

Draft Guidance for Future National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting of Combined Sewer Systems -EPA (Notice; request for comment)

Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems; Extension of Comment Period -EPA (Proposed rule; extension of public comment period)

National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies -Coast Guard (Notice; request for applications)

Technical Mapping Advisory Council -FEMA (Request for applicants for appointment)

Inland Waterways Users Board Meeting Notice -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Public Meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee -Geological Survey (Notice)

Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)