Highlights

FEDERAL ACTION

Top 12 Finalists Compete for Coveted America’s Transportation Awards -AASHTO Journal

EPW Hearing: Impact of Heat on Transportation Infrastructure -AASHTO Journal

Biden’s Rules on Clean Transportation Face a Crucial Test -Transport Topics

White House Releases New Technical Assistance Resources to Help Communities Unlock Opportunities from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda –White House (Fact Sheet)

COVID-19

Rush hour-and-a-half: Traffic is spreading out post-lockdown –PLOS One

NEPA

A Summer of Reform for the National Environmental Policy Act -National Law Review (analysis)

Using NEPA Review To Define And Shape Better Projects -Volpe Center (Webinar)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

FHWA Makes $100M Available for EV Charger Repairs -AASHTO Journal

Environmental Product Declarations Help Create Sustainable Highways -FHWA Innovator

Washington State needs 3 million more EV charging ports to meet state goal -The Center Square

New Interactive Dashboard Shows Cities Are Rebuilding America Using Federal Infrastructure Funds -National League of Cities

ATA Leader Chris Spear Presses Congress for AV Framework -Transport Topics

When Mobility Needs Are Like Snowflakes: TTI’s outposts focus on singular urban challenges -Thinking Transportation (podcast)

AIR QUALITY

Port of Long Beach meets clean air goals, study finds -City News Service

Front Range makes progress in air quality -Longmont Leader

The Trucking Industry Tackles Carbon Tracking -Transport Topics

USDA to Invest $400,000 to Adjust GHG Emissions Model for Corn-Based Ethanol Aviation Fuel Subsidies –Reuters

 

Sacramento is installing bike lanes to help meet California climate goals. Here’s how it works -Sacramento Bee

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

ETAP Podcast Delves into ReConnect Rondo -AASHTO Journal

Infrastructure Funding May Yield More Than Just EV Charging -Government Technology

Cruise unveils first wheelchair accessible robotaxi at SF HQ -San Francisco Examiner

NATURAL RESOURCES

New York State report finds road salt creates damage to water systems in Adirondacks -Daily Gazette

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Maryland governor announces $25.5 million for bicycle, pedestrian projects across state -Maryland DOT (press release)

Motorized Scooters Are Taking Over New York City’s Bike Lanes –Outside

Seattle testing electric sweeper for bike lanes as part of city’s move toward zero-emission fleet –GeekWire

The infrastructure of community -Public Square

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Resilience Research Becoming a Bigger Part of Transportation Planning –TRB

Airport Programs That Reduce Landside Vehicle Carbon Emissions –ACRP

E-Scooter Safety Toolbox –BTSCRP

Enhancing Wheelchair Accessibility on Commercial Service Aircraft -TRB (webinar)

Creating Infrastructure for Efficient Multi-Modal Transportation Networks -Association for Commuter Transportation (webinar)

Ridesharing Institute Conversation Sept 2023: the CTC and the FHWA/USDOT -Ridesharing Institute (link to webinar registration)

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Airport Terminal Program; FY 2024 Funding Opportunity -FAA (Notice)

Notice of Withdrawal of the Record of Decision for the LaGuardia Airport Access Improvement Project –FAA (Notice)

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Alaska Department of Transportation Fourth Audit Report -FHWA (Notice)

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Arizona Department of Transportation FHWA Audit Report – FHWA (Notice)

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

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

National Bridge Inspection Program Compliance Review Manual -FHWA (Notice; request for comments)

National Towing Safety Advisory Committee; September 2023 Meetings -U.S. Coast Guard (Committee meeting)

Notice of Realty Action: Classification for Lease and/or Conveyance for Recreation and Public Purposes of Public Lands in Teton County, Wyoming -Bureau of Land Management (Notice of realty action)

National Wildlife Refuge System Planning Policies (602 FW 1–4) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service –U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Proposed policy updates; request for comment)

FEDERAL ACTION

Eno Center for Transportation Urges USDOT to Begin National VMT Fee Pilot -Transport Topics

EPA delays new air quality standards for ozone pollution until after 2024 election -The Guardian

EPA agrees to protect waterways from harmful ship discharges -Courthouse News Service

Reps. Carey, Blumenauer seek guidance on historic preservation easements -Financial Regulation News

Midwest grain harvests loom. Will a low Mississippi River stall farmers’ deliveries again? -USA Today

Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants –NOAA

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Caltrans Funding Sustainable Transportation Projects -AASHTO Journal

Ohio governor announces $100 million to help eliminate dangerous railroad crossings -Plain Dealer

Geology faculty to partner with Kansas Department of Transportation -Kansas State Collegian

New York City’s Battle Against Congestion Begins at the Curb –CityLab

Southern California counties could power 270,000 homes by installing solar panels along highways: report -The Hill

ASU Research Team Partners with EPA to Study Electrified Transit Emissions -State Press

Street layout and available destinations influences urban walking behavior -Medical Xpress

 

AIR QUALITY

State Climate Commission helps lead the way on clean transportation choices for Hawaiʻi –Maui Now

‘How’s the air?’ Using AI to track coal train dust -Route Fifty

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

More small airports are being cut off from the air travel network. This is why -NPR’s Morning Edition

Residents of historic Baltimore neighborhoods call for equity in transportation planning and a moratorium on bike lanes -Afro News

Taking the highway to right wrongs of the past in urban areas -The Center for Public Integrity

How 2 big US transit agencies approach equity -Smart Cities Dive

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Can We Make Highways, Roadways Less Lethal For Wildlife? –CityLab

U.S. EPA launches massive effort to clear hazardous materials from wildfire-impacted properties -KITV-TV

CULTURAL RESOURCES

MoDOT demolishes historic I-70 Rocheport Bridge over the Missouri River –KMBC-TV

New bullet trains misfire on old U.S. railroad tracks -E&E Climate News

A debate over historic preservation – and what deserves to be saved –Fronteras

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Using Bus Rapid Transit to Maximize Miami Mobility – Engineering News-Record

Electrifying Transit: Best practices and innovative technology for bus electrification success -Mass Transit (webinar)

Rubberized sidewalks popping up in Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood -WDAF-TV

E-bikes now allowed on 850 miles of East Bay park trails -The Oaklandside

Portland, Oregon cyclists demand change as traffic deaths rise to 46 -KGW-TV

Beverly Hills closes gaps in bicycle infrastructure -Beverly Press

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Highway and Street Design Vehicles: An Update –NCHRP

Impacts of COVID-19 on Airport Work Models and Strategies –ACRP

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Official Trail Markers for El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, and the Old Spanish National Historic Trail -National Park Service (Notice of designation)

National Priorities List -EPA (Final rule)

National Advisory Council; Meeting -FEMA (Notice of open Federal advisory committee meeting)

Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Distribution Pipelines and Other Pipeline Safety Initiatives -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Action for the Development of an Updated Facility for the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin -U.S. Geological Survey (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

Biden admin limits water protections after Supreme Court ruling –Reuters

Growth in the Number of Vehicles in the U.S. Outpaced Growth in Population and Licensed Drivers from 1960 to 2021 -USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

How a South Carolina faith leader and a California congressman are fighting for environmental justice -The Hill (opinion)

How the Clean Air Act paves the road to expanding electric vehicle chargers -The Hill (opinion)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Taking Sidewalks Seriously –Governing

Airport Infrastructure: Selected Airports’ Efforts to Enhance Electrical Resilience –GAO

New gates set to help traffic control on weekend nights in Downtown Albuquerque -KRQE-TV

Registration surcharge coming for owners of electric vehicles, hybrids in NH -WMUR-TV

The Kingdom of Golf Carts – CityLab

AIR QUALITY

Burning tires and bridges: US residents ‘shocked’ by firm’s bitcoin-mining plan -The Guardian

AI And Mobility Data May Improve Air Pollution Exposure Models -Penn State University

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

WisDOT wants public feedback to make state roads more accessible -WMTV-TV

California will invest $750M to add housing, clean transportation in ‘jobs-rich’ areas -KTLA-TV

PA governor expands Environmental Justice protections -The Bradford Era

Advancing Net-Zero Goals to Achieve Environmental Justice -Natural Resources & Environment

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Bees and Butterflies in Roadside Habitats: Identifying Patterns, Protecting Monarchs, and Informing Management -Idaho Transportation Department (pdf)

 

Michigan’s innovative mobility solution for national parks -Rapid Growth

The USGS Invests $1.5M in Local Partnerships to Improve Urban Waterways –USGS (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Funds for graffiti removal exhausted, Oregon DOT says -KPTV-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Want Your Kid To Do Better In School? Bike Or Walk There –Fatherly

New bike trail in New Castle County, Delaware funded with federal infrastructure dollars –WHYY

Cohas Brook Trestle work complete, will open to pedestrians on Granite State Rail Trail later this year -WMUR-TV

Transit permits for Chicago seniors and people with disabilities drop sharply -Chicago Tribune

Electric bicycles (e-bikes) are an increasingly common pediatric public health problem -Surgery Open Science

MU researchers study barriers and facilitators to accessing health care in rural Missouri -University of Missouri

The making of the longest rail trail in New England: the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail -Burlington Free Press

Some US airports strive to make flying more inclusive for those with dementia –AP

NJTPA Releases Active Transportation Plan -North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Integrating Freight Movement into Twenty-First-Century Communities’ Land Use, Design, and Transportation Systems –NCHRP

Can You See Me? Testing Pedestrian and Bicycle Conspicuity Assumptions -TRB (webinar)

Improving MPO and SHSO Coordination on Behavioral Traffic Safety: Guide and Toolkit -Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program

Embedding Equity in Project Delivery -USDOT Volpe Center (webinar)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Hazardous Materials: Suspension of HMR Amendments Authorizing Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Rail -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Final rule)

Local Government Advisory Committee: Request for Nominations -EPA (Notice of request for Nominations)

U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting -Maritime Administration (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

USDOT Hosting Four-Part Pedestrian Webinar -AASHTO Journal

FHWA Issues $196M to Support Fish Passage Projects -AASHTO Journal

Half the nation’s wetlands just lost federal protection. Their fate is up to states. -The Oregon Capital Chronicle

Federal court pauses Uinta crude-by-rail line construction -Progressive Railroading

Biden’s infrastructure building boom is missing one thing: Workers -NBC News

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Using future, not just historical data projections could make state, local infrastructure designs more resilient -Route Fifty

The Importance of Hydrogen in a Sustainable Energy Economy -The Good Men Project

NYC Congestion Pricing Board Tackles Tough Job of Deciding Who’ll Be Exempt –CityLab

Delaware County, PA confronts climate crisis with its 1st-ever sustainability plan -WHYY Radio

Austin transit experts detail changes to come in land use, urban density -KXAN-TV

AIR QUALITY

Is nuclear energy the answer to a sustainable future? Experts are divided –CNBC

EPA Cracks Down on Companies for Selling Illegal Auto Parts that Avoid Pollution Controls –EPA (media release)

HDOT installing dust screens around Lāhainā Town -Hawai’i Department of Transportation (media release)

EPA Joins Minnesota Leaders to Highlight Climate Pollution Reduction Grants -EPA (media release)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Colorado air regulators sued over environmental justice rules -Denver Post

Electric cars face ‘punitive’ fees, new restrictions in many states –Politico

 

University of Minnesota launches environmental justice center to help underserved communities -Sahan Journal

Indigenous Environmental and Climate Justice Series: Indigenous Climate Action -Urban Land Institute

Maximizing Equity in Managed Lane Planning -Minnesota Department of Transportation (blog)

Is Environmental Justice at a Crossroads? Three Issues to Watch in Fall 2023 -National Law Review

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

A need for green: Cities look to trees to improve health, climate justice -Route Fifty

Goats employed by Enbridge to help control invasive species –CKPGToday

CT, RI wind farm gets federal decision on environmental plan -CT Insider

US Army Corps of Engineers Conducts Vegetation Management to Protect Piping Plovers and Control Invasive Species -The 1014

CULTURAL RESOURCES

New Goals for Carbon Neutrality Inform Choice for Olympics Locations –PEW

Environmentalists say inland port site threatens Great Salt Lake -KSTU-TV

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

How Bad Has Ride-Hailing Been for Cities? –CityLab

Vermont Transportation Agency awards $4M in bike and pedestrian path grants -WCAX-TV

Why Can’t You Bike Over the Bay Bridge Into Downtown San Francisco? -The San Francisco Standard

Houston Metro working on solar-powered fans at bus stops, with plans to install 50 prototypes -Houston Chronicle

Cambridge, Massachusetts, legalizes sidewalk electric vehicle charging -WCVB-TV

Charlotte becoming friendlier to pedestrians –QnotesCarolinas

FDOT officials educate University of Florida students to set a different pace for pedestrian safety -WCJB-TV

New safety features at Harlingen bike trails -KVEO-TV

Denver’s top noise contributor is its airports, study finds -Axios Denver

Last Safe Streets Road Show of season welcomes Spanish-speaking Milwaukeeans -WTMJ-TV

KDOT to host Active Transportation Summit in McPherson Sept. 20 to 22 -Kansas DOT (media release)

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Availability of Data on Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Allowances to Existing Electricity Generating Units -EPA (Notice of data availability)

Good Neighbor Environmental Board -EPA (Notice of meeting)

National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee; May 2023 Meetings -Coast Guard (Notice of availability of recommendations and request for comments)

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027-2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030–2035; Correction -NHTSA (Notice of proposed rulemaking; Correction)

Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027–2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030–2035 -NHTSA (Notice of public hearing)

Proposed National Guidance for Industry on Responding to Munitions and Explosives of Concern in U.S. Federal Waters -U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (Notice of availability; request for comments)

Consolidated Port Approaches Port Access Route Studies (CPAPARS) Final Notice -Coast Guard (Notification)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Two State DOTs Named to USDOT Equity Committee -AASHTO Journal

NYSDOT Leader Named AASHTO Environmental Chair -AASHTO Journal

Federal grants will replace water tunnels beneath roads that are harmful to fish –AP

Pennsylvania EV Infrastructure Projects to See Federal Funding -Government Technology

Keep it simple, experts tell feds on planned mileage fee experiment -Route Fifty

The growing movement against noise pollution -NPR’s All Things Considered

COVID-19

A ‘new era of rail’ post-COVID as train travel booms in Connecticut and beyond -CT Insider

NEPA

The White House Continues to Advance NEPA Reform with CEQ’s Proposed NEPA Phase Two -JD Supra

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

So you can actually see I-15 lanes in bad weather, UDOT tries something new –KSTU

Washington State Ferries Awards Contract to Convert Largest Vessels to Hybrid-Electric Power -Offshore Energy

China’s Abandoned, Obsolete Electric Cars Are Piling Up in Cities –Bloomberg

Lofty Ambitions Are Fueling the Move Toward Sustainable Transportation -Thinking Transportation (podcast)

Google Maps will stop showing gas stations to EV owners -The Verge

 

AIR QUALITY

Trees are not always a miracle cure for improving air quality -Phys.org

Colorado aviation agency looks to future where planes don’t use fossil fuels -Daily Sentinel

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Local Coalition Aims to Expand Equitable Transit-Oriented Development in Chicago -WTTW-TV

Non-profit highlights child care barriers seen in Nebraska transit systems -KOLN-TV

Pa. agency prioritizes environmental justice education -The Center Square

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Connecticut DOT urges drivers to stomp spotted lanternflies -WFSB-TV

Michigan Governor Launches National Park Service Mobility Challenge Program -Michigan Economic Development Corporation (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Alaska DOT&PF extends Purple Heart Trail to be one of the longest in the country -KBBI Radio

As Sturgis Rally Attendance Slows, Medicine Wheel Ride, Native Participation Grows -Native News Online

From Oregon to Boston: Last link of Medal of Honor Highway celebrated -Oregon Capital Insider

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Larger cargo bikes likely to hit the streets of NYC under Transportation Dept. plan -amNew York

Stretches of an iconic Boise street will be changed. Pedestrians, bicyclists take note -Idaho Statesman

Tempe sets aside ‘parking corrals’ for e-scooters -Daily Independent

NYC Council eyes ‘illuminated’ solar-power crosswalks to curb pedestrian deaths -New York Post

City of Dayton seeks to improve active transportation -WHIO-TV

New Bicycle/Pedestrian Greenway Opens in New York’s Southern Tier -Finger Lakes Daily News

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Successful Environmental Justice Planning –TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Hazardous Materials: Frequently Asked Questions – Incident Reporting -Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Notice)

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Special Transportation Circumstances Projects -FRA (Notice)

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027– 2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030–2035 –NHTSA (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Vacancies –Surface Transportation Board (Notice and solicitation of nominations)

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program -FTA (Notice of public meeting and request for comment)

John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Availability of Final Revised Maps for Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin –Fish and Wildlife Service (Notice of availability)

National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee; September 2023 Meetings -Coast Guard (Notice of federal advisory committee meeting)

Issuance of Supplemental Record of Approval of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Noise Compatibility Program -FAA (Notice)

FEDERAL ACTION

Your City’s Guide To Going Electric – National League of Cities

Is it cheaper to refuel your EV battery or gas tank? We did the math in all 50 states. – Washington Post

Government Can’t Be Agile? Don’t Tell Pennsylvania’s Bridge-Fixers. – Governing (commentary)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Michigan Launches Grant Program to Promote Electric Boats on Great Lakes – The Maritime Executive

Pittsburgh region’s locks and dams, crucial to commodity transportation, struggle for funding and recognition – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

DelDOT Receives Grant from Energize Delaware – Delaware DOT (media release)

Georgia Takes Lead in Preparations for Hydrogen Fueling Stations – Georgia Governor’s Office (media release)

 

AIR QUALITY

What is carbon accounting? – Whatis.com

EPA slaps Sinister Diesel with $1M emissions fine amid crackdown – Green Car Reports

Google is helping pilots route flights to create fewer contrails, which is better for the climate – The Verge

EPA approves Washington’s Smoke Management Plan to allow strategic use of prescribed fires to manage forest health and protect air quality – EPA (media release)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Rulemaking process underway for new environmental justice areas – Minnesota Public Radio

NATURAL RESOURCES

Ethan Hawke Stars in Latest TxDOT Anti-Littering Video – AASHTO Journal

The future of East Coast wind power could ride on this Jersey beach town – Washington Post

Ivy, dandelions and other common wildflowers are often seen as weeds – but they’re a crucial resource for pollinating insects – The Conversation

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Seattle to Build Landmark Maritime Innovation Center – Cruise Industry News

Nickelback’s hometown removes iconic signs celebrating Alberta’s biggest rock stars – CBC News

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Creating Safe Communities and Options for Walk-Bike-Ride Transportation in New Jersey – New Jersey Future

Manhattan Beach Council directs MBPD: no more e-bike warnings – Easy Reader &
Peninsula Magazine

Baltimore Water Trail Network Brings New Access For Paddle Sports – Chesapeake Bay Magazine

Law Requiring Searchable Citywide Bike Map Passes in NYC City Council – BK Reader

E-bike programs and other green transit efforts are sprouting throughout California. Will they catch on? – Los Angeles Times

Houston’s Vision Zero report for 2022 shows traffic fatalities were down, but not by much – Houston Public Media

Hanford active transportation plan looking to build on walking, biking infrastructure – Hanford Sentinel

Here are the benefits of non-auto modes of transportation – KHON-TV

Maine expanding ‘Rail Trail’ network near New Hampshire border – AP

The Loop Comes Full Circle – D Magazine

 

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 2023 West Virginia Bridge Design & Build Contest – AASHTO (special report)

Highway Safety Behavioral Strategies for Rural and Tribal Areas: A Guide – BTSCRP

Highway Safety Behavioral Strategies for Rural Areas – BTSCRP

Address Climate Change and Breathe Easier with Research on Transportation Emissions – TRB

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit- Oriented Development Planning – FTA (Notice)

Notice of Final Federal Agency Action on the Rocky Flats NWR Trails and Rocky Mountain Greenway Connections Project in Colorado – FHWA (Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA and other Federal agencies)

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program Compliance; Notification of Webinar – EPA (Notification of webinar)

Clean Water Act Section 404 Tribal and State Program Regulation – EPA (Proposed rule)

Revisions to the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements – (EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; CA; San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; Removal of Excess Emissions Provisions – EPA (Proposed rule)

Air Plan Approval; Washington; Southwest Clean Air Agency; Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Vapors – EPA (Proposed rule)

Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Proposed GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement – Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Evaluation of New Jersey Coastal Management Program; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for Comments – NOAA (Notice)

Board Meeting (8/29/23) – U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Notice)

Board Meeting (8/30/23) – U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Joint Office of Energy and Transportation establishes new EV working group -Green Car Congress

Biden Administration Split over Ethanol’s Role in Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program –Reuters

In national race to build EV chargers, a few states emerge as big winners -Route Fifty

6 months after the East Palestine train derailment, Congress is deadlocked on new rules for safety –AP

Tesla Seeks Nearly $100 Million In Gov’t Funds To Create California-Texas Electric Semi Charging Network –Carscoops

 

COVID-19

Downtown Travel Has Not Recovered from COVID-19, Data Shows -Government Technology

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Love Field Airport harnessing wind gusts from planes to make energy -KERA Radio

This Development Wants Residents to Ditch Their Cars. In Phoenix. –Bloomberg

Charging infrastructure ‘biggest bump in the road’ for electric vehicle take-up –Reuters

AI-Assisted Mapmaking: The Future of Cartography and Geographic Visualization –CityLife

Well-attended meeting sparks extended comment period on Humboldt Bay offshore wind terminal plans -Times-Standard

North America’s First Solar Panel Recycling Plant Opens in Yuma, Arizona -EnergyPortal.eu

 

AIR QUALITY

Buttigieg says US ‘green corridors’ initiative is key to cutting shipping industry emissions –AP

Illinois transit bill includes reduced fares, requires zero-emission buses –WMAQ-TV

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Talking Geotechnical Investigations with OKDOT -AASHTO re:source Q & A Podcast

EPA’s National Plastics Plan Flouts Sea Pollution, Chemical Use -Bloomberg Law

Gowanus Canal Visit Offers an Educational Opportunity to Environmental Science and Policy Student -Columbia University

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Some U.S. national parks are trying to go carbon-free. What does that mean for visitors? -National Geographic

Say no to pesticides, yes to goats: Austin nonprofit uses goats to manage invasive plants along Lady Bird Lake Trail -Daily Texan

One of America’s most famous streets is getting its biggest makeover since 1974 -Washington Post (opinion)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

New utility bridge could impact Harrisburg cyclists and pedestrians for the better -WPMT-TV

Why San Francisco. bicyclists are divided over a new bikeway in the Mission District -San Francisco Chronicle

Proposed bike highways could make biking easier, more accessible across Metro Vancouver (BC) –Vancouver Sun

North American cities need to push for secure bicycle parking -Momentum (commentary)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Integrating Resilience Concepts and Strategies into Transportation Planning: A Guide –NCHRP

Telework Transportation Research in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic –TRB

Webinar to focus on active transportation planning in communities -Pennsylvania State University

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2 –Council on Environmental Quality (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

FY 2023 Emergency Relief Grants for Public Transportation Systems Affected by Major Declared Disasters in Calendar Years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022 -FTA (Notice of re-opening application submissions and revised requirements)

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: Standards for 2023–2025 and Other Changes; Correction -EPA (Final rule; correction)

Notice of Adoption of Policy Statement on Climate Change and Historic Preservation -Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Notice)

Water Resources Development Act 2020, Section 128 Harmful Algal Bloom Demonstration Program Draft Environmental Assessment -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of availability; request for comment)

Extension of Comment Period for Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project, Calhoun and Matagorda Counties, TX -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice; request for comments)

Request for Information: Center for Maritime Innovation -MARAD (Notice)

Request for Information: National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy -Office of Science and Technology Policy (Notice; extension of comment deadline)

National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies -Coast Guard (Request for applications)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

Governors Discuss Infrastructure Issues at Annual Meeting -AASHTO Journal

Federal agencies plan to spend $770M ramping up their electric vehicle usage this year -Nextgov/FCW

Rural States, Groups Tell EPA of Emissions Proposal Concerns -Transport Topics

Americans prefer cars to walking, other transportation –NewsNation

Infrastructure remains a top priority for cities -Route Fifty

Transportation Engineer’s Solution to America’s Worst Bottleneck -Wall Street Journal (video)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Illinois DOT Staff Rally for Town’s Tornado Recovery Effort -AASHTO Journal

Huge amounts of hazardous materials pass through Midwest every day. How safe are residents? -Indianapolis Star

Purdue University Engineers Develop Pothole Detection Sensors -WWBL Radio

After East Palestine Derailment, Are Railroads Any Safer? -NPR’s Consider This

A New Class of Heavy-Duty Vehicle Goes Electric in Hawaii -Government Technology

Sensory Overload And The Case For Quieter Airports -Runway Girl Network (op-ed)

 

AIR QUALITY

People are using Google Maps to cut down tailpipe pollution -The Verge

Sacramento Region Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pilot Program – Sacramento Area Council of Governments (media release)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Poor infrastructure in Houston’s Black neighborhoods has caused a disproportionate number of pedestrian crashes, new study says -Houston Public Media

Agencies propose 3 new wildlife bridges in northern Arizona to reduce accidents -KTVK/KPHO-TV

33 Years of the ADA – Connecting New Yorkers One Subway Station at a Time -Mass Transit (commentary)

Amtrak Invests $770 Million to Advance Accessibility Projects Across the Country – Amtrak (media release)

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Mass. denies Pilgrim nuclear plant wastewater discharge plan -WBTS-TV

Illegal firewood collectors fined -New South Wales Government

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Could historic preservation be a tool for environmental justice? Richmond to find out. -Greater Greater Washington

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Lyft, the Largest Bikeshare Operator in North America, Wants Out of the Business –Vice

Granbury hopeful for grant to improve transportation, recreation -Hood County News

Old Railroad Infrastructure Removed as Work on Humboldt Bay Trail South Continues in California -Lost Coast Outpost

San Antonio grapples with alarming rate of pedestrian involved accidents -WOAI-TV

Miami Beach puzzles over how bikes and pedestrians can share a path -Miami Today

As e-bikes proliferate, so do deadly fires blamed on exploding lithium-ion batteries –AP

 

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Assessing Air Pollution Dispersion Models for Emissions Regulation –NCHRP

Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities –TRB

TRB Webinar: Climate-Resilient, Low-Volume Road Design and Management –TRB

Using Traffic Signals to Decongest Cities May Be Simpler Than We Thought -National Institute for Congestion Reduction (webinar)

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco Waterfront Coastal Flood Study, San Francisco County, California -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Sunshine Act Meetings; Agency Holding the Meetings: Mississippi River Commission -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan; San Francisco Bay Area -EPA (Proposed rule)

Federal ‘‘Good Neighbor Plan’’ for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Response to Judicial Stays of SIP Disapproval Action for Certain States -EPA (Interim final rule; request for comment)

Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB); Notice of Public Meeting -Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Notice)

National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2 -Council on Environmental Quality (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Preservation Technology and Training Board Notice of Public Meeting -National Park Service (Notice)

Public Meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group -Bureau of Reclamation (Notice)

 

FEDERAL ACTION

New Jersey Sues Federal Government Over Congestion Pricing in New York City -New York Times

House Republicans propose ambitious reforestation plan in response to climate change -AP

‘Massive emissions ramifications’: Forthcoming hydrogen policy stirs intense debate -The Hill

Resilience Improvement Plans: Best Practices & Requirements -FHWA (webinar)

Federal Fleets: Zero-Emission Vehicle Implementation -GAO (media release)

U.S. Should Expand and Standardize Plastics Collection and Recycling, Study Potential Uses in Infrastructure, Says New Report -National Academies (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

State DOTs Respond to Major East Coast Flooding -AASHTO Journal

Nevada roads, highways can withstand extreme heat due to NDOT planning -KVVU-TV

Is the Sumner Tunnel closure a transit success story? -WGBH-TV

Major U.S. cities leading in transit electrification -Mass Transit

Study addresses safer oil rail transport -Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A Charging Facility in Michigan Aims to Reinvent the American Truck Stop -Government Technology

CSX yields encouraging results from soybean oil-based fuel tests -Progressive Railroading

AIR QUALITY

Oregon joins West Coast states seeking millions to create zero-emission truck fueling network -Oregon Capital Chronicle

N.Y.’s public transit systems display alerts as state’s air quality concerns continue -Spectrum News 1

EPA Gets Tougher on Truck Emissions. Are Its Targets Achievable? -SupplyChainBrain

Nevada Residents – and Programs – Push for Cleaner Transportation and Air -Las Vegas Weekly

What Is the Most Eco-Friendly Way to Travel? -Wanderu (blog)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Connecticut mapping tool aims to bring visibility to environmental justice communities -Energy News Network

Turning a desert into an oasis; how transportation deserts are impacting Milwaukee – WTMJ-TV

EVs Are Sending Toxic Tire Particles Into the Water, Soil, and Air -The Atlantic

More money going toward electric vehicle infrastructure in New York State -WCAX-TV

NATURAL RESOURCES

Freshwater management techniques can benefit both inland and coastal wetlands stressed by climate change Phys.org

Los Angeles World Airports prohibits sale of single-use plastic water bottles -LAWA (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Recycling America’s Railroads into Trails – Urbanist (podcast)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bike lane on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge seen as major cause of pollution – PIX-TV (video)

The many benefits of more walkable streets -American City & County

Disability advocates push for robotaxi expansion -Axios San Francisco

Improving Transit Access to Parks and Trails -Planetizen

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Successful Environmental Justice Planning -TRB

Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities -TRB

Integrating Freight and Active Transportation into Policies, Programs, Plans, and Project Development -NCHRP

Leveraging Social Media Data for Emergency Preparedness and Response -NCHRP

Telecommuting, Remote Work, and Hybrid Schedules: Managing the Shift to a Flexible Work Future -NCHRP

Valuation and Compensation for Accommodating Utility and Communications Installations in Public Rights-of-Way -NCHRP

PFAS Source Differentiation Guide for Airports -ACHRP

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Limited Approval, Limited Disapproval of California Air Plan Revisions, Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District -EPA (Proposed rule)

National Advisory Council -FEMA (Committee management; request for applicants for appointment to a subcommittee of the National Advisory Council)

Call for Nominations for the California Desert District Advisory Council, the Central California Resource Advisory Council, and the Northern California Resource Advisory Council -Bureau of Land Management (Notice)

Streamlining U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permitting of Rights-of-Way Across National Wildlife Refuges and Other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Administered Lands -Fish and Wildlife Service (Proposed rule; revisions and reopening of the comment period)

FEDERAL ACTION

Northeastern State DOT Projects Win Regional Awards -AASHTO Journal

Judge freezes WOTUS fight until Biden issues new rule -E&E News

We fixed I-95 in 12 days. Here are our lessons for U.S. infrastructure. -Washington Post (opinion)

NPS seeks public input on the potential impacts of e-bikes in parks across the National Park System -National Park Service (media release)

Building on the Success of USDOT’s Rural EV Toolkit to Help Communities Build Out EV Charging Infrastructure, DOT Releases New Edition for Urban Areas -USDOT (media release)

 

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Underground Heat Is Shifting Chicago’s Foundations -New York Times

Colorado DOT installs permanent avalanche control equipment on Red Mountain Pass -Durango Herald

Vermont Prepared for Epic Flooding. It Wasn’t Enough -Bloomberg Green

NH’s infrastructure is aging. How will it hold up with predictions of more flooding and extreme weather? -New Hampshire Public Radio

ADOT plans to add 7 EV charging stations to state highways -KTAR Radio

 

AIR QUALITY

State AGs at odds over proposed EPA tailpipe emissions rules -Route Fifty

Nevada governor pulls state out of US climate alliance -KSNV-TV

The Wind Is in Hydrogen’s Sails; Politics Could Change That -Government Technology

3 Airlines and the FAA Join Google to Assess Flight Emissions –Skift

FAA Invests Nearly $92 Million to Help Airports Reach President’s Goal of Net Zero-Emissions by 2050 -FAA (media release)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Collective Imagination: A Hopeful Force at the Center of Climate Justice -Harvard University

Transportation Apps Can Help People With Disabilities Navigate Public Transit But Accessibility Lags Behind -The Conversation

Biden’s EV charger rollout has begun. Will it deliver on environmental justice? –Grist

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Real Harm of Dust Storms -WILL Radio (link to audio)

NASA Tests Mobile Air Traffic Kit During Wildfire Prevention Operations -NASA (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile -The Frick Pittsburgh

Montreal tourism outlets concerned about halted Amtrak line from New York City -CBC News

Facebook Censors WYDOT For Humorous Sasquatch Post -Cowboy State Daily

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Hawaii plans rapid rollout of raised pedestrian crosswalks, citing encouraging new data –Hawaii News Now

San Jose, California Looks To AI To Stop Pedestrian Traffic Deaths -KGO-TV

Mackinac Island Impounded More Than 50 Illegal E-Bikes In Just Three Weeks –Jalopnik

Transit Advocates Fear On-Demand Microtransit Undermines Bus Service –Planetizen

Pilot programs show support for microtransit services in smaller Virginia cities, rural areas -WCAV-TV

 

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Climate-Resilient, Low-Volume Road Design and Management –TRB

TRB Webinar: Life-Cycle Assessment for Pavements and Transportation Infrastructure –TRB

TRB International Conference on Low Volume Roads –TRB

An Assessment of Native Seed Needs and the Capacity for Their Supply: Final Report -National Academies

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Grant Programs for Urbanized Areas: Program Guidance and Application Instructions, Proposed Circular -FTA (Notice of availability of proposed circular and request for comments)

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: Standards for 2023–2025 and Other Changes -EPA (Final rule)

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Public Meeting -EPA (Notice)

Rescinding the Rule on Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process -EPA (Final rule)

Request for Comments on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Review the Civil Aviation Noise Policy; Extension of Comment Period -FAA (Notice of public meeting; Request for comments)

Notice of Availability of a Joint Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ocean Wind LLC Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore New Jersey -Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Notice)

Board on Coastal Engineering Research -Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of advisory committee meeting)

Safety Zone; Hurricanes and Tropical Storms in Captain of the Port Zone North Carolina -Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction Meeting -National Institute of Standards and Technology (Notice of open meeting)