A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals

FEDERAL ACTION

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

What a Senate flip means for transportation – Politico

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

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

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

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

COVID-19

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

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

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

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

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

AIR QUALITY

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

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

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How infrastructure improvements can aid inclusive revival – CT Mirror

NATURAL RESOURCES

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

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

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

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

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

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

Can the Bike Boom Keep Going? – CityLab

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

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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

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

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

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

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

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

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