Posts – Page 16 – Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

Federal Funds Helps Wisconsin DOT Create Tribal Center

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation noted that federal funding is helping it create a Tribal Technical Assistance Program or TTAP Center for 65 tribal nations across 30 states.

[Above photo by Wisconsin DOT]

The Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory or TOPS Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently received a two-year $625,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Wisconsin DOT said it will work with the school to create a TTAP Center to support transportation investments on tribal lands and other tribal initiatives related to training, technical assistance and technology services.

Upon renewal by the FHWA, the TOPS Lab could receive $300,000 each year for three years to continue the work of the TTAP Center. Due to the large geographic service area, the TOPS Lab has partnered with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University and New York State Local Technical Assistance Program Center housed at Cornell University.

“Wisconsin has the highest concentration of tribal communities in any state east of the Mississippi River,” noted Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson in a statement.

“We are proud of our government-to-government relationships with the 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin. This federal grant will help strengthen those partnerships and allow us to continue making strategic transportation investments on tribal lands,” he said.

“We’re excited to see how this federal funding can leverage Wisconsin as a leader to implement solutions to roadway safety on tribal lands not only in our state, but across 30 states,” Thompson added.

“This really underscores that we’re not just working within university or state boundaries but across the United States,” emphasized Andi Bill, manager of the TOPS Lab research program.

“We’re bringing high-quality research to the local level, and we’re very excited to work with our partners across the Tribal communities,” Bill said. “Wisconsin DOT has been an active leader in tribal coordination and we’re ready to add to some of the wonderful work that they’ve done.”

Environmental News Highlights – September 6, 2023

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)

Connecticut DOT Adopts ‘Complete Street’ Criteria

The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently implemented new “Complete Streets” design criteria that the agency plans to incorporate into all of its surface roadway projects going forward.

[Above image via the Connecticut DOT]

A “Complete Street” is a roadway planned and designed to consider the safe, convenient access and mobility of roadway users of all ages and abilities. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, and motorists; it includes children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The agency said this new design criteria expands on its “Complete Street” policy, which ensures that every roadway project includes a focus on pedestrian and bicyclist facilities and public transportation operations to create stronger intermodal transportation networks and improve safety.

The Connecticut DOT’s new ‘Complete Streets’ design criteria focuses on three areas to improve safety and mobility for all roadway users:

Pedestrian facilities – includes sidewalks, shared use paths, or side paths on both sides of the roadway.
Bicycle facilities – includes paved outside shoulders, bike lanes, separated bike paths, or shared use paths on both sides of the roadway.
Transit provisions – includes crosswalks, shelters, benches, and other ways to make existing or proposed transit stops more accessible.

The agency added that if any of its transportation projects does not meet those three criteria, Connecticut DOT’s chief engineer is required to issue a formal design exemption.

“While this change may sound technical, it is a big deal for improving the safety of our transportation network,” noted Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut DOT’s commissioner, in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to break down barriers to transportation and make Connecticut roadways more accessible for everyone.”

[Editor’s note: In March 2022, the Federal Highway Administration sent a report to Congress detailing the agency’s commitment to “advance widespread implementation” of the “Complete Streets design model” to help improve safety and accessibility for all users. That report – entitled “Moving to a Complete Streets Design Model: A Report to Congress on Opportunities and Challenges” – identifies what FHWA calls “five overarching opportunity areas” that will guide the agency as it moves ahead with efforts to increase “Complete Streets.”]

“Utilizing ‘Complete Streets’ design criteria is just one of the many ways we’re working to make Connecticut safer for all roadway users,” noted Scott Hill, the agency’s chief engineer and bureau chief of engineering and construction.

“This change will solidify and ensure that pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety is incorporated into the billions of dollars’ worth of projects we have planned in our capital program,” he added.

Several state departments of transportation have implemented similar “Complete Street” initiatives over the last several years.

In February 2021, the South Carolina Department of Transportation adopted what it called a “wide-ranging” Complete Streets policy for the state-owned highway system.

That policy requires the South Carolina DOT to work with the state’s regional transportation planning partners and regional transit providers to identify and include walking, bicycling, and transit needs as part of their regional visioning plans.

The California Department of Transportation unveiled a similar “complete streets” policy for all new transportation projects it funds or oversees in December 2021 in order to provide “safe and accessible options” for people walking, biking and taking transit.

Meanwhile, in October 2022, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued a new version of its “Complete Streets” roads and highways manual; a revision that represents the first update in more than 20 years to Kentucky’s pedestrian and bicycle travel policy.

Additionally, in January, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed a legislative package allowing the New York State Department of Transportation to provide more fiscal support for municipal ‘Complete Streets’ projects. Under the new legislation, the state’s contribution to the non-federally funded portion of complete street projects will increase to 87.5 percent, which will help municipalities to implement these street designs.

MBTA Develops, Adopts Comprehensive Vision Statement

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently issued a comprehensive “vision statement” outlining the agency’s values, goals, and metrics that will help it improve safety, service, equity, sustainability, and culture.

[Above photo by MBTA]

The MBTA – a division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – said it developed this “vision statement” via detailed collaboration with staff and stakeholders.

“Thanks to input from MBTA employees and our valued partners within transportation advocacy organizations, we have new strategic goals which underscore our commitment to improving the MBTA to make it safer, more reliable, resilient, and equitable,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca in a statement.

“We intend to bring a new level of transparency, public engagement, and capital investment to the MBTA, and we will succeed with workforce investments, collaboration, and decisions that prioritize safety,” she added.

[Editor’s note: Fiandaca plans to step down as MassDOT secretary and CEO in September. Monica Tibbits-Nutt, the agency’s undersecretary, will take over as acting transportation secretary.]

The main goals MBTA has incorporated within its vision statement are:

Empower and support staff to develop a culture which prioritizes and promotes safety.
Modernize assets to improve connectivity while ensuring MBTA property is maintained in a state of good repair.
Ensure transparent decision making so the experiences and perspectives of MBTA staff and riders are accounted for.
Retain, attract, and invest in a diverse and qualified workforce that represents MBTA ridership.
Support regional vitality by providing riders with dependable, frequent, and accessible service.
Increase environmental sustainability and resilience within the state’s transit systems.
Increase the percentage of transit trips in the region by attracting new riders and retaining existing riders via a dependable, frequent, and accessible service.
Communicate openly about costs and revenues needed to support current services and for future expansion.

“We are committed to providing a safe, reliable, and accessible transportation system for Massachusetts,” said MBTA General Manager Phil Eng.

“We are listening to the feedback of our riders and stakeholders, and we are using that feedback to shape our vision and our roadmap. It is only with them that we can make this mission a reality,” he pointed out. “We know we sometimes face challenges, but we are confident that we can overcome them. We are committed to making the MBTA a public transportation system that everyone can rely on.”

Eng noted that MBTA plans to finalize metrics for tracking progress towards those goals in the coming months.

“We believe these goals will help keep us focused,” noted Lynsey Heffernan, MBTA’s assistant general manager for policy and transit planning. “We’re serving vibrant and diverse communities with rich history and culture who deserve to be able to rely on us for public transit services. The more in tune we are with our collective vision, the more likely we will be able to deliver on that vision.”

Environmental News Highlights – August 30, 2023

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)

WSDOT Crews ‘Go Fishing’ in Stream Realignment

Construction crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation are often called upon to execute unusual tasks within their road building and maintenance activities – and that can include “going fishing” as part of stream realignment efforts.

[Above photo by WSDOT]

The agency noted in a recent blog post that a good portion of its transportation infrastructure work involves streams and wetlands, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where roads, streams, and wetlands often intersect.

For example, WSDOT pointed to the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County – located in an area where I-5 crosses over Hylebos Creek at the Fife curve, with tributaries and wetlands on either side of the freeway. As a result, WSDOT construction crews made changes so the freeway, creek, and wetlands can co-exist in harmony – work that included a wetland and stream restoration project, revitalizing almost 150 acres of land on either side of I-5 near the Fife curve.

[Editor’s note: The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $196 million to 59 tribal, state, and local governments to help fix or remove 169 culvert barriers to improve fish passage. The agency said outdated culverts and other related infrastructure can cause roads to flood and severely restrict or altogether block fish passage.]

As part of that restoration effort, in mid-July, WSDOT crews removed fish from Hylebos Creek so they could rebuild and realign a 2,200-foot section of the stream by mid-September. Crews carefully removed fish from the stream’s work zone and relocated them another area of the creek where they won’t be affected by construction work – a process technically known as “de-fishing,” the agency explained.

WSDOT noted its crews are only allowed to step foot or put equipment into a stream during a designated “fish window,” which is often mid-summer to early fall, depending on the stream, when the fewest number of fish are generally present.

The agency stressed that its crews are not “fishing” in the traditional sense when conducting such “de-fishing” operations. They set up and secure fine-meshed netting, dragging it in the water to encourage fish to naturally swim downstream away from the construction area – basically “shooing” them out of the area – as it is less stressful for the fish if they can swim away on their own. The crews will then secure another fine-meshed net in the stream to block off the area they just waded through so the fish do not return to the just-cleared area.

WSDOT noted that any fish stragglers trapped between the two secured nets are removed first by “seining passes” followed by “electro-fishing,” whereby a very small electrical charge in the water temporarily stuns the remaining fish so they can be gently scooped up in nets by trained fish handlers. WSDOT noted that crews keep moving downstream, repeating this entire process, until all the fish are caught and relocated safely from the construction area.

Kansas DOT Releases Updated 2023-2025 Bicycle Map

The Kansas Department of Transportation recently released its new 2023-2025 bicycle map, which incorporates more than simply listing bike-friendly pathways across the state.

[Above image by Kansas DOT]

“The revised map has new features such as a focus on rail-trails, Kansas Tourism resources, and information on the recently published Kansas Active Transportation Plan,” said Jenny Kramer, active transportation manager for the agency, in a statement.

“This map provides information for cyclists of all levels of experience as well as community advocates wanting to develop and improve trails and paths in their areas,” she added.

The Kansas DOT 2023-2025 map charts out daily traffic volumes, county roads, rest areas, bike shops, byways, state parks, and – of course – bicycle routes across Kansas.

The map also includes a revised Kansas Rail-Trails map and infographic; a section on trail-sharing etiquette; information on Kansas tourism cycling resources and the state’s Active Transportation Plan; U.S. Bicycle Routes 76 and 66 information; a table of state recreation areas and amenities; and a list of all applicable state bicycle laws.

State departments of transportation develop bicycle routes, which the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials then officially designates within the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS.

In February 2021, AASHTO and Adventure Cycling signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU to formalize their now 17-year partnership to create a national 50,000-mile bicycle route network.

Twice each year, AASHTO’s U.S. Route Numbering Special Committee reviews and recommends to the AASHTO Board of Directors a number of revisions, additions, or deletions to the U.S. numbered routes and Interstate Highway System.

The special committee also reviews and recommends the approval of new and revised U.S. bicycle routes that are critical to the expansion of the USBRS.

In addition, AASHTO’s Committee on Planning works with Adventure Cycling to maintain and update the broader USBRS National Corridor Plan that identifies corridors for future bike routes – noting that the USBRS is a “cornerstone” of Adventure Cycling’s work as a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, empowering and connecting people to bicycle travel.

Meanwhile, in late June, Adventure Cycling announced major expansions to the USBRS, including three completely new routes and a connection from Alaska to the lower 48 states.

The three new routes are USBR 610 in Idaho, USBR 11 in Pennsylvania, and USBR 121 in Tennessee. In Minnesota, USBR 20 has been extended and USBR 45 and USBR 45A have been adjusted to incorporate new trails and improve safety.

Meanwhile, Alaska’s network now connects to Washington State via the Alaska Marine Highway System using ferries; the first time a ferry has been designated as part of a U.S. bicycle route.

Environmental News Highlights – August 23, 2023

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)

Mississippi DOT Relaunches Anti-Littering Campaign

The Mississippi Department of Transportation recently relaunched a statewide anti-littering campaign, aimed at encouraging Mississippians to put trash where it belongs and recycle whenever possible.

[Above photo by the Mississippi DOT]

The centerpiece of the campaign is a video featuring agency employees – including Mississippi DOT Executive Director Brad White (above) – not only encouraging state residents to put trash where it belongs, but also highlighting the cost of highway litter cleanup efforts.

“Litter is a big problem in Mississippi,” White explained in a statement. “Mississippi DOT spends over $3 million a year picking up litter. This is money that could be used to build and maintain roads and bridges. Let’s all be good stewards of our great state and make the choice to put our trash where it belongs.”

The agency is also launching a new anti-litter webpage as part of its relaunched campaign – a “one-stop hub” that contains information about the state’s Adopt-a-Highway program, Mississippi litter statistics and resources, stormwater pollution information, anti-litter resources for school teachers, and much more.

State departments of transportation are using a variety of tactics to combat littering on state highways.

For example, the Tennessee Department of Transportation recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of its “Litter Grant Program.” That program – started in 1983 – provides funding to all 95 counties within the state to pay for a wide variety of litter-related efforts, such as litter and tarp law enforcement; cleanup and recycling events; and litter prevention education campaigns.

Those funds also help county governments participate in multijurisdictional and statewide collaborations with Tennessee DOT’s “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” litter prevention campaign, conducted jointly with Keep Tennessee Beautiful and its local affiliates.

Meanwhile, in April, the Illinois Department of Transportation launched a new public outreach effort called “Think Before You Throw!” as part of its ongoing awareness campaign to reduce littering on state highways and roads.

The “Think Before You Throw!” initiative aims to reduce roadside litter along the state’s more than 150,000 miles of roads by raising awareness of the negative environment impact of trash, for both state residents and the nearly 100 million tourists who visit annually, the agency said.

And, in March, the Maryland Department of Transportation launched “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland,” a new initiative that seeks to nearly double the frequency of litter pickup and mowing efforts along state roads.

This new effort – which began in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., regions – is under the purview of the Maryland State Highway Administration, one of Maryland DOT’s modal divisions.

Nebraska DOT Seeking Feedback on Carbon Reduction Plan

The Nebraska DOT is gathering public opinion on its proposed strategies for reducing transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions via an online survey.

[Above photo by Nebraska DOT]

That is the final part of the agency’s efforts to form a statewide Carbon Reduction Strategy or CRS by November 15; a deadline fixed by the Carbon Reduction Program or CRP as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA enacted in 2021.

The CRP – a new federal program intended to fund surface transportation carbon emission reduction efforts – requires states to develop a CRS in consultation with metropolitan planning organizations by November 15.

The Nebraska DOT noted in a statement that the transportation sector is the second largest source of carbon emissions in the state, preceded by the electric generation sector.

Activities that contribute to those emissions include the burning of petroleum-based fuels in vehicles as well as from “infrastructure-related” emissions, such as from road construction activities and street lighting, it noted.

The agency said its CRS-development process will pinpoint strategies to reduce carbon that are “proven, effective, and context-sensitive” for Nebraska.

Thus far, Nebraska DOT said it has completed “extensive internal research and interviews” regarding existing policies and activities contributing to carbon reduction, held individual consultations with each of Nebraska’s four MPOs, and distributed a survey to institutional partners.