A new report documents recent progress of the Safe Routes to School State Network Project, launched by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership in 2007 to promote implementation of Safe Routes to School programs in nine states and the District of Columbia. The report, which covers the years 2007 through 2009, highlights major accomplishments, lessons learned, and next steps for networks at the state and local level to improve opportunities for safe physical activity for children on the route to school. For more information, link to Safe Routes to School State Network Project: Final Report, 2007-2009, Making Change Through Partners and Policies. (11-17-09)

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The Federal Transit Administration has issued a proposed policy statement on the eligibility of pedestrian and bicycle improvements for FTA funding under federal transit law. The proposed policy, which is intended to advance the Department of Transportation’s livable communities agenda, would expand the radius within which projects near public transportation facilities will be eligible. Pedestrian projects within a half-mile, and bicycle infrastructure within three miles, would automatically be eligible for agency funding. Pedestrian and bicycle improvements beyond those distances may be eligible if they are “within the distance most people can be expected to safely and conveniently walk or bicycle to use that particular transit service.” Comments are due Jan. 12, 2010. For more information, link to the proposed policy statement. (11-13-09)

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The League of American Bicyclists has announced information on the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. The event will be held on March 9-11, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. For more information and registration, link to the National Bike Summit webpage. (11-10-09)

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America Bikes, a coalition of bicycling community advocates, has published a summary of research on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding going to bicycle and pedestrian projects. The study included collecting information from transportation enhancements (TE) coordinators in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and from state department of transportation websites to develop a project list that includes cost information and location information for projects in 48 states and the District (Indiana and New Mexico currently are not available). States are required to spend $800 million on TE by March 2, 2010; according to the research summary, $664 million had been awarded by June 30, 2009, with $425 million going to bicycle and pedestrian projects. The summary also includes additional findings from an analysis of the Federal Highway Administration’s Fiscal Management Information System database of ARRA funded bik/ped projects obligated through Sept. 30, 2009. For more information, link to the research study and to the project list. (11-2-09)

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The Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness at Duke University has released the latest in a series of reports prepared for the Environmental Defense Fund and several labor organizations highlighting new research linking U.S. job opportunities with selected low-carbon technologies. The ongoing series builds upon a report released in November 2008 that analyzed five technologies including LED lighting, auxiliary power units, and concentrating solar power, with additional chapters on new technologies released periodically. The latest, Chapter 12, focuses on the development of hybrid, all-electric, and other “green” public transit buses. Chapter 9, published in June 2009, analyzed hybrid drivetrains for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. For more information, link to the EDF press release and to the series website: Manufacturing Climate Solutions. (10-26-09)

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The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is requesting applications for participation in the Safe Routes to School State Network Project during 2010 and 2011. The project was launched in 2007 to link nonprofit and government leaders associated with health, bicycle, pedestrian, youth, education, disadvantaged communities, and smart growth organizations to create and implement statewide action plans that allow children to be more physically active and help reduce and prevent childhood obesity. Nine states and the District of Columbia were initially selected to participate through 2009; a two-year expansion award of nearly $1.5 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will support the project through 2011. Approximately 15 to 20 states will be selected to build or enhance State Networks that will focus on statewide implementation of the Safe Routes to School program, as well as statewide policy changes that will support more walking and bicycling to schools. Applications are due Nov. 20, 2009. For more information, link to the 2010-2011 Call for Applications. (10-20-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has posted the latest update of the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancements Activities. The October 2009 program update includes information on the U.S. Access Board’s draft final accessibility guidelines for federal outdoor developed areas under the Architectural Barriers Act; FHWA’s new Accessibility Resource Library; the Surface Transportation and Environment Research Program (STEP) request for feedback on lines of research for fiscal year 2010; and the National Scenic Byways Grants and Designations Announcements for 2009. The update also covers program financial resources; research, reports, and technical assistance; newsletters; training resources; and upcoming events. For more information link to the October 2009 Program Update and an archive of past updates. (10-20-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has published the Fall 2009 issue of its Pedestrian Forum newsletter. The issue features updates on the annual stakeholder comment period for the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning (STEP) program; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants for cooperate agreements to promote pedestrian safety education and enforcement programs in four states; and planning and implementation of California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The newsletter also covers NHTSA funding for 10 communities to implement pedestrian safety improvements while pilot testing FHWA’s “A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Streets” and announces the availability of FHWA pedestrian safety materials. To access the publication, link to the Pedestrian Forum – Fall 2009 newsletter. (10-20-09)

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Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced on Oct. 16, 2009, the designation of 37 new National Scenic Byways and five All-American Roads in 26 states under the National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP). Since 1991, a total of 151 roads in 46 states have been recognized by the secretary as America’s Byways®, based on their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. For more information, including a list of the 2009 designations, link to the news release and to the NSBP website. (10-16-09)

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More than $40 million in grants for 160 scenic byways projects were announced October 9 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Communities in 43 states will receive the grants as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program. The program recognizes and provides funding for selected roads based on their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic qualities. The grants will be used for projects such as scenic overlooks, visitor information centers, pedestrian trails, bike paths, safety upgrades, and educational and promotional materials. For more information, including the list of grant recipients, link to the news release. (10-9-09)

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The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse has published the Fall 2009 edition of its TE Corner newsletter. The issue features a successful TE project by the Louisiana Department of Transportation to resurface historic Front Street in Natchitoches, La. The project, which involved the installation of a new foundation, upgraded drainage system, and restoration and reuse of antique paving bricks, included extensive communication and outreach to the local community. The project is a finalist for the 2009 AASHTO’s People’s Choice Award. The current issue also includes highlights of the 7^th TE Professional Seminar held in August 2009 in Washington, D.C. For more information, link to TE Corner – Fall 2009. (10-7-09)

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The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) will conduct the first in a series of bimonthly Livable Communities Webinars on Sept. 23 to encourage safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The webinar, “Fundamentals for Connecting Transit and Pedestrian/Bicycle Facilities,” will consider research on the relationship of pedestrian and bicycle facilities to transit use, approaches for addressing safety issues near transit stations and pedestrian facilities, and case studies from four communities. For more information, link to the PBIC website. (9-17-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has posted the latest update of the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancements Activities. The September 2009 issue includes information on FHWA’s leadership team, FY 2009 rescissions, surface transportation authorization, the State Trail Administrators Meeting and Transportation Enhancements Professional Seminar, and the 2009 Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives and Exemplary Ecosystems Initiatives awards. The update also covers research, reports, and technical assistance; newsletters; training resources; and upcoming events. For more information link to the September 2009 Program Update and an archive of past updates. (9-1-09)

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The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse has posted an update to its website detailing provisions for transportation enhancements (TE) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The website includes an overview of provisions of the bill, which allocated three percent of the total of $27.5 billion in funds made available to FHWA for TE projects. Recent updates to the website address guidance from FHWA and the list of known state TE stimulus projects. For more information, link to TE and the ARRA. (7-21-09)

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The Transportation Research Board has published the May-June 2009 issue of its TR News magazine, which covers innovative and state-of-the-art research and practice in all modes of transportation, news of interest to the transportation community, the Research Pays Off article series, workshop and conference announcements, and more. The theme of the current edition is “Transportation and the Environment: Mutual Enhancements,” featuring articles on the topics of Collaboration, Contexts, and Sustainability; Air Quality Successes and Challenges; Safe Road Passages for Wildlife; Public Outreach on Transportation Noise; and Preserving History, Building Infrastructure. For more information, link to TR News, May-June 2009 (available for purchase or subscription). (7-20-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has issued the Summer 2009 issue of its Pedestrian Forum newsletter. The issue features updates on an international scan on pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility; free pedestrian safety webinars; pedestrian and bicycle safety interactive CDs; a guide on developing a pedestrian safety action plan; pedestrian road safety audit programs; revisions to the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities; launch of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center's updated and redesigned pedestrian and bicycle image library at www.pedbikeimages.org; and other information. To access the publication, link to Summer 2009 Pedestrian Forum newsletter. (7-7-09)

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A new report summarizes a recent international scan tour on pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration’s International Technology Scanning Program, AASHTO, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. The May 2009 scan tour featured a team of 12 transportation professionals from the United States with expertise in bicycling and walking who visited five European countries to identify innovative approaches to nonmotorized transportation. The scan team considered several topics: improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety, Safe Routes to School programs, monitoring usage levels and exposures, and safety research and evaluation. The report provides an overview of the team’s findings and recommendations and includes a series of implementation items to be pursued in the United States. A final report is expected to be completed in early 2010. For more information, link to the International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility. (6-24-09)

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The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center recently updated its compendium of case studies of pedestrian and bicycle projects and programs implemented by communities in the United States and abroad. The collection of brief case studies, or success stories, are categorized by the main activity involved in the community initiative: engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, planning, health promotion, and comprehensive safety initiatives. For more information, link to the PBIC Case Study Compendium. (6-10-09)

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The National Center for Bicycling and Walking will conduct a professional development webinar on June 17, 2009, on creating successful bicycle master plans for developing bicycle infrastructure in a city. The webinar will focus on promoting bicycling as a viable transportation option and providing a safe environment for bicycling. For more information, link to Creating the Bicycle Master Plan Webinar. (5-29-09)

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The latest in a series of annual reports published by the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse summarizes how states have spent their transportation enhancements (TE) funds. The report covers TE spending for the period from fiscal year 1992 through the end of FY 2008, including the distribution of funds across the 12 eligible TE activities. For more information, link to Transportation Enhancements: Summary of Nationwide Spending as of FY 2008. (5-26-09)

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A new report provides guidance for state departments of transportation and other highway agencies on improving the safety of digital billboards that increasingly are being used for outdoor advertising. The report includes a review of existing human factors research and guidelines in the area of outdoor advertising signs conducted under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP Project 20-7, Task 256). The report also offers recommendations for reducing the distracting effects of digital billboards, including prohibiting their placement in locations that demand a high level of driver attention and establishing new criteria for the behavior of digital signs, such as the frequency of messages changes and illumination levels. For more information, link to Safety Impacts of the Emergency Digital Display Technology for Outdoor Advertising Signs(NCHRP 20-27, Task 256) or the NCHRP summary page. (4-28-09)

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The National Center for Bicycling and Walking hosts a professional development webinar on May 20, 2009, on “Sunday Parkways,” or street closings modeled on Latin American 'ciclovias,' that have recently received attention in the United States. The one-hour webinar will feature presenters from Chicago, Miami, and New York City who will describe how they tailored ciclovia events to their cities and implemented the projects. For more information, link to Bikewalk.org’s Sunday Parkways webinar. (4-20-09)

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