The latest episode of the “Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Tziporah Feldman, policy and research director for Scenic America; a national nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to preserving
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently highlighted how its mitigation work ahead of wildfire season helped keep traffic moving and reduced impacts when the Aubrey Fire closed OR 58 near
The Florida Department of Transportation is wrapping up a $117 million secant seawall project to protect parts of the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, a major coastal road, from future hurricane
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently launched a noise detection pilot program that will install noise detection cameras on several key roadways across the island of Oahu. [Above photo by
The Michigan Department of Transportation wants the public to weigh in on which state-owned pedestrian bridges in the metropolitan Detroit area should be prioritized for rehabilitation, reconstruction, or consolidation. [Above
A new microtransit program funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation is experiencing strong ridership across its service area; signaling early success for an on-demand public transit service only
The latest episode of the “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast details how federal grant money will help the Michigan Department of Transportation fund a study of wildlife crossings to better protect
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement or FEIS for the Honoapi‘ilani Highway improvements project. [Above image by Hawaii DOT] That $298 million project seeks
Sidewalks and other active transportation infrastructure are getting upgrades in three Montana communities from the Montana Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Montana DOT] In the towns of Bridger
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or USACE commenting on the agency’s proposal to reissue and modify nationwide permits or
The Georgia Department of Transportation recently received a plaque honoring its donation of 136 acres of land to Georgia’s Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park; one of the state’s most significant
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Michael Perez – Brasfield & Gorrie associate professor of civil engineering at Auburn University — discussing the multi-dimensional world
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has partnered with four island counties to help deliver a dozen all-electric, zero-emission buses that are projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor or LMRC improvement project that seeks to turn part of an abandoned rail line into an
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently issued $17.3 million in grants to 11 local projects aimed at improving air quality along parts of the Front Range region of the state.
A regional planning initiative led by the Centralina Regional Council in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division recently earned national recognition for its work to
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a four-page comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the agency’s ongoing effort to “modernize and streamline”
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently issued a total of $15.8 million to support 15 active transportation projects statewide via its Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program or SWCCP, named
Huge girders stretching across I-17 near Flagstaff, AZ, will soon support a safe elk and deer overpass through the forest and above motor vehicle traffic – all while protecting travelers
The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” littler prevention campaign spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation received six awards from the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America or PRSA.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is giving the oldest continuously running ferry service in the country a modern-day makeover to improve safety and accessibility. [Above image via the CTDOT]
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently issued a new Statewide Transportation Trails Strategic Plan that will help map out a “safe, accessible, and connected trail network” for communities across the
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is encouraging municipal, county, and tribal governments to join efforts to enhance the state’s natural beauty through the agency’s ¡Que Linda! beautification grant program.
The Utah Department of Transportation is soliciting public feedback through June 24 on potential alignments for a paved multi-use trail from the town of Enoch to Cedar City in the
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the 2024-2025 president of the American Association of State
The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to mine three million cubic yards of rock from a 33-acre site in the Pisgah National Forest to help rebuild parts of I-40
Texas is full of unique and historic sites, but one stop in Rusk County is a literal “throne” from the past – a unique outhouse that has survived for decades
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently issued $1.25 million in grants to three projects as part of the initial phase of its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan
In 2018, the Washington State Department of Transportation improved two intersections along State Road 500 in Vancouver, WA, reducing crashes by 70 percent – but those safety changes left some
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently released its first ever statewide Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan; a document that agency calls a “bold roadmap” for reducing transportation emissions and
The Montana Department of Transportation recently highlighted community outreach initiatives it regularly engages in to promote safe bicycling practices statewide. [Above photo by Montana DOT] Through various programs and events,
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently implemented a Road Usage Charge or RUC for light-duty passenger electric vehicles or EVs on July 1, following a federally funded three-year research and
The Illinois Department of Transportation said it has entered “peak mowing season” for roadways statewide, with the heaviest mowing period to continue until August 15. [Above photo by Illinois DOT]
The Colorado Department of Transportation has published a draft of an updated Statewide Active Transportation Plan that seeks to beef up safety and convenience for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others engaged
The Washington, D.C., Department of Transportation (DDOT) recently helped kick off a pilot project to support the use of electric bicycles or e-bikes for a mobile application-based food delivery across
The Maine Department of Transportation is filling the gap – literally – to help active transportation advocates complete a 16-mile multi-purpose trail for pedestrians and bicyclists in southern Maine. [Above
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently awarded more than $26,000 in state funded grants to support tree plantings in 12 communities. [Above photo by the Maryland DOT] That funding comes
The Maryland Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for up to $2 million worth of grant funding for bicycle infrastructure projects through May 26 statewide. [Above photo by Maryland
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently commented on a request for information issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding its “Waters of the United States”
On a recent episode of the “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources discussed efforts to implement a pilot program for analyzing
Six years ago, construction crews were preparing to remove a set of trees from alongside a highway project overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation. That is, until the agency
This summer, the Ohio Department of Transportation will help distribute roughly 13,000 bicycle helmets to children statewide via the “Put A Lid On It” campaign – a statewide effort to
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently launched two new regards programs via its Commuter Choice Maryland initiative, which is designed to lessen traffic congestion statewide while also reducing vehicle emissions.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued more than $14.8 million through its fiscal year 2025 Community Transit Grant Program or CTGP to municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities,
During the environmental review for the Loop 88 highway project outside Lubbock, TX, planners with the Texas Department of Transportation made an interesting discovery – and promptly called in one
Hoosiers spoke, the Indiana Department of Transportation listened, and now there are another 187 miles in the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS portfolio of roads, multi-use paths, and bike
In this episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast, Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – explains
The Vermont Agency of Transportation – known as “VTrans” – seeks grant applications for infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. [Above photo by VTrans] The
The Oregon Department of Transportation said its POINT intercity bus service has joined with two other state transit agencies – Lane Transit District and TriMet – in transitioning from operating buses on
As warmer weather begins to take root, so too will noxious weeds that could damage transportation infrastructure and potentially reduce roadway visibility. That’s why Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway crews are
As the weather turns warm, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is reemphasizing the goals of its Nobody Trashes Tennessee campaign to state residents: Get outside and do your part to keep roadways
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently helped the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority or MWRTA acquire three new compressed natural gas or CNG-powered buses. Built by GILLIG, those buses will be
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a letter to Paul Souza, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), regarding the agency’s proposal to
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the Monarch Butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued $1.2 million in grants via its Rural Intercity Bus Connections program. [Above photo by MassDOT] The agency said this initiative aims to enhance
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Ted Boling, who discusses recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and the removal of regulations
When the Utah Department of Transportation built a wildlife bridge over the new Interstate 15 in 1975 near Beaver, it literally wasn’t front-page news. It merited only a brief mention
In late March, an electric aircraft charger was used to power up an all-electric airplane for the very first time in North Carolina at the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford-Lee
A new video highlights the wood reclamation program established by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C.; a program that turns trees cut down, due to
A pair of 10-foot-tall hand-carved Native American-themed “welcome poles” were recently installed in the passenger walkway at the Washington State Ferries (WSF) Bainbridge Island terminal. [Above photo by WSDOT] According
From mid-April through late June this year, the Illinois Department of Transportation will host 18 workshops statewide to help local governments and communities learn about a variety of funding opportunities
The Michigan Department of Transportation is currently seeking public input on a draft of its North Region Active Transportation Plan, which will highlight current and proposed nonmotorized connections throughout the
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is going to use federal grant funds to help the town of Wake Forest design and build a “mobility hub,” which will serve as
The Oregon Transportation Commission recently approved 28 Safe Routes to School projects, with a total investment exceeding $31 million, to help make travel safer for students within a two-mile radius of
The Washington State Department of Transportation is launching a new program in April designed to make electrically-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” more affordable to state residents. [Above photo by WSDOT] WSDOT’s
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is seeking public comment through February 24 on the draft of a new “Programmatic Agreement” with several modal administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently noted that 10 cities statewide are receiving grants via its Active Transportation Planning Assistance program to help them increase the number of residents walking
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently received an additional $3 million from the state legislature to fund expanded litter pickup and removal efforts along major federal highways statewide.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation recently started work on a major facility renovation project for Mountain State Transit Authority or MTA that includes overhauling the MTA’s headquarters and bus
The Illinois Department of Transportation is planning to host its 34th “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” conference February 26 and 27. [Above image by Illinois DOT] Sponsored by the agency’s Office
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently created a new grant program to advance development projects near transit stations; a program that aims to spur economic activity and increase connectivity in
In March, the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to hold a week-long “deep dive” program for high schoolers to learn more about careers in state government and the transportation
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently published its first ‘Safe Routes to School’ or SRTS Strategic Action Plan; a blueprint for helping more students statewide walk, bike, and roll to
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Shawn Wilson, Sr. (above) – vice president-national highway business line leader for transportation and infrastructure at WSP – discussing
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently revealed the winners of 2024-2025 “Bike Rack Grants,” awarded via its Safe Routes to School or SRTS Program. Now in its second year, this
During the week of March 10, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to burn wood piles comprised of dead and diseased trees removed by the agency’s maintenance crews stretches of
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics recently began re-using paint typically discarded by the agency’s testing laboratory for re-striping local airport runways. [Above photo by the ITD] ITD’s Central
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics recently began re-using paint typically discarded by the agency’s testing laboratory for re-striping local airport runways. [Above photo by the ITD] ITD’s Central
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently announced a $100 million investment to enhance the resiliency of 551 lane miles of state highway in 70 locations across New York that are being
The fourth annual “No Trash November” cleanup event spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation removed nearly 70,000 pounds of litter from state roadways and waterways in 2024. [Above photo
The Maine Department of Transportation recently launched a new online resource aimed at cataloging its roadway safety efforts while buttressing the agency’s overall vision of a safe and equitable transportation
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently submitted a detailed six-page letter to the Federal Highway Administration commenting on the agency’s proposed revisions to “Procedures for Abatement
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released its “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition,” which provides information on the planning, design, and operation
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently initiated litter prevention campaigns targeted at elementary through high school students. [Above image via Oklahoma DOT] MoDOT began
The Oregon Department of Transportation plans to build the first wildlife overcrossing of Interstate 5 in the wildlife-rich Mariposa Preserve in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, thanks to a $33.2
The Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, known as MAPA, recently received a $2 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to launch the
The Washington State Department of Transportation is putting the finishing touches on a two-year fish passage project at Purdy Creek near Gig Harbor along State Route 16, which will help salmon migrate
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $44.5 million in grants to 14 projects in 13 states and Puerto Rico via its Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program or ATIIP. [Above image
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation added roughly 15 miles of new shared use paths in 2024; expanding multimodal connectivity and opportunities for recreation statewide while also enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist
The Federal Highway Administration issued $635 million in grants this week to 49 projects that support the ongoing effort to build out a national electric vehicle or EV charging and
The Michigan Department of Transportation is leveraging a grant to transform unused land near an interstate rest area into a 14-acre scenic strip of tallgrass prairie designed to attract pollinators.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a $14.3 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant or CPRG to Delaware to build medium and heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) recharging infrastructure along the stretch
The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently introduced a new “trash patch” for Girl and Boy Scout troops that conduct litter cleanups in their communities. [Above image by Tennessee DOT] Launched
To making crossing the street easier for those with disabilities, the Utah Department of Transportation is installing radar-enabled crosswalk buttons at select intersections statewide. [Above photo via Utah DOT] Specifically,
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is distributing more than $36 million in Transportation Alternatives Program or TAP funding to 43 local projects that encompass sidewalks, safe-routes-to-school, pedestrian and bicycle trails,
The Oregon Department of Transportation has created an online “State of the System” dashboard to highlight the department’s activities, goals, and progress in areas such as safety, equity, and mobility.
The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded nearly $10.5 million in grants to support the development and preservation of affordable housing near public transit in communities across the country. [Above photo
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued $3 billion in grants via its Clean Ports Program to 55 port projects across 27 states and U.S. territories. [Above image by EPA]
The Utah Department of Transportation is conducting an environmental study that will evaluate the use of tolling and enhanced bus service to address winter-time traffic congestion management on state route
On a road trip one October afternoon about eight years ago, John Maresh stopped for lunch in Sonora, TX, and was greeted by massive, shimmering orange and black waves of
Three New Mexican state agencies – the New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico Department of Tourism, and New Mexico Department of the Environment – recently awarded a total of
In part one of this article, John Maresh – a biologist and environmental specialist for the Texas Department of Transportation – related how a drive along Interstate 10 during Monarch
A new research partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation and the state’s three public universities seeks to help the agency stay at the forefront of innovation, nurture a new
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently completed construction of the $15.7 million Leeward Bikeway; a dedicated bikeway within the former Oahu Railway & Land Company right-of-way between Philippine Sea Road
FEDERAL ACTION Balancing Infrastructure and Environment: Challenges and Solutions -The Stream by AASHTO (podcast) As US bets big on hydrogen for clean energy, local communities worry about secrecy and public
FEDERAL ACTION Rail Resiliency Bulletin July 2024 –FRA Court rules against LNG terminal and pipeline project at Port of Brownsville, TX -Border Report/KMID-TV Leveraging Active Transportation to Meet State Carbon
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently outlined in a blog post how it helped transform an old railroad line and bridge in the city of Dixon, IL, into a trail
The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – recently unveiled a new tool designed to prioritize transportation projects that further California’s climate, safety, and equity goals in relation
The Utah Department of Transportation is using Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR technology as a design tool to improve safety at intersections, specifically for pedestrians and bicyclists. [Above image
The Utah Department of Transportation is recycling old concrete on the site of its Bangerter Highway project to help build the highway’s new interchanges. [Above photo by Utah DOT] “In
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – a division of Massachusetts Department of Transportation – recently signed off on a $54 million plan to introduce battery-electric multiple unit or BEMU trains
The Federal Highway Administration, along with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, recently issued a Request for Information or RFI regarding electric vehicle (EV) charging technologies and infrastructure needs for medium-
The Maryland Department of Transportation is currently developing what it calls a “landmark action plan” to improve and expand trail connectivity statewide. The agency said this plan will guide future
The Washington Department of Transportation reports that work is progressing on the propulsion system conversion and refurbishment of the agency’s Wenatchee ferry; an overhaul that should be completed by the
State departments of transportation in Kentucky, Ohio, and North Carolina are participating in a year-long study on how to re-equip general aviation airports in Appalachia to accommodate electric aircraft. [Above
The Utah Department of Transportation is currently installing nearly three miles of wildlife fencing along the outside perimeter of Echo Junction where I-84 and I-80 meet, north of the Echo
The Washington State Department of Transportation is celebrating the success of a program geared toward finding housing and even jobs for homeless individuals living in state roadway rights-of-way. [Above photo
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $3 million via its new Transportation Management Associations or TMA grant program to support 18 projects that encourage alternative transportation options, reduce
The most recent episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast examines how cadaver dogs can play a key role in identifying buried remains and culturally sensitive artifacts during transportation projects.
The California Department of transportation recently issued a newly-developed Wildlife Connectivity Report, which identifies more than 140 locations where roadways can be better integrated with the migration needs of animals
FEDERAL ACTION Southeastern State DOT Projects Receive Awards for Projects that Improve Mobility, Safety for Road Users –AASHTO State DOTs Supporting Local Transportation Projects -AASHTO Journal DC appeals court tosses
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently awarded $26.5 million to 11 state ports to help them electrify their operations. [Above photo by WSDOT] These are the first awards through
FEDERAL ACTION Four State DOT Projects Receive EV Charging Grants -AASHTO Journal Sustainable Transportation: A Comprehensive Overview -Transport Topics Hundreds of Mayors Agree to Set the Pace for Electric Vehicle
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and volunteer-based education organization Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) recently announced the 2024-2025 cohort of “Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania” – a program launched by the agency
FEDERAL ACTION Clear Roads Featured at AASHTO’s National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather –Crossroads U.S. Geological Survey Climate Science Plan — Future Research Directions -U.S. Geological Survey (link
A recent two-part series on “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast illustrated how state departments of transportation are working to minimize the impact of roadway noise. [Above image by AASHTO] “The
FEDERAL ACTION Knowledge Session: Navigating Federal Policy Changes -AASHTO Journal Will America ever stop building more highways? -Washington Post EPA Chief Michael Regan Wants to Advance Environmental Justice –
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation or JOET – jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy – has issued $46.5 million in grants
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is making travel near one of the nation’s most popular national parks a little easier for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities. [Above photo
FEDERAL ACTION Congestion Pricing Delay in New York Ripples Across the Country -New York Times States Challenge California on Emissions Legal Activism -Transport Topics Megabus owner Coach USA files for
In a recent blog post, the Iowa Department of Transportation explained the long-term reasons why more than 140,000 mussels were relocated in 2016 from the waterway around a then-new Mississippi
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – discusses the role of the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA
A recent Illinois Department of Transportation blog post provided an inside look at how the agency manages roadside vegetation along state roads and rest areas – work that is the
The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to start work on a new project on July 8 that will help re-establish fish habitat in the Pilchuck River along State Route 92 near
The Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO recently released a highlight video about the “Reconnecting Communities Summit,” held in St. Paul, MN, in October 2023, which featured presentations by national
Representatives of state departments of transportation discussed their environmental stewardship efforts during a special panel discussion at the Transportation and Climate Symposium hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation at
FEDERAL ACTION DOT Report to Congress: Decarbonizing U.S. Transportation -USDOT (link to PDF) The first zero-emission train in the US has arrived in San Bernardino and you can ride it
Crews from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently picked up more than 76 tons of roadside litter in one week, earning the department the 2024 Outstanding State Agency
FEDERAL ACTION Northeastern State DOT Projects Win Regional Awards -AASHTO Journal White House Says Better Tech Could Help Environmental Permitting Process -Nextgov/FCW US Bike Share Ridership Hit Record High in
The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Douglas Kolwaite, environmental program manager with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, discussing how to
FEDERAL ACTION FTA Issues $343M for Transit System Rail Upgrades -AASHTO Journal MARAD Announces $4.8 Million in Funding for Marine Highways –gCaptain FTA publishes climate resilience guidebook for transit agencies
The Federal Highway Administration awarded 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards or EEAs to several state departments of transportation projects and programs. [Above photo by NCDOT] Those awards are being handed out
The Federal Highway Administration has unveiled a second notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for electric vehicle or EV charging and alternative fuel vehicle or AFV infrastructure projects along designated highways,
FEDERAL ACTION US cities rank low on list of world’s most active, walkable cities, analysis finds -Good Morning America NY Gov. Hochul delays controversial NYC congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’ -CNN
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued $7.8 million in grants to 17 projects across the country via its Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility or ICAM pilot program to help improve public transportation
FEDERAL ACTION The Stream by AASHTO: Digging Down into NEPA -AASHTO Journal New Round of Marine Highway Grants Available -AASHTO Journal Buttigieg tours Mississippi civil rights site and says transportation
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is helping create habitats for the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators through the U.S. postal service; mailing packs of milkweed seeds to any state resident
The South Carolina Department of Transportation, in collaboration with Dominion Energy and the Town of Sullivan’s Island, recently helped revamp a 2024 utility project to eliminate the need to remove
FEDERAL ACTION New Routes Added to U.S. Bicycle Route System -AASHTO Journal What it means for the Supreme Court to block enforcement of the EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ pollution rule
The New Mexico Department of Transportation has launched a new grant program to support the development and implementation of local beautification programs, especially for roadway trash removal efforts. [Above photo
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently kicked off its statewide mowing campaign, which will continue until August 15; an effort the agency said plays a key role in its pollinator
FEDERAL ACTION Biden tailpipe emission rules on shakier ground after Supreme Court ruling -Reuters GM to pay $146 million in penalties over excess emissions -Mercury News INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
FEDERAL ACTION How extreme heat is damaging American transportation infrastructure -PBS News Weekend State DOTs could fuel a resurgence in intercity bus travel -State Smart Transportation Initiative The Federal Transit
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation recently helped host a ribbon-cutting event at the Route 117 Park & Ride in Warwick to celebrate Rhode Island becoming the first state in
In a recent blog post, the Texas Department of Transportation detailed the lessons learned from a field training exercise the agency conducted for select staff from its West Texas District
A recent blog post detailed the critical roadside vegetation management work conducted by “agronomists” at the Alabama Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Alabama DOT] An “agronomist” is a
The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently adopted a new traffic signal policy that aims to boost pedestrian safety. [Above photo by NCDOT] The new NCDOT policy states that, as
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) – a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation – and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) recently forged a new agreement that allows rail commuters with
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently distributed $1.4 million in grants to 14 school districts and community groups to get more children to safely walk and bike to school. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Unveils National V2X Deployment Plan -AASHTO Journal America’s ‘Greenest’ Cities And What Makes Them Such –Blavity Major New Commitment from Nearly 350 Mayors to Accelerate US Electric
The Michigan Department of Transportation has launched a statewide household travel survey, dubbed “MI Travel Counts,” to help the agency determine how travel behavior has changed over the past decade;
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $23.6 million in Thriving Communities Program or TCP grants to three national “capacity builders” and six regional providers that will provide roughly 112 communities – including
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Issues $23M in Thriving Communities Funds -AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence US Infrastructure Is Broken. Here’s an $830 Million Plan to Fix It –Wired FAA Weather Stations
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently launched a new autonomous all-electric passenger shuttle pilot program that will augment the existing Wiki Wiki shuttle bus service at the Daniel K. Inouye
Pete Buttigieg, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, headlined a recent groundbreaking event for the Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project; a 218-mile high-speed, all-electric, zero-emission rail line that will
FEDERAL ACTION How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations -New York Times President Advances Plan to Make Freight Shipping Carbon-Free -Transport Topics What’s New in the 11th Edition of
The latest “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast – produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation – interviewed Julie Clark, chief executive officer for the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation or TART Trails advocacy
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $148 million in grants to 16 port projects in 11 states and Puerto Rico via the first round of a new $400 million program
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO President Craig Thompson: ‘Togetherness’ Key to Success -AASHTO Journal FHWA Issues $148M in Grants to Reduce Port Air Pollution -AASHTO Journal USDOT Seeks AI Solutions For Transit
The Utah Department of Transportation unveiled its 2024 construction plan, which encompasses 209 projects with a total value of $2.74 billion. Many of those projects include critical active transportation components,
The White House Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ recently finalized reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA that implement permitting efficiencies laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility
FEDERAL ACTION The National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy and Plans to Decarbonize Transportation in the US -Logistics Viewpoints White House uses Infrastructure Week to tout progress on thousands of projects
On May 14, the New Mexico Department of Transportation launched its inaugural Small Business Training and Resources or “STAR” program; a 14-week course designed to provide support and resources for
The Utah Department of Transportation recently launched a new volunteer litter removal program called “Keeping Utah Beautiful” – a program designed to make it easy for members of the public
FEDERAL ACTION Here come Biden’s environment rules. Now courts will have their say. -E&E News Federal Investigations Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse Consider Wider Threats to Infrastructure -Engineering News-Record Biden-Harris Administration
The Utah Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION Federal Judge Signs Off on $600M Ohio Train Derailment Settlement –AP 51% of Americans Support a Mileage Fee if the Rate Varies by How Much the Vehicle Pollutes
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued some $37 million through two separate state grant programs to support regional public transportation providers. [Above photo by MassDOT] The agency said this
The Maine Department of Transportation has applied for a $456 million federal grant to help construct what the agency bills as the East Coast’s first floating offshore wind port on
The Federal Highway Administration recently made $250 million available, over five years, in competitive grants to support multimodal solutions that reduce vehicular traffic and air pollution in heavily congested metropolitan
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Offering $250M in Congestion Reduction Grants -AASHTO Journal EPA Making $3B Worth of Clean Port Grants Available -AASHTO Journal To Electrify Trucking, Start With a Blueprint -Government
Governor Wes Moore (D), the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Transit Administration (MDTA) recently launched a “Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program” at the MDTA’s Kirk Bus division in Baltimore,
The Hawaii Department of Transportation officially opened its first electric vehicle or EV charging station partially funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program on February 28. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT issues $3.33 billion to 132 projects through its Reconnecting Communities Pilot and Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant programs –USDOT (media release) AASHTO Participates in USDOT’s Air
The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – recently unveiled a new “equity tool” designed to ensure all state residents benefit from the agency’s transportation projects. The tool
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – is the first of a two-part series exploring effective
FEDERAL ACTION National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Plan Unveiled -AASHTO Journal 45 states, large metro areas submit climate action plans under Inflation Reduction Act -EPA (media release) SOLAR ECLIPSE Solar Eclipse
The Federal Highway Administration has officially launched its Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program, which aims to lower air pollution – specifically greenhouse gas or GHG emissions – via “reimbursement and
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded more than $3.3 billion via its Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood Access and Equity (RCN) discretionary grant program to 132 infrastructure projects in 41
FEDERAL ACTION New EPA Rules Tighten Vehicle Tailpipe Emission Levels -AASHTO Journal FHWA Offering $44M in Active Transportation Grants -AASHTO Journal What’s driving the surge in pedestrian deaths on
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is gearing up for its annual “Spring Litter Sweep” event, to be held April 13-27 statewide. [Above photo by NCDOT] The Spring Litter Sweep
The Virginia Department of Transportation said it has allocated $11.3 million in federal funding to assist in the statewide construction of electric vehicle or EV charging stations. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION Federal Judge in Texas Vacates FHWA’s GHG Rule -AASHTO Journal EPA’s new heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards are effort to fight climate change -ABE News EPA extends credits for
For the first time in 12 years since its initial adoption by the State Transportation Commission, the Michigan Department of Transportation is reviewing the state’s “Complete Streets” policy. [Above image
Across the country, state departments of transportation are investing in a variety of landscaping projects to help transportation infrastructure become more “eco-supportive” of native habitats. [Above photo by TxDOT] For
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Issues New ‘Commuting in America’ Reports -AASHTO Journal AASHTO Seeks ‘Balanced’ EV Charging Network Effort -AASHTO Journal AASHTO Comments on Low Carbon Construction Material Rules -AASHTO Journal
The Nobody Trashes Tennessee litter prevention campaign operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation has expanded its youth group partnerships with the addition of all six Boy Scouts of America councils
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is moving forward with the first phase of an effort to expand electric vehicle or EV infrastructure statewide. [Above photo by Oklahoma DOT] The agency
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Issues $830M in PROTECT Resiliency Grants -AASHTO Journal Court upholds California’s authority to set nation-leading vehicle emission rules –AP Senate rebukes Biden administration on effort to reduce
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has identified the states doing the most to fight climate change, promote equity, increase active mobility, and improve sustainability through their transportation policies and
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation noted it built and opened approximately 20 miles of shared use paths in 2023, while also expanding multimodal connectivity and opportunities for recreation statewide as
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Issues $623M in Charging/Fueling Grants -AASHTO Journal $32.5 Million in Funding to Advance Transportation Electrification in USA –CleanTechnica What you need to know to access the $14
The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently published an online map marking the locations for the first batch of electric vehicle or EV charging stations funded through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is engaged in a broad effort to develop environmentally-friendly solutions that reduce plastic waste from entering the natural environment; particularly where infrastructure projects are concerned.
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Outline Ongoing ‘Moonshot Project’ Efforts -AASHTO Journal TRB Plenary: The Mental Health Needs of Transportation –AASHTO Journal Supreme Court case could limit executive power on climate,
Eight cities across Minnesota are set to receive grants from the Active Transportation Planning Assistance program, which is managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Minnesota
The Federal Highway Administration recently awarded nearly $150 million to 24 grant recipients in 20 states to make existing electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure more reliable. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Issues $4.9B in Infrastructure Project Grants -AASHTO Journal US House Advances Bill to Protect Moving Privacy -Transport Topics No, the federal government isn’t banning funny highway signs
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video about a knowledge session held at its 2023 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis that detailed ways transportation agencies
Via its Emergency Relief Program, the Federal Highway Administration is providing $729.4 million to 34 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to support repairs
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Releases Grants for Electric Truck Chargers -Transport Topics US politicians unite across party lines over e-bike battery regulation -Cycling Weekly Can a National Zoning Atlas Chart a
The Tennessee Department of Transportation received the 2023 Pollinator Roadside Management Award from the North American Pollinator Partnership Campaign for its efforts to enact pollinator-friendly roadside practices statewide. [Above photo
Fourteen state departments of transportation are plugging into more than $141 million in Federal Highway Administration grants to repair or replace thousands of electric vehicle or EV charging ports via
FEDERAL ACTION Congressional Leaders Share Transportation Priorities -AASHTO Journal Congressional Budget Office projects Biden green energy plan will cost much more than initial estimate –CNBC Can 15-Minute Cities Work in
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently noted that its “Adopt a Highway” volunteers continued to make a big difference in terms of litter cleanup along state highways in 2023. [Above
The morning and afternoon commutes along Interstate 95 in southwest Connecticut will still be a little congested, but maybe a little quieter, thanks to “quiet pavement” the Connecticut Department of
The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – features Craig Thompson, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Names Chris Collins Vice Chair of Water Council -AASHTO Journal SEC drops some emissions disclosure requirements from draft climate rules –Reuters Supreme Court seems willing to block
Governor Andy Beshear (D) and Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, along with several state and local officials, recently gathered at the Circle K convenience store and filling station in Richmond,
ReConnect Rondo, a local grassroots organization in St. Paul, MN, hosted the first “Reconnecting Communities Summit” on October 11-14, as part of a broader national effort to open a dialogue
FEDERAL ACTION Longest Serving USDOT Deputy Secretary Passes Away -AASHTO Journal White House, Lawmakers Evaluate IIJA on Second Anniversary -Transport Topics White House Regulation Plan Sets Path for Tougher Climate
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is encouraging businesses, municipalities, and nonprofits to purchase or lease electric fleet vehicles by offering up to $5,000 in rebates for each plug-in EV
The third episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on the crucial connections required between planners, policymakers, and local communities to make active transportation systems more
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Win Top Prizes in America’s Transportation Awards Competition -AASHTO Journal Fifth National Climate Assessment -US Global Change Research Program Biden administration proposes limiting environmental reviews to
The Utah Department of Transportation plans to double the state’s current fast charging capacity for electric vehicles by the end of 2024 with the addition of 15 new sites funded
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued a finalized performance measurement rule to provide state departments of transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations with a “national framework” for tracking transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions GHGs,
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Holds Winter Meeting on Public Transit Issues -AASHTO Journal Tackling the Climate Crisis -Department of Interior Transportation, Infrastructure Move Toward Electrification -Government Technology Cities can achieve sustainability
To help honor and preserve Native American history in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation recently highlighted the cultural resources it developed to further bolster its relationship with the 28
The Oregon Department of Transportation is spending $1.75 million to help companies, schools, apartment building owners, small towns, and other groups build 370 new public Level 2 electric vehicle or
FEDERAL ACTION Stop, Look, Listen: Engaging Communities to put Equity into Action -AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast FTA Offers $343M for Transit Accessibility Projects -AASHTO Journal AASHTO Comments on FEMA Floodplain Rulemaking
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently saluted the 12 student winners of its 2023 Adopt-A-Highway Art Contest; winners were chosen from a pool of 900 entries statewide from students aged five
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $110 million in grants to 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 states, including four projects overseen by Native American tribes. [Above photo by the
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Issues $645M in Rural Transportation Grants -AASHTO Journal USDOT Issues ‘Safe Streets and Roads for All’ Grants -AASHTO Journal Biden convenes national infrastructure advisory council as he
The final episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series interviews key transportation officials about the ways to make mobility systems across the United States more
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently provided feedback to the Environmental Protection Agency on its proposal to address the “unreasonable risk of injury to human health
FEDERAL ACTION New Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Issued -AASHTO Journal On the Heels of New Industry Standard for EV Charging, FHWA Takes Key Step Toward Updating Federal Standards
The Washington State Department of Transportation is wrapping up a project aimed at deterring debris flows along U.S. 2/Stevens Pass Highway from “burn scars” left behind by the 2022 Bolt
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently formed the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee or TTAC to provide insight to the agency regarding how to support and implement “innovations.” [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Seeks to Defer ‘Buy America’ Rules for EV Systems -AASHTO Journal AASHTO Comments on Proposed Air Quality Rule Changes -AASHTO Journal The Climate Lawsuit Three Presidents Tried
Officials from the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – among others – recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the
FEDERAL ACTION Buttigieg Reiterates USDOT Support for EVs at Hearing -AASHTO Journal Several State DOTs Salute National Roundabouts Week -AASHTO Journal Reconnecting Communities Summit Slated for October -AASHTO Journal
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is helping support – in concert with various federal, state, and local agencies – the new “Gotham Greens” off-road multi-use path along the Woonasquatucket
Now through November 3, the Federal Highway Administration will be accepting nominations for its 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards or EEA program. [Above image via FHWA] Since the program started in
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently announced $165 million in new funding is available to support community-based investments designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of local and regional
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently submitted a six-page comment letter to the Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ regarding proposed revisions to the National Environmental
FEDERAL ACTION Active Transportation Reshaping Communities -AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast USDOT Equity Committee Working on Recommendations -AASHTO Journal Senators Propose EV Fee for Highway Trust Fund -Transport Topics USDOT Announces New
The Iowa Department of Transportation recently detailed in a blog post the “balancing act” required in order to minimize the impact of road and bridge construction projects on the environment.
Following its first meeting in late September, a revived U.S. Department of Transportation equity advisory committee plans to recommend new federal policies and practices aimed at making transportation systems more
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Support National Pedestrian Safety Month -AASHTO Journal USDOT Equity Committee Working on Recommendations -AASHTO Journal Why Transportation Planners Should Prioritize the ‘Silently Suffering’ –Governing Human Environment
Cities and local agencies throughout California recently received $114.5 million in grants to help fund 60 litter removal as well as neighborhoods and public space beautification projects. [Above photo by
The second episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on the crucial connections required between planners, policymakers, and local communities in order to make
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Forms Climate and Transportation Research Group -AASHTO Journal EPA takes step toward regulating lead in fuel for small planes -The Hill States pitch mileage tax to bridge
In a recent blog post, the Washington State Department of Transportation detailed how it is building sustainability into the I-405/NE 85th St Interchange and Inline Bus Rapid Transit or BRT
Business integration firm Critical Ops will be hosting a Transportation Emergency Management and Security Summit & Exchange November 15-16 in Washington D.C. to share insights, best practices, and lessons learned
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Backs Preserving State/Local Authority on AVs -AASHTO Journal Big federal dollars for small state projects aim to get more cars off the roads -Missouri Independent Legacy programs
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is helping support the launch of the state’s first electric aircraft charging hub in early 2024 at Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford; a hub
One of the newest “next generation” highway rest areas built and maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation also doubles as a museum of Native American culture. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION Port Infrastructure Projects Get $653M in Federal Funds -AASHTO Journal A New Environmental Justice Playbook for Federal Agencies -The White House U.S. cities consider banning “right on red”
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently completed a long-awaited project aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions along the Green River in western Wyoming. [Above image by Wyoming DOT] The agency released
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Michigan Department of Transportation is making it easier for Michigan residents to catch a ride on a bus, rideshare, bicycle, or scooter through its Michigan Mobility Wallet Challenge, a
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
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently completed a Revitalizing Main Streets or RMS grant project in partnership with the City of Leadville and the Leadville Main Street Program or LMSP
The first episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on building an equitable transportation system. [Above photo by ReConnect Rondo] The ETAP podcast –
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
The latest episode of the AASHTO re:source podcast sits down with the Colorado Department of Transportation to gain insights into how the implements Environmental Product Declaration or EPD requirements for materials used
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $4.575 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
FEDERAL ACTION Administration Announces New Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Combat the Climate Crisis -White House (fact sheet) PHMSA Invests Nearly $15 Million to Improve Pipeline Safety -Pipeline
The Arizona Department of Transportation and its “Adopt a Highway” volunteer program recently conducted a roadway trash cleanup event; collecting 214 bags worth of litter from along state highways across
Two bonus episodes of the AASHTO re:source podcast follow up with different perspectives on the recent “plastic roads” project initiated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. [Above image by Hawaii
The Adventure Cycling Association recently announced major expansions to the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS, including three completely new routes and a connection from Alaska to the lower 48
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Issues More Than $2.2B in RAISE Grants -AASHTO Journal USDOT Offering Over $5B in Multimodal Project Grants -AASHTO Journal PHMSA Proposes HazMat Rail Shipment Reporting Rule -AASHTO
The Maryland Department of Transportation is “branching out” in its commitment to support the state’s goal of planting five million trees over the next eight years with initiatives that should
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently helped provide some $11.6 million in funding through the MassTrails Grant Program to support 68 trail improvement projects statewide. [Above photo via MassDOT] Those projects seek
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Streamlines Community Infrastructure Programs -AASHTO Journal As Downtowns Struggle, Businesses Learn to Love Bike Lanes –Bloomberg The Little-Known Provision That Could Revolutionize Highway Travel -New York Times
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
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast digs into the innovative stormwater management practices of the Washington State Department of Transportation. [Above photo of Tony
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
The U.S. Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, released a new free technical resource to help larger
A recent blog post from the Washington Department of Transportation illustrated the important connections between the sciences of archeology and transportation infrastructure construction. [Above photo of Jason Cooper by WSDOT]
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
The Federal Transit Administration plans to award $20 million to 47 communities to help improve public transportation options in areas that are experiencing, in the agency’s words, “long-term economic distress.” [Above image
A comment letter sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation on June 29 outlines how the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and its members are working to
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
The Washington Department of Transportation recently devoted a blog post to 79-year-old Paul Hampton, who has been cleaning up debris along state roadways as an Adopt-A-Highway volunteer for the last
A recent video posted by the Georgia Department of Transportation details how the agency is helping “rejuvenate” a rare species of vegetation commonly known as the “Pitcher Plant” along State
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
A recent video from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet illustrates how it worked with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and other state agencies on a “debris-to-mulch” project that turned thousands
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast features Becky Bradley (above at left), executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission or LVPC, to highlight
A revised active transportation plan or ATP recently issued by the Kansas Department of Transportation seeks to boost walking, bicycling, safe wheelchair use, skateboarding, and non-motorized vehicle mobility options across
FEDERAL ACTION America’s aging flood control infrastructure is failing – federal funding is coming, but too often new construction relies on old data – The Conversation INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Researchers at the University of Alabama Birmingham recently unveiled a new smartphone-based application called “StreetBit” that uses Bluetooth beacon technology to prevent pedestrians from becoming distracted while navigating road crossings. [Above photo
A study funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Keep Tennessee Beautiful found that, over the last six years, there’s been a 12 percent drop in litter on state roadways. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Signs MOU with Association for Commuter Transportation – AASHTO Journal US Lawmakers Want to Bar Automakers From Eliminating AM Radio in New Vehicles – Reuters Biden plan
Removing graffiti from bridge pillars and other structures can be an arduous and sometime hazardous process, especially when using sandblasting equipment to scour concrete surfaces clean. That’s why the Indiana
Many cities are turning to speed limiters for electric scooters to address concerns about rider safety and conflicts with pedestrians, according to new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for
FEDERAL ACTION Detailing Rural America’s Mobility and Accessibility Needs – AASHTO Journal Sen. Carper, Key Transportation Policy Leader, Retiring in 2024 – AASHTO Journal Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Power to
The AASHTO re:source podcast recently interviewed Ed Sniffen (above), director for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, for a two-part episode about how his agency is testing the incorporation of recycled
The Maryland Department of Transportation is rolling out a new tool to help local governments and agencies dip into $2.5 billion in federal grants to build an electric vehicle or
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Provides Environmental Review Insights to FHWA – AASHTO Journal House Science Committee seeks info on federal research of hazmat-by-rail safety – Progressive Railroading DOE Launches New Energy
The Utah Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Steering Committee recently met for the first time; a group created by the state legislature to help guide Utah’s installation of infrastructure that is
A team of University of Minnesota researchers recently wrapped up a study that examined the effectiveness of “revegetation” efforts following the conclusion of infrastructure projects statewide. That study also compiled
FEDERAL ACTION FTA Seeking Comment on Transit Safety Plan Revisions – AASHTO Journal Congress debates mandating AM radios in new vehicles – WWJ Radio Nineteen States Sue EPA Over California
Governor Laura Kelly (D) and Calvin Reed, acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation, recently announced more than $11 million will be awarded to 14 local transportation construction projects
The newest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast focuses on the historic bridge inventory, evaluation, and preservation plan put together by the Ohio Department of Transportation
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT To Help Rural, Tribal Communities Access Funding Opportunities -Daily Yonder Amtrak Releases Annual Sustainability Report -Amtrak COVID-19 The New War on Bad Air -New York Times NEPA
A recent video produced by the Oregon Department of Transportation provides insights into the importance of “culturally modified trees” or CMTs and how states need to treat them, especially during
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics wants to get its 76 public use airports ready for alternatively powered aircraft and the fuels they use. [Above photo by the
FEDERAL ACTION U.S. Logistics Networks Seek to Boost Resilience -AASHTO Journal Major U.S. cities leading in transit electrification -Mass Transit EPA Finalizes New Renewable Fuel Standards to Strengthen U.S. Energy
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO President Millar: Resilience Key to Transportation – AASHTO Journal USDOT Issues $94M via New SMART Grants Program
The West Virginia Department of Transportation recently issued $9.7 million worth of Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program grants to fund 38 projects in 22 counties across the state. [Above
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is cranking up its weed control program to keep a dozen unwanted and noxious weeds from encroaching on the bluegrass state’s transportation infrastructure. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION Congress approves measure to toss Biden’s water protections – AP US unveils stricter EV tax credit rules, effective April 18 – Reuters Planning And Engineering Professionals – Fostering
The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new public outreach effort called “Think Before You Throw!” as part of its ongoing awareness campaign to reduce littering on state highways
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast examines different ways to recruit young professionals into the transportation industry, in part to help guide the sector’s
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Offers Comments on Two Proposed Regulations -AASHTO Journal Vetoed but not forgotten: What’s next for WOTUS? -E&E News Calculating the Fastest Road to an Electric Car Future
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently began what it calls a “first-of-its-kind” pilot program to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. [Above photo by the Colorado DOT] Created and
The Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council or ISC is preparing to pilot test an invasive species management program this summer – and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is one of several
FEDERAL ACTION Millar Named a Resilience Roads Roundtable ‘Luminary’ – AASHTO Journal EPA Proposes Stricter Federal Vehicle Emission Standards – AASHTO Journal FHWA Seeks to Improve Project Environmental Reviews –
Each year, awards sponsored by The Garden Club of North Carolina are given to the best-looking flower beds along highways in every region of the state – awards that recognize the efforts
Could “happiness” become a Key Performance Indicator or KPI tracked by state departments of transportation very soon? [Above photo by the Minnesota DOT] Dr. Yingling Fan, professor of urban and
FEDERAL ACTION Biden signs order prioritizing ‘environmental justice’ -ABC News Buttigieg Discusses Rural Infrastructure Needs vs Funding -Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network Federal bills for recycling infrastructure grants, composting strategies make
The Michigan Department of Transportation is preparing to give roadsides along state highways their first full cleanings of 2023 in what the agency said has become an annual “rite of
State residents living in multifamily homes as well as motorists near public parking areas may soon have better access to electric vehicle or EV charging stations, thanks to the new Community
FEDERAL ACTION Senate votes to roll back EPA emissions standard on heavy trucks -Commercial Carrier Journal EPA’s right to mandate EVs disputed -Odessa American Plan to build N.J. terminal for
A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota and funded by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board determined that roadside plantings, particularly “turfgrass,” tend to do better when they are both
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Cidney Bowman (above) – wildlife passage program coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation – discuss the different
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Issues $21.8M in National Scenic Byways Grants – AASHTO Journal US settles landmark Alabama environmental justice case – Reuters The Future of Transportation: The Role of Bike
The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently released a video detailing how its use of “foamed glass aggregate” provides a multitude of green benefits to the state – especially as
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is managing an innovative drainage project that captures storm-water runoff while addressing chronic flooding in a historic, coastal neighborhood. [Above photo by NCDOT] Cedar
FEDERAL ACTION EPA proposal would change soot pollution standards for first time in 10 years: What we know – USA Today Republicans erase ‘environmental justice’ from documents – E&E News
Governor Dan McKee (D) recently saluted the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for being the first state agency to fully convert its lighting resources to energy-efficient light-emitting diode or LED
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently issued a video report on a “risk and resilience” knowledge session held during its 2022 Annual Meeting in Orlando. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION Biden Touts Infrastructure in State-of-the-Union Speech – AASHTO Journal Mobility Study Cites Roadblocks for U.S. Electric Vehicles, Sustainable Aviation – Reuters State and Local Governments Face Persistent Infrastructure
A recent video released by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highlights how the agency’s biologists work to restore and improve streams and wetlands involved in state transportation projects. [Above image via
The California Department of Transportation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and passenger rail provider Brightline West plan to jointly design and construct three wildlife overcrossings across Interstate
FEDERAL ACTION Cities scramble to implement climate law – Energy News Network Environmental groups call on Buttigieg to restore Obama-era train brake rule – The Hill How to reform federal
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Offers ‘Stewardship & Oversight’ Insights to FHWA – AASHTO Journal ‘Next Steps’ Unveiled for National EV Charging Network – AASHTO Journal FHWA Issues Waiver to Speed Up
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast examines the impact of Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act or TIA a decade after its passage – a voter-approved
Pete Buttigieg, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (above), says his agency and the nation’s mobility community are currently involved in “one of the most exciting, productive, and challenging
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently launched “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland,” a new initiative that will nearly double the frequency of litter pickup and mowing efforts along state roads. [Above
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $185 million in grants to 45 projects through its new “Reconnecting Communities” pilot program – what the agency described as a “first-of-its-kind” initiative to
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION The Transportation Department maps out its next five years of research – WFED Radio’s Federal Drive U.S. feds
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Makes Marine Highway Grant Funding Available – AASHTO Journal Engaging State DOTs with Non-Traditional Partners More Effectively
The Sacramento Kings basketball team, the California Department of Transportation, and more than 35 volunteers recently joined forces to collect and remove litter from Robert T. Matsui Park along the
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is working on its first-ever active transportation plan – a policy toolkit that can be used internally and by Oklahoma counties and towns as engineers
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Activates Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program – AASHTO Journal What is in House Republicans’ energy policy package?
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently issued $617,400 in grants to support 12 local mobility programs across the state – helping cities and towns reduce traffic congestion while offering residents
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently unveiled a website that tracks how the state’s public agencies are collectively reducing greenhouse gas or GHG emissions across Oregon. [Above photo by the
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently issued $23 million in funding and awards for transportation electrification initiatives across New York State. [Above photo via the New York Governor’s Office] That includes
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently noted that its new Innovative Mobility Program or IMP will be sending more than $87,000 in micro-grants over the next several weeks to local groups to
FEDERAL ACTION GAO Declares Controversial FHWA Memo a Rule – AASHTO Journal FTA awards inaugural grants through All Stations Accessibility Program – Mass Transit The EPA finalizes a water rule
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (above) recently signed a legislative package so the New York Department of Transportation can boost support for municipal “Complete Streets” projects. [Above photo by the New
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Lee Smith – interim traffic operations division director at the Tennessee Department of Transportation – and Professor Dan
FEDERAL ACTION U.S. DOT RD&T Strategic Plan (FY 2022-2026) – Building a Better Transportation Future for All – USDOT Inflation could sap infrastructure act’s buying power this year – Construction
The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Transportation recently signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will help “streamline and accelerate” the deployment of safety measures
Five state transportation agency executives shared their thoughts on how to make the nation’s mobility networks more resilient to a variety of challenges during a roundtable discussion at the 2023
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Discuss ‘National Vision’ for Transportation – AASHTO Journal Federal climate forecasts could help prepare for extreme rain. But it’s years away – NPR’s Morning Edition Biden-Harris
Automated vehicles are slated to begin operating on rural roadways in central and southeast Ohio as part of the Rural Automated Driving Systems or RADS project spearheaded by DriveOhio, a
The Washington State Department of Transportation, in coordination with the city of Des Moines, will provide a “much-needed makeover” to a popular 14-acre green space along Barnes Creek – an
FEDERAL ACTION States Losing Gas Tax Revenue with EV Adoption – U.S. News & World Report New Federal Cash Headed to Trail Projects Nationwide – Route Fifty Report: How state
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is placing new emphasis on climate change, equity, and health as part of the five-year update to its 2022-2041 Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan or SMTP.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy or RTC recently launched a new national effort aimed at creating a “new community” where public leaders, advocates, and transportation professionals can come together to advance the
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently issued a video report on an electric vehicle knowledge session held during its 2022 Annual Meeting in Orlando. [Above image
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued a notice of funding opportunity for nearly $1.7 billion in discretionary grants to support state and local transit fleet modernization efforts as well as to
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Official Gives Cities Tips for Winning Federal Transportation Grants – Route Fifty Proposed Update to Renewable Fuel Standard Could Benefit EV Makers – Transport Topics EV Hype
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued millions in tribal roadway safety grants while also launching two new efforts to help states, cities, and local governments improve road safety as well.
Several state departments of transportation received grant awards from the Federal Transit Administration as part of $384.4 million in funds issued via the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Marie Therese Dominguez (above), commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, recently joined the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast to discuss how her agency is working
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast interviews Laura Rogers (seen above), deputy director of The Ray, to examine the future of roadways in America. Founded
FEDERAL ACTION Dr. Shawn Wilson, Louisiana DOTD: Making the Most of Transportation Change – AASHTO Magazine FHWA Issues New Vulnerable Road Users Guidance – AASHTO Journal Biden has ambitious infrastructure
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO’s ETAP Podcast: The Ray Eyes Future Roadway Issues – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Hurricane Panel: Support is the
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently began work on the I-70 Genesee wildlife-crossing project, one of several I-70 Floyd Hill projects to improve both highway safety and traffic flow ahead
As the Arizona Department of Transportation starts work on the I-17 Improvement Project from Anthem Way to Sunset Point, it is taking steps protect the natural landscape along this stretch
FEDERAL ACTION The ‘Moonshot’ Project: Creating a New Transportation Vision – AASHTO Journal Biden takes aim at methane emissions with new rules on oil and gas industry – NBC News
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently highlighted the benefits of its collaboration with the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD) to reduce elk-vehicle crashes on northbound I-17 south of Flagstaff in a
The Illinois Department of Transportation recounted in a recent blog post how it changed its mowing practices over the years to better protect roadside landscapes that are vital to pollinators
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently outlined how it reuses a variety of highway construction materials – such as asphalt, concrete, and steel – to reduce overall transportation project costs
Crews with the Utah Department of Transportation recently test-fired howitzers used to create controlled avalanches on state routes in the Big and Little Cottonwood canyons; part of the agency’s plan
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Offers Feedback on Vulnerable Road Users – AASHTO Journal White House releases environmental justice screening tool – E&E News Three Midwestern States to Watch as They Navigate
In an effort to curb rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatality numbers, as well as foster less carbon-intensive forms of mobility, the Texas Department of Transportation is making roughly $250 million
At its 2022 Annual Meeting, held in October in Orlando, the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials elected Roger Millar (seen above) as
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Helps Develop New ‘Mini Guide’ for EVs – AASHTO Journal Addressing Transportation Insecurity through Equity – AASHTO Journal Electric Vehicles Poised To Transform Economy, Says USDOT –
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah DWR) and Utah Department of Transportation recently introduced a free mobile phone application called “The Roadkill Reporter” to make it easier for motorists
The Federal Highway Administration recently kicked off the latest round of transportation innovations through its Every Day Counts or EDC program. [Above image by FHWA] The agency noted that EDC is a
FEDERAL ACTION ETAP Podcast: AASHTO President Roger Millar – AASHTO Journal The U.S. wants to slash carbon emissions from power plants. Natural gas is in the way – NPR BIL-Funded
More than 1,300 volunteers statewide removed more than 48,000 pounds of litter in their communities as part of its second-ever month-long “No Trash November” roadway cleanup effort spearheaded by the
In 2022, the Michigan Department of Transportation made a series of improvements to the highways crisscrossing the state’s Upper Peninsula or U.P. region, with projects widening road shoulders, upgrading weather
FEDERAL ACTION Biden announces $2.5B loan for electric vehicle battery hubs in three states – The Hill EPA revokes Trump-era air permitting policy – E&E News EVs, Building Emissions Among
The U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency recently signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions associated
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Approves 35 State EV Charging Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal State DOTs Increase Multimodal, Active Transportation Support – AASHTO Journal ETAP Podcast: The Next Generation Highways Concept
The Tennessee State Parks received the Project Excellence Award from the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals for its “Tires to Trails” conducted in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Transportation,
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video highlighting how the Hawaii Department of Transportation incorporates resiliency into its infrastructure strategy. [Above image via AASHTO]
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Energy recently released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap as part of what they dubbed a “government-wide strategy” for scaling up sustainable
During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 21, Nicole Majeski – secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation – detailed her agency’s efforts to incorporate resiliency into
FEDERAL ACTION Four Federal Agencies Plan Broad GHG Reduction Push – AASHTO Journal MARAD Initiates Low Carbon Shipping Study – AASHTO Journal Biden’s point man on infrastructure law – Politico
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently helped establish a new website highlighting more than 100 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites across the state’s 64 counties. [Above photo by the Kentucky Heritage
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast interviews Yassmin Gramian and Natasha Fackler, secretary and infrastructure implementation coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, respectively, about
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Comments on ‘Buy America’ EV-Focused Waiver – AASHTO Journal Delaware, California Launch New Litter Cleanup Efforts – AASHTO Journal Supreme Court to hear high-stakes challenge to Clean
Ecologists at Idaho State University are working with the Idaho Transportation Department to turn state roadsides into veritable “Swiss army knives” of vegetation so they are both more fire-resistant and
The Federal Highway Administration, along with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, recently made $1 billion in grants available over the next five
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Joining White House Infrastructure Summit – AASHTO Journal US House Lawmakers Introduce EV Tech Bill – Transport Topics $39 Million In Marine Highway Grants Awarded –
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently 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
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently received two awards for its stormwater management policies from the Water Environment Federation or WEF. [Above photo by the Kansas DOT] The agency received
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Comments on FHWA’s Proposed GHG Rules – AASHTO Journal As Electric Vehicles Shrink Gas Tax Revenue, More States May Tax Mileage – Route Fifty INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND
Key initial components of the $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill project kicked off recently by the Colorado Department of Transportation include the construction of wildlife crossings and fences as well
On October 20, the Federal Highway Administration provided $7.1 million in total funds to 25 state departments of transportation involved in the agency’s ‘Climate Challenge’ program. This is the program’s first
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO’s New President to Emphasize Resilience – AASHTO Journal States Divided on Setting Targets for Curbing Highway Emissions – Route Fifty 50 Years After the Clean Water Act
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is moving forward on two fronts to transform plastic water bottles from beach-littering ‘ōpala’ or rubbish to recycled road material. [Above photo by the Hawaii
FEDERAL ACTION Reconciliation Bill Includes Climate, Transportation Funds – AASHTO Journal USDOT Outlines Infrastructure Funding Availability – Transport Topics Transit groups bemoan Dems’ car-centric climate deal – Politico EV tax
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a request for information or RFI on August 5 to get feedback from industry stakeholders regarding its new Thriving Communities Initiative, which the agency plans to
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation joined several fellow state agencies to help launch a new anti-litter campaign entitled “PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters.” The creation of this campaign
FEDERAL ACTION Every State DOT Formally Submits EV Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal Senate Approves Democrats’ Sweeping Climate and Health Bill – Route Fifty White House Summit Champions Advanced Air
The hydraulics unit of the North Carolina Department of Transportation recently won a 2022 Pelican Award from the North Carolina Coastal Federation for its efforts to both protect and improve
Archaeologists from the Maryland Department of Transportation are helping excavate two small Colonial-era cabins near the historic Elkridge Furnace in Howard County, MD, located on land originally purchased for a
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Comments on Clean Water Certification Rule – AASHTO Journal What Scientists Say about the Historic Climate Bill – Scientific American Is the climate bill ‘historic’? Maybe not,
The Adventure Cycling Association is hosting a webinar in November entitled “Successful U.S. Bicycle Route System Designation for Transportation Professionals” for state department of transportation executives and managers. [Above photo
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued more than $1.6 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Issues Over $2B in New RAISE Grants – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Comments on Clean Water Certification Rule – AASHTO Journal FHWA Announces $100 Million in Grant Awards,
The Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of Transportation recently signed a Project Partnership Agreement or PPA to work together on the $4 billion Mid-Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expanding its traditional role in the Mississippi River Delta Region from building and maintaining roads to include fighting litter, supporting tourism and promoting economic
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Responds to Proposed NEVI Program Rulemaking – AASHTO Journal USDOT Provides List of its Justice40 Initiative Programs – AASHTO Journal Federally Funded Research to be Free and
The New York State Department of Transportation recently began construction on a flood resiliency project in Oswego County; part of the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI. [Above photo
The California Department of Transportation recently completed the first Clean California funded project in the state in Manila; what the agency calls a “historically underserved” community on the Humboldt County
FEDERAL ACTION Adventure Cycling Unveils ‘Short Route’ Bicycle Guide – AASHTO Journal Five State DOTs Honored with Keep America Beautiful Awards – AASHTO Journal President Biden Announces Appointments to the
The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking applications for its new Innovative Mobility Micro-Grants. The $5,000 grants are the first project to come forward from the $20 million Innovative Mobility Program,
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Jessica Oh – strategic partnerships director in the sustainability and public health office within the Minnesota Department of
FEDERAL ACTION Biden administration launches website to help navigate extreme weather, other climate hazards – WHIO-TV How Biden could help U.S. reach climate goals on his own – Washington Post
The Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Ecology are joining forces on a new statewide anti-littering campaign entitled “Simple As That” to help prevent littering by
An eyesore of thousands of dumped tires were recently recycled into material for a hard-surface walking and biking trail at the Tennessee state park in Memphis they once littered, thanks
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Issue Drafts of EV Infrastructure Plans – AASHTO Journal Federal agencies reverse Trump limits on habitat protection – AP US House Transportation Panel Passes FEMA Bill
The Texas Department of Transportation has recruited popular singer, songwriter, and actor Joe Jonas to star in a series of Public Service Announcements as part of the agency’s “Don’t Mess
Three new U.S. Bicycle Routes in Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Delaware, along with the realignment and extension of additional routes through Indiana and Michigan, have added more than 650 miles to
FEDERAL ACTION What you need to know about the Supreme Court’s EPA case – Washington Post USDOT launches ‘Reconnecting Communities’ grant program to bolster transportation – Spectrum News 1Interior Department
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video providing an overview of its knowledge session on infrastructure resilience during its 2022 Spring Meeting in New
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast touches on the topic of creating more road signs featuring more of the indigenous languages spoken in the United
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Plans Rulemaking for Reducing GHG Emissions – AASHTO Journal The silver lining for EPA in Supreme Court climate ruling – E&E News USDOT Announces All 50 States,
A team of Utah State University researchers recently explored how to use the state’s network of historic canal trails as an active transportation solution. That study is poised to help
The Federal Transit Administration is making nearly $300 million available through three competitive grant programs to boost access to rural ferry services, bolster existing and new urban services, and lower
FEDERAL ACTION Energy & Environment – Are the feds closing the door on climate action? – The Hill Nation’s governors gather in Portland, Maine to discuss infrastructure, economy – WGME-TV
The Connecticut Department of Transportation, along with other state and local officials, recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony (seen above) for the Putnam Bridge Trail Connections between Wethersfield and Glastonbury across
A $12.9 million Airport Connector resurfacing project in Warwick, RI, is going to include a “massive” landscaping effort that will provide more than 400 plants and trees in both the
A research document just released by an international pool-funded study led by the Nevada Department of Transportation provides an “authoritative review” of the most effective measures to reduce animal-vehicle collisions,
What does a transportation chief do when a group of self-described tree-huggers publicly expresses unhappiness that your highway project will wipe out a grove of oak trees the group planted
FEDERAL ACTION Republican Energy Roundtable Elicits State DOT Insights – AASHTO Journal On climate, Democrats and Republicans don’t inhabit the same reality – Ars Technica Are Wetlands the Next Target
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast talks with Dr. Shihab Kuran (seen above) about the key role state departments of transportation play in helping establish
The Maine Department of Transportation recently awarded $20 million in grants to 13 local infrastructure projects to improve local resilience against climate effects such as flooding, rising sea levels, and
Across the country, state departments of transportation provide support to a wide variety of efforts aimed at supporting numerous bird species and their habitats. [Above photo by the NCDOT] For
The Federal Highway Administration issued guidance on July 29 for a new $7.3 billion in formula funding created by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA enacted
Scott Boyle (seen above), assistant administrator of operations for District 2 of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, recently received an award on behalf of his district’s handling of
The Oregon Department of Transportation is committing $100 million over the next five years to build out Oregon’s public electric vehicle charging network on several major road corridors, as well
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Say Local Partners Help Achieve Goals – AASHTO Journal Seventeen states sue EPA for letting California set vehicle standards – The Hill Biden administration vows to
Governor Tom Wolf (D) recently presented a group of employees from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with Governor’s Awards for Excellence in
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently received a 2022 Environmental Excellence Award in the category of Ecosystems, Habitat, and Wildlife from the Federal Highway Administration for its role in the
FEDERAL ACTION Bipartisan group pushes Senate to confirm environmental prosecutor to key EPA post – NPR The Department of Justice’s strategy to advance environmental justice – The Hill (Opinion) An
The AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability is excited to invite you to the committee’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The meeting will be held July 11th-14th at the Westin
The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently made universal Level 3 “fast chargers” that can fully recharge an electric vehicle or EV in less than 30 minutes available at the I-95
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, April Rai (seen above) – president and CEO of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) – provides
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO, NASAO Applaud Senate Committee For Approving Legislation To Support Advanced Air Mobility Planning – AASHTO Greening The Federal Government’s Massive Procurement System – Forbes Biden-Harris Administration Holds
An initiative to “Give BIRDS the ROW” in terms of creating big habitats in highway rights-of-way is expanding across Illinois – with new support from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Thousands of Adopt-a-Highway volunteers picked up more than 29,500 bags of trash from highway ditches in 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Working to Expand EV Charging Network – AASHTO Journal Biden’s environmental justice office is open. Can it get the money it needs? – Politico FAA acting
At a June 12 event, Governor Larry Hogan (R) said the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration are launching a $28 million Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act
The Federal Highway Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on June 9 to outline minimum standards and requirements for projects funded via the five-year $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or
FEDERAL ACTION House Overwhelmingly Passes Its Version Of WRDA – Waterways Journal COVID-19 Pre-travel testing requirement lifted: What you need to know about the new US travel policy – CNN
The Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation recently released drafts of their electric vehicle or EV charging network development plans –
The New York State Department of Transportation recently launched the formal public “engagement” process for the “transformative” Kensington Expressway project in Buffalo. [Above photo by the New York Governor’s Office]
FEDERAL ACTION Montana officials ask Buttigieg for quick assistance – Missoula Current Feds get new guidelines for e-bikes in national parks, forests – WyoFile Axios Climate Truths: Climate hits home
Routine highway maintenance conducted by a North Carolina Department of Transportation work crew turned into one “honey” of a rescue mission in early June. [Above photo by NCDOT] NCDOT Division
FEDERAL ACTION New vehicles must average 40 mpg by 2026, up from 28 mpg – AP EPA resurrects plan to drop air pollution liability shield – E&E News The
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently completed a bridge replacement project near Globe, AZ, which triggered the return of an endangered species of cactus transplanted and preserved by the agency
The California Department of Transportation has awarded $34.7 million in state and federal funds to cities, counties, tribes, and transit agencies statewide to support a variety of locally focused sustainable
FEDERAL ACTION Biden administration holds EV industry meeting with Musk, Barra – CNBC Supreme Court Revives Trump-Era Environmental Regulation – New York Times Building a Better America Fact Sheet for
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently illustrated in a blog post how ‘biomonitor’ teams from Northern Arizona University or NAU help the agency’s crews find and relocate endangered species –
A mitigation program operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation aims to reduce the risk of wildlife hazards by providing a variety of training and support options for
FEDERAL ACTION White House, USDOT Tout Rural Infrastructure Funding – AASHTO Journal Federal EV charging networks: $5B over 5 years, now states have to submit plans – Green Car Reports
The Federal Highway Administration officially unlocked $6.4 billion in formula funding for states and localities over the next five years via the new Carbon Reduction Program or CRP, created by
A new report compiled by The Ray and Geotab Inc. seeks to help state and local governments determine the optimal locations and design parameters for electric vehicle or EV charging
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTIONState DOTs Participate in Earth Day Cleanup Efforts – AASHTO Journal 2022 Environmental Excellence Awards – EPA US Senate
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Leslie Aguayo and Jeff Allen discuss the need for ensuring “equitable access” to a national electric vehicle EV
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and the Southeast Conference plan to collaborate on a low emission ferry research project. [Above photo by the Alaska DOT&PF] Alternative fuel powered,
A new report recently released by the Traffic Operations and Safety or “TOPS” Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation found the use
Around the country, state departments of transportation conducted or participated in a variety of pollution mitigation efforts on April 22 in honor of Earth Day. [Above photo by KTRB] Some
As part of its “Let’s Change This to That” public education campaign, the California Department of Transportation is highlighting the top six sources of stormwater pollution across the state as
The administration of Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) recently finalized its Clean Truck Strategy – initially unveiled in March – after what the governor described as “extensive public input.” [Above
FEDERAL ACTION Former USDOT Secretary Norm Mineta Dies – AASHTO Journal DOJ and EPA Announce New Enforcement Strategy to Advance Environmental Justice – National Law Review White House Wants to
The Center for Environmental Excellence in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration invites you to join in parts two and three of a three-part webinar series on Resilience. The webinars
Governor Roy Cooper (D) recently toured PoleVolt – a new electric vehicle charging station in Charlotte created by a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Duke Energy, Centralina Regional Council
The fiscal year 2023 state budget proposed by Governor Michael Dunleavy (R) contains maintenance funding for the Dick Nash Memorial ice road that will help tribal transportation departments maintain the
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Reps Share Infrastructure Insights at Hearing – AASHTO Journal Governors Propose Big Transportation Investments – AASHTO Journal Driving on the Right: America’s Polarized Transportation Policy – Governing
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up to control the growth of noxious and nuisance weeds along roadsides throughout the state starting in April. [Above photo by the KYTC] KYTC
The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to “rejuvenate” seven so-called “living snow fences” in southwest Minnesota as part of a month-long effort to ensure the 20-year-old plantings can survive for
The Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Energy Office, and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment recently unveiled the daft of a “Clean Truck Strategy” that seeks to
FEDERAL ACTION FHWA Submits ‘Complete Streets’ Report to Congress – AASHTO Journal City Leaders Back Biden in Controversy Over Infrastructure Spending – Route Fifty High Court Hears Consolidated Clean Air
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently helped establish a free repository of information on electric vehicles available to state agencies. State agencies must create a free
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to introduce stricter heavy-duty vehicle and engine emission rules starting in model year 2027. [Above photo by the Missouri DOT] The proposed standards would reduce emissions of
FEDERAL ACTION Public transit gets $3.7B to woo riders, adopt green fleets – AP Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the $560 billion investment in America’s transportation infrastructure – CBS’s 60 Minutes
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection are joining forces to encourage local businesses and residents to support the state’s spring “Pick Up Pennsylvania” campaign, focused on removing litter
Since November, maintenance crews with the West Virginia Division of Highways – part of the West Virginia Department of Transportation – have cleared more than 170 acres of trees and
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Names PennDOT’s Gramian as CES Chair – AASHTO Journal FTA Awards $409M in Transit Bus Grants – AASHTO Journal House Lawmakers Pitch Water Infrastructure Projects – Transport
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has teamed up with Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTRB) and other partners to establish a network of 17 “Seabin” automated litter and debris removal
The Oregon Department of Transportation has a public outreach message for water birds who want to nest on two of their iconic bridges: Beat it. [Above: Matt Alex, a wildlife
FEDERAL ACTION Obituary: Alaska Rep. Don Young, 88, Was Long-Time Infrastructure Leader – ENR Biden wants to spend infrastructure billions on climate and equity initiatives. But it’s not his call.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued new Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE standards that require an industry-wide fleet average of approximately 49 miles per gallon for passenger
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Rachael Nealer (seen above) – deputy director for the newly formed Joint Office of Energy and Transportation –
The Maine Department of Transportation has formed an Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group (OSWPAG) to advise it and other state officials regarding the potential development of wind port facilities, which
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently received a special one-time allocation of $7 million in general funds from the Oregon legislature to invest in wildlife corridor projects statewide. [Above photo
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast discusses ways state DOT cultural resources programs within state departments of transportation are exploring to identify and preserve homes
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials sent a five-page letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on January 27 to provide feedback on floodplain management standards for
The California Department of Transportation recently approved the use of low-carbon cement to help reduce the carbon footprint of the state’s transportation system. [Above photo by Caltrans] Known formally as
FEDERAL ACTION Coalition Urges Passage of Full FY 2022 Appropriations – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Provides EV Charging Feedback to FHWA – AASHTO Journal U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consider limiting
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials submitted a seven-page letter on February 2 to the Department of the U.S. Army and the Office of Water Oceans, Wetlands,
The Nevada Department of Transportation and contractor Mead & Hunt are working to develop a “multiple property documentation form” or MPDF to help preserve Latino-related properties statewide, with a primary
FEDERAL ACTION Registration Open for AASHTO’s Washington Briefing – AASHTO Journal House T&I Subcommittee Holds Hearing on CAVs – AASHTO Journal Biden, automakers face cultural divide on U.S. push for
The Arizona Department of Transportation, along with its maintenance contractors, picked up 118,578 bags or 811 tons of trash along freeways in Maricopa County in 2021. [Above photo by the
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is making sustainability central to its new interim five-year Capital Plan, covering fiscal years 2022 through 2026. [Above photo by the Connecticut DOT] The agency
For those transportation professionals who believe engaging with the public is tantamount to poking a stick at sleeping dogs and hornets’ nests, “Snowprah Winfrey,” “Alice Scooper,” and “Hans Snowlo” insist
The National Association of State Energy Officials 2022 Policy Outlook Conference held in Washington D.C. February 8-11 focused in part on the ways states and federal agencies can work together
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT, DOE Launch EV Formula Program – AASHTO Journal How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming – New York Times Secretary Buttigieg talks road safety, self-driving
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence will host a virtual peer exchange discussing alternative project delivery and the National Environmental Policy Act or
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently awarded $492,000 in grants to communities and organizations statewide in support of “transportation demand management” strategies that help relieve traffic congestion and lower greenhouse
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is providing more than 1,000 tons of damaged concrete pipe to help the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries shore up two artificial reefs.
As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark $1.1 billion Clean California initiative, the California Department of Transportation recently awarded $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state’s highway system.
FEDERAL ACTION State, Local Officials Play Vital Role in Infrastructure – Transport Topics Bipartisan bill would enable states’ ability to clean abandoned mine discharge – Missoula Current New headlight technology
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program guidance, which tasks states to develop plans for electric charging infrastructure deployment along major highway corridors. [Above
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Sue Gander (seen above) – director of the electric school bus initiative for the World Resources Institute –
The Georgia Department of Transportation and North Carolina Department of Transportation recently issued millions in grants to support a variety of alternative transportation projects across their respective states. [Above photo
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released the second edition of the Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities. This new and completely
The Ohio Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant or DERG program recently awarded six grants totaling more than $9 million for replacing 25 aging diesel transit buses with cleaner diesel or alternative
Some $52 million of additional funding over the next five years should flow to Oregon for investment in electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure. That money comes from the $1.2
The Maryland Transit Administration or MTA – a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation – launched a “transition plan” in December 2021 to move its transit fleet to zero-emission
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast focuses on the upcoming Transportation Research Board’s 2022 Annual Meeting, held in Washington D.C. January 9-13, along with a
The California Department of Transportation recently unveiled a new “complete streets” policy for all new transportation projects it funds or oversees in order to provide “safe and accessible options” for
The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing new federal greenhouse gas or GHG emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2023 through 2026 – establishing a 55 miles
FEDERAL ACTION New EPA Rule Mandates 55 MPG by Model Year 2026 – AASHTO Journal Four environmental fights to watch in 2022 – The Hill White House and Congress Made
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently unveiled its complete statewide active transportation plan to address what Governor Jay Inslee (D) called “multiple challenges” facing the state. [Above photo by
The governors of North Carolina and Connecticut recently issued executive orders that mandate the formation of “clean transportation” plans to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions in their respective states.
FEDERAL ACTION Top White House environmental justice official to depart post – CNN Five Parts of the Infrastructure Bill You Might Have Missed – Government Technology US AGs Call for
While the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials supports President Biden’s “ambitious goal” of building a new national network of 500,000 electric vehicle or EV chargers by 2030,
To reduce the cost of corrosion and long-term maintenance expenses, the Michigan Department of Transportation is broadening its use of carbon fiber structural material on bridges statewide. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION Biden Spending Bill Ignites Debate Over Dairy Methane Pollution – U.S. News and World Report DOE Launches New Initiative From President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law To Modernize National
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently debuted a documentary called “Durango 550 – Path of the Ancestral Puebloans” to show how the agency worked with archaeologists and regional Native American
In conjunction with several state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is spearheading an effort to reduce the amount of salts entering
FEDERAL ACTION Transportation Committees Prep New Waterways Bill – Transport Topics White House to ask mayors nationwide to name infrastructure coordinators – Spectrum News U.S. Army Plans $14 Billion for
Governor Gavin Newsom (D) (seen above) has introduced a $6.1 billion zero-emission vehicle or ZEV fiscal support package to accelerate the state’s transition to ZEVs and “fight climate change” in the
From loss of sleep to loss of hearing, noise can pose a real threat. Recent studies have even identified a possible link between noise exposure and dementia. Traffic noise is
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Disappointed with Yet another Transportation Bill Extension – AASHTO News Here’s what’s in the bipartisan infrastructure bill – CNN Buttigieg defends bipartisan infrastructure bill, ‘optimistic’ it will
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and the Arizona Department of Transportation are the latest agencies to beef up anti-litter activities across their respective states. [Above
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Noel Alcala – noise and air quality coordinator at the Ohio Department of Transportation – discusses the negative
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Praises Passage of Historic Transportation Bill – AASHTO Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal – The White House EPA tells court it will reconsider air quality standards
A state government report is calling for increased funding for transportation projects that protect big game habitats and corridors and prevent thousands of vehicle-wildlife crashes each year on Colorado’s roads.
For several weeks now, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has been dumping plastic waste onto the roadway near a state park – and that is actually a good thing. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION With President Biden’s Signature, State DOTs Ready to Implement Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Biden chooses Mitch Landrieu to coordinate infrastructure plan implementation – NBC News The High Stakes
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, an equal-opportunity employer, is seeking to fill two environmental program positions within its policy division. The first is for a program
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast revolves around a conversation with Shawn Wilson, Ph. D., (seen in above photo standing at podium) secretary of the
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is helping test ultrasonic bat “deterrence devices” at two bridges to help keep the mammals away from such structures when they undergo maintenance and/or repair
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials sent a 35-page letter to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on November 18 in support of changes to the National
FEDERAL ACTION The Supreme Court will hear cases that could undercut Biden’s climate agenda. Here’s what to know. – Washington Post Biden’s infrastructure bill includes $50 billion to fight climate
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics recently wrapped up a two-year effort to help certified commercial service airports statewide acquire equipment to minimize the environmental impact of aircraft
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will play a key role in executing the state’s first-ever ‘Litter Action Plan’ unveiled by Governor Tom Wolf (D) on November 22. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Comments on CEQ’s Proposed NEPA Changes – AASHTO Journal EPA Outlines $7.4B for Water Infrastructure Headed to States – AP What’s Next for Biden’s Build Back Better
The newly formed National Electric Highway Coalition – consisting of 51 investor-owned electric companies, an electric cooperative, and the Tennessee Valley Authority – seeks to build a national network of
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is “generally supportive” of a rule proposed in October by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a national
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Re:source Podcast Examines the IIJA – AASHTO Journal WH has new slogan on infrastructure, but message the same – AP FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Provides Comments on USDOT Strategic Plan – AASHTO Journal White House adds two key coordinators to implement $1 trillion infrastructure law – CBS News White House unveils
A number of state departments of transportation are pushing ahead with projects that support “active transportation” activity; a catch-all term that refers to infrastructure development that supports pedestrian, bicycling, and
A new initiative to develop the nation’s first electric vehicle or EV wireless charging infrastructure on a public road is gearing up in Michigan – and the Michigan Department of
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Signs Letter Urging Passage of Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal Pelosi Says House Will Take Up $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Thursday – New York Times Here’s what’s
The Nevada Department of Transportation and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful are teaming up to observe Stormwater Pollution Awareness Month this October to educate the public about the importance of preserving
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Joung Lee (seen above) — director of policy and government relations for the American Association of State Highway
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have established a partnership to support the build-out of electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure across the Midwest region. [Above photo via Wikimedia Commons]
The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts or GACD are planning to install 15 pollinator habitat sites in designated locations as part of a joint
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Continues Fight to Pass Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal Transportation Stakeholders Press Congress on $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill – Transport Topics Infrastructure bill tangled in D.C.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently announced the 14 winners of its annual “Trash Poster” calendar contest. The original artwork of those 14 kindergarten through 12th-grade students highlighting the consequences
A pair of reports – one from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the other from the Government Accounting Office – highlight the increased focus the federal government is placing
FEDERAL ACTION Remarks by President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Build Back Better Agenda – White House 25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk
A landslide repair project currently underway on SR 60 in Morgan County, Ohio, is illustrative of dozens of similar efforts initiated by the Ohio Department of Transportation aimed at keeping
If culverts under a busy state road are clogging a creek and preventing fish from migrating, how do you simultaneously replace the culverts, maintain traffic on the road, and protect
FEDERAL ACTION Federal, State Agencies Ramping Up Pedestrian Safety Efforts – AASHTO Journal Democrats Scramble for Climate Options After Manchin Rejects Clean-Energy Plan – New York Magazine State-level carbon tax
Over the next two years, the Oregon Department of Transportation plans to install more than two dozen new rectangular rapid flashing beacons – known as pedestrian-activated beacons – to help
The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) agencies recently completed wildlife underpasses along a rural stretch of Interstate 25 between Colorado’s two largest cities, Denver
FEDERAL ACTION Senate unanimously redirects COVID relief money for infrastructure projects – WIS-TV What’s in, and what’s out, as Democrats trim Biden infrastructure bill – AP White House, EPA tout
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Council on Active Transportation is planning to implement a “research roadmap” finalized in July to “prioritize and categorize” state DOT pedestrian
Several state department of transportation executives recently shared insights into how their agencies are advancing equity through infrastructure projects during a knowledge session at the American Association of State Highway
The Environmental Excellence Awards (EEAs) recognize outstanding transportation projects, processes, and organizations that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development processes using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding sources.
Once ubiquitous in North America, the Monarch’s striking orange and black wings are likely the first image that comes to mind when picturing a butterfly. The Monarch is famed not
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Committee on Environment & Sustainability (CES) and its subcommittees are hosting five webinars this September to discuss a wide array of
The Adventure Cycling Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials announced the designation of 18 new bicycle routes in five states, adding 2,903 miles to U.S.
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Kris Gade, Ph.D. – a roadside resource specialist with the Arizona Department of Transportation – discusses Monarch butterfly
FEDERAL ACTION Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill, Awaits House’s Vote – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Lauds Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Senate infrastructure bill could take years to transform U.S.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation recently adopted a five-year pedestrian safety plan that focuses on reducing pedestrian fatalities statewide, making infrastructure improvements, launching informational pedestrian safety campaigns, plus change
The Colorado Transportation Commission proposed new transportation pollution reduction planning standards on August 16 that seek to cut greenhouse gas or GHG emissions from the state’s transportation sector while improving
FEDERAL ACTION Pelosi sets Oct 1 target for infrastructure, Biden spending bill – Reuters Biden’s pro-car, pro-gasoline moves leave green allies fuming – Politico Bills Gates Promises $1.5 Billion for
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is expanding routine litter pickup operations statewide through the Labor Day holiday, especially on higher-traffic roadways where volunteer groups cannot safely pick up litter. [Above
A newly passed state law is requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to establish and implement a performance program to improve the “efficiency and effectiveness” of the state’s transportation system.
FEDERAL ACTION House votes to advance Biden’s jobs and infrastructure plans, breaking logjam – NBC News Schumer says infrastructure bills edge U.S. close to Biden climate goals – Reuters Bipartisan
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Mark Hoffman –assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Auburn University – and Karl Bohnenberger, his research assistant, explain
When it snows in Minnesota, drivers want the roads and bridges cleared – now. However, simply dumping mass amounts of salt on the roads is an outdated practice for the
FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Highlight Benefits of $1.2T Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO Journal ‘On Time with Tymon’ Discusses the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Transportation TV Lawmakers vow action
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently issued a request for information or RFI in advance of a request for proposals to install electric vehicle charging (EV) stations along the most
The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Highway Safety has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about a new statewide pedestrian safety law that goes into effect on October
FEDERAL ACTION White House announces target of 20 percent aviation emissions reduction by 2030 – The Hill Ida Damage Shows Need for Infrastructure Funding, Lawmakers Agree, But Divides Persist on
In late August, the New York State Department of Transportation completed work on two projects that enhance safety for pedestrians along the 90-mile corridor of State Route 25 and portions
The recently opened 33 Smart Mobility Corridor in central Ohio is a connected highway project that seeks to enhance motor vehicle safety, reduce traffic congestion, and improve fuel economy. [Above
FEDERAL ACTION Infrastructure Bill Aligns With Key AASHTO Principles – AASHTO Journal Hoyer affirms House will vote Sept. 27 on bipartisan infrastructure bill – The Hill Democrats Face a Grueling
The Utah Department of Transportation identified two “preferred alternatives” to improve transportation in Little Cottonwood Canyon in a draft Environmental Impact Statement or EIS issued on June 24 – alternatives
FEDERAL ACTION White House, Senators Agree on Infrastructure Funding Proposal – AASHTO Journal Infrastructure deal would boost investments in transportation, with infusions for rail and transit Washington Post Biden’s Bipartisan
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Matthew Quirey (seen above) – a landscape design and research fellow with The Ray – explains how roadside
Climate change is causing “real, costly impacts” to the nation’s transportation infrastructure, according to Margaret Anderson Kelliher (seen above), commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above image via Select
FEDERAL ACTION House Passes ‘INVEST in America’ Reauthorization Bill – AASHTO Journal U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $905.25 Million in Proposed Awards for the FY 2021 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America
The Utah Department of Transportation is taking what it calls “significant steps” to protect the waters of the Starvation Reservoir during a U.S. 40 bridge renovation project in Duchesne County.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently rolled out a new anti-litter campaign aimed at summer travelers – the main component of which will be an aerial banner flown over
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Updates Key Surface Transportation Priorities – AASHTO Journal Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus backs Senate infrastructure deal, calling for House vote – CBS News Business groups, unions join
Reducing fatalities among pedestrians and improving safety for all travelers is the focus of a new statewide safety campaign launched by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the
The Ohio Department of Transportation has unveiled a bicycling and pedestrian “framework” to advance statewide development of active transportation over the next five years. [Above photo by the Ohio DOT]
FEDERAL ACTION House Appropriations Releases USDOT Funding Bill – AASHTO Journal Transportation Stakeholders Renew Calls for Congressional Action – Transport Topics Congress returns to face big to-do list – infrastructure,
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Senate infrastructure bill ‘90%’ done, but hits new roadblock over transit funding – AP Bipartisan infrastructure bill in
The Utah Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback through August 28 on the agency’s overall Active Transportation Plan, so it can “better understand” the community’s needs for more bike
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released its fifth annual “Sustainability and Public Health Report,” documenting the agency’s progress towards its sustainability and climate goals. Based on data through 2020, the
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Senate Moves $1.2T Infrastructure Package Forward – AASHTO Journal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg On Wins, Losses, Future Of
The Michigan Department of Transportation recently put together a video reviewing the benefits of its Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program or TDRP, which the agency is using to “educate and inspire”
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials submitted a 32-page letter on July 22 to the U.S. Department of Transportation containing advice for the agency as to how
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to battle an
A new report issued by the Transportation Research Board calls on the U.S. Department of Transportation to include resilience factors within the benefit-cost analysis or BCA for infrastructure project justifications.
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Lauds Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – AASHTO News Release Fuel Efficiency, Electric Vehicle Mandates on the Horizon – AASHTO Journal Booker Reintroduces Sweeping Environmental Justice Bill
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said that as May 19 its crews, contractors, and volunteers have collected 6.3 million pounds of litter from along the state’s roads – putting
A panel of state department of transportation executives and managers, as well as a team leader from the Federal Highway Administration, recently shared their insights on infrastructure resilience via a
The Center for Environmental Excellence – a partnership through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Federal Highway Administration – launched a new website to provide
Formula funding mechanisms are critical to building more resilience into the nation’s transportation system, argued Edwin Sniffen (seen above), deputy director of highways for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, during
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Applauds Senate EPW Leaders’ Bipartisan Reauthorization Legislation – AASHTO Journal Bipartisan group of senators introduces surface transportation bill – The Hill House Republicans unveil $400 billion Starter
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released its first Statewide Pedestrian System Plan on May 26 – a plan that provides policy and investment guidance to improve places where people walk
Several state departments of transportation are helping bring back the Peregrine falcon from the brink of extinction by providing nesting platforms on bridges – creating a true symbiotic relationship that
FEDERAL ACTION Center for Environmental Excellence Unveils New Website Packed with Resources – AASHTO News Senate Democrats prepare to work on Biden infrastructure plan ‘with or without’ Republicans – CNBC
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast explores how state agency partnerships are helping Connecticut achieve climate goals while also implementing the Transportation and Climate Initiative
A recent study indicates that major flooding occurring outside designated flood zones is significantly affecting Maryland’s highways, bridges, tunnels, and other roadways. As a result, such flooding “interrupts daily life;
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently resumed statewide roadside mowing operations, now scheduled to help maintain and grow pollinator habitat. [Above photo by the Illinois DOT] “We are committed to
The Environmental Division of the Nevada Department of Transportation is offering state residents landscaping advice on pesticide and herbicide use as well as “water-smart practices” when conducting residential landscaping activities.
FEDERAL ACTION House T&I Committee Unveils $547B Surface Transportation Bill – AASHTO Journal Proposed House Surface Transportation Bill Provides Step Toward Reauthorization – AASHTO USDOT Seeks Transportation Equity Assessment Input
The New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are co-hosting the state’s first ever trails summit to demonstrate opportunities to create robust trail networks
The Georgia Department of Transportation’s state maintenance office is tapping into five years’ worth of “lessons learned” to help fine-tune its storm response capabilities ahead of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane
FEDERAL ACTION House T&I Approves 5-Year Surface Transportation Bill After Contentious 17-hour Mark Up – AASHTO Journal Bipartisan group of U.S. senators says it has a deal on infrastructure framework
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is in the process of installing “living snow fences” near two bridges on U.S. Highway 12 in partnership with the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation
As forecasters predict a particularly active hurricane season for 2021, state departments of transportation from Texas to New Jersey are preparing for worst-case scenarios to help citizens get out of
FEDERAL ACTION Senate Committee Leaves AV Bill out of Transportation Package – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Co-Signs Letter Urging Action on Surface Reauthorization – AASHTO Journal Schumer vows to only pass
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), jointly promoted “pollinator health and awareness” in state parks
A pair of new exhibits at the Tennessee Aquarium funded by the grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation illustrate how microplastics and other roadside trash can negatively affect the
Founded 51 years ago, Earth Day is now a global celebration that is raising public awareness and support for the protection of the environment. One of the objectives of this
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., introduced the “Rebuilding Stronger Infrastructure Act” on April 20 to ensure that resilience improvements are eligible for federal funding, while requiring
The governors of 12 states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington – recently signed a joint letter
FEDERAL ACTION Republicans Reveal Five-Year $568B Infrastructure Proposal – AASHTO Journal Factbox: Republicans vs. Biden: What’s in their infrastructure plans? – Reuters Senators Offer Legislation to Help States Rebuild Infrastructure
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast focuses on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s “Rethinking I-94 project.” The agency started that program in 2016 with the
Legislation recently proposed by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works would seek to “reconnect and revitalize” areas harmed by the construction of
The Ohio Department of Transportation is joining forces with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Department of Natural Resources to conduct a statewide anti-litter campaign. [Above image via the
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) released a report in February 2021 highlighting several state agency efforts to incorporate Green Infrastructure (GI) solutions into transportation drainage and landscaping design.
FEDERAL ACTION Biden Pushes Infrastructure Investment during Joint Address – AASHTO Journal Republicans hammer Biden on infrastructure while administration defends plan – The Hill Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on finding
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION In Louisiana, Biden makes infrastructure pitch local – NBC News McConnell says GOP open to $600
Two key Senate Democrats introduced a $73 billion plan on May 4 to transition the nation’s transit buses and vans to Zero Emission Vehicle or ZEV platforms. The “Clean Transit
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently unveiled three “smart ponds” built via a public-private partnership or P3 stormwater control project that seeks to reduce pollutants and curb local flooding. [Above
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently made its new “Washington State Active Transportation Plan, 2020 and Beyond: Part 1” available online as part of its efforts to support more
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) released a report in February 2021 highlighting several state agency efforts to incorporate Green Infrastructure (GI) solutions into transportation drainage and landscaping design.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is re-launching its “Toss NO Mas” anti-litter campaign; a public outreach effort originally created in the 1990s by Cooney-Watson Productions. [Above graphic via the
The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence is hosting a webinar on May 26 to illustrate the current sustainability practices state departments of transportation are
Toks Omishakin, director of the California Department of Transportation, and William Panos, director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, highlighted the ways state departments of transportation are incorporating equity
“Trying and laborious” perhaps best describes the months-long research and digging conducted in search of the home of a young Harriett Tubman by the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway
FEDERAL ACTION Earmarks are back, and they could be key to Biden’s infrastructure plans – Marketplace Green Transportation Act introduced to reduce pollution – Transportation Today House Panel Ready for
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is adopting a slate of recommendations proposed by the Sustainable Transportation Advisory Council or STAC in order to create “measurable strategies” to help the state
Recent hydrological studies indicate to the California Department of Transportation that it can rebuild a washed-out section of the famed Pacific Coast Highway with a massive new drainage system that
FEDERAL ACTION Transportation Getting $100B from $1.9T COVID Package – AASHTO Journal USDA Investing $285M in Transportation, Infrastructure – AASHTO Journal Leveraging Policy, Funding to Improve Infrastructure Resiliency – AASHTO
As an 11-mile reconstruction project along Interstate 10 between Interstate 17 and the Loop 202 gets ready to start, biologists with the Arizona Department of Transportation are preparing to relocate native plants out of the way. [Photo courtesy of
The Ohio Department of Transportation is launching a public outreach campaign to reduce litter along state roadways – emphasizing that agency crews assigned to pick up trash are being diverted from more
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Provides Perspective on Return of Congressional Earmarks – AASHTO Journal AASHTO Issues 2021 Benefits of Transportation Report – AASHTO Journal Illinois Sen. Duckworth Unveils Sweeping Environmental Justice
The Ray – a Georgia-based transportation innovation non-profit – recently signed separate charters with the Texas Department of Transportation Austin District, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and the City of
While a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association showed pedestrian fatalities trended up in the first half of 2020, the report also noted how several state-directed efforts are successfully improving
FEDERAL ACTION Report Highlights How State DOTs Deliver the Benefits of Transportation – AASHTO Executive Director Biden Harris Administration Reveals Infrastructure Priorities – AASHTO Journal Republicans tell Buttigieg that Biden’s
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently implemented a new policy for its field crews to pick up trash in the footprint where they work for the day. Called
The construction of the new Rock Creek Bridge to replace a culvert on US-20 recently won an engineering excellence award from the American Civil Engineers Council of Idaho – an
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Shoshana Lew – executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation – discusses the critical role state DOTs
For two years, the Alabama Department of Transportation has quietly run an all-electric passenger and vehicle ferry, giving a tiny African-American community the distinction of having the only such vessel
FEDERAL ACTION Biden Harris Infrastructure Plan Allocates $621B for Transportation – AASHTO Journal How Biden plans to tackle the climate crisis in his $2 trillion infrastructure plan – Vox Oil
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews began treating for noxious and nuisance weeds along state roadways in March, with those treatments designed to help control the spread of “undesirable plants” along state
The Louisiana state government, which collects about $1.3 billion a year in taxes from the oil and gas industry, is studying whether alternative fuels and other environmental measures can help
FEDERAL ACTION Rep. DeFazio: “We have to do a reauthorization by October 1.” – AASHTO Journal House GOP Planning Climate Package to Counter Democrats – Bloomberg Green Biden Plan Spurs
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is now accepting applications from municipalities across the state for its 2021 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative, which seeks to support the development
The New York State Department of Transportation is heading up a $5.4 million project to “harden” a local roadway against damage from flooding and other weather events through the state’s Resiliency
FEDERAL ACTION Joint Letter to Congress Calls for ‘Generational’ Infrastructure Investment – AASHTO Journal FAST Act reauthorization prospects dim – Transportation Today Deep Divisions Over Transit Threaten Highway Bill Bipartisanship
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO’s Jim Tymon on Transportation and COVID-19, Working with a New Administration, and More – ITE Talks Transportation (Podcast) Four highway funding questions for AASHTO – Pit and
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently completed a study that outlines a variety of potential benefits from a proposed extension of the Urbana Kickapoo Rail-to-Trail project. [Photo courtesy of Illinois
The California Department of Transportation recently put together a video highlighting how its boat fleet in the San Francisco Bay Area – typically used to transport engineers, biologists, and maintenance
FEDERAL ACTION Registration for AASHTO’s Washington Briefing Now Open – AASHTO Journal State DOTs Look to Work with Secretary Buttigieg to Improve Americans’ Quality of Life – AASHTO Journal New
Congressional legislation introduced on February 9 by Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., would create a consumer tax credit to spur sales of electric bicycles for commuting and
The South Carolina Department of Transportation adopted on February 4 what it calls a “wide-ranging” Complete Streets policy for the state-owned highway system. [Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Department
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is providing more than $3.2 million to support 21 municipal transportation projects – including new bike-share facilities, new sidewalks, and outdoor dining areas. That money
The Federal Transit Administration is making up to $180 million in competitive grant funds through a notice of funding opportunity for its Low or No Emission or “Low-No” grant program. [Photo courtesy
FEDERAL ACTION ‘On Time with Tymon’ Provides Preview of AASHTO’s Washington Briefing – AASHTO Journal House T&I Approves $42.5B in Further COVID-19 Relief – AASHTO Journal E-BIKE Act Offers Tax
Department of Transportation launches the “next phase” of major reconstruction of Great Basin Boulevard and East Aultman Street in Ely, NV, the agency is placing a particular focus on floodplain
The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently issued a 24-page report outlining key tactics and programs to increase pedestrian safety statewide as both national trends and state data points highlight the need
FEDERAL ACTION Buttigieg: After COVID-19 Relief, an Infrastructure Policy -Transport Topics Buttigieg sets goals for electric, automated freight vehicles -The Hill Democrats May Invoke Congressional Review Act to Reverse Recent
In this episode of the ETAP Podcast, Paula Hammond – market leader-multimodal at consulting firm WSP USA and a former secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation – talks
The Florida Department of Transportation is kicking off its celebration of Florida Bicycle Month this March by highlight its online resources for bicycle safety and its ongoing commitment to spend
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO President Sheehan Testifies Before Senate EPW Committee – AASHTO Journal AASHTO, Adventure Cycling Formalize Partnership to Reach 50,000-Mile National Bike Route System – AASHTO Journal Cedric Richmond:
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently started upgrading the lighting system inside the Interstate 10 Deck Park Tunnel north of downtown Phoenix – a project that should save both energy
International bicycle sharing service Lime Bike is planning to invest $50 million in new electric-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” as well as an expansion of its network in the United States
Six energy utility companies are joining forces to build a seamless network of electric vehicle or EV charging stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast, through the Midwest
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada issued a joint statement on February 25 committing both agencies to “reinvigorate our bilateral cooperation” to fight climate change and limit the
FEDERAL ACTION ASCE Report: U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Needs Investment – AASHTO Journal House T&I Plans to Add Earmarks to Surface Reauthorization Legislation – AASHTO Journal Where Does Surface Transportation Funding
State departments of transportation are getting $10 billion in long-awaited emergency aid from a $900 billion COVID-19 relief measure passed by Congress late on December 21 as part of a
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Comments on the Nomination of Pete Buttigieg as U.S. Transportation Secretary – AASHTO (News release) Department of Energy Announces $128 Million for Sustainable Transportation Research – AASHTO
The states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, along with the District of Columbia, signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU on December 21 committing themselves to a “multi-jurisdictional program” to pursue
Protecting the ocean, rivers, and streams from pollution is the focus of a new online learning series for kids launched by the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Storm Water Management Program.
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast shines a light on the Transportation Research Board’s 100th annual meeting and the changes going on behind-the-scenes at TRB
The New York State Department of Transportation helped complete and fully open the 750-mile long Empire State Trail – currently the nation’s longest multi-use state trail – on December 31,
FEDERAL ACTION Updated: State DOTs Net $10B in Aid from COVID-19 Relief Legislation – AASHTO Journal The Biden Environment Team and a Government-Wide Approach to Sustainability – Earth Institute/Columbia University
Two 100 percent renewable energy contracts between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and BP Energy Company and Direct Energy LLC recently went into effect – reducing the agency’s carbon footprint
Dr. Teng Wu, Mr. Shaopeng Li, and Dr. Kallol Sett from the Institute of Bridge Engineering at University at Buffalo recently unveiled a new model to improve extreme damage “risk
FEDERAL ACTION USDOT Sec. Elaine Chao Resigns over Capitol Hill Riot – AASHTO Journal How will Pete Buttigieg sell Congress on infrastructure? – E&E News How Merrick Garland could figure
The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback the draft of the new State Active Transportation Plan through February 15 – a new plan that reflects the fact
The Oregon Department of Transportation noted in a recent blog post that landslides could increase in 2021 due to topographical damage caused by a series of devastating wildfires in 2020.
FEDERAL ACTION Energy & Sustainability: What to Expect from the 117th Congress and the Biden Administration – National Law Review Pendulum swings in Clean Water Act regulation – Capital Press
The Oregon Department of Transportation contractor has officially started work on a series of “bridge bundles” associated with the Southern Oregon Seismic Resiliency project. [Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department
Pete Buttigieg – former 2020 Democratic candidate for president and mayor of South Bend, Indiana – highlighted the importance of climate policy and active transportation needs within the Biden-Harris administration’s
FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Sets 2021 Transportation Policy Priorities – AASHTO Journal Federal court strikes down Trump administration’s rollback of Clean Air Act – Associated Press Buttigieg Sees ‘Generational Opportunity’ to
The Senate confirmed Peter Buttigieg as the 19th secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation on February 2 by a vote of 86 to 13. The Senate Committee on Commerce,
The California Department of Transportation recently finished the installation of 22 new “fast-charging” stations for electric vehicles or EVs at nine locations along the state’s highway network. [Photo courtesy of
Governor Larry Hogan (R) and the Maryland Board of Public Works recently approved contracts with two Maryland companies to make bricks, pavers, concrete highway barriers, and shoreline supports – among
Jeffrey Bennett, who leads the transit delivery division for the Office of Project Delivery within the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, discusses the role transportation plays in Black History
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Key House transportation figures win reelection – Trains Biden to Move Fast to Strike Down Trump’s Environmental Agenda
Although Florida trails other big states in government support for electric vehicle infrastructure, the Florida Department of Transportation is now taking a lead role in building out an EV recharging
State departments of transportation across of the country are looking at new and better ways to predict traffic noise levels, as well new materials for highway sound barriers, in order
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO Transportation Policy Forum Maps out Post-Election Political Landscape – AASHTO Journal USDOT Transition Team Unveiled by Incoming
In the latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Carlos Swonke – environmental affairs division director for the Texas Department of Transportation – explained how his
The South Carolina Department of Transportation noted that 1,700 of its employees picked up 13,130 bags of roadside trash weighing 209,725 pounds on November 17 in support of Lt. Gov.
The California Transportation Commission released recommendations on November 16 for a $2 billion three-year program to fund new projects to reduce traffic, improve goods movement, increase transit service, and invest
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued what it is calling a “first-of-its-kind” Pedestrian Safety Action Plan on November 23 – a plan that will be overseen by the Federal Highway Administration
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Biden to enlist Agriculture, Transportation agencies in climate fight – The Hill Telework may be the recruitment and
The Federal Highway Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation are proposing to renew Arizona’s participation in the “categorical exclusion” program for environmental impact planning purposes where federal highway projects are
The new State Climate Strategy released by the Nevada Climate Initiative on December 1 outlines how the state plans to meet “aggressive” greenhouse gas or GHG emission reduction targets over
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Biden shortlist for White House key environmental post shows focus on environmental justice – Reuters Biden Administration has
The Vermont Agency of Transportation recently awarded $500,000 in grants via the Mobility and Transportation Innovation or MTI program, which seeks to support “innovative strategies” that improve both mobility and
The Virginia Department of Transportation recently began its second major anti-littering effort on December 7 – the Beautify Virginia program – that is part of its support for keeping Virginia’s roadways litter-free.
The Transportation Research Board recently highlighted a bevy of resources available to state departments of transportation to support monarch butterfly habit and migration support efforts. [Photo courtesy of the Virginia
The Minnesota Department of Transportation unveiled its first Statewide Pedestrian System Plan, which provides policy and investment guidance to improve places where people walk across and along Minnesota highways. [Photo
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Congress Passes One-Week Extension of CR – AASHTO Journal Report urges Congress to reform surface transportation funding –
The Kansas Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback in the state’s first Active Transportation Plan or ATP in 25 years. Funding for active transportation – which refers to “human-powered”
The California Department of Transportation and its contractors are deploying a new tool to safely speed up the removal of dead, dying, and diseased trees throughout the state: Telescoping grappling
Could more accurate and consistent pavement temperature data held reduce the overuse of salt and other ice-melting chemicals during winter operations? The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to find out
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Rep. Rodney Davis Introduces Highway Funding Measure – Transport Topics A Regulatory Rush by Federal Agencies to Secure
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Meeting – held via a virtual format November 9-13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – will focus on the potential
The Georgia Department of Transportation is launching a new anti-litter campaign – called “Keep It Clean Georgia” – focused on preventing and eliminating litter along 50,000 miles of interstates and
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or NEPA for short established regulations and processes for project planning and implementation to ensure the consideration of environmental impact and sustainability from
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently wrapped up a roughly $13 million fish barrier correction project – resulting in a new 440-foot bridge that spans Kilisut Harbor along State Route 116.
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO to Examine Election Impact on Transportation at Annual Meeting – AASHTO Journal Congressional Policymakers Propose Infrastructure Resilience
The Virginia Department of Transportation recently made a major historical discovery at an old Civil War fort uncovered in the median of Interstate 64 near Williamsburg: A “witch bottle.” The
In a study published in the Journal of Structural Engineering, Texas A&M University and the University of Colorado-Boulder researchers have conducted a comprehensive damage and repair assessment of a still-to-be-implemented bridge
To determine the effectiveness of its erosion- and sediment-control techniques, the Iowa Department of Transportation recently teamed up with Iowa State University over two construction seasons to establish which ones
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
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Jannine Miller and Charles Robinson from the Georgia Department of Transportation discuss the agency’s I-85 Corridor Study and
State departments of transportation across of the country are looking at new and better ways to predict traffic noise levels, as well new materials for highway sound barriers, in order
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast, host Bernie Wagenblast interviews Toks Omishakin (at left in photo above), director of the California Department of Transportation
The COVID-19 pandemic “locked in” many places across the country in late March when a variety of local and state governments issued stay-at-home orders – many of which still remain
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION CR Secures Federal Funding, Extends FAST Act for One Year – AASHTO Journal FHWA Issuing $574M in Emergency
Efforts to “decarbonize” America’s transportation system to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions could produce widespread health benefits, according to one report, but simultaneously face major cost and technological hurdles,
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is helping “plug in” two all-electric buses into local transit routes in Bridgeport – with more on the way – as part of the agency’s
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Mobility Analytics in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic – AASHTO Journal Study: COVID-19 Changing Commuter Traffic Patterns
The U.S. Department of Transportation established October as the first-ever National Pedestrian Safety Month and, concurrently, many state departments of transportation are highlighting their efforts to improve pedestrian safety. [Photo
The New York State Department of Transportation is helping expand a series of artificial reefs off the shores of Long Island as part of a three-year long multiagency effort. In
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Congressional Transportation Leaders Back One-Year Extension of FAST Act – Transport Topics Groups to Congress: extend surface transportation
The Virginia Department of Transportation recently launched Virginia is for Lovers, Not Litter – a public outreach campaign aimed at raising awareness about Virginia’s roadway litter problem. [Photo courtesy of Virginia
Relocating a drove of rare plants from an environmentally sensitive transportation construction site is a meticulous operation – and often state departments of transportation are running the show. [Photos courtesy
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House’s Continuing Resolution Would Extend FAST Act – AASHTO Journal Ginsburg left a long environmental legacy – Politico
The 2020 annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Committee on Environment & Sustainability will take place over five virtual sessions in October. To register
A new $2.67 million project designed to boost flood resiliency at Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park in upstate New York is relying in part on storm drain system improvements being
State department of transportation crews along the Gulf Coast prepared for the arrival of two potentially dangerous storms this week – highlighting the key ways state DOTs protect critical infrastructure
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Q&A with Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao – Mass Transit Trump Reboots Obama Climate Rules by Axing Methane
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast, host Bernie Wagenblast interviews Ed Sniffen (seen above), deputy director for highways at the Hawaii Department of Transportation,
Learning and working during the COVID-19 pandemic has made connectivity to the Internet more important than ever. That is why access to broadband service across the country is becoming essential
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Court for second time strikes down Trump admin rollback of automaker penalties – The Hill Climate Change Debate
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will provide free access to electric vehicle (EV) recharging stations situated at two of its park and ride commuter lots as part of a
When combined with fire-ravaged terrain, heavy rain creates a whole new set of highway maintenance issues. [Above photo courtesy of Arizona DOT.] Take California, for starters. Already in the midst
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Groups Call for Federal Program Extension, State DOT COVID Aid – AASHTO Journal U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks
As part of the statewide focus on walking, walkable communities, and pedestrian safety, the Maryland Department of Transportation is partnering with state and local agencies, nonprofits, and communities to host
National passenger railroad Amtrak recently expanded its carry-on bike program for most Northeast Regionaldepartures; allowing customers to store their bike inside of the passenger coach in a designated space. [Above photo by Amtrak]
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Letter Calls on Congress to Make ‘Turn-Key’ Transportation Deal – AASHTO Journal Congress Returns for Fall Legislative Sprint
The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science – a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – recently issued a notice of funding opportunity for the fiscal year 2021
The Ray – a corporate venture devoted to roadway technology testing – and the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas-Austin are creating an interactive web-based tool to help
Change is in motion in the nation’s capital to see if two different modes of mobility can co-exist – at least on portions of five residential streets in Washington, D.C.
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION State DOTs Still Seeking Emergency Funding from Congress – AASHTO Journal FERC advises Congress how transmission may be
Thirty-one transportation projects from 27 state departments of transportation around the country earned regional recognition in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards competition for providing solutions that increase safety and save lives, make infrastructure more
The California Department of Transportation recently finalized and issued the last two of 12 district-based Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Reports; studies designed to create a “comprehensive database” to help Caltrans
The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality formally implemented a final rule on July 15 aimed at updating and modernizing National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA regulations. [President Trump, above left, watches Georgia DOT
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Trump Administration Formally Overhauls NEPA Rule – AASHTO Journal (See Federal Register listing below) House Transportation Panel Advances
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) recently issued a grant solicitation for new infrastructure projects to improve statewide access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. The agency noted that in
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Council on Active Transportation will host a free 90-minute long virtual peer exchange spotlighting state department of transportation efforts to support
The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently released its fourth annual Sustainability Report; a 26-page document based on 2019 data that tracks the agency’s progress towards achieving a number of sustainability
The iconic image of a smoke-belching big rig growling down the highway will slowly fade into the California sunset, replaced by a smog-free electric vehicle (EV) gently humming down the
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION AASHTO, Industry Letters Highlights Immediate Fiscal Need of State DOTs – AASHTO Journal Five things Congress can do
The California Department of Transportation recently repaved a three-lane, 1,000-foot long section of Highway 162 using recycled asphalt pavement and liquid plastic made with single-use, plastic bottles – the first
As state departments of transportation along the East Coast sharpen their disaster plans ahead of the peak point of the 2020 hurricane season – with mid-Atlantic and Northeastern state DOTs
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION COVID-19 Relief Stalls, House Passes THUD Appropriations – AASHTO Journal New DOJ Guidance Seeks to Limit Federal Enforcement
Volunteers with Klamath Wingwatchers recently helped the Oregon Department of Transportation resettle “sedges” from the Lost River Wetlands to the Lake Ewauna Trail in Klamath Falls. “Sedges” are grass-like plants
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence (CEE) is looking for state assistance in updating the contents of its Programmatic Agreement Library or PAL
One impact from COVID-19 pandemic being felt by state departments of transportation is the temporary cessation of “traditional” face-to-face public meetings to discuss upcoming transportation projects – with most of
The California Department of Transportation plan to invest an extra $100 million into active transportation projects aims to build more non-motorized links between neighboring communities that, for years, have been
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House Passes Fiscal 2021 Transportation Funding Bill – Transport Topics At EPA, coronavirus disrupts research and raises questions
The Alabama Department of Transportation is launching an anti-litter campaign entitled “Trash Costs Cash.” The campaign will use television, radio stations, and social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube
The U.S. population has reached 331 million people within nature’s boundary of 2.43 billion acres. To transportation officials, those big numbers point to a density increase in many parts of
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION EPA Narrows States’ Veto Power Over Infrastructure Projects – Bloomberg Law (see Federal Register Notices below) 23 states
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a 59-page document that provides Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial or SLTT officials – along with those of private sector and non-governmental
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) has set forth an aggressive goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050 for the state – and the New Jersey Department of
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast, host Bernie Wagenblast interviews Margaret Anderson Kelliher, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, about her state’s perspectives
There may be a new mammal vying for the title of man’s best friend – and a new study is looking into how Texas Department of Transportation bridges may be
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House T&I Releases Five-Year $494B Surface Transportation Bill – AASHTO Journal AASHTO’s Statement on House Surface Transportation Bill
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule on June 1 that it said increases the transparency and efficiency of the Clean Water Act Section 401 certification process in order
As the Texas Department of Transportation works its way through a three-year study to determine why bats make their homes in certain types roadway bridges and culverts, other states are
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION As EPA Steps Back, States Face Wave Of Requests For Environmental Leniency – NPR With transportation’s future unclear,
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is holding an Environmental Justice Virtual Peer Exchange on July 10. Hosted by the Center for Environmental Excellence at AASHTO, the
Effectively managing a state transportation department is hard enough. Leading a state DOT through a crisis is tougher. But what about when two disasters hit simultaneously? Dr. Shawn Wilson, secretary
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House T&I Advances Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill – AASHTO Journal Federal judge denies Democratic AGs’ bid to halt
The Maine Department of Transportation recently provided a behind-the-scenes look at its ongoing efforts to control brush along selected state roads via an “integrated” strategy that marries the use of
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 or MBTA – which guides the evaluation of bird nesting areas and flight paths in order to avoid “taking” of the creature’s lives
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House Wraps Surface Transportation Bill into Infrastructure Package – AASHTO Journal Judge: EPA Has No Duty to Periodically
State departments of transportation may soon be forced to adapt to changing rules surrounding the protection of migratory birds within transportation construction projects. As noted in part one of this
The Florida Department of Transportation is about to be one of the biggest electric vehicle (EV) market cheerleaders in the country. The Essential State Infrastructure law signed by Governor Ron
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION House Passes $1.5T Infrastructure Package – AASHTO Journal House Climate Report Urges Transit Expansion, VMT Study – AASHTO
The House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis unveiled a broad 547-page plan on June 30 that includes among its recommendations that Congress fund a “massive expansion of
Governor Steve Sisolak (D) announced a new initiative in mid-June that crafts new regulations to spur the broader adoption of more low- and zero-emission electric-powered passenger cars and trucks across
Florida plans to invest $8.6 million to strengthen its electric vehicle or EV infrastructure – part of $166 million worth of funds coming to the state from the Volkswagen (VW)
The key role birds, bees, and insects play in agricultural propagation is typically celebrated once a year during events such as Pollinator Week. But for many state departments of transportation,
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Wicker, Bennet Introduce American Infrastructure Bonds Act – Y’all Politics EPA wants to help cities keep their transit
Washington state has zipped beyond its goal of having 50,000 plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) registered by 2020, thanks in part to the Washington State Department of Transportation, which plays a
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration is launching a pilot education program with Living Classrooms Foundation that will encourage activities to reduce pollution to Maryland waterways and the
What is TERI? The Transportation and Environmental Research Ideas (TERI) database is a central storehouse for tracking and sharing new transportation and environmental research ideas. The Center for Environmental Excellence
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! AASHTO NEWS Second Step Taken
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! FEDERAL ACTION Transit advocates want
During the many years that the Nevada Department of Transportation redefined and developed its recycled asphalt pavement program, Changlin “Charlie” Pan – the agency’s chief material engineer – believes several
The inaugural episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast includes an interview with Allie Kelly executive director of The Ray – a corporate venture devoted to roadway
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently made recordings available of its weekly series of COVID-19 “virtual panels” held in April. The AASHTO Committee on Transportation System
The charismatic and familiar Monarch Butterfly serves as a “flagship species” for pollinator conservation – and a new report from the Transportation Research Board examines how transportation industry stakeholders can
Colorado is embarking on an ambitious program to have 940,000 electric vehicles (EVs) registered by 2030, and the Colorado Department of Transportation is tasked with helping to lead the charge
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! FEDERAL ACTION Senate Committee Approves
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Ranchers, conservation groups unhappy with the new clean water rule, but for different reasons – NM Political Report
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement or CMAQ program offered via the Federal Highway Administration provides funding to state and local governments for transportation projects and programs that reduce
The Oregon Department of Transportation is approaching the end of a multi-year environmental and public relations ordeal in which a seemingly routine herbicide-spraying project in a national forest poisoned 2,300
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals FEDERAL ACTION Outdoor Industry groups call on Congress to invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure – KSL Virginia, Maryland, D.C. to
A webinar series sponsored by Smart Growth America is examining virtual public engagement practices for community outreach, examining a range of online platforms, as well as email and social media,
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is looking at a range of studies that examine how the potential for sea level rise (SLR) due to climate change could impact transportation infrastructure.
As transportation-fueled greenhouse gas emission concerns rise across the country, wholesale deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) still faces roadblocks as advocates try to develop an expensive infrastructure to support EVs
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Committee on Transportation System Security is sponsoring a series of “virtual panel discussions” to help state department of transportation leaders stay
Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! FEDERAL REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION Transportation Investment Touted For Post-Coronavirus Recovery – AASHTO JournalPelosi says
A “historic agreement” finalized between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Illinois-Chicago on April 8 will encourage transportation and energy firms to voluntarily participate in monarch
To increase recreational use on public lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed on April 2 a new set of regulations governing the use of electric bicycles or e-bikes
As the novel coronavirus shuts down most personal interactions across the country, state departments of transportation are witnessing a transportation shift – rush hour is gone, passenger vehicles are gathering
Imagine a massive highway project in a highly populated area that calls for the removal of several clusters of homes. Or the closing of a community gathering spot or other
COVID-19 AASHTO Asks Congress for $50 Billion in COVID-19 Relief Aid for State DOTs – AASHTO News Coronavirus: Flagler County officials worried about $6 million dune restoration funding – The
A roundup of headlines curated for state transportation environmental professionals Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! HOT TOPICS ‘Hole in the
Climate change and the swirling air of unpredictability around its effects are creating new challenges for transportation officials: dealing with damage from extreme storms that can plague the Midwest, the
What does it mean to be “net zero” in the transportation world today? When talking about carbon emissions, it refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions
The Transportation Research Board recently issued a National Cooperative Highway Research Program report that explores how “unique tribal perspectives and expertise” could boost tribal engagement in a variety of surface
In recognition of the Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is releasing a two-part series entitled Recycling, Transportation and You. Produced by Transportation
The idea of tackling sustainability from a state department of transportation perspective can evoke as many questions as ideas; what should be done, who should do it, and how can
Imagine a highway that uses technology to track motor vehicles along an18-mile span ― that uses existing vehicle infrastructure to transmit radio data, as well as rest areas with testing
NEPA Proposed changes in environmental review hit home in Taos – Taos NewsOp-ed: Environmental racism in action – Environmental Health NewsFarm Bureau Backs Proposal for More Efficient and Effective NEPA Rules
The idea of tackling sustainability from a state department of transportation perspective can evoke as many questions as ideas; what should be done, who should do it, and how can
Tell us what you think of the new ETAP Newsletter by taking this short survey! NEPA NEPA revisions continue with senators’ support – Alaska Journal of Commerce Federal Court Decision
The idea of tackling sustainability from a state department of transportation perspective can evoke as many questions as ideas: what should be done, who should do it, and how can
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement or FEIS for the Honoapi‘ilani Highway improvements project. [Above image by Hawaii DOT] That $298 million project seeks
Sidewalks and other active transportation infrastructure are getting upgrades in three Montana communities from the Montana Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Montana DOT] In the towns of Bridger
A new microtransit program funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation is experiencing strong ridership across its service area; signaling early success for an on-demand public transit service only
The latest episode of the “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast details how federal grant money will help the Michigan Department of Transportation fund a study of wildlife crossings to better protect
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently launched a noise detection pilot program that will install noise detection cameras on several key roadways across the island of Oahu. [Above photo by
The Michigan Department of Transportation wants the public to weigh in on which state-owned pedestrian bridges in the metropolitan Detroit area should be prioritized for rehabilitation, reconstruction, or consolidation. [Above
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently highlighted how its mitigation work ahead of wildfire season helped keep traffic moving and reduced impacts when the Aubrey Fire closed OR 58 near
The Florida Department of Transportation is wrapping up a $117 million secant seawall project to protect parts of the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, a major coastal road, from future hurricane
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently issued a new Statewide Transportation Trails Strategic Plan that will help map out a “safe, accessible, and connected trail network” for communities across the
The latest episode of the “Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Tziporah Feldman, policy and research director for Scenic America; a national nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to preserving
The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” littler prevention campaign spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation received six awards from the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America or PRSA.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is giving the oldest continuously running ferry service in the country a modern-day makeover to improve safety and accessibility. [Above image via the CTDOT]
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently issued a total of $15.8 million to support 15 active transportation projects statewide via its Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program or SWCCP, named
Huge girders stretching across I-17 near Flagstaff, AZ, will soon support a safe elk and deer overpass through the forest and above motor vehicle traffic – all while protecting travelers
A regional planning initiative led by the Centralina Regional Council in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division recently earned national recognition for its work to
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a four-page comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the agency’s ongoing effort to “modernize and streamline”
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor or LMRC improvement project that seeks to turn part of an abandoned rail line into an
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently issued $17.3 million in grants to 11 local projects aimed at improving air quality along parts of the Front Range region of the state.
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Michael Perez – Brasfield & Gorrie associate professor of civil engineering at Auburn University — discussing the multi-dimensional world
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has partnered with four island counties to help deliver a dozen all-electric, zero-emission buses that are projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or USACE commenting on the agency’s proposal to reissue and modify nationwide permits or
The Georgia Department of Transportation recently received a plaque honoring its donation of 136 acres of land to Georgia’s Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park; one of the state’s most significant
The Washington, D.C., Department of Transportation (DDOT) recently helped kick off a pilot project to support the use of electric bicycles or e-bikes for a mobile application-based food delivery across
The Maine Department of Transportation is filling the gap – literally – to help active transportation advocates complete a 16-mile multi-purpose trail for pedestrians and bicyclists in southern Maine. [Above
The Illinois Department of Transportation said it has entered “peak mowing season” for roadways statewide, with the heaviest mowing period to continue until August 15. [Above photo by Illinois DOT]
The Colorado Department of Transportation has published a draft of an updated Statewide Active Transportation Plan that seeks to beef up safety and convenience for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others engaged
The Montana Department of Transportation recently highlighted community outreach initiatives it regularly engages in to promote safe bicycling practices statewide. [Above photo by Montana DOT] Through various programs and events,
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently implemented a Road Usage Charge or RUC for light-duty passenger electric vehicles or EVs on July 1, following a federally funded three-year research and
In 2018, the Washington State Department of Transportation improved two intersections along State Road 500 in Vancouver, WA, reducing crashes by 70 percent – but those safety changes left some
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently released its first ever statewide Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan; a document that agency calls a “bold roadmap” for reducing transportation emissions and
Texas is full of unique and historic sites, but one stop in Rusk County is a literal “throne” from the past – a unique outhouse that has survived for decades
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently issued $1.25 million in grants to three projects as part of the initial phase of its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the 2024-2025 president of the American Association of State
The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to mine three million cubic yards of rock from a 33-acre site in the Pisgah National Forest to help rebuild parts of I-40
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is encouraging municipal, county, and tribal governments to join efforts to enhance the state’s natural beauty through the agency’s ¡Que Linda! beautification grant program.
The Utah Department of Transportation is soliciting public feedback through June 24 on potential alignments for a paved multi-use trail from the town of Enoch to Cedar City in the
The Vermont Agency of Transportation – known as “VTrans” – seeks grant applications for infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. [Above photo by VTrans] The
The Oregon Department of Transportation said its POINT intercity bus service has joined with two other state transit agencies – Lane Transit District and TriMet – in transitioning from operating buses on
Hoosiers spoke, the Indiana Department of Transportation listened, and now there are another 187 miles in the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS portfolio of roads, multi-use paths, and bike
In this episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast, Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – explains
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued more than $14.8 million through its fiscal year 2025 Community Transit Grant Program or CTGP to municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities,
During the environmental review for the Loop 88 highway project outside Lubbock, TX, planners with the Texas Department of Transportation made an interesting discovery – and promptly called in one
This summer, the Ohio Department of Transportation will help distribute roughly 13,000 bicycle helmets to children statewide via the “Put A Lid On It” campaign – a statewide effort to
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently launched two new regards programs via its Commuter Choice Maryland initiative, which is designed to lessen traffic congestion statewide while also reducing vehicle emissions.
On a recent episode of the “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources discussed efforts to implement a pilot program for analyzing
Six years ago, construction crews were preparing to remove a set of trees from alongside a highway project overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation. That is, until the agency
The Maryland Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for up to $2 million worth of grant funding for bicycle infrastructure projects through May 26 statewide. [Above photo by Maryland
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently commented on a request for information issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding its “Waters of the United States”
The Michigan Department of Transportation is currently seeking public input on a draft of its North Region Active Transportation Plan, which will highlight current and proposed nonmotorized connections throughout the
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently awarded more than $26,000 in state funded grants to support tree plantings in 12 communities. [Above photo by the Maryland DOT] That funding comes
A pair of 10-foot-tall hand-carved Native American-themed “welcome poles” were recently installed in the passenger walkway at the Washington State Ferries (WSF) Bainbridge Island terminal. [Above photo by WSDOT] According
From mid-April through late June this year, the Illinois Department of Transportation will host 18 workshops statewide to help local governments and communities learn about a variety of funding opportunities
In late March, an electric aircraft charger was used to power up an all-electric airplane for the very first time in North Carolina at the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford-Lee
A new video highlights the wood reclamation program established by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C.; a program that turns trees cut down, due to
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Ted Boling, who discusses recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and the removal of regulations
When the Utah Department of Transportation built a wildlife bridge over the new Interstate 15 in 1975 near Beaver, it literally wasn’t front-page news. It merited only a brief mention
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the Monarch Butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued $1.2 million in grants via its Rural Intercity Bus Connections program. [Above photo by MassDOT] The agency said this initiative aims to enhance
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently helped the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority or MWRTA acquire three new compressed natural gas or CNG-powered buses. Built by GILLIG, those buses will be
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a letter to Paul Souza, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), regarding the agency’s proposal to
As warmer weather begins to take root, so too will noxious weeds that could damage transportation infrastructure and potentially reduce roadway visibility. That’s why Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway crews are
As the weather turns warm, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is reemphasizing the goals of its Nobody Trashes Tennessee campaign to state residents: Get outside and do your part to keep roadways
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently revealed the winners of 2024-2025 “Bike Rack Grants,” awarded via its Safe Routes to School or SRTS Program. Now in its second year, this
During the week of March 10, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to burn wood piles comprised of dead and diseased trees removed by the agency’s maintenance crews stretches of
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently published its first ‘Safe Routes to School’ or SRTS Strategic Action Plan; a blueprint for helping more students statewide walk, bike, and roll to
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Shawn Wilson, Sr. (above) – vice president-national highway business line leader for transportation and infrastructure at WSP – discussing
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently created a new grant program to advance development projects near transit stations; a program that aims to spur economic activity and increase connectivity in
In March, the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to hold a week-long “deep dive” program for high schoolers to learn more about careers in state government and the transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation is planning to host its 34th “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” conference February 26 and 27. [Above image by Illinois DOT] Sponsored by the agency’s Office
The West Virginia Department of Transportation recently started work on a major facility renovation project for Mountain State Transit Authority or MTA that includes overhauling the MTA’s headquarters and bus
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently received an additional $3 million from the state legislature to fund expanded litter pickup and removal efforts along major federal highways statewide.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently noted that 10 cities statewide are receiving grants via its Active Transportation Planning Assistance program to help them increase the number of residents walking
The Washington State Department of Transportation is launching a new program in April designed to make electrically-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” more affordable to state residents. [Above photo by WSDOT] WSDOT’s
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is seeking public comment through February 24 on the draft of a new “Programmatic Agreement” with several modal administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is going to use federal grant funds to help the town of Wake Forest design and build a “mobility hub,” which will serve as
The Oregon Transportation Commission recently approved 28 Safe Routes to School projects, with a total investment exceeding $31 million, to help make travel safer for students within a two-mile radius of
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $44.5 million in grants to 14 projects in 13 states and Puerto Rico via its Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program or ATIIP. [Above image
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation added roughly 15 miles of new shared use paths in 2024; expanding multimodal connectivity and opportunities for recreation statewide while also enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist
The Federal Highway Administration issued $635 million in grants this week to 49 projects that support the ongoing effort to build out a national electric vehicle or EV charging and
The Michigan Department of Transportation is leveraging a grant to transform unused land near an interstate rest area into a 14-acre scenic strip of tallgrass prairie designed to attract pollinators.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, known as MAPA, recently received a $2 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to launch the
The Washington State Department of Transportation is putting the finishing touches on a two-year fish passage project at Purdy Creek near Gig Harbor along State Route 16, which will help salmon migrate
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently initiated litter prevention campaigns targeted at elementary through high school students. [Above image via Oklahoma DOT] MoDOT began
The Oregon Department of Transportation plans to build the first wildlife overcrossing of Interstate 5 in the wildlife-rich Mariposa Preserve in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, thanks to a $33.2
A new research partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation and the state’s three public universities seeks to help the agency stay at the forefront of innovation, nurture a new
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently completed construction of the $15.7 million Leeward Bikeway; a dedicated bikeway within the former Oahu Railway & Land Company right-of-way between Philippine Sea Road
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics recently began re-using paint typically discarded by the agency’s testing laboratory for re-striping local airport runways. [Above photo by the ITD] ITD’s Central
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently announced a $100 million investment to enhance the resiliency of 551 lane miles of state highway in 70 locations across New York that are being
The fourth annual “No Trash November” cleanup event spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation removed nearly 70,000 pounds of litter from state roadways and waterways in 2024. [Above photo
The Maine Department of Transportation recently launched a new online resource aimed at cataloging its roadway safety efforts while buttressing the agency’s overall vision of a safe and equitable transportation
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently submitted a detailed six-page letter to the Federal Highway Administration commenting on the agency’s proposed revisions to “Procedures for Abatement
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released its “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition,” which provides information on the planning, design, and operation
The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded nearly $10.5 million in grants to support the development and preservation of affordable housing near public transit in communities across the country. [Above photo
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued $3 billion in grants via its Clean Ports Program to 55 port projects across 27 states and U.S. territories. [Above image by EPA]
The Utah Department of Transportation is conducting an environmental study that will evaluate the use of tolling and enhanced bus service to address winter-time traffic congestion management on state route
On a road trip one October afternoon about eight years ago, John Maresh stopped for lunch in Sonora, TX, and was greeted by massive, shimmering orange and black waves of
Three New Mexican state agencies – the New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico Department of Tourism, and New Mexico Department of the Environment – recently awarded a total of
In part one of this article, John Maresh – a biologist and environmental specialist for the Texas Department of Transportation – related how a drive along Interstate 10 during Monarch
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $3 million via its new Transportation Management Associations or TMA grant program to support 18 projects that encourage alternative transportation options, reduce
The most recent episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast examines how cadaver dogs can play a key role in identifying buried remains and culturally sensitive artifacts during transportation projects.
The California Department of transportation recently issued a newly-developed Wildlife Connectivity Report, which identifies more than 140 locations where roadways can be better integrated with the migration needs of animals
The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a $14.3 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant or CPRG to Delaware to build medium and heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) recharging infrastructure along the stretch
The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently introduced a new “trash patch” for Girl and Boy Scout troops that conduct litter cleanups in their communities. [Above image by Tennessee DOT] Launched
To making crossing the street easier for those with disabilities, the Utah Department of Transportation is installing radar-enabled crosswalk buttons at select intersections statewide. [Above photo via Utah DOT] Specifically,
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is distributing more than $36 million in Transportation Alternatives Program or TAP funding to 43 local projects that encompass sidewalks, safe-routes-to-school, pedestrian and bicycle trails,
The Oregon Department of Transportation has created an online “State of the System” dashboard to highlight the department’s activities, goals, and progress in areas such as safety, equity, and mobility.
Utah Clean Cities is excited to announce the official launch of ChargeWest™, the West Electric Highway project. This groundbreaking initiative will transform transportation across eight states in the Intermountain West
As the U.S. prepares to establish new climate goals (or nationally determined contributions – NDCs), the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland has released a new comprehensive
The Federal Highway Administration, along with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, recently issued a Request for Information or RFI regarding electric vehicle (EV) charging technologies and infrastructure needs for medium-
The Maryland Department of Transportation is currently developing what it calls a “landmark action plan” to improve and expand trail connectivity statewide. The agency said this plan will guide future
Earlier this week the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released NCHRP Research Report 1117: On-Bridge Stormwater Treatment Practices – A Guide, from the Transportation Research Board’s National Cooperative
A recent two-part series on “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast illustrated how state departments of transportation are working to minimize the impact of roadway noise. [Above image by AASHTO] “The
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – a division of Massachusetts Department of Transportation – recently signed off on a $54 million plan to introduce battery-electric multiple unit or BEMU trains
August 27, 2024 Today, FHWA released the details of the Low-Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This NOFO is open to eligible non-State Departments of Transportation including
The Utah Department of Transportation is recycling old concrete on the site of its Bangerter Highway project to help build the highway’s new interchanges. [Above photo by Utah DOT] “In
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and volunteer-based education organization Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) recently announced the 2024-2025 cohort of “Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania” – a program launched by the agency
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently awarded $26.5 million to 11 state ports to help them electrify their operations. [Above photo by WSDOT] These are the first awards through
The Utah Department of Transportation is using Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR technology as a design tool to improve safety at intersections, specifically for pedestrians and bicyclists. [Above image
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently distributed $1.4 million in grants to 14 school districts and community groups to get more children to safely walk and bike to school. [Above
In a recent blog post, the Iowa Department of Transportation explained the long-term reasons why more than 140,000 mussels were relocated in 2016 from the waterway around a then-new Mississippi
Representatives of state departments of transportation discussed their environmental stewardship efforts during a special panel discussion at the Transportation and Climate Symposium hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation at
The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently adopted a new traffic signal policy that aims to boost pedestrian safety. [Above photo by NCDOT] The new NCDOT policy states that, as
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) – a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation – and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) recently forged a new agreement that allows rail commuters with
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently outlined in a blog post how it helped transform an old railroad line and bridge in the city of Dixon, IL, into a trail
The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – recently unveiled a new tool designed to prioritize transportation projects that further California’s climate, safety, and equity goals in relation
A recent blog post detailed the critical roadside vegetation management work conducted by “agronomists” at the Alabama Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Alabama DOT] An “agronomist” is a
The Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO recently released a highlight video about the “Reconnecting Communities Summit,” held in St. Paul, MN, in October 2023, which featured presentations by national
In a recent blog post, the Texas Department of Transportation detailed the lessons learned from a field training exercise the agency conducted for select staff from its West Texas District
The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Douglas Kolwaite, environmental program manager with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, discussing how to
Crews from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently picked up more than 76 tons of roadside litter in one week, earning the department the 2024 Outstanding State Agency
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation recently helped host a ribbon-cutting event at the Route 117 Park & Ride in Warwick to celebrate Rhode Island becoming the first state in
The New Mexico Department of Transportation has launched a new grant program to support the development and implementation of local beautification programs, especially for roadway trash removal efforts. [Above photo
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently kicked off its statewide mowing campaign, which will continue until August 15; an effort the agency said plays a key role in its pollinator
The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to start work on a new project on July 8 that will help re-establish fish habitat in the Pilchuck River along State Route 92 near
The South Carolina Department of Transportation, in collaboration with Dominion Energy and the Town of Sullivan’s Island, recently helped revamp a 2024 utility project to eliminate the need to remove
A recent Illinois Department of Transportation blog post provided an inside look at how the agency manages roadside vegetation along state roads and rest areas – work that is the
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is helping create habitats for the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators through the U.S. postal service; mailing packs of milkweed seeds to any state resident
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – discusses the role of the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is making travel near one of the nation’s most popular national parks a little easier for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities. [Above photo
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued $7.8 million in grants to 17 projects across the country via its Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility or ICAM pilot program to help improve public transportation
The Federal Highway Administration awarded 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards or EEAs to several state departments of transportation projects and programs. [Above photo by NCDOT] Those awards are being handed out
The Federal Highway Administration has unveiled a second notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for electric vehicle or EV charging and alternative fuel vehicle or AFV infrastructure projects along designated highways,
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued some $37 million through two separate state grant programs to support regional public transportation providers. [Above photo by MassDOT] The agency said this
The Maine Department of Transportation has applied for a $456 million federal grant to help construct what the agency bills as the East Coast’s first floating offshore wind port on
The latest “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast – produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation – interviewed Julie Clark, chief executive officer for the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation or TART Trails advocacy
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state. [Above
On May 14, the New Mexico Department of Transportation launched its inaugural Small Business Training and Resources or “STAR” program; a 14-week course designed to provide support and resources for
The Utah Department of Transportation recently launched a new volunteer litter removal program called “Keeping Utah Beautiful” – a program designed to make it easy for members of the public
The Utah Department of Transportation unveiled its 2024 construction plan, which encompasses 209 projects with a total value of $2.74 billion. Many of those projects include critical active transportation components,
The White House Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ recently finalized reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA that implement permitting efficiencies laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility
The Utah Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $148 million in grants to 16 port projects in 11 states and Puerto Rico via the first round of a new $400 million program
Pete Buttigieg, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, headlined a recent groundbreaking event for the Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project; a 218-mile high-speed, all-electric, zero-emission rail line that will
The 2024 CHDV Notice of Funding Opportunity is now open. Click below to learn more about how to prepare for this funding opportunity – https://www.epa.gov/clean-heavy-duty-vehicles-program/clean-heavy-duty-vehicles-grant-program. About the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently launched a new autonomous all-electric passenger shuttle pilot program that will augment the existing Wiki Wiki shuttle bus service at the Daniel K. Inouye
Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule implements new permitting efficiencies included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act; includes additional reforms to improve federal permitting processes WASHINGTON — As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s all-of-government
FHWA is announcing the second funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is
The Michigan Department of Transportation has launched a statewide household travel survey, dubbed “MI Travel Counts,” to help the agency determine how travel behavior has changed over the past decade;
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $23.6 million in Thriving Communities Program or TCP grants to three national “capacity builders” and six regional providers that will provide roughly 112 communities – including
The Biden-Harris Administration today announced nearly $830 million in grant awards for 80 projects nationwide.
The Nobody Trashes Tennessee litter prevention campaign operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation has expanded its youth group partnerships with the addition of all six Boy Scouts of America councils
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is moving forward with the first phase of an effort to expand electric vehicle or EV infrastructure statewide. [Above photo by Oklahoma DOT] The agency
For the first time in 12 years since its initial adoption by the State Transportation Commission, the Michigan Department of Transportation is reviewing the state’s “Complete Streets” policy. [Above image
Across the country, state departments of transportation are investing in a variety of landscaping projects to help transportation infrastructure become more “eco-supportive” of native habitats. [Above photo by TxDOT] For
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is gearing up for its annual “Spring Litter Sweep” event, to be held April 13-27 statewide. [Above photo by NCDOT] The Spring Litter Sweep
The Virginia Department of Transportation said it has allocated $11.3 million in federal funding to assist in the statewide construction of electric vehicle or EV charging stations. [Above photo by
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded more than $3.3 billion via its Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood Access and Equity (RCN) discretionary grant program to 132 infrastructure projects in 41
The Federal Highway Administration has officially launched its Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program, which aims to lower air pollution – specifically greenhouse gas or GHG emissions – via “reimbursement and
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is transforming how New York City children get to school, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and producing cleaner air for our communities.
The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – recently unveiled a new “equity tool” designed to ensure all state residents benefit from the agency’s transportation projects. The tool
The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – is the first of a two-part series exploring effective
More than 130 communities in 41 states and Washington, DC will benefit from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding to stitch back communities by capping highways, adding new transit routes, adding sidewalks, bridges, bike lanes and more
Governor Wes Moore (D), the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Transit Administration (MDTA) recently launched a “Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program” at the MDTA’s Kirk Bus division in Baltimore,
The Hawaii Department of Transportation officially opened its first electric vehicle or EV charging station partially funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program on February 28. [Above
Governor Andy Beshear (D) and Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, along with several state and local officials, recently gathered at the Circle K convenience store and filling station in Richmond,
The Federal Highway Administration recently made $250 million available, over five years, in competitive grants to support multimodal solutions that reduce vehicular traffic and air pollution in heavily congested metropolitan
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation or JOET – jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy – has issued $46.5 million in grants
The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast – formerly the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast – features Craig Thompson, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently noted that its “Adopt a Highway” volunteers continued to make a big difference in terms of litter cleanup along state highways in 2023. [Above
The morning and afternoon commutes along Interstate 95 in southwest Connecticut will still be a little congested, but maybe a little quieter, thanks to “quiet pavement” the Connecticut Department of
The Tennessee Department of Transportation received the 2023 Pollinator Roadside Management Award from the North American Pollinator Partnership Campaign for its efforts to enact pollinator-friendly roadside practices statewide. [Above photo
Fourteen state departments of transportation are plugging into more than $141 million in Federal Highway Administration grants to repair or replace thousands of electric vehicle or EV charging ports via
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video about a knowledge session held at its 2023 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis that detailed ways transportation agencies
Via its Emergency Relief Program, the Federal Highway Administration is providing $729.4 million to 34 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to support repairs
Eight cities across Minnesota are set to receive grants from the Active Transportation Planning Assistance program, which is managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Minnesota
The Federal Highway Administration recently awarded nearly $150 million to 24 grant recipients in 20 states to make existing electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure more reliable. [Above photo by
The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently published an online map marking the locations for the first batch of electric vehicle or EV charging stations funded through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is engaged in a broad effort to develop environmentally-friendly solutions that reduce plastic waste from entering the natural environment; particularly where infrastructure projects are concerned.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has identified the states doing the most to fight climate change, promote equity, increase active mobility, and improve sustainability through their transportation policies and
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation noted it built and opened approximately 20 miles of shared use paths in 2023, while also expanding multimodal connectivity and opportunities for recreation statewide as
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently formed the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee or TTAC to provide insight to the agency regarding how to support and implement “innovations.” [Above photo by
The Washington State Department of Transportation is wrapping up a project aimed at deterring debris flows along U.S. 2/Stevens Pass Highway from “burn scars” left behind by the 2022 Bolt
The final episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series interviews key transportation officials about the ways to make mobility systems across the United States more
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently provided feedback to the Environmental Protection Agency on its proposal to address the “unreasonable risk of injury to human health
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently saluted the 12 student winners of its 2023 Adopt-A-Highway Art Contest; winners were chosen from a pool of 900 entries statewide from students aged five
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $110 million in grants to 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 states, including four projects overseen by Native American tribes. [Above photo by the
To help honor and preserve Native American history in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation recently highlighted the cultural resources it developed to further bolster its relationship with the 28
The Oregon Department of Transportation is spending $1.75 million to help companies, schools, apartment building owners, small towns, and other groups build 370 new public Level 2 electric vehicle or
The Utah Department of Transportation plans to double the state’s current fast charging capacity for electric vehicles by the end of 2024 with the addition of 15 new sites funded
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued a finalized performance measurement rule to provide state departments of transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations with a “national framework” for tracking transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions GHGs,
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is encouraging businesses, municipalities, and nonprofits to purchase or lease electric fleet vehicles by offering up to $5,000 in rebates for each plug-in EV
The third episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on the crucial connections required between planners, policymakers, and local communities to make active transportation systems more
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently completed a long-awaited project aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions along the Green River in western Wyoming. [Above image by Wyoming DOT] The agency released
ReConnect Rondo, a local grassroots organization in St. Paul, MN, hosted the first “Reconnecting Communities Summit” on October 11-14, as part of a broader national effort to open a dialogue
This article first appeared on the Electric School Bus Initiative website As more electric school buses hit the road, district officials and school transportation providers are deciding how these new
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is helping support the launch of the state’s first electric aircraft charging hub in early 2024 at Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford; a hub
One of the newest “next generation” highway rest areas built and maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation also doubles as a museum of Native American culture. [Above photo by
In a recent blog post, the Washington State Department of Transportation detailed how it is building sustainability into the I-405/NE 85th St Interchange and Inline Bus Rapid Transit or BRT
Business integration firm Critical Ops will be hosting a Transportation Emergency Management and Security Summit & Exchange November 15-16 in Washington D.C. to share insights, best practices, and lessons learned
Cities and local agencies throughout California recently received $114.5 million in grants to help fund 60 litter removal as well as neighborhoods and public space beautification projects. [Above photo by
The second episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on the crucial connections required between planners, policymakers, and local communities in order to make
The Iowa Department of Transportation recently detailed in a blog post the “balancing act” required in order to minimize the impact of road and bridge construction projects on the environment.
Following its first meeting in late September, a revived U.S. Department of Transportation equity advisory committee plans to recommend new federal policies and practices aimed at making transportation systems more
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is helping support – in concert with various federal, state, and local agencies – the new “Gotham Greens” off-road multi-use path along the Woonasquatucket
Now through November 3, the Federal Highway Administration will be accepting nominations for its 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards or EEA program. [Above image via FHWA] Since the program started in
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently announced $165 million in new funding is available to support community-based investments designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of local and regional
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently submitted a six-page comment letter to the Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ regarding proposed revisions to the National Environmental
The Arizona Department of Transportation and its “Adopt a Highway” volunteer program recently conducted a roadway trash cleanup event; collecting 214 bags worth of litter from along state highways across
Officials from the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – among others – recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the
The latest episode of the AASHTO re:source podcast sits down with the Colorado Department of Transportation to gain insights into how the implements Environmental Product Declaration or EPD requirements for materials used
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $4.575 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently completed a Revitalizing Main Streets or RMS grant project in partnership with the City of Leadville and the Leadville Main Street Program or LMSP
The first episode of a four-part Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast series focuses on building an equitable transportation system. [Above photo by ReConnect Rondo] The ETAP podcast –
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
The Michigan Department of Transportation is making it easier for Michigan residents to catch a ride on a bus, rideshare, bicycle, or scooter through its Michigan Mobility Wallet Challenge, a
A suite of new online resources will help Oregon planners and decision makers deploy electric vehicle charging projects that are equitable, cost-effective, and will meet local needs while supporting statewide goals for electrifying transportation.
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
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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a series of settlements with companies that had illegally sold “defeat device” products throughout the United States that altered vehicle emissions control systems.
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
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
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced a total of $196 million going to 59 Tribal, state, and local governments that will fix or remove 169 culvert barriers to improve fish passage.
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
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
On August 10, 2023, EPA announced the availability of approximately $50 million in grants through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant (OSG) Program.
A recent video from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet illustrates how it worked with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and other state agencies on a “debris-to-mulch” project that turned thousands
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast features Becky Bradley (above at left), executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission or LVPC, to highlight
The Washington Department of Transportation recently devoted a blog post to 79-year-old Paul Hampton, who has been cleaning up debris along state roadways as an Adopt-A-Highway volunteer for the last
A recent video posted by the Georgia Department of Transportation details how the agency is helping “rejuvenate” a rare species of vegetation commonly known as the “Pitcher Plant” along State
The Federal Transit Administration plans to award $20 million to 47 communities to help improve public transportation options in areas that are experiencing, in the agency’s words, “long-term economic distress.” [Above image
A comment letter sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation on June 29 outlines how the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and its members are working to
The U.S. Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, released a new free technical resource to help larger
A recent blog post from the Washington Department of Transportation illustrated the important connections between the sciences of archeology and transportation infrastructure construction. [Above photo of Jason Cooper by WSDOT]
The Climate Policy Database provides one of the country’s most detailed snapshots of state-led climate action to date.
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
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP podcast digs into the innovative stormwater management practices of the Washington State Department of Transportation. [Above photo of Tony
The Maryland Department of Transportation is “branching out” in its commitment to support the state’s goal of planting five million trees over the next eight years with initiatives that should
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently helped provide some $11.6 million in funding through the MassTrails Grant Program to support 68 trail improvement projects statewide. [Above photo via MassDOT] Those projects seek
Two bonus episodes of the AASHTO re:source podcast follow up with different perspectives on the recent “plastic roads” project initiated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. [Above image by Hawaii
The Adventure Cycling Association recently announced major expansions to the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS, including three completely new routes and a connection from Alaska to the lower 48
A recent video produced by the Oregon Department of Transportation provides insights into the importance of “culturally modified trees” or CMTs and how states need to treat them, especially during
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics wants to get its 76 public use airports ready for alternatively powered aircraft and the fuels they use. [Above photo by the
The Transportation and Environmental Research Ideas (TERI) database is a central storehouse for tracking and sharing new transportation and environmental research ideas. Suggestions for new ideas are welcome from practitioners across the transportation and environmental community.
Governor Laura Kelly (D) and Calvin Reed, acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation, recently announced more than $11 million will be awarded to 14 local transportation construction projects
The newest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast focuses on the historic bridge inventory, evaluation, and preservation plan put together by the Ohio Department of Transportation
The Utah Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Steering Committee recently met for the first time; a group created by the state legislature to help guide Utah’s installation of infrastructure that is
A team of University of Minnesota researchers recently wrapped up a study that examined the effectiveness of “revegetation” efforts following the conclusion of infrastructure projects statewide. That study also compiled
The AASHTO re:source podcast recently interviewed Ed Sniffen (above), director for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, for a two-part episode about how his agency is testing the incorporation of recycled
The Maryland Department of Transportation is rolling out a new tool to help local governments and agencies dip into $2.5 billion in federal grants to build an electric vehicle or
Removing graffiti from bridge pillars and other structures can be an arduous and sometime hazardous process, especially when using sandblasting equipment to scour concrete surfaces clean. That’s why the Indiana
Many cities are turning to speed limiters for electric scooters to address concerns about rider safety and conflicts with pedestrians, according to new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for
Researchers at the University of Alabama Birmingham recently unveiled a new smartphone-based application called “StreetBit” that uses Bluetooth beacon technology to prevent pedestrians from becoming distracted while navigating road crossings. [Above photo
A study funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Keep Tennessee Beautiful found that, over the last six years, there’s been a 12 percent drop in litter on state roadways. [Above photo by
FEDERAL ACTION America’s aging flood control infrastructure is failing – federal funding is coming, but too often new construction relies on old data – The Conversation INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently released a video detailing how its use of “foamed glass aggregate” provides a multitude of green benefits to the state – especially as
A revised active transportation plan or ATP recently issued by the Kansas Department of Transportation seeks to boost walking, bicycling, safe wheelchair use, skateboarding, and non-motorized vehicle mobility options across
EPA’s Trash Free Waters (TFW) program announces the publication of “Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Opportunities to Address Tire Wear Particles in Waterways.” Tire wear particles as a pollutant in waterways
According to Architectural Digest, these are the 3 Best Cities for Climate Change in the United States: Denver, Colorado Raleigh, North Carolina Salt Lake City, Utah
A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota and funded by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board determined that roadside plantings, particularly “turfgrass,” tend to do better when they are both
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Cidney Bowman (above) – wildlife passage program coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation – discuss the different
The Michigan Department of Transportation is preparing to give roadsides along state highways their first full cleanings of 2023 in what the agency said has become an annual “rite of
State residents living in multifamily homes as well as motorists near public parking areas may soon have better access to electric vehicle or EV charging stations, thanks to the new Community
Each year, awards sponsored by The Garden Club of North Carolina are given to the best-looking flower beds along highways in every region of the state – awards that recognize the efforts
Could “happiness” become a Key Performance Indicator or KPI tracked by state departments of transportation very soon? [Above photo by the Minnesota DOT] Dr. Yingling Fan, professor of urban and
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently began what it calls a “first-of-its-kind” pilot program to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. [Above photo by the Colorado DOT] Created and
The Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council or ISC is preparing to pilot test an invasive species management program this summer – and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is one of several
The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new public outreach effort called “Think Before You Throw!” as part of its ongoing awareness campaign to reduce littering on state highways
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast examines different ways to recruit young professionals into the transportation industry, in part to help guide the sector’s
The West Virginia Department of Transportation recently issued $9.7 million worth of Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program grants to fund 38 projects in 22 counties across the state. [Above
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is cranking up its weed control program to keep a dozen unwanted and noxious weeds from encroaching on the bluegrass state’s transportation infrastructure. [Above photo by
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently issued $617,400 in grants to support 12 local mobility programs across the state – helping cities and towns reduce traffic congestion while offering residents
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently unveiled a website that tracks how the state’s public agencies are collectively reducing greenhouse gas or GHG emissions across Oregon. [Above photo by the
The Sacramento Kings basketball team, the California Department of Transportation, and more than 35 volunteers recently joined forces to collect and remove litter from Robert T. Matsui Park along the
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is working on its first-ever active transportation plan – a policy toolkit that can be used internally and by Oklahoma counties and towns as engineers
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently launched “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland,” a new initiative that will nearly double the frequency of litter pickup and mowing efforts along state roads. [Above
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $185 million in grants to 45 projects through its new “Reconnecting Communities” pilot program – what the agency described as a “first-of-its-kind” initiative to
The latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast examines the impact of Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act or TIA a decade after its passage – a voter-approved
Pete Buttigieg, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (above), says his agency and the nation’s mobility community are currently involved in “one of the most exciting, productive, and challenging
A recent video released by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highlights how the agency’s biologists work to restore and improve streams and wetlands involved in state transportation projects. [Above image via
The California Department of Transportation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and passenger rail provider Brightline West plan to jointly design and construct three wildlife overcrossings across Interstate
Governor Dan McKee (D) recently saluted the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for being the first state agency to fully convert its lighting resources to energy-efficient light-emitting diode or LED
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently issued a video report on a “risk and resilience” knowledge session held during its 2022 Annual Meeting in Orlando. [Above
The Federal Highway Administration recently issued millions in tribal roadway safety grants while also launching two new efforts to help states, cities, and local governments improve road safety as well.
Several state departments of transportation received grant awards from the Federal Transit Administration as part of $384.4 million in funds issued via the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Marie Therese Dominguez (above), commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, recently joined the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast to discuss how her agency is working
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is managing an innovative drainage project that captures storm-water runoff while addressing chronic flooding in a historic, coastal neighborhood. [Above photo by NCDOT] Cedar
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is placing new emphasis on climate change, equity, and health as part of the five-year update to its 2022-2041 Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan or SMTP.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy or RTC recently launched a new national effort aimed at creating a “new community” where public leaders, advocates, and transportation professionals can come together to advance the
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently issued a video report on an electric vehicle knowledge session held during its 2022 Annual Meeting in Orlando. [Above image
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued a notice of funding opportunity for nearly $1.7 billion in discretionary grants to support state and local transit fleet modernization efforts as well as to
Automated vehicles are slated to begin operating on rural roadways in central and southeast Ohio as part of the Rural Automated Driving Systems or RADS project spearheaded by DriveOhio, a
The Washington State Department of Transportation, in coordination with the city of Des Moines, will provide a “much-needed makeover” to a popular 14-acre green space along Barnes Creek – an
The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Transportation recently signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will help “streamline and accelerate” the deployment of safety measures
Five state transportation agency executives shared their thoughts on how to make the nation’s mobility networks more resilient to a variety of challenges during a roundtable discussion at the 2023
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (above) recently signed a legislative package so the New York Department of Transportation can boost support for municipal “Complete Streets” projects. [Above photo by the New
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Lee Smith – interim traffic operations division director at the Tennessee Department of Transportation – and Professor Dan
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently issued $23 million in funding and awards for transportation electrification initiatives across New York State. [Above photo via the New York Governor’s Office] That includes
In 2022, the Michigan Department of Transportation made a series of improvements to the highways crisscrossing the state’s Upper Peninsula or U.P. region, with projects widening road shoulders, upgrading weather
More than 1,300 volunteers statewide removed more than 48,000 pounds of litter in their communities as part of its second-ever month-long “No Trash November” roadway cleanup effort spearheaded by the
The Federal Highway Administration recently kicked off the latest round of transportation innovations through its Every Day Counts or EDC program. [Above image by FHWA] The agency noted that EDC is a
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah DWR) and Utah Department of Transportation recently introduced a free mobile phone application called “The Roadkill Reporter” to make it easier for motorists
In an effort to curb rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatality numbers, as well as foster less carbon-intensive forms of mobility, the Texas Department of Transportation is making roughly $250 million
At its 2022 Annual Meeting, held in October in Orlando, the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials elected Roger Millar (seen above) as
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently outlined how it reuses a variety of highway construction materials – such as asphalt, concrete, and steel – to reduce overall transportation project costs
Crews with the Utah Department of Transportation recently test-fired howitzers used to create controlled avalanches on state routes in the Big and Little Cottonwood canyons; part of the agency’s plan
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently highlighted the benefits of its collaboration with the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD) to reduce elk-vehicle crashes on northbound I-17 south of Flagstaff in a
The Illinois Department of Transportation recounted in a recent blog post how it changed its mowing practices over the years to better protect roadside landscapes that are vital to pollinators
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently began work on the I-70 Genesee wildlife-crossing project, one of several I-70 Floyd Hill projects to improve both highway safety and traffic flow ahead
As the Arizona Department of Transportation starts work on the I-17 Improvement Project from Anthem Way to Sunset Point, it is taking steps protect the natural landscape along this stretch
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast interviews Laura Rogers (seen above), deputy director of The Ray, to examine the future of roadways in America. Founded
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is moving forward on two fronts to transform plastic water bottles from beach-littering ‘ōpala’ or rubbish to recycled road material. [Above photo by the Hawaii
On October 20, the Federal Highway Administration provided $7.1 million in total funds to 25 state departments of transportation involved in the agency’s ‘Climate Challenge’ program. This is the program’s first
Key initial components of the $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill project kicked off recently by the Colorado Department of Transportation include the construction of wildlife crossings and fences as well
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently 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
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently received two awards for its stormwater management policies from the Water Environment Federation or WEF. [Above photo by the Kansas DOT] The agency received
The Federal Highway Administration, along with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, recently made $1 billion in grants available over the next five
Ecologists at Idaho State University are working with the Idaho Transportation Department to turn state roadsides into veritable “Swiss army knives” of vegetation so they are both more fire-resistant and
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast interviews Yassmin Gramian and Natasha Fackler, secretary and infrastructure implementation coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, respectively, about
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently helped establish a new website highlighting more than 100 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites across the state’s 64 counties. [Above photo by the Kentucky Heritage
During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 21, Nicole Majeski – secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation – detailed her agency’s efforts to incorporate resiliency into
The Tennessee State Parks received the Project Excellence Award from the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals for its “Tires to Trails” conducted in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Transportation,
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video highlighting how the Hawaii Department of Transportation incorporates resiliency into its infrastructure strategy. [Above image via AASHTO]
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Energy recently released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap as part of what they dubbed a “government-wide strategy” for scaling up sustainable
The Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Ecology are joining forces on a new statewide anti-littering campaign entitled “Simple As That” to help prevent littering by
The U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency recently signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions associated
The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking applications for its new Innovative Mobility Micro-Grants. The $5,000 grants are the first project to come forward from the $20 million Innovative Mobility Program,
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Jessica Oh – strategic partnerships director in the sustainability and public health office within the Minnesota Department of
The New York State Department of Transportation recently began construction on a flood resiliency project in Oswego County; part of the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI. [Above photo
The California Department of Transportation recently completed the first Clean California funded project in the state in Manila; what the agency calls a “historically underserved” community on the Humboldt County
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expanding its traditional role in the Mississippi River Delta Region from building and maintaining roads to include fighting litter, supporting tourism and promoting economic
The Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of Transportation recently signed a Project Partnership Agreement or PPA to work together on the $4 billion Mid-Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
The Federal Transit Administration recently issued more than $1.6 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities. [Above
The Adventure Cycling Association is hosting a webinar in November entitled “Successful U.S. Bicycle Route System Designation for Transportation Professionals” for state department of transportation executives and managers. [Above photo
The Federal Highway Administration issued guidance on July 29 for a new $7.3 billion in formula funding created by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA enacted
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast talks with Dr. Shihab Kuran (seen above) about the key role state departments of transportation play in helping establish
The Maine Department of Transportation recently awarded $20 million in grants to 13 local infrastructure projects to improve local resilience against climate effects such as flooding, rising sea levels, and
Across the country, state departments of transportation provide support to a wide variety of efforts aimed at supporting numerous bird species and their habitats. [Above photo by the NCDOT] For
What does a transportation chief do when a group of self-described tree-huggers publicly expresses unhappiness that your highway project will wipe out a grove of oak trees the group planted
The Connecticut Department of Transportation, along with other state and local officials, recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony (seen above) for the Putnam Bridge Trail Connections between Wethersfield and Glastonbury across
A $12.9 million Airport Connector resurfacing project in Warwick, RI, is going to include a “massive” landscaping effort that will provide more than 400 plants and trees in both the
A research document just released by an international pool-funded study led by the Nevada Department of Transportation provides an “authoritative review” of the most effective measures to reduce animal-vehicle collisions,
The Federal Transit Administration is making nearly $300 million available through three competitive grant programs to boost access to rural ferry services, bolster existing and new urban services, and lower
A team of Utah State University researchers recently explored how to use the state’s network of historic canal trails as an active transportation solution. That study is poised to help
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast touches on the topic of creating more road signs featuring more of the indigenous languages spoken in the United
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a video providing an overview of its knowledge session on infrastructure resilience during its 2022 Spring Meeting in New
Three new U.S. Bicycle Routes in Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Delaware, along with the realignment and extension of additional routes through Indiana and Michigan, have added more than 650 miles to
The Texas Department of Transportation has recruited popular singer, songwriter, and actor Joe Jonas to star in a series of Public Service Announcements as part of the agency’s “Don’t Mess
Routine highway maintenance conducted by a North Carolina Department of Transportation work crew turned into one “honey” of a rescue mission in early June. [Above photo by NCDOT] NCDOT Division
An eyesore of thousands of dumped tires were recently recycled into material for a hard-surface walking and biking trail at the Tennessee state park in Memphis they once littered, thanks
The New York State Department of Transportation recently launched the formal public “engagement” process for the “transformative” Kensington Expressway project in Buffalo. [Above photo by the New York Governor’s Office]
The Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation recently released drafts of their electric vehicle or EV charging network development plans –
At a June 12 event, Governor Larry Hogan (R) said the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration are launching a $28 million Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act
The Federal Highway Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on June 9 to outline minimum standards and requirements for projects funded via the five-year $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or
An initiative to “Give BIRDS the ROW” in terms of creating big habitats in highway rights-of-way is expanding across Illinois – with new support from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Thousands of Adopt-a-Highway volunteers picked up more than 29,500 bags of trash from highway ditches in 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, April Rai (seen above) – president and CEO of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) – provides
The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently made universal Level 3 “fast chargers” that can fully recharge an electric vehicle or EV in less than 30 minutes available at the I-95
Governor Tom Wolf (D) recently presented a group of employees from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with Governor’s Awards for Excellence in
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently received a 2022 Environmental Excellence Award in the category of Ecosystems, Habitat, and Wildlife from the Federal Highway Administration for its role in the
The AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability is excited to invite you to the committee’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The meeting will be held July 11th-14th at the Westin
The Center for Environmental Excellence in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration invites you to join in parts two and three of a three-part webinar series on Resilience. The webinars
Scott Boyle (seen above), assistant administrator of operations for District 2 of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, recently received an award on behalf of his district’s handling of
The Oregon Department of Transportation is committing $100 million over the next five years to build out Oregon’s public electric vehicle charging network on several major road corridors, as well
The administration of Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) recently finalized its Clean Truck Strategy – initially unveiled in March – after what the governor described as “extensive public input.” [Above
As part of its “Let’s Change This to That” public education campaign, the California Department of Transportation is highlighting the top six sources of stormwater pollution across the state as
Around the country, state departments of transportation conducted or participated in a variety of pollution mitigation efforts on April 22 in honor of Earth Day. [Above photo by KTRB] Some
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Leslie Aguayo and Jeff Allen discuss the need for ensuring “equitable access” to a national electric vehicle EV
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and the Southeast Conference plan to collaborate on a low emission ferry research project. [Above photo by the Alaska DOT&PF] Alternative fuel powered,
A new report recently released by the Traffic Operations and Safety or “TOPS” Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation found the use
The Federal Highway Administration officially unlocked $6.4 billion in formula funding for states and localities over the next five years via the new Carbon Reduction Program or CRP, created by
A new report compiled by The Ray and Geotab Inc. seeks to help state and local governments determine the optimal locations and design parameters for electric vehicle or EV charging
A mitigation program operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation aims to reduce the risk of wildlife hazards by providing a variety of training and support options for
The California Department of Transportation has awarded $34.7 million in state and federal funds to cities, counties, tribes, and transit agencies statewide to support a variety of locally focused sustainable
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently completed a bridge replacement project near Globe, AZ, which triggered the return of an endangered species of cactus transplanted and preserved by the agency
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently received a special one-time allocation of $7 million in general funds from the Oregon legislature to invest in wildlife corridor projects statewide. [Above photo
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued new Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE standards that require an industry-wide fleet average of approximately 49 miles per gallon for passenger
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Rachael Nealer (seen above) – deputy director for the newly formed Joint Office of Energy and Transportation –
The Maine Department of Transportation has formed an Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group (OSWPAG) to advise it and other state officials regarding the potential development of wind port facilities, which
The Oregon Department of Transportation has a public outreach message for water birds who want to nest on two of their iconic bridges: Beat it. [Above: Matt Alex, a wildlife
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has teamed up with Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTRB) and other partners to establish a network of 17 “Seabin” automated litter and debris removal
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection are joining forces to encourage local businesses and residents to support the state’s spring “Pick Up Pennsylvania” campaign, focused on removing litter
Since November, maintenance crews with the West Virginia Division of Highways – part of the West Virginia Department of Transportation – have cleared more than 170 acres of trees and
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently helped establish a free repository of information on electric vehicles available to state agencies. State agencies must create a free
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to introduce stricter heavy-duty vehicle and engine emission rules starting in model year 2027. [Above photo by the Missouri DOT] The proposed standards would reduce emissions of
The Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Energy Office, and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment recently unveiled the daft of a “Clean Truck Strategy” that seeks to
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up to control the growth of noxious and nuisance weeds along roadsides throughout the state starting in April. [Above photo by the KYTC] KYTC
The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to “rejuvenate” seven so-called “living snow fences” in southwest Minnesota as part of a month-long effort to ensure the 20-year-old plantings can survive for
The fiscal year 2023 state budget proposed by Governor Michael Dunleavy (R) contains maintenance funding for the Dick Nash Memorial ice road that will help tribal transportation departments maintain the
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program guidance, which tasks states to develop plans for electric charging infrastructure deployment along major highway corridors. [Above
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Sue Gander (seen above) – director of the electric school bus initiative for the World Resources Institute –
Governor Roy Cooper (D) recently toured PoleVolt – a new electric vehicle charging station in Charlotte created by a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Duke Energy, Centralina Regional Council
As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark $1.1 billion Clean California initiative, the California Department of Transportation recently awarded $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state’s highway system.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence will host a virtual peer exchange discussing alternative project delivery and the National Environmental Policy Act or
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently awarded $492,000 in grants to communities and organizations statewide in support of “transportation demand management” strategies that help relieve traffic congestion and lower greenhouse
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is providing more than 1,000 tons of damaged concrete pipe to help the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries shore up two artificial reefs.
The National Association of State Energy Officials 2022 Policy Outlook Conference held in Washington D.C. February 8-11 focused in part on the ways states and federal agencies can work together
The Arizona Department of Transportation, along with its maintenance contractors, picked up 118,578 bags or 811 tons of trash along freeways in Maricopa County in 2021. [Above photo by the
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is making sustainability central to its new interim five-year Capital Plan, covering fiscal years 2022 through 2026. [Above photo by the Connecticut DOT] The agency
For those transportation professionals who believe engaging with the public is tantamount to poking a stick at sleeping dogs and hornets’ nests, “Snowprah Winfrey,” “Alice Scooper,” and “Hans Snowlo” insist
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials submitted a seven-page letter on February 2 to the Department of the U.S. Army and the Office of Water Oceans, Wetlands,
The Nevada Department of Transportation and contractor Mead & Hunt are working to develop a “multiple property documentation form” or MPDF to help preserve Latino-related properties statewide, with a primary
The California Department of Transportation recently approved the use of low-carbon cement to help reduce the carbon footprint of the state’s transportation system. [Above photo by Caltrans] Known formally as
Governor Gavin Newsom (D) (seen above) has introduced a $6.1 billion zero-emission vehicle or ZEV fiscal support package to accelerate the state’s transition to ZEVs and “fight climate change” in the
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast discusses ways state DOT cultural resources programs within state departments of transportation are exploring to identify and preserve homes
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials sent a five-page letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on January 27 to provide feedback on floodplain management standards for
In conjunction with several state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is spearheading an effort to reduce the amount of salts entering
The Colorado Department of Transportation recently debuted a documentary called “Durango 550 – Path of the Ancestral Puebloans” to show how the agency worked with archaeologists and regional Native American
The governors of North Carolina and Connecticut recently issued executive orders that mandate the formation of “clean transportation” plans to reduce greenhouse gas or GHG emissions in their respective states.
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently unveiled its complete statewide active transportation plan to address what Governor Jay Inslee (D) called “multiple challenges” facing the state. [Above photo by
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence (CEE) is looking for state assistance in updating the contents of its Programmatic Agreement Library (PAL database).
The Maryland Transit Administration or MTA – a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation – launched a “transition plan” in December 2021 to move its transit fleet to zero-emission
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast focuses on the upcoming Transportation Research Board’s 2022 Annual Meeting, held in Washington D.C. January 9-13, along with a
The California Department of Transportation recently unveiled a new “complete streets” policy for all new transportation projects it funds or oversees in order to provide “safe and accessible options” for
The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing new federal greenhouse gas or GHG emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2023 through 2026 – establishing a 55 miles
Some $52 million of additional funding over the next five years should flow to Oregon for investment in electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure. That money comes from the $1.2
The Georgia Department of Transportation and North Carolina Department of Transportation recently issued millions in grants to support a variety of alternative transportation projects across their respective states. [Above photo
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released the second edition of the Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities. This new and completely
The Ohio Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant or DERG program recently awarded six grants totaling more than $9 million for replacing 25 aging diesel transit buses with cleaner diesel or alternative
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is “generally supportive” of a rule proposed in October by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a national
The newly formed National Electric Highway Coalition – consisting of 51 investor-owned electric companies, an electric cooperative, and the Tennessee Valley Authority – seeks to build a national network of
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will play a key role in executing the state’s first-ever ‘Litter Action Plan’ unveiled by Governor Tom Wolf (D) on November 22. [Above photo by
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics recently wrapped up a two-year effort to help certified commercial service airports statewide acquire equipment to minimize the environmental impact of aircraft
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials sent a 35-page letter to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on November 18 in support of changes to the National
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, an equal-opportunity employer, is seeking to fill two environmental program positions within its policy division. The first is for a program
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast revolves around a conversation with Shawn Wilson, Ph. D., (seen in above photo standing at podium) secretary of the
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is helping test ultrasonic bat “deterrence devices” at two bridges to help keep the mammals away from such structures when they undergo maintenance and/or repair
A state government report is calling for increased funding for transportation projects that protect big game habitats and corridors and prevent thousands of vehicle-wildlife crashes each year on Colorado’s roads.
For several weeks now, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has been dumping plastic waste onto the roadway near a state park – and that is actually a good thing. [Above
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Noel Alcala – noise and air quality coordinator at the Ohio Department of Transportation – discusses the negative
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and the Arizona Department of Transportation are the latest agencies to beef up anti-litter activities across their respective states. [Above
From loss of sleep to loss of hearing, noise can pose a real threat. Recent studies have even identified a possible link between noise exposure and dementia. Traffic noise is
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Council on Active Transportation is planning to implement a “research roadmap” finalized in July to “prioritize and categorize” state DOT pedestrian
Several state department of transportation executives recently shared insights into how their agencies are advancing equity through infrastructure projects during a knowledge session at the American Association of State Highway
EEAs recognize outstanding transportation projects, processes, and organizations that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development processes using FHWA funding sources.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) agencies recently completed wildlife underpasses along a rural stretch of Interstate 25 between Colorado’s two largest cities, Denver
Over the next two years, the Oregon Department of Transportation plans to install more than two dozen new rectangular rapid flashing beacons – known as pedestrian-activated beacons – to help
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently announced the 14 winners of its annual “Trash Poster” calendar contest. The original artwork of those 14 kindergarten through 12th-grade students highlighting the consequences
A pair of reports – one from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the other from the Government Accounting Office – highlight the increased focus the federal government is placing
The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts or GACD are planning to install 15 pollinator habitat sites in designated locations as part of a joint
The Nevada Department of Transportation and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful are teaming up to observe Stormwater Pollution Awareness Month this October to educate the public about the importance of preserving
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Joung Lee (seen above) — director of policy and government relations for the American Association of State Highway
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have established a partnership to support the build-out of electric vehicle or EV charging infrastructure across the Midwest region. [Above photo via Wikimedia Commons]
A new initiative to develop the nation’s first electric vehicle or EV wireless charging infrastructure on a public road is gearing up in Michigan – and the Michigan Department of
A number of state departments of transportation are pushing ahead with projects that support “active transportation” activity; a catch-all term that refers to infrastructure development that supports pedestrian, bicycling, and
The recently opened 33 Smart Mobility Corridor in central Ohio is a connected highway project that seeks to enhance motor vehicle safety, reduce traffic congestion, and improve fuel economy. [Above
In late August, the New York State Department of Transportation completed work on two projects that enhance safety for pedestrians along the 90-mile corridor of State Route 25 and portions
The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Highway Safety has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about a new statewide pedestrian safety law that goes into effect on October
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently issued a request for information or RFI in advance of a request for proposals to install electric vehicle charging (EV) stations along the most
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Mark Hoffman –assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Auburn University – and Karl Bohnenberger, his research assistant, explain
When it snows in Minnesota, drivers want the roads and bridges cleared – now. However, simply dumping mass amounts of salt on the roads is an outdated practice for the
The New Mexico Department of Transportation recently adopted a five-year pedestrian safety plan that focuses on reducing pedestrian fatalities statewide, making infrastructure improvements, launching informational pedestrian safety campaigns, plus change
The Colorado Transportation Commission proposed new transportation pollution reduction planning standards on August 16 that seek to cut greenhouse gas or GHG emissions from the state’s transportation sector while improving
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Committee on Environment & Sustainability (CES) and its subcommittees are hosting five webinars this September to discuss a wide array of
The Adventure Cycling Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials announced the designation of 18 new bicycle routes in five states, adding 2,903 miles to U.S.
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Kris Gade, Ph.D. – a roadside resource specialist with the Arizona Department of Transportation – discusses Monarch butterfly
The Michigan Department of Transportation recently put together a video reviewing the benefits of its Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program or TDRP, which the agency is using to “educate and inspire”
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials submitted a 32-page letter on July 22 to the U.S. Department of Transportation containing advice for the agency as to how
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released its fifth annual “Sustainability and Public Health Report,” documenting the agency’s progress towards its sustainability and climate goals. Based on data through 2020, the
The Utah Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback through August 28 on the agency’s overall Active Transportation Plan, so it can “better understand” the community’s needs for more bike
FEDERAL ACTION Senate infrastructure bill ‘90%’ done, but hits new roadblock over transit funding – AP Bipartisan infrastructure bill in the Senate is an island in a sea of partisanship
The Ohio Department of Transportation has unveiled a bicycling and pedestrian “framework” to advance statewide development of active transportation over the next five years. [Above photo by the Ohio DOT]
Reducing fatalities among pedestrians and improving safety for all travelers is the focus of a new statewide safety campaign launched by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the
Climate change is causing “real, costly impacts” to the nation’s transportation infrastructure, according to Margaret Anderson Kelliher (seen above), commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above image via Select
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Matthew Quirey (seen above) – a landscape design and research fellow with The Ray – explains how roadside
The Utah Department of Transportation identified two “preferred alternatives” to improve transportation in Little Cottonwood Canyon in a draft Environmental Impact Statement or EIS issued on June 24 – alternatives
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), jointly promoted “pollinator health and awareness” in state parks
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is in the process of installing “living snow fences” near two bridges on U.S. Highway 12 in partnership with the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation
As forecasters predict a particularly active hurricane season for 2021, state departments of transportation from Texas to New Jersey are preparing for worst-case scenarios to help citizens get out of
The Georgia Department of Transportation’s state maintenance office is tapping into five years’ worth of “lessons learned” to help fine-tune its storm response capabilities ahead of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane
The New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are co-hosting the state’s first ever trails summit to demonstrate opportunities to create robust trail networks
The Environmental Division of the Nevada Department of Transportation is offering state residents landscaping advice on pesticide and herbicide use as well as “water-smart practices” when conducting residential landscaping activities.
This episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast explores how state agency partnerships are helping Connecticut achieve climate goals while also implementing the Transportation and Climate Initiative
A recent study indicates that major flooding occurring outside designated flood zones is significantly affecting Maryland’s highways, bridges, tunnels, and other roadways. As a result, such flooding “interrupts daily life;
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently resumed statewide roadside mowing operations, now scheduled to help maintain and grow pollinator habitat. [Above photo by the Illinois DOT] “We are committed to
Several state departments of transportation are helping bring back the Peregrine falcon from the brink of extinction by providing nesting platforms on bridges – creating a true symbiotic relationship that
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released its first Statewide Pedestrian System Plan on May 26 – a plan that provides policy and investment guidance to improve places where people walk
Formula funding mechanisms are critical to building more resilience into the nation’s transportation system, argued Edwin Sniffen (seen above), deputy director of highways for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, during
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said that as May 19 its crews, contractors, and volunteers have collected 6.3 million pounds of litter from along the state’s roads – putting
A panel of state department of transportation executives and managers, as well as a team leader from the Federal Highway Administration, recently shared their insights on infrastructure resilience via a
The Center for Environmental Excellence – a partnership through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Federal Highway Administration – launched a new website to provide
The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Center for Environmental Excellence is hosting a webinar on May 26 to illustrate the current sustainability practices state departments of transportation are
Toks Omishakin, director of the California Department of Transportation, and William Panos, director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, highlighted the ways state departments of transportation are incorporating equity
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently made its new “Washington State Active Transportation Plan, 2020 and Beyond: Part 1” available online as part of its efforts to support more
The Maryland Department of Transportation recently unveiled three “smart ponds” built via a public-private partnership or P3 stormwater control project that seeks to reduce pollutants and curb local flooding.[Above photo
Two key Senate Democrats introduced a $73 billion plan on May 4 to transition the nation’s transit buses and vans to Zero Emission Vehicle or ZEV platforms. [Above photo: Sens.
Legislation recently proposed by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works would seek to “reconnect and revitalize” areas harmed by the construction of
Founded 51 years ago, Earth Day is now a global celebration that is raising public awareness and support for the protection of the environment. One of the objectives of this
A pair of new exhibits at the Tennessee Aquarium funded by the grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation illustrate how microplastics and other roadside trash can negatively affect the
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is now accepting applications from municipalities across the state for its 2021 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative, which seeks to support the development
The Louisiana state government, which collects about $1.3 billion a year in taxes from the oil and gas industry, is studying whether alternative fuels and other environmental measures can help
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews began treating for noxious and nuisance weeds along state roadways in March, with those treatments designed to help control the spread of “undesirable plants” along state
For two years, the Alabama Department of Transportation has quietly run an all-electric passenger and vehicle ferry, giving a tiny African-American community the distinction of having the only such vessel
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Shoshana Lew – executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation – discusses the critical role state DOTs
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The construction of the new Rock Creek Bridge to replace a culvert on US-20 recently won an engineering excellence award from the American Civil Engineers Council of Idaho – an
While a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association showed pedestrian fatalities trended up in the first half of 2020, the report also noted how several state-directed efforts are successfully improving
The Ray – a Georgia-based transportation innovation non-profit – recently signed separate charters with the Texas Department of Transportation Austin District, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and the City of
As an 11-mile reconstruction project along Interstate 10 between Interstate 17 and the Loop 202 gets ready to start, biologists with the Arizona Department of Transportation are preparing to relocate
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Minnesota Department of Transportation is adopting a slate of recommendations proposed by the Sustainable Transportation Advisory Council or STAC in order to create “measurable strategies” to help the state transition to
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]International bicycle sharing service Lime Bike is planning to invest $50 million in new electric-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” as well as an expansion of its network in the United States
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently started upgrading the lighting system inside the Interstate 10 Deck Park Tunnel north of downtown Phoenix – a project that should save both energy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Florida Department of Transportation is kicking off its celebration of Florida Bicycle Month this March by highlight its online resources for bicycle safety and its ongoing commitment to spend $100
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In this episode of the ETAP Podcast, Paula Hammond – market leader-multimodal at consulting firm WSP USA and a former secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation – talks about
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Department of Transportation launches the “next phase” of major reconstruction of Great Basin Boulevard and East Aultman Street in Ely, NV, the agency is placing a particular focus on floodplain
The South Carolina Department of Transportation adopted on February 4 what it calls a “wide-ranging” Complete Streets policy for the state-owned highway system. [Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Department
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Federal Transit Administration is making up to $180 million in competitive grant funds through a notice of funding opportunity for its Low or No Emission or “Low-No” grant program. [Photo courtesy of
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The California Department of Transportation recently put together a video highlighting how its boat fleet in the San Francisco Bay Area – typically used to transport engineers, biologists, and maintenance
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Governor Larry Hogan (R) and the Maryland Board of Public Works recently approved contracts with two Maryland companies to make bricks, pavers, concrete highway barriers, and shoreline supports – among
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jeffrey Bennett, who leads the transit delivery division for the Office of Project Delivery within the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, discusses the role transportation plays in Black History
Pete Buttigieg – former 2020 Democratic candidate for president and mayor of South Bend, Indiana – highlighted the importance of climate policy and active transportation needs within the Biden-Harris administration’s
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Two 100 percent renewable energy contracts between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and BP Energy Company and Direct Energy LLC recently went into effect – reducing the agency’s carbon footprint
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dr. Teng Wu, Mr. Shaopeng Li, and Dr. Kallol Sett from the Institute of Bridge Engineering at University at Buffalo recently unveiled a new model to improve extreme damage “risk
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Protecting the ocean, rivers, and streams from pollution is the focus of a new online learning series for kids launched by the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Storm Water Management Program.
The states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, along with the District of Columbia, signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU on December 21 committing themselves to a “multi-jurisdictional program” to
Could more accurate and consistent pavement temperature data held reduce the overuse of salt and other ice-melting chemicals during winter operations? The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to find out
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The California Department of Transportation and its contractors are deploying a new tool to safely speed up the removal of dead, dying, and diseased trees throughout the state: Telescoping grappling
The Vermont Agency of Transportation recently awarded $500,000 in grants via the Mobility and Transportation Innovation or MTI program, which seeks to support “innovative strategies” that improve both mobility and
The Transportation Research Board recently highlighted a bevy of resources available to state departments of transportation to support monarch butterfly habit and migration support efforts. [Photo courtesy of the Virginia
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Virginia Department of Transportation recently began its second major anti-littering effort on December 7 – the Beautify Virginia program – that is part of its support for keeping Virginia’s roadways litter-free. [Photo
The Federal Highway Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation are proposing to renew Arizona’s participation in the “categorical exclusion” program for environmental impact planning purposes where federal highway projects are
The California Transportation Commission released recommendations on November 16 for a $2 billion three-year program to fund new projects to reduce traffic, improve goods movement, increase transit service, and invest
In the latest episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Carlos Swonke – environmental affairs division director for the Texas Department of Transportation – explained how his
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]State departments of transportation across of the country are looking at new and better ways to predict traffic noise levels, as well new materials for highway sound barriers, in order
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]State departments of transportation across of the country are looking at new and better ways to predict traffic noise levels, as well new materials for highway sound barriers, in order
In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Jannine Miller and Charles Robinson from the Georgia Department of Transportation discuss the agency’s I-85 Corridor Study and how the
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Meeting – held via a virtual format November 9-13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – will focus on the potential ways the
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or NEPA for short established regulations and processes for project planning and implementation to ensure the consideration of environmental impact and sustainability from
The Washington State Department of Transportation recently wrapped up a roughly $13 million fish barrier correction project – resulting in a new 440-foot bridge that spans Kilisut Harbor along State Route 116.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is launching a new anti-litter campaign – called “Keep It Clean Georgia” – focused on preventing and eliminating litter along 50,000 miles of interstates and
Thirty-one transportation projects from 27 state departments of transportation around the country earned regional recognition in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards competition for providing solutions that increase safety and save lives, make infrastructure more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently released its fourth annual Sustainability Report; a 26-page document based on 2019 data that tracks the agency’s progress towards achieving a number of sustainability and
The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality formally implemented a final rule on July 15 aimed at updating and modernizing National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA regulations. [President Trump, above left, watches Georgia DOT
A webinar series sponsored by Smart Growth America is examining virtual public engagement practices for community outreach, examining a range of online platforms, as well as email and social media,
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