Where State DOTs, Transportation Planning, and Land Use Intersect
editor@aashto.org March 10, 2023 0 COMMENTSHow can state departments of transportation advance more transportation-efficient land use decisions in partnership with cities, counties, developers, investors, and advocates to maximize quality-of-life outcomes for the public? That issue formed the focal point of a panel discussion during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2023 Washington Briefing, held February 28 through […]
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Engaging State DOTs with Non-Traditional Partners More Effectively
editor@aashto.org March 10, 2023 0 COMMENTSTo improve upon efforts to deliver a resilient and multimodal transportation system that is safe, sound, and smart, state departments of transportation are increasingly looking to work with “non-traditional partners,” such as energy utilities and social service organizations. [Above photo by AASHTO] Yet doing so successfully will require “creative thinking” and the use of “innovative […]
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Understanding the State DOT Role in Fostering Transportation De-carbonization
editor@aashto.org March 10, 2023 0 COMMENTSWhile a transportation agency’s direct influence on greenhouse gas or GHG emissions varies from state to state, all state departments of transportation have an important role to play in efforts to de-carbonize the nation’s mobility networks. [Above photo by AASHTO] That served as the main idea for a knowledge session held during the American Association […]
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President’s Budget Seeks Boost for Roadway Safety, Supply Chain Funds
editor@aashto.org March 10, 2023 0 COMMENTSThe $6.9 trillion fiscal year 2024 budget proposal unveiled March 9 by President Biden (above) provides a total of $114.9 billion in budget authority and obligation limitations to the U.S. Department of Transportation. [Above Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz] The main highlight of the President’s FY 2024 budget request, according to analysis by […]
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National passenger railroad operator Amtrak has initiated what it calls “early construction activities” associated with its $6 billion B&P Tunnel Replacement Program. [Above photo by Amtrak] That work includes replacing aging wooden ties with new concrete ties, installing new rail, and completing track drainage improvements in the Halethorpe and West Baltimore areas in Maryland. At nearly […]
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The Maritime Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation – known as MARAD – recently issued a notice of funding opportunity, making more than $12.4 million in fiscal year 2023 grants available to support a variety of marine highway projects. [Above photo by MoDOT] The agency also renamed the program via which those funds will […]
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The Utah Department of Transportation recently began installing new “heat tape” devices on traffic signals statewide to help keep those signals free of ice and snow during the winter, enabling motorists to see them clearly during winter storms. [Above photo by the Utah DOT] The heat tape, which sits on the underside of the hood/visor […]
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The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently issued a draft of its N.C. Clean Transportation Plan, which outlines strategies to decarbonize the state’s transportation sector. [Above photo by NCDOT] The North Carolina DOT said it worked with more than 220 stakeholders for more than a year to develop this draft plan – mandated by Governor […]
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In a recent blog post, the Iowa Department of Transportation provided some insight into the ways it is trying to make its snowplow trucks safer both for equipment operators and motorists alike. [Above photo by the Iowa DOT] For example, the agency is testing two new “lighting strategies” to help improve snowplow visibility – especially […]
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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 Sacramento River. [Above photo by Caltrans] In a statement, Caltrans Director Tony Tavares explained that this cleanup event highlighted how trash and debris pollute Sacramento […]
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