In an effort to reduce loud take-off and landing noise around airports, NASA is testing an experimental leading-edge wing design for commercial aircraft – recently completing an initial round of wind tunnel testing January 21 at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. [Above photo by NASA.] “Mitigating this noise emission not only has direct […]
READ MOREGovernor Kristi Noem (R) announced on March 17 that Joel Jundt (seen above) would continue to serve as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Transportation. She named him interim secretary in November 2020 following the retirement of Darin Bergquist. [Above photo via the South Dakota DOT.] “Joel has long been respected throughout the industry […]
READ MOREGovernor Recommits to Phasing out Pennsylvania’s Fuel Tax
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSPennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) (seen above) recently “reiterated his commitment” to phase out the state’s fuel tax – which he said is “becoming an unreliable source for funding” for the states’ transportation network – in favor of “alternative” transportation funding methods. [Above photo via the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office.] “Our economy, our communities, and our […]
READ MOREState DOTs Receiving COVID-19 Relief to fill Funding Gaps
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSSeveral state departments of transportation are starting to receive fiscal aid via $10 billion contained in a COVID-19 relief package passed at the end of 2020 – money aimed at helping help them fill projected revenue gaps caused by the pandemic. [Above photo by the Georgia DOT.] The Georgia Department of Transportation is getting $277 […]
READ MOREIllinois DOT Issues Third Round of Local Transportation Funding
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Illinois Department of Transportation is disbursing $250 million to counties, municipalities and townships statewide to address their transportation needs – the third funding installment from the $33.2 billion Rebuild Illinois capital program established in 2019. [Above photo by the Illinois DOT.] That $250 million is part of $1.5 billion worth of funding spread out […]
READ MORETennessee DOT Launches Highway Project, Completes Visitor Center
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Tennessee Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the $61 million Jefferson Pike highway-widening project, to support that growth and make safety improvements to the corridor while also wrapping up construction of the Great River Road Visitors Center at Reelfoot Lake State Park; a facility expected to serve as a “gateway” for visitors to […]
READ MOREThe Ohio Department of Transportation is providing extra funding to help local transit agencies and health departments ensure all eligible state residents have transportation options to COVID-19 vaccination sites. [Above photo by the Ohio DOT.] The Rides for Community Immunity program is providing $7 million distributed across all 88 counties to help maintain transportation options […]
READ MORECaltrans: Rebuilt Section of Highway 1 Could ‘Last for Centuries’
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSRecent 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 would protect the roadway well past the 22nd Century. [Above photo by Caltrans.] Three days of heavy rains spawned a river of mud, boulders, and […]
READ MOREMinnesota DOT Adopting Broad Array of Sustainability Initiatives
editor@aashto.org March 19, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe 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 a low-carbon transportation system. [Above photo of Chevrolet Bolt EV by Minnesota DOT.] Those recommendations include: Developing a clean fuels policy. Supporting electric […]
READ MOREThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released a new report entitled Commuting in America 2021: The National Report on Commuting Patterns and Trends—Brief 21.1. The Changing Nature of Work – the first in a series of several reports produced by the Census Transportation Planning Products or CTPP program on the subject […]
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