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. [Official White House photo above by Joyce N. Boghosian.] “The final rule will make the NEPA process more efficient and effective, ensure consideration of environmental impacts of major […]
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The House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 or WRDA 2020 by voice vote on July 15. It could see a House floor vote next week. Also known as H.R. 7575, the WRDA 2020 bill authorizes construction of 34 projects studied and approved by the U.S. […]
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Report: Interstate Highway System Facing Multiple Challenges
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSA new 43-page report indicates that the U.S. interstate highway system faces increasing congestion, unprecedented levels of travel – particularly by large trucks – and insufficient funding to make needed repairs and improvements. [Above photo by the Missouri DOT.] That report – entitled Restoring the Interstate Highway System: Meeting America’s Transportation Needs with a Reliable, […]
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Fitch Ratings: Transportation Faces COVID-19 Recovery Challenges
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSWith non-essential travel largely ground to a halt due to COVID-19, the ability of various transportation segments – airports, the cruise line industry, and toll roads – to maintain revenues and passenger traffic volumes will be “an increasing challenge,” according to a new report issued by Fitch Ratings on July 14. [Above photo by the […]
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MTI Survey Finds Strong Support for Mileage Fees, Fuel Tax Hikes
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe 11th annual Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) national transportation tax survey found that 54 percent of the 2,515 adults living in the United States it polled support a “business road-use fee” assessed on the miles driven by delivery and freight trucks, with 52 percent supporting such a fee on either taxis or ridesharing vehicles as […]
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FHWA STSFA Grants to Support Seven Projects in Five States
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Highway Administration awarded $15.1 million in Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives or STSFA grants to seven projects in five states to support efforts to develop new ways to fund highway and bridge projects. [Above photo by the Oregon DOT.] STSFA grants will fund projects that test the design, implementation, and acceptance of user-based […]
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GHSA Awards State Grants to Help Prevent Impaired Driving
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility has awarded $210,000 worth of grants to seven states – Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming – to funds programs aimed at helping law enforcement officers identify and assess alcohol and drug impaired drivers. [Above photo by the Wyoming Highway Patrol.] […]
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The Federal Railroad Administration issued more than $500,000 in Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grants on July 7 to support 11 life-saving “trespass abatement” projects in six states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina and New Jersey. [Above photo by the NTSB.] “This money will help local law enforcement agencies deter people from taking unnecessary risks around […]
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Coalition of States Developing Vehicle Electrification Action Plan
editor@aashto.org July 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSAn action plan is being developed by 15 states and the District of Columbia to ramp up electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses and long-haul delivery trucks. In a joint memorandum of understanding or MOU, the coalition aims to ensure that 100 […]
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The latest episode of the Transportation TV series entitled DOT’s Best highlights how the Tennessee Department of Transportation reports is handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transportation projects across the state. To subscribe to Transportation TV – which is funded by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials – click here.
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NOW AVAILABLE: 2020 Interim Revisions to the Manual for Bridge Evaluation, 3rd Edition
Get it now ▶️ https://bit.ly/35Hz1lM
On the latest ETAP Podcast: Bernie sits down with Carlos Swonke, Texas DOT's director of Environmental Affairs, who will discuss how TxDOT implements Environmental Justice as part of its planning and project development process.
🎧 LISTEN NOW: https://aashtos-etap-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/aashtos-etap-podcast-texas-dots-approach-to-environmental-justice