The first annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials took place at the Raleigh Hotel in Washington D.C. on December 12, 1914 – a point in time when World War I was only five months old and Woodrow Wilson was at the start of the first of two terms as […]
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials renewed its call for $37 billion in emergency funding for state departments of transportation across the country in an October 5 letter to Congressional leadership. “This crucial federal backstop will prevent cancellations and delays of vital transportation projects as well as potential job losses both in […]
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The 2020 Joint Policy Conference hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials highlighted how COVID-19 presents “unprecedented challenges” to transportation planning and operations during a three-day virtual meeting September 29-October 1. [Above photo by the New Jersey DOT.] That mobility analytics session on September 30 – hosted by Piyushimita Thakuriah, Ph.D., […]
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A variety of near-term and future mobility issues will rely on an “operational perspective” to help develop solutions – including everything from COVID-19 response to autonomous vehicles and mileage-based user fee or MBUF funding strategies. [Above graphic by the USDOT.] That proved the key takeaway from the virtual annual meeting of the American Association of […]
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A new study released by analytics firm StreetLight Data indicates that U.S. peak commuting travel is experiencing tremendous change – minimizing and changing rush hour traffic patterns, while not necessarily changing overall traffic volumes. [Above photo by the NYS DOT.] “As 2020 draws to a close, some transportation indicators like vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are […]
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The U.S. Department of Transportation has kicked off its annual “Stop. Trains Can’t.” public outreach campaign, which will run through November 8. This national $6.6 million safety campaign – which will use radio, digital, and social media to communicate its safety message – seeks to educate motorists not to gamble with their lives at rail […]
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Studies Examine Benefits, Hurdles of ‘Decarbonization’ Strategies
editor@aashto.org October 9, 2020 0 COMMENTSEfforts 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, a separate study noted. [Above photo by the NYS DOT.] First, a report by the Transportation, Equity, Climate and Health or TRECH project headed up […]
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The Federal Transit Administration recently issued two new rounds of grant funding to support COVID-19 response and economically distressed communities, along with a final report from its Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility, which coordinates federal programs to improve access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and other opportunities. [Above image via the FTA.] First, the FTA will help fund 25 projects […]
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ETAP Podcast: Talking with Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin
editor@aashto.org October 9, 2020 0 COMMENTSIn 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 or Caltrans. Omishakin – who chairs the Council on Active Transportation for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials – is a considered […]
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The Georgia Department of Transportation released a Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study on October 1 that indicates the state’s 103 publicly owned, public-use airports contribute $73.7 billion in annual economic benefit and support 450,500 jobs with a total annual payroll estimated at $20 billion. The department noted that this study reflects a yearlong effort to […]
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