Transportation Planning Newsletter - Volume 1 Issue 34

Volume 1 Issue 34 | December 10, 2020

Transportation Planning Newsletter

Chair: Kristina Swallow, Nevada DOT Vice Chair: Lynn Weiskopf, New York State DOT

The Committee on Planning addresses all aspects of the transportation planning process including federal regulations, current industry practices, and emerging approaches and concepts. The committee is dedicated to providing State DOTs the expertise, resources and tools they need to implement a robust planning process within their agencies that is multimodal, multidisciplinary, innovative and consensus-oriented.

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Committee News

AASHTO/FHWA Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Webinar Miniseries: Improving Your Next TAMP

With the next cycle of Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) development right around the corner (all states will need to submit updated TAMPs in 2022), agencies will need to figure out how to develop their next TAMPs. This TAM webinar mini-series is kicking off to take a deeper dive into the topic of improving the next TAMP. The series is designed so that it can be a catalyst for agencies to improve their next TAMP, with webinars delivered more frequently in order to build momentum and increase engagement. The attached flyer has all of the details on the upcoming webinars. The miniseries flyer can be viewed online by clicking here. You can also visit the AASHTO TAM Portal for additional details: https://www.tam-portal.com/tam-webinars/

Next Webinar: Wednesday December 16, 2:00 PM EST
Improving Your Next TAMP: Needs and Priorities
This webinar will use an interactive format to get your input on what is most needed to improve your next TAMP. Polls will assess the audience's opinions in real-time on a variety of topics related to the next TAMP and address topics including: the areas that most need improvement, elements of the TAMP that most help agencies, areas where additional resources are most needed, and what those resources are. The polls will be complemented by an interactive discussion with the facilitators and participants. A summary of the federal requirements and an overview of available resources will also be presented. Panelists include Steve Gaj and William Johnson, FHWA; Matt Haubrich, Iowa DOT; Anne-Marie McDonnell, Connecticut DOT; Matt Hardy, AASHTO; Hyun-A Park, and Spy Pond Partners, LLC.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5068887551208856588

Additional information on the AASHTO Transportation Asset Management Portal can be found online by visiting https://www.transportationmanagement.us/

Industry News

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

USDOT Unveils Broad Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

AASHTO Journal

https://aashtojournal.org/2020/12/04/usdot-unveils-broad-pedestrian-safety-action-plan/

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Protecting Wildlife Habitat is a Robust Slice of Transportation Planning

TRB

https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/blog/protecting-wildlife-habitat-is-a-robust-slice-of-transportation-planning

FREIGHT

Truck parking capacity problem worsens for drivers

American Trucker

https://www.trucker.com/drivers/article/21149546/truck-parking-capacity-problem-worsens-for-drivers

MnDOT awards $61 million to improve state’s freight transportation network

Minnesota DOT

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/20/12/7-award.html

FUNDING

Pelosi, McConnell Negotiate COVID-19 Relief with Transportation Aid

Transport Topics

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/pelosi-mcconnell-negotiate-covid-19-relief-transportation-aid

Washington State transportation officials consider increased tolls to aid budget shortfall

AP

https://www.q13fox.com/news/washington-state-expects-lower-toll-revenue-amid-pandemic

Price of Potholes: Missouri Scrambles for Funding to Fix Its Transportation System

Flatland

https://www.flatlandkc.org/news-issues/price-of-potholes-missouri-scrambles-for-funding-to-fix-its-transportation-system/

NY lawmaker proposes US$3 online delivery tax to fund public transport

Cities Today

https://cities-today.com/ny-lawmaker-proposes-us3-online-delivery-tax-to-fund-public-transport/

INFRASTRUCTURE

Biden eyes infrastructure package to help economic, climate goals

The Hill

https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/528988-biden-eyes-infrastructure-package-to-help-economic-climate-goals

MOBILITY

Research recommends additional support for innovative shared-mobility services in Minnesota

University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies

https://www.cts.umn.edu/news/2020/december/mobility

Mayor Brown working to improve Buffalo’s ‘mobility’ in the 21st Century

WIVB-TV

https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/mayor-brown-working-to-improve-buffalos-mobility-in-the-21st-century/

New initiative aims to drive mobility innovation in North Texas

NTX Inno

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/inno/stories/news/2020/12/09/north-texas-center-for-mobility-technologies.html

Deconstructing The Gender Gap In Shared Micromobility Usage

Invers

https://invers.com/news/deconstructing-the-gender-gap-in-shared-micromobility-usage/

MPOs

Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear named new SANDAG chair

Encinitas Advocate

https://www.encinitasadvocate.com/news/story/2020-12-04/encinitas-mayor-catherine-blakespear-named-new-sandag-chair

The Cape Fear Region has a vision for transportation, but will a lack of funding get in the way?

WHQR Radio

https://www.whqr.org/post/cape-fear-region-has-vision-transportation-will-lack-funding-get-way#stream/0

South Bay Cities Council Of Governments Creates Low-Cost Fiber Optic Network To Improve Regional Transportation

ITS International

https://www.itsinternational.com/its7/news/la-transport-receive-fibre-optic-boost

Area universities, Texas Research Alliance to provide innovative transportation assistance

Blue Ribbon News

https://blueribbonnews.com/2020/12/area-universities-texas-research-alliance-to-provide-innovative-transportation-assistance/

OTHER

NDDOT Connecting With The People

KFYR-TV

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2020/12/04/nddot-connecting-with-the-people/

PLANNING

From I-90 interchange to bike lanes, Missoula’s transportation future takes shape

Missoula Current

https://missoulacurrent.com/business/2020/12/missoula-transportation-scenarios/

Illinois Asking For Public Feedback on State’s Transportation System

KWQC-TV

https://www.kwqc.com/2020/12/07/illinois-asking-for-public-feedback-on-states-transportation-system/

MnDOT releases updated transportation investment plans

Minnesota DOT

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/20/12/8-investment.html

Prince William County, Virginia to study bus, train synergy to speed US 1 commutes

WTOP Radio

https://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2020/12/prince-william-co-to-study-bus-train-synergy-to-speed-us-1-commutes/

Nashville mayor proposes $1.6 billion transportation plan

WKRN-TV

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville-mayor-proposes-1-6-billion-transportation-plan/

Teton County, Jackson Approve Transportation Plan, Including Establishment Of Regional TPO

Jackson Hole News & Guide

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/town_county/regional-transit-planning-approved-in-countywide-transportation-plan-updates/article_c1ff444b-f328-5794-98b7-45097d3eef36.html

RAIL

Report offers plans for Colorado Front Range passenger rail

AP

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/07/colorado-front-range-passenger-rail/

Pathway forward for ultra-high-speed travel in the Pacific Northwest detailed in new report

Washington State DOT

https://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/12/08/pathway-forward-ultra-high-speed-travel-pacific-northwest-detailed-new-report

Rail advocates hope Virginia’s new authority will take ‘politics out of our rail policy’

Virginia Mercury

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/12/09/rail-advocates-hope-virginias-new-authority-will-take-politics-out-of-our-rail-policy/

ROADWAYS

Steps to reduce traffic-related deaths in Nevada

KOLO-TV

https://www.kolotv.com/2020/12/08/steps-to-reduce-traffic-related-deaths-in-nevada/

FHWA Rulemaking to Offer More Highway Repair Flexibility

AASHTO Journal

https://aashtojournal.org/2020/12/04/fhwa-rulemaking-to-offer-more-highway-repair-flexibility/

Turner pushes TxDOT for increased affordable housing funding, flood mitigation in I-45 expansion plans

Houston Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/12/08/houston-mayor-pushes-back-on-txdot-i-45-plans.html

Benefits of Ports-to-Plains hailed

Amarillo Globe-News

https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/2020/12/08/ports-plains-benefits-hailed/6498549002/

Dubuque Developing First-Of-Its-Kind Traffic Management System

Telegraph Herald

https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_22d502b2-c11e-535c-a321-d0eb123b316d.html

TECHNOLOGY

Georgia Gets First Solar Roadway in US

Green Car Reports

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1130542_georgia-gets-first-solar-roadway-in-the-us

Alliance for Automotive Innovation releases AV deployment guidance

Transportation Today

https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/20619-alliance-for-automotive-innovation-releases-av-deployment-guidance/

TRANSIT

Mass Transit Faces Huge Service Cuts Across U.S.

New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/06/nyregion/mass-transit-service-cuts-covid.html

Va. transit leaders anticipate post-pandemic commute changes

WTOP Radio

https://wtop.com/virginia/2020/12/va-transit-leaders-anticipate-post-pandemic-commute-changes/

New regional transit plan aims to increase service, shorten commutes in Louisiana

https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/news/21165334/la-new-regional-transit-plan-aims-to-increase-service-shorten-commutes

$67-million grant will go to transforming Tampa streetcars into mass transit system

WFTS-TV

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/67-million-grant-will-go-to-transforming-tampa-streetcars-into-mass-transit-system

Facing a funding crisis, Caltrain doubled down on racial and social equity, and it worked

Architect’s Newspaper commentary

https://www.archpaper.com/2020/12/op-ed-facing-funding-crisis-caltrain-doubled-down-on-racial-and-social-equity/

APTA and the Transit App Partner to Unveil New Ridership Trends Dashboard

APTA

https://www.apta.com/news-publications/press-releases/releases/apta-and-the-transit-app-partner-to-unveil-new-ridership-trends-dashboard/

MBTA and MassDOT Announce Tobin Bridge Bus Lane Pilot

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

https://www.mbta.com/news/2020-12-08/mbta-and-massdot-announce-tobin-bridge-bus-lane-pilot?utm_campaign=curated-content&utm_content=MBTA+and+MassDOT+Announce+Tobin+Bridge+Bus+Lane+Pilot&utm_medium=news&utm_source=homepage&utm_term=bus

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

17th TRB Conference on Planning Applications

TRB

https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/06-21-2021/17th-trb-conference-on-planning-applications