Tropical Storm Hilary

$15M in Emergency Relief for California

FHWA recently issued $15.3 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to local public agencies in 12 California counties to offset repair costs for roads, trails and parking areas damaged by Tropical Storm Hilary.

In a statement, FHWA said this funding will be used to fix local transportation infrastructure damaged by the storm, including Whitney Portal Road in Inyo County, which provides access to Mount Whitney and the surrounding attractions, the Mount Whitney Trailhead, and Alabama Hills.

FHWA noted these “quick release” funds are just an initial resource installment to help restore essential transportation. Additional funds needed to repair damages on federal lands affected by Tropical Storm Hilary will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.

Click here to read the full story

Important Policy Update:

Tribal Funds Eligible for SS4A Match Requirement

Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) funds can now be used to meet the 20% non-federal match required for Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) awards.

Grants from the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF) can also be proposed as match for previously funded SS4A awards or to fund independent components of a larger SS4A project proposal.

Receiving a TTPSF grant does not guarantee the award of an SS4A grant

With this change, USDOT believes more tribes will apply for and benefit from the $1B per year SS4A program. More importantly, Native American and Alaska Native communities will now be better positioned to benefit from the program’s initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

TTPSF is still accepting applications through

January 15, 2024. Click here for more information.

Survey Request

Caltrans Environmental Process Review

The Caltrans Office of Environmental Compliance & Outreach (ECO) in the Division of Local Assistance (DLA) is requesting help from their local agency partners by completing a brief online survey to better understand where they can improve ECO processes and how they can provide better support.

The purpose of this survey is to identify where the Local Assistance environmental process may be improved, which will ultimately enhance services to the public and create a more expeditious path for project delivery. Once those areas are identified, ECO will work with their partners to address each in a way that is mutually beneficial.

Your response to this survey is confidential and greatly appreciated

******************************

ECO Office Hours — Ask an Expert: Have questions about ECO's Preliminary Environmental Study (PES) form or process? Now you can join them virtually the first Thursday of every month from 1–2pm PT, starting November 2nd, for an informal Q&A session. It's ECO Office Hours!

Use this standing Webex login to participate

Accelerated Implementation & Deployment of Pavement Technologies

FHWA's Pavement & Materials program is introducing a new quarterly newsletter to give stakeholders more details about their Accelerated Implementation & Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AID-PT) program.

This summer's issue presents recent key program accomplishments, shares staff thoughts in a new AID-PT overview video, and provides updates and a video tour on the new Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC). 

Access the summer 2023 AID-PT newsletter here

Sustainable Engineering

Fugitive Dust Mitigation Training

On September 14, 2023, CALTAP piloted "Fugitive Dust Mitigation", the first in a series of upcoming trainings from our Sustainable Engineering Training Academy (SETA). The SETA platform provides transportation and construction engineering communities with module-based training in the areas of green buildings, environmental impacts of construction and mitigations, and structural health monitoring systems.

Presented by lead SETA developer Dr. Hamid Rahai of the CSULB College of Engineering, Fugitive Dust Mitigation opened with an overview of fugitive dust characteristics, its impact on public health, and common dispersal sources from traditional construction activities. 

Dr. Rahai's lecture was flanked by series of local construction project case studies delivered by key industry partners, which included:

• Austin Cho and David Tran from the Port of Long Beach showcased dust mitigation strategies deployed for the Gerald Desmond Bridge project.

• Ken Taylor from the Griffith Company shared best practices in fugitive dust mitigation and how various strategies and methodologies are selected to match specific construction project characteristics.



• David Khorram from the City of Long Beach concluded by explaining the typical permitting process for regional construction projects.

Fugitive Dust Mitigation is the first in a series of SETA course modules,

subscribe to our weekly eblast to find out more about upcoming trainings!

Public Roads Magazine

FHWA has released the Autumn 2023 issue of its quarterly Public Roads magazine, which covers infrastructure sustainability, safety enhancements, congestion management, emerging technologies, and training updates.

Public Roads serves as an indispensable source of information that helps transportation professionals stay informed, make informed decisions, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our transportation network.

The Autumn 2023 Issue Includes:

• Tracking Congestion in 2020 by Rich Taylor and Pete Koeneman

• Tools for Nondestructive Evaluation of Bridges by Hoda Azari, Heng Liu, and Rahul Torlapati

• Making the Journey a Destination by Danielle Blackshear, Lilah Morrissey, and Edward Starks

• Can Chemistry Improve the Nation’s Roadways? by Terry Arnold

You can access the full version or subscribe to never miss another issue

NCHRP Research Results Digest:

The Next Era in Transportation Infrastructure

AASHTO and NCHRP have initiated a multi-year process to describe and advance the implementation of a vision for the next era of transportation.

The "Collective & Individual Actions to Envision & Realize the Next Era of America’s Transportation Infrastructure: Phase 1" explores and articulates what state DOTs can do collectively and individually to establish and realize a transformative vision of the next era of America’s transportation infrastructure that will support the nation’s continued prosperity and well-being.

Access the full report here

Check-Out Our Site Recently?

New Updates Released

As more CALTAP site features get released, know that we'll be bringing you new resource collections to simplify your search for eligible funding, online presentations and webinars, and on-demand recorded trainings.

Also be sure to checkout our online training and events calendars, where you'll find upcoming classes, conference, and webinars by event date. Most are free of charge and support online attendance.

Visit www.caltap.org for all of your

local agency training, news, and event needs

Join the CALTAP Network: subscribe, follow, share!