Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty (HEP)
Planning • Environment • Real Estate
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Partnership Highlights |
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In this issue:
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Program Update - December 11, 2009 |
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Program Information ResourcesTransportation Enhancement Resources
Transportation Authorization FHWA Surface Transportation and Environment Cooperative Research Program (STEP) Access Board Issues Draft Final Guidelines for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas American Trails has a web page with some highlights and concerns about the proposed Guidelines: www.AmericanTrails.org/resources/accessible/Accessibility-Guidelines-2009-Outdoor-Recreation-Trails.html. Executive Order 13513: Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving
Although this applies directly only to Federal employees, it is a wise policy for all. DOT Secretary LaHood's statement to DOT employees [October 26, 2009] added: "While the Order does not ban placing or taking telephone calls while driving, I encourage you to be mindful of the dangers associated with those practices. I also encourage you and your families to refrain from texting, or from engaging in any behavior that distracts your attention from driving safely, at any time." Federal Transit Administration: Proposed Policy Statement on the Eligibility of Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Under Federal Transit Law National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Strategic Plan FHWA's Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEIs) recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment. The EHEIs are best practice examples. FHWA posted information on the 2009 award-winning initiatives. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ehei/awards/. Additional information will be posted in the near future. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy People 2020 Program Financial ResourcesFY 2010 Initial Apportionments Federal-Aid Funding for Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs and Projects in FY 2009 [revised with final figures December 24, 2009]
Federal Share, Match, and Donations
Research Reports and Technical AssistanceResearch ReportsUS Department of Transportation: Environmental Mitigation in Transportation Planning: Case Studies in Meeting SAFETEA-LU Section 6001 Requirements. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) included provisions intended to enhance the consideration of environmental issues and impacts within the transportation planning process. This report presents and synthesizes the findings from nine case studies that examine a spectrum of environmental mitigation strategies, policies, and activities transportation agencies have undertaken to meet the new requirements. See the description and link to the report. Nebraska Department of Roads: Plan for the Roadside Environment. This Plan is designed to create a roadside that can better overcome the disturbances of construction, withstand the rigors of the Nebraska climate, and perform the landscaping objectives that contribute to safe and maintainable roadsides that complement the surrounding landscape. The Plan promotes increased use of native plantings and vegetative management to control noxious weeds, in an effort to provide a sustainable, noxious weed-controlled roadside environment. The Nebraska Plan promotes increased use of native plantings, good stewardship, and maintenance of a unique and sustainable "Nebraska Landscape", recognizing that fulfilling the landscape objective is an integral part of good roadway design. See www.dor.state.ne.us/environment/roadside-plan.html. The concepts of this report are transferable to TE-funded landscaping and scenic beautification projects and to landscaping along pedestrian and bicycle facilities and along trails. Resources for the Future (RFF): The RFF research report, The State of the Great Outdoors: America's Parks, Public Lands, and Recreation Resources, is at www.rff.org/orrgpubs. This is the culmination of work carried out in conjunction with the Outdoor Resources Review Group (ORRG). It is a synthesis of the backgrounders, surveys, presentations, and other studies. It focuses on trends over the past 25 years since the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors and emerging issues of concern for policymakers. The ORRG report is at www.orrgroup.org/. The Surface Transportation Policy Partnership released its Dangerous by Design report. Among other things, it ranks metropolitan areas according to a measure of pedestrian danger.
Active Living Research: Two new resources by Active Living Research examine the relationship between investments in active transportation, physical activity, and obesity rates, and which regions are making these investments. See www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=51556. Technical AssistanceAmerican Trails Accessible Trail Photos and Articles. American Trails hosts a "Cool Trail Solutions" website area. American Trails posted information on accessible boardwalks (www.AmericanTrails.org/photoGalleries/cool/15-Boardwalk-ADA-Accessible-Trail-Bridge.html) and accessible trail surfacing considerations and examples (www.AmericanTrails.org/photoGalleries/cool/3-ADA-Accessible-Trail-Surface.html). American Trails is seeking additional photos and articles related to accessibility. The 2009 National Recreation Trails photo contest deadline is December 15, 2009. See www.americantrails.org/photoGalleries/photocontest2009/. National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse Image Library. The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC) Image Library is a web accessible media archive that features images of Transportation Enhancement projects. See www.enhancements.org/library/index.asp. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Image Library. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) Pedestrian and Bicycle Image Library is at www.pedbikeimages.org. The Library contains over 1400 images and continues to grow. The PBIC Image Library is a searchable collection of high-quality images relating to walking and bicycling. Trail Publications. FHWA's trail-related publications at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/ include links to many USDA Forest Service publications and resources. The Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and Campgrounds was reprinted in September 2009. Training ResourcesAssociation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Federal Highway Administration Environmental Competency Building Program Marshall University / National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Trail Management: Plans, Projects, and People (Federal Interagency Trails Course) Newsletters, News Magazines, Websites, RadioU.S. Secretary of Transportation Blog: Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood posts a Blog called Welcome to the Fastlane. There are frequent postings relating to livability issues. See http://fastlane.dot.gov/. Among articles of interest to TE and RTP enthusiasts:
FHWA's Environmental Quarterly Newsletter has useful information related to transportation and the environment. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/environment/publications.cfm. FHWA's Pedestrian Forum Newsletter
FHWA Resource Center's Centered on Service Newsletter has useful articles on a variety of transportation topics. The December 2009 edition has articles on bridge scour, highway structures, visualization in planning, a sign retroreflectivity toolkit, and training in cost estimation. FHWA's Transportation Planning Newsletter has a variety of transportation planning news items. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/planning/publications.cfm. America's Byways Bulletin, www.bywaysonline.org/program/bulletin/, has information related to the National Scenic Byways Program, including conferences and training resources. The November 2009 edition has articles about newly designated byways, newly awarded grants, and Tribal Planning Capacity Building. America's Byways Vistas, is a bimonthly news magazine with stories about America's Byways. The November-December 2009 edition has articles on the newly designated byways and grants, geocaching, accessibility, surface transportation authorization, and funding for byway organizations. Disclaimer: The links below reflect the views of these organizations. Providing links to these resources does not represent endorsement by the U.S. Department of Transportation. National Park Service Conservation and Recreation Newsletter
National Trail and Park Projects Funded: The National Park Service's "Connect Trails to Park" program grants awarded $873,000 for 17 projects where national historic and scenic trails intersect with national parks and other Federal facilities. The grant program was established in 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System. See http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=933. National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse TE Corner AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Website American Trails publishes the American Trails Magazine and the Trail Tracks newsletter. American Trails Magazine covers trail-related news, legislation, action items, trainings, success stories, events, people making a difference, creative funding ideas, resources, and information on products and services. Trail Tracks is a more typical monthly newsletter with current trail information and "Action Alerts". The Magazine and Trail Tracks archives share the same webpage: www.americantrails.org/trailtracks/. Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals has an e-newsletter available to members. It provides information on professional development webinars, transportation policy, conferences, member collaboration groups, and more. See www.apbp.org. The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) at North Carolina State University hosted a Partnership for Sustainable Communities Webinar on November 9, 2009. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new interagency partnership in June 2009, to help families gain better access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs. The agreement established six "livability principles" to coordinate policy for Federal transportation, environmental protection, and housing investments. This Webcast provided an overview of the Partnership. Equestrian Land Conservation Resource news is at www.elcr.org/index_newsletters.php. ELCR advances the conservation of land for equine-related activity. League of American Bicyclists: American Bicyclist Update is at www.bikeleague.org/members/e-newsletter_archive.php. The newsletters have many articles of interest to TE managers and trail interests. The December 7 edition has an article about Safe Routes to School. National Center for Bicycling and Walking: Centerlines is at www.bikewalk.org/newsletter.php. The newsletters have several articles of interest to TE managers and trail interests, especially on planning, policy, health, and research issues, plus links to webinars and other training. The National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council newsletter has articles relating to off highway vehicle issues. See www.nohvcc.org/. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: PBIC Messenger. The Fall 2009 edition had articles on webinars, funding, pedestrian and bicycle research, the US Bicycle Route System, and more. Sign up for this newsletter at www.pedbikeinfo.org/. And for fun: Take note of these stairs! National Public Radio Highway Safety Stories Conferences and CalendarsTransportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting, January 10-14, 2010, Washington, DC. See www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting2010/Public/AnnualMeeting2010.aspx. League of American Bicyclists: The National Bike Summit will take place March 9-11, 2010, in Washington DC. See www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit10/index.php. International Mountain Bicycling Association: The 2010 IMBA World Summit will take place May 5-8, 2010, in Augusta GA. See http://imba.com/summit/2010_World_Summit.html. Bridging Conservation and Recreation: 2010 River Management Society (RMS) and National Association of Recreation Resource Planners (NARRP) Symposium, May 18-20, 2010, Portland OR. See the Symposium Overview and Call for Papers at www.narrp.org/clubportal/ClubStatic.cfm?clubID=1431&pubmenuoptID=28658. Student scholarship applications are due March 19, 2010; see www.narrp.org and click on Scholarships. Bureau of Land Management National Landscape Conservation System 2010 Science Symposium: The Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) A Decade of Discovery Science Symposium will take place May 24-28, 2010, in Albuquerque NM. See www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS.html. The call for papers deadline is December 15, 2009. International Snowmobile Congress: The 42nd International Snowmobile Congress will take place June 10-12, 2010, in Coralville IA (near Iowa City). See www.iowasnowmobiler.com/isc2010/index.html. The International Association of Snowmobile Administrators will meet as part of the Congress, see www.snowiasa.org. Preserving the Historic Road 2010 issued a call for paper abstracts for the 2010 conference September 9-12, 2010, in Washington, DC. The call, information and submission details are available at www.historicroads.org. The deadline for paper abstracts is 31 January 2010. National Center for Bicycling and Walking: The 16th ProWalk/ProBike 2010 will take place September 13-17, 2010, in Chattanooga TN. See www.bikewalk.org/2010conference/index.html. American Trails: The 20th National Trails Symposium will take place November 14-17, 2010, in Chattanooga TN. See www.americantrails.org/2010/index.html. The State Trail Administrators will meet in conjunction with the Symposium, see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/events/stam_2010/. With both ProWalk/ProBike and the National Trails Symposium, you have good reasons to visit Chattanooga in 2010. See more events at:
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