Staff Changes for National Scenic Byways Program and Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
National Scenic Byways Program
New Team Leader Announced - Welcome Gary Jensen!
Gary Jensen is the new Team Leader of the National Scenic Byways Program, the Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Program, and the Delta Region Transportation Development Program. See the Announcement in the America's Byways Bulletin at http://www.bywaysonline.org/program/bulletin/200708/.
FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
Gabe Rousseau is the new USDOT and FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager in the Office of Natural and Human Environment. Gabe most recently was a transportation specialist in the Office of Safety with responsibility for older drivers, Safe Routes to School, and pedestrian safety efforts including the development of pedestrian safety audits, a three city demonstration project, and other products for the safety of nonmotorists. He has authored articles for Public Roads, ITE Conference proceedings, and FHWA reports.
Prior to joining the Safety Office in August of 2005, Gabe was a member of the Human Centered System Team in FHWA's Office of Safety Research and Development at Turner-Fairbank. In that capacity he was responsible for human factors research on pedestrian and bicyclist safety, speed management, and older road user safety. Gabe is a 1991 graduate of the University of North Carolina with a bachelors degree in Psychology. He has a 1995 masters Degree from the University of Georgia in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology, and a 1998 doctorate from the University of Georgia in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology. He is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
Restructuring
The National Scenic Byways Program is part of a new team with the Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program and the Delta Region Transportation Development Program. This team reports to the Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment, and Realty (HEP) rather than through one of Office Directors within HEP.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program (Gabe Rousseau) and the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancement Activities (Christopher Douwes) are staying within the FHWA Office of Natural and Human Environment.
All of these program areas (Byways, BikePed, Trails, and Enhancements) will continue to work closely together, as we do with other FHWA offices, and with our Federal, State, and nonprofit partners.
Updated Links on the RTP and TE Guidance Webpages (Explanation)
In the July 3 RTP and TE News, I mentioned that we had posted statutory legislation for three sections of law (Federal share, Payments, Donations) that may affect the RTP and TE Activities. We updated that explanation (thanks to ideas from Nathan Caldwell, US Fish and Wildlife Service), see https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/rtp_te_update/2007/july/index.cfm#a1.
The links to Federal share, Payments, Donations can be found on the TE Guidance and the RTP Guidance pages.
We also developed a Summary of Allowable Costs and Procurement Procedures which applies to the entire Federal-aid highway program, but especially for TE and the RTP: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/guidance/financial_management/procurement_proc.cfm.
We hope that providing these explanations and statutory references will help you understand some flexibilities (and inconsistencies) in the Federal-aid highway program. We received several calls and emails over the past several months in which the people calling were not aware of the flexibilities (and inconsistencies) under these three sections of Title 23. We will try to resolve the inconsistencies while keeping and possibly enhancing reasonable flexibilities.
Access Board Releases Notice for Outdoor Developed Areas for Federal Projects
The US Access Board published a Notice of Proposed RuleMaking (NPRM) on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas for outdoor developed areas designed, constructed, or altered by Federal agencies subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. A link to the Federal Register Notice and information about the comment period are at www.access-board.gov/outdoor/nprm/. The deadline for comment is October 18, 2007. American Trails posted more information at www.americantrails.org/resources/accessible/.
General Information and RTP and TE Related News
National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse Image Library
From Graham Stroh, National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse
The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC) announced a new Image Library: http://www.enhancements.org/library/index.asp. It is roughly based on Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center's image library (http://www.pedbikeimages.org/) but pushes the envelope farther. Way cool features include:
Before everyone asks, we aren't able to accept new images quite yet from sources outside NTEC but that is what we are working towards. Feel free to use the images as you see fit when promoting TE. Please take a minute to see the library in its interactive glory at www.enhancements.org/library/index.asp.
National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse Connections Newsletter
Connections is the quarterly newsletter of the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC). It features outstanding Transportation Enhancements (TE) projects, updates from Capitol Hill, new resources related to the TE program, and technical information to help TE project sponsors successfully complete their projects. Connections is going digital: see www.enhancements.org/publications.asp for links to the latest version.
USDA Forest Service: Surface Transportation Program Training
New Final Transportation SAFETEA-LU web-based resource--Promo Video
From Floyd Thompson, USDA Forest Service
The USDA Forest Service developed a Promo Video for its Surface Transportation Program Training, to learn the many ways to collaborate with transportation programs to improve funding for and access to public lands, coordinate with State and local transportation planning, enhance wildlife corridors, conserve open space, promote scenic corridors, preserve heritage, implement travel management planning and recreation facilities goals, and so much more.
National Geographic Link for Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways
From Patricia McNally, National Scenic Byways Program Marketing Specialist
The National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highway & Byways features America's Byways: Come Closer, highlighting many of America's Byways designated under the National Scenic Byways Program. See http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/product/3509.html.
The Environmental Quarterly: The Environmental Quarterly, Volume 3, Issue 3 https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/environment/publications.cfm
Dear Environmental Colleague: We hope this newsletter finds you enjoying your summer. We hope you find time to grab a glass of lemonade and take time to read this month's articles on the Supreme Court's take on (by guest author Jeff Houk from the FHWA Resource Center's Air Quality Team), our National Emblem, the Archeology task force, and more.
Sincerely,
Don Cote Environment Technical Service Team (TST) Leader & Editor-in-Chief
Conference and Events
