In September, the U.S. DOT announced MPOwerment, a new effort that aims to further improve the transportation planning process. While transportation planning is an exciting process that determines a region’s transportation priorities and focuses growth, it is also a difficult job. The decisions that transportation planners make have broad and lasting impacts on communities, which makes the process meaningful. However, challenges include adequately and meaningfully including a diverse array of partners and stakeholders in the process, as well as addressing the issues and challenges metropolitan regions face.
MPOwerment aims to help agencies address these challenges. As described by Secretary Foxx in a Fast Lane Blog post, “the MPOwerment initiative is focused on the role that [MPOs] play in engaging collaboration, increasing public participation, and growing opportunity through the transportation planning process.” Through a series of seven daylong roundtables led by U.S. DOT leaders, the U.S. DOT aspires to engage transportation decision-makers in discussions about how to improve regional planning and expand investments that exemplify the principles of Ladders of Opportunity.
The first roundtable discussion was held October 25, 2016 in Fort Worth, TX. Additional roundtables will be held through the spring of 2017.
At the Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place Conference in Vancouver, Canada in September, two U.S. DOT employees were recognized by the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) for their efforts in creating safer, more efficient street networks for those traveling on foot, by bike, and in vehicles. Barbara McCann of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation was awarded with the 2016 ABPB Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dan Goodman of the Federal Highway Administration was named the APBP 2016 Professional of the Year – Public Sector Award.
The FHWA Administrator Gregory Nadeau commented in a Fast Lane blog post that “Barbara’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made a substantial commitment to the profession and who have shown excellence in the field of bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, advocacy, and/or education.” He then added, “To put it simply, Barbara has changed the way this country perceives walking and bicycling. She founded the Complete Streets Coalition and played a key role in making streets livable and safer for all road users in States and cities across the country.”
In the same Fast Lane blog post, Administrator Nadeau touted Dan Goodman’s achievement as well. As an FHWA employee, Goodman has played a key role in updating policies and developing guidance for walking and bicycling in the United States. He also led the development of a number of foundational documents, such as the FHWA Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide; the Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures, Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying Design Flexibility, and Reducing Conflicts; and Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects.
While attending the Safer People, Safer Streets Summit in Washington, DC on September 16, the U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the winners of the Mayors’ Challenge Pedestrian and Bicycle Awards. Eighteen total awards were given out, and New York City, Washington, DC, and South Bend, IN took the top honors.
Launched in 2015 by Secretary Foxx, the Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets, encourages local governments across the country to pursue bicycle and pedestrian efforts that benefit the health, safety, transportation, and quality of life of community members. The winners of the challenge have all made significant steps to improve bicycle and pedestrian transportation in their communities. The U.S. DOT selected the award winners based on the following criteria:
Additional information available at:
In June, the U.S. DOT named Columbus, Ohio the winner of the Smart City Challenge, awarding the city a $40 million grant (Vulcan Inc. provided an additional $10 million in matching funds) to create the nation’s first smart city – a city that fully integrates innovative technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, and smart sensors, into its transportation network. On August 30, Columbus received the U.S. DOT’s fully executed Smart City Challenge Demonstration Cooperative Agreement, and on September 12 and 13, the City, the U.S. DOT, and other partners participated in a two-day kick-off meeting. With the agreement in place and the kick-off meeting conducted, Columbus can now officially begin implementing the “Smart Columbus” vision. The Smart Columbus vision is built on five pillars:
Within each pillar are initiatives that use innovative technology to achieve specific goals. With the funds from the U.S. DOT and partners, Columbus will enhance broadband connectivity and build smart intersections. The City will develop a real-time event, transit, traffic, and parking tool and will electrify its light-duty vehicle fleet.
Additional information available at:
On October 5, Secretary Foxx launched the Every Place Counts: Leadership Academy. The Academy is geared toward “future community leaders” with limited experience with transportation and decision-making. Transportation decisions shape our lives, connecting communities and shaping growth. However, members of the public frequently struggle to engage with the decision-making process. Transportation has the power to increase opportunity, yet in order to do so, communities must become involved in the transportation decision-making process.
The U.S. DOT is currently developing a Transportation Toolkit that will use plain language and clear design to help everyday people weigh in on transportation decisions in their communities. Those selected for the academy will learn the skills necessary to participate in the transportation decision-making process and provide feedback on the Transportation Toolkit, ensuring it is usefulness for the public.
On September 29, Secretary Foxx spoke at the National Summit on Transportation and Opportunity, a unique forum in which local and national leaders come together to discuss the successes, barriers, and future strategies for continuing to push Ladders of Opportunity forward. At the summit, attendees explored ways to better serve the public by strengthening the connections between multimodal transportation systems and employment, education, and other essential services. Attendees of the summit lauded the role of transportation projects in creating jobs and shared a desire for increased infrastructure investment.
On August 25, 2016, Bloomberg and Western Digital jointly hosted Data Revolution: How AI and Machine Learning are Remaking out World at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The half-day event explored the promises of the technology revolution, while taking into account concerns over privacy, safety, and control. At the event, discussion focused on how data and deep learning technologies are making computers smarter, and what the implications of these technologies will be for surface transportation. A subsect of machine learning, deep learning uses algorithms to manage large-scale data sets. Secretary Foxx gave the keynote address at the event, and led a discussion on the future of transportation powered by artificial intelligence. In his speech, Secretary Foxx highlighted the actions the U.S. DOT has taken to embrace the rapid innovation occurring in the transportation sector and remarked on the great potential to use data to further optimize system performance.
A recording of Secretary Foxx’s speech is available at:
https://about.bgov.com/blog/future-transportation-will-powered-artificial-intelligence/
On September 20, the U.S. DOT issued a Federal Automated Vehicles Policy for safe testing and deployment of automated vehicles (AVs). This policy will lay the groundwork for safe testing and deployment of AVs and will have a major impact on improving safety and mobility on the road.
Technology is rapidly evolving and fundamentally changing the transportation system in the U.S. This policy intends to help the country keep up with the evolution of AV technology. Released as agency guidance rather than a rulemaking, the U.S. DOT’s AV policy will provide “an initial regulatory framework and best practices to guide manufacturers and other entities in the safe design, development, testing, and deployment of [highly automated vehicles].” The policy is organized into four sections:
Intended to be a living document, the Policy will be available on the docket for 60 days following publication for public comment. The DOT will continue to update the policy as additional data and technology become available.
To read the policy:
https://www.transportation.gov/AV/federal-automated-vehicles-policy-september-2016
The fourth round of Every Day Counts (EDC-4), the FHWA’s program to speed up the delivery of highway projects and address the challenges presented with limited budgets, has begun. As described by the FHWA, “EDC is a State-based model to identify and rapidly deploy proven but underutilized innovations to shorten the project delivery process, enhance roadway safety, reduce congestion and improve environmental sustainability.” The fourth EDC round will run through 2018. Throughout the two-year cycle, implementation plans for each innovation will be developed. These plans will identify specifications, best practices, lessons learned, and data to be shared through case studies, webinars, and demonstration projects, resulting in rapid technology transfer and accelerated deployment of innovation across the country.
The innovations for EDC-4 are:
Virtual summits for each innovation were held in September of 2016. Regional summits will be held between October and December 2016 in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Albany, Portland, Sacramento, Austin, and Orlando.
Additional information available at:
On September 28, the U.S. Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund transportation programs and most Federal agencies at prior-year levels through December 9, 2016. While the continuing resolution prevented a Federal government shutdown, it does not end funding concerns for State and local DOTs and transit agencies. The continuing resolution delays scheduled funding increases to State DOTs and transit agencies, which were authorized and paid for through the FAST Act. As a result, agencies will receive funding at fiscal year 2016 levels until Congress passes a new budget.
With Congress on recess until after the November elections, a new budget may not be available for several months. Upon its return, Congress could pass an ‘omnibus’ budget to fund the entire government, freeing up 2017 increases for State and local transportation agencies. Congress could also chose to hold off passing a full budget until the new administration is in place. If this occurs, lawmakers will likely continue passing short-term continuing resolutions.
Additional information available at:
Americans make an estimated 300 million daily trips on the Interstate Highway System, while an estimated 50 million tons of freight travels across the system each day. The Interstate System is integral to America’s transportation system, yet its future is not guaranteed. As part of the FAST Act, Congress mandated that the TRB form a committee to investigate ways to keep the Interstate system safe and reliable. The committee will have 30 months to study and develop recommendations for Congress on the future of the transportation system. The committee is specifically charted with determining the “actions needed to upgrade and restore the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways to its role as a premier system that meets the growing and shifting demands of the 21st century.” The 14-member committee is chaired by Norman Augustine and includes former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
On September 6, the committee held its first official meeting. At the meeting, transportation experts including the AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright and the FHWA Administrator Nadeau provided testimony. In his testimony, Administrator Nadeau commented that the nation’s traditional reliance on the gas tax as the principal user fee for highway and transit investments will not suffice going forward. He stated, “It’s obvious to everyone that we’re not investing enough, but there’s no consensus around how to find additional dollars.” Further, Administrator Nadeau commented that the ability of the highway system to utilize emerging technologies and respond to demographic changes is dependent on transportation funding. In his testimony, Bud Wright urged the committee to provide clear direction on how the nation can invest its limited resources. He further urged the committee to consider both urban and rural needs for the system, as they vary significantly.
Additional information is available at:
http://www.trb.org/FutureInterstate/FutureInterstateStudy.aspx
In July, the U.S. DOT announced the 2016 TIGER Grant recipients, awarding nearly $500 million to transportation projects in 40 communities in 32 States and 2 U.S. territories. Now in its eighth cycle, the TIGER Grant program has invested over $5 billion into 421 projects, assisting in re-energizing communities and sparking local and private investment in transportation networks. A few examples of winning projects are described below.
A full list of 2016 TIGER grantee projects is available at:
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/TIGER%20Fact%20Sheets%20-%207-28.pdf
In September, the U.S. DOT announced the first round of Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) Grants to improve freight and highway infrastructure nationwide. Additional funding will be awarded over the next five years. Eighteen infrastructure projects located in 15 States and the District of Columbia received $800 million through the program. Combined with other funding from Federal, State, local, and private sources, these projects have leveraged a total of $3.6 billion in infrastructure investment.
Beyond providing funding to infrastructure projects, the FASTLANE Grant program will “foster the innovation and efficiencies we need to move people and goods in a changing economy,” Secretary Foxx said in a Fast Lane Blog post.
The grant winners in this first round of funding include:
A full map of funded projects is available at:
https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/fastlanegrants/fastlane-grants-awarded
In September, the FTA announced the winners of its Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which will provide more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders. Sixty-one projects from 41 States and one territory will receive a combined $211 million in funding to “replace, rehabilitate, and purchase transit buses and related equipment, and construct bus-related facilities.” A selection of winning projects are described below.
A full list of funded projects is available at:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2016-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects
In September, the FTA announced the recipients of its Rides to Wellness Demonstration and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants. These grants help to connect people to healthcare services through improved access to public transit. Nineteen projects in 16 States were awarded grants.
These grants are part of the FTA’s Rides to Wellness Initiative, a program that emphasizes public transportation as a strategy for people to access non-emergency healthcare. This will result in better heath, fewer hospital visits, and lower costs.
A selection of the winning projects are described below.
A full list of funding projects is available at:
In September, the FTA announced the award of $5 million to help American Indian and Alaska Native tribal citizens initiate, improve, and enhance transit service through the Tribal Transit Program. The program will provide grants to 34 tribes in 12 States for 35 competitively selected transit-related projects.
Grant recipients include:
A full list of grants received is available at:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2016-tribal-transit-competitive-projects
While some States are testing innovative funding methods, others have passed legislation in recent years to increase their gas taxes to help replenish State funds. The State of New Jersey, for example, on September 30, reached an agreement to increase the State’s gas tax by 23 cents per gallon – the first increase since 1988. This will help replenish the State’s Transportation Trust Fund, which ran out of money for new projects earlier in the year.
Additional information available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/nyregion/new-jersey-gas-tax-23-cents.html?_r=0
With the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund in question, the U.S. DOT, State, and local transportation agencies are exploring new funding mechanisms to sustain and grow their systems. In August, the FHWA award over $14 million to seven States through the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) grant program. Established under the FAST Act, the STSFA program funds projects to test the design, implementation, and acceptance of alternative user-based revenue models. The winners of the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternative Program are:
The eight funded projects will pilot a number of mechanism to raise revenues. One of Oregon’s winning grants, for example, will help fund the OReGo program. Drivers who voluntarily sign up for OReGo pay a road usage charge of 1.5 cents per mile driven, rather than the traditional fuel tax. Similarly, Delaware DOT, in collaboration with members of the I-95 Corridor Coalition, will use the funds to analyze and test a user-fee system. With the grant funding, Delaware DOT can determine the best way to track mileage and subsequently charge drivers. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for the agency to determine and resolve privacy concerns related to the program.
Additional information is available at:
In September, the FTA announced a $1.04 billion grant agreement with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to extend trolley service in the city. The FTA is committing funds through the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program, the nation’s primary grant program for funding major transit capital investments.
The trolley extension is anticipated to improve access to employment hubs as well as educational and medical facilities, including Mission Bay Park, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, and the University of California-San Diego. In a press release, Secretary Foxx stated: “The Obama Administration is committed to investing in transportation projects that improve mobility and provide ladders of opportunity for residents…San Diego’s Trolley extension will do just that.” SANDAG estimates that once operational, the extended trolley line will serve 24,600 transit trips every weekday.
Additional information is available at:
In September, the U.S. DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics released the latest edition of Passenger Travel Facts and Figures. The report details:
Information in the report reflects the most current data available on travel across the country. The data are collected through a number of means, including the National Household Travel Survey, American Community Survey, and American Time Use Survey.
As Passenger Travel Facts and Figures illustrates, the U.S. passenger transportation system has grown in use and extent in the last several years. Between 2010 and 2014, for example, passenger miles of travel by commercial aviation, highway, transit, and intercity rail increased by 7.5, 3.0, 8.3, and 4.0 percent, respectively. Both commercial aviation and transit use reached all-time highs in 2014.
Additional information available at:
http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/publications/passenger_travel_2016/
In September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released National Transit Map data, a geospatial database with information from 270 transit agencies across the country. The database includes information on 398,000 stops and stations and nearly 10,000 routes. The first national and openly available map of fixed-route and fixed-guideway systems in the United States, the map will enable the U.S. DOT to demonstrate the important role that transit plays in society as well as help identify gaps in public transportation systems. In addition, the data will support research, such as analyses on the benefits of transit and its impact on economic development.
This initial release of National Transit Map includes General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data feeds registered with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It contains data for 84 percent of the top 25 urban transit agencies with fixed route service, 74 percent of the top 50 agencies, and about 33 percent of all urban transit agencies with fixed route service. An update to the data is anticipated before the close of 2016.
For more information:
Because of MAP-21 and the FAST Act, the U.S. DOT has issued a number of rulemakings related to performance-based planning and programming. Since starting the rulemaking process, the U.S. DOT has published a number of final rules, including the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HISP) final rule, the Safety Performance Management Measures (Safety PM) final rule, the Planning final rule, the Asset Management Plan Final Rule, the Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM) final rule, and the Public Transportation Safety Program final Rule. Still in the process of being finalized are the Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures NPRM, the System Performance/Freight Movement on the Interstate/CMAQ NPRM, and the MPO Coordination and Planning Area Reform NPRM. The initial comment period for the MPO Coordination and Planning Area Reform NPRM closed on August 26, 2016. However, the docket was re-opened on September 23 for comment until October 24.
Additional information is available at:
In August, the FHWA and AASHTO renewed their cooperative agreement to continue the Center for Environmental Excellence to advance a strategic national program to maximize efficiency, reliability, and consistency in delivering environmentally sound transportation projects, programs, and services. The agreement renews the center for another five years.
Established in 2001 by AASHTO and the FHWA, the Center supports State transportation agencies incorporate environmental stewardship and sustainability into transportation planning, project development, construction, maintenance, and operations. In addition, the Center helps agencies streamline the delivery of transportation projects and programs. In this capacity, it provides technical assistance, offers trainings, and maintains data archives. The new agreement expands the Center’s focus to cities, counties, MPOs, local planning organizations, other Federal and State transportation agencies, and surface transportation research organizations.
Additional information is available at:
In September, the FHWA published the Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation, a document that will help shape the FHWA’s pedestrian and bicycle activities in the next 3-5 years. The Agenda sets out two aspirational goals:
In conjunction with the Safer People, Safer Streets initiative, the Agenda will also inform the work of the U.S. DOT’s other modal administrations. The agenda is organized around four goals – networks, safety, equity, and trips – and each goal includes activities relating to capacity building, policy, data, and research.
This document demonstrates the FHWA’s ongoing leadership on multimodal transportation, and represents the agency’s commitment to institutionalize and mainstream bicycle and pedestrian issues. With the Strategic Agenda, the FHWA hopes to add its own contribution to a future in which communities have safe and complete transportation networks for people of all ages and abilities.
The Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation is available at:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/strategic_agenda/
In June, the FHWA published Supporting Performance-Based Planning and Programming through Scenario Planning, a new guidebook that addresses how scenario planning can be used to support and advance the practice of performance-based planning and programming (PBPP). Scenario planning uses metrics, models, data sets, and tools to estimate and evaluate future scenarios based on their ability to maximize system performance and support achievement of goals and performance targets.
The guidebook presents a framework for connecting established scenario planning processes with the four phases of PBPP: direction, analysis, programming, and implementation. Three case studies (Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study, Fresno Council of Governments, and Hillsborough MPO) provide examples of agencies of varying sizes that have used scenario planning in innovative ways to advance the practice of PBPP. The Guidebook also includes a section and appendix of scenario planning and performance measurement tools.
Additional information is available at:
HEPP’s Border and Interstate Planning Team, under the auspices of the U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee on transportation planning, conducted a Border Wait-Time Peer Exchange in San Diego, CA on August 26. The purpose of the peer exchange was to share best practices for implementation, operation, and maintenance of border wait-time systems; to discuss the use of data obtained from these systems for planning and modeling efforts; and to determine the economic impacts of border wait times. Close to 90 participants from various Federal, State, and local agencies participated and included Staff from the Mexico Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, U.S. Customers & Border Protection, General Services Administration, Caltrans, Arizona DOT, New Mexico DOT, Texas DOT, as well as SANDAG and the Texas Transportation Institute. The Audience heard presentations on local and regional border wait time initiatives along the Southern border and about U.S.-Canada northern border wait initiatives and potential applicability to the southern border. Several action items were developed from the meeting and sub-committee working groups will be formed to work on the following topics:
These new topic areas were further discussed at the U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee, which took place September 27-28 in Las Cruces, NM. For more information, please contact Sylvia Grijalva, U.S.-Mexico Border Coordinator, FHWA Border Planning Team, at Sylvia.Grijalva@dot.gov.
In addition, two International Plenaries with Transport Canada and the Mexico Secretariat of Communications and Transportation are planned for fall 2016. The first, The Transportation Boarder Working Group Fall 2016 Plenary, was hosted by Transport Canada in Ottawa, Canada on November 2-3, 2016. The Joint Working Group Committee Fall 2016 Plenary will be led by the FHWA and held September 26-28 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. For more information, please contact Dave Franklin, U.S.-Canada Border Coordinator at (317) 480-2030 or david.franklin@dot.gov, or Sylvia Grijalva, U.S.-Mexico Border Coordinator at (602) 510-7986 or sylvia.grijalva@dot.gov.
The U.S. DOT, through the FHWA, along with Transport Canada and the Mexican Secretariat of Transportation Communications, has initiated a study to develop U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada projections for freight and passenger volumes over a 30-year period from a macro-North American perspective and a micro-regional border perspective. The objectives of the study are to develop a framework to look at North American multi-modal transportation flows building on existing and ongoing research in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., and to develop a common understanding of future planning scenarios. The study will identify and document multimodal corridor and gateway needs, trends, and opportunities in the U.S. It will also look at North American multimodal transportation flows across these countries. The study will develop projections of binational population, business, and traffic numbers that can be used by each agency’s planning efforts, and these traffic data projections will be displayed in a visual tool compatible with the HEPGIS system (http://hepgis.fhwa.dot.gov/fhwagis/). The final traffic data and modeling results were presented to stakeholders during spring 2016 workshops in Washington, DC, Ottawa, and Mexico City for feedback. During summer 2016, final data projections were completed and incorporated into the visualization system and final study report. The study will conclude in fall 2016, with a product up and running for stakeholder/public use on the FHWA website by spring 2017.
Additional information is available at:
The FHWA’s Climate Resilience Pilot Program sought to help State DOTs, MPOs, and Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) enhance the resilience of transportation systems to extreme weather and climate change. Between 2013 and 2015, 19 pilot teams from 17 States collaborated with the FHWA to assess transportation vulnerability and evaluate options for improving resilience, building off the FHWA’s Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Framework (released in December 2012). The findings of the pilot tests were released in July of this year.
Over the course of the two-year test period, the pilot project teams participated in peer exchanges and developed several best practices for every step of the climate adaptation process, making them more prepared to address climate change and extreme weather risks. While the pilots have helped advance the state of the practice, the FHWA can take a number of steps to further support States and local agencies. This includes:
Additional information is available at:
In the spring of 2016, the FHWA conducted two scenario planning peer exchanges. The first was hosted by the Gulf Regional Planning Commission (GRPC) in Biloxi, Mississippi on March 15-16 and the second was hosted by the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC) in Buffalo, New York on April 19-20.
The workshops enabled agencies to learn about and discuss scenario planning practices with their peers. At the first peer exchange, GRPC shared information about scenario planning and its existing scenario planning tool, which is a product of GRPC’s 2013 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. At the second peer exchange, GBNRTC shared information on its experience using scenario planning, in which the agency partnered with the University at Buffalo Regional Institute through the One Region Forward Initiative.
Additional information is available at:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/scenario_and_visualization/scenario_planning/
The TRB Committee on Planning Small and Medium-Sized Communities help the Tools of the Trade Conference on September 12-14 in Charleston, SC. The conference covered a wide array of topics, including performance-based scenario planning, bicycle planning, and public involvement strategies.
Conference proceedings are available at:
http://www.trbtoolsofthetrade.org/2016-conference-summary--proceedings.html
In August, the FHWA issued a new round of Broad Agency Announcements (BAA), through which the FHWA seeks to fund innovative projects related to highway engineering and technology. Released on August 19 and closing on October 14, the BAA will provide support for research projects that could lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation. Through this opportunity, the FHWA will sponsor projects under the following topics:
On September 1, the FHWA announced a funding opportunity through the Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration program, which is authorized within the Technology and Innovation Deployment Program (TIDP) under the FAST Act.
Using an open, rolling solicitation, the FHWA will award applicants up to $1 million for projects. According to the Federal Register notice, eligible projects “must be a pilot deployment for the applicant of a proven innovation previously deployed by others.” The projects must also fall in line with the U.S. DOT’s innovation goals.
The Federal Register notice is available at:
At the 22nd National Rural and Intercity Bus Conference in Asheville, NC, the FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers recognized three rural transit agencies for their outstanding service. This year’s awards recognized rural transit providers that have improved the mobility of Americans in rural areas and enhanced access to employment, healthcare, and community services. These criteria fall in line with both the Obama Administration’s Ladders to Opportunity initiative and the FTA’s Rides to Wellness initiative.
The three agencies recognized were:
Innovations in transportation are occurring at a rapid rate. New technologies are key to developing a safe and reliable transportation system in the future. As a result of the rapid change, in the summer of 2016, Volpe launched the Future of Transportation: Safety, Opportunity, and Innovation Thought Leadership Series. The series brings together top transportation innovators who are thinking proactively about the coming changes and the challenges the transportation system will face because of these challenges.
The series kicked off with a lecture by Secretary Foxx in June 2016. Other lectures and events include:
Additional information is available at:
https://www.volpe.dot.gov/events/future-of-transportation-speaker-series
With AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AASHTO announced the finalists for America’s Transportation Awards. In its 9th year, the awards recognize the best transportation projects in three categories:
The 12 finalists are:
These 12 finalists received the highest number of votes during four regional competitions. Through online voting, the public will chose the winter of the People’s Choice Award, while a panel of experts will select the Grand Prize winner. Both winners will earn a $10,000 donation from AASHTO to a charity or scholarship fund of their choice. Voting closed on October 31 and AASHTO will present the awards on November 14 at AASHTO’s annual meeting.
Additional information is available at:
On August 14-17, TRB sponsored the Conference on Use of Scenario Planning in Transportation Planning in Portland, Oregon. The conference explored the use of scenario planning, strategies to develop scenarios as well as ways that transportation plans can respond to scenarios. The event brought together officials from State departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and local agencies; consultants; and researchers to share knowledge, experiences and the latest research on using innovative scenario planning approaches. The conference builds upon previous scenario planning research and applications, such as TRB’s National Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) Foresight 750 Series. The conference included sessions on the future of planning, exploratory, scenario analysis, and scenario planning tools. Peter Bishop of Teach the Future served as the keynote speaker.
Additional information is available at:
The TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) recently published TCRP Research Report 187: Livable Transit Corridors: Methods, Metrics, and Strategies, which presents practical planning and implementation strategies to enhance livability in transit corridors. The handbook provides five distinct steps, which include methods, strategies, and metrics, for the reader to improve livability on their transit corridors. The steps are: (1) Initiate Project; (2) Assess the Corridor; (3) Identify Goals; (4) Develop a Vision; and (5) Implement Strategies. Each step includes methods, metrics, and strategies.
In addition, to assist in the use of the Handbook, the research team developed a spreadsheet-based Transit Corridor Livability Calculator tool, which is available for download. The tool provides the necessary data to estimate the majority of metrics used in the Handbook to gauge livability for transit corridors in most metropolitan areas in the country.
The report is available for download at:
The project for Public Spaces put on its Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place conference in Vancouver, British Columbia September 12-15. The conference is the premiere active transportation gathering in North America and has the goal of connecting those across the continent who are working to create engaging places that are walkable and bike friendly.
The sessions focused on the intersection of health and city building, with an overarching theme of “Moving Toward a Healthier World.” The conference’s 80 breakout sessions, 50 poster displays, 50 PechaKucha presentations, and more than 20 mobile workshops were organized into four broad themes – mobility, governance, health, and resilience.
Additional information is available at:
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) held the Designing Cities 2016 conference in Seattle, WA on September 26-29. The conference brought together transportation leaders and practitioners to discuss trends in urban street design and transportation policy. Tamika Butler, the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition, served as the keynote speaker for the event.
Additional information is available at:
http://nacto.org/conference/designing-cities-conference-seattle-2016/
The FHWA Texas Division hosted a free one-day Livability Workshop in conjunction with the Region 6 Partnership for Sustainable Communities on August 31, 2016 in Midland, Texas. Approximately 30 participants including the EPA and HUD Region 6 Office, private consultants, bicycle-pedestrian advocates, and the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Lubbock MPO, San Angelo MPO, as well as Texas Tech University and city-county transportation planning officials attended this event. Jim Thorne, Metropolitan Planning Specialist with the FHWA Resource Center, served as the principal instructor for this workshop. At the workshop, discussion focused on best practices for integrating livability and sustainability goals and objectives into the metropolitan planning process, including a discussion of several tools. The Permian Basin Livability Workshop was the eighth one held in Region 6 over the past six years by the FHWA Texas Division Office. For additional information, please contact Kirk D. Fauver, Urban Planning Engineer at (512) 536-5952 or kirk.fauver@dot.gov.
In July, the American Planning Association Virginia Chapter awarded the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) the 2016 President’s Award for Outstanding Planning Organization. Chapter President George Homewood lauded OIPI as Virginia’s most successful State agency, unique in its ability to consistently complete “real planning” at the statewide level. In particular, Homewood highlighted the support OIPI provides to local governments through its Urban Development Area Planning Grant program, which gives technical assistance to localities seeking to optimize transportation system performance by promoting efficient, multimodal development patterns. The OIPI is also sponsoring VTrans2040, an innovative multimodal statewide transportation plan update that puts into practice the FHWA framework for performance-based planning and programming.
Additional information available at:
The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) in Madison, WI is working with a number of partners to help local communities increase active transportation and physical activity in local communities. Once such activity related to this is the Active Living Index. Created through a Plan4Health grant from the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Active Living Index measures and maps walkability, bikeability, and transit access.
The recently released beta version of the index uses a number of factors, such as nearby destinations, available routes, and barriers, to create scores for destinations in Dane County. CARPC and its partners will analyze the scores to understand how they correlate to obesity rates in the area. With the Plan4Health grant, the agency is able to test the Index in three different communities (one rural, one suburban, and one urban). CARPC will put on workshops and trainings with residents in the pilot communities to help identify options for increasing opportunities for active transportation and will work with local governments to implement plans.
Additional information available at:
http://narc.org/resource-center/publications/development-digest/
“Destiny is not a matter of chance; but a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.” – Williams Jennings Bryan
The FHWA Planning Discipline is comprised of highly motivated and technically skilled professionals each with their own career goals and professional growth aspirations. The Planning Career Pathways SharePoint site provides the FHWA Planning staff with resources and strategies for taking charge of their own career path. Included on this site are:
Contact: Theresa Hutchins, (360) 753-9402, Theresa.Hutchins@dot.gov or Jocelyn Jones, (410) 962-2586, Jocelyn.Jones@dot.gov.
CORE Functions reflect aspects of an FHWA Planner’s role and responsibilities based on statutory, regulatory, or agency guidance and agency priorities. In September, the Planning Leadership Council updated CORE Functions to reflect the new planning regulations (23 CFR 450.100, 450.200 and 450.300), FAST Act, and agency initiatives and priorities. CORE functions are divided into two levels:
Information provided for each Level includes:
Contact: Theresa Hutchins, (360) 753-9402 or Theresa.Hutchins@dot.gov.
The Planning Leadership Council is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Transportation Planning Discipline Recognition Awards. The Transportation Planning Discipline Recognition Awards are held annually to recognize leadership within the FHWA’s planning discipline. Nominations for the Transportation Planning Discipline Recognition Awards are submitted by agency leadership or by peers for efforts from the previous year that demonstrate excellence for each of the award categories.
The 2016 recipients are listed below.
Lifetime Achievement:
Planner of the Year: Planning Excellence:
Planning Stewardship: Advancing Transportation Planning:
The Planning Leadership Council congratulates all winners of this year’s Transportation Planning Discipline Recognition Awards! Additional information about the award recipients and their noteworthy efforts are posted on the Planning Discipline Awards Page (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tpea/).
Contact: Tameka Macon, (202) 366-1183, Tameka.Macon@dot.gov.
The FHWA is seeking temporary transportation planning assignments for new staff participating in the Professional Development Program (PDP). The PDP provides participants with two years of formal training, hands on experience, and leadership development to prepare them for assignments as journey-level professionals in various technical disciplines within the FHWA. The FHWA covers the participant salary and expenses during the term of their assignment. Assignments typically last from 8 to 12 weeks.
Below are some examples of external assignments that interested MPOs or State DOTs might consider.
MPO Examples:
DOT Examples:
Internal FHWA assignments can be posted on the FHWA clearinghouse at: http://our.dot.gov/office/fhwa.had/tac/SitePages/pdpavailable.aspx.
External organizations can contact a planner in their division office to discuss the idea and get things started.
Contract: Shakira Crandall, PDP Coordinator, (202) 366-6731, Shakira.crandall@dot.gov
https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/course_search.aspx
MAP-21 Transportation Performance Management Overview (including FAST Act Updates)
December 6, 2016 – Fairbanks, AK
December 7, 2016 – Anchorage, AK
December 8, 2016 – Juneau, AK
Developing a Transportation Asset Management Plan
January 25026, 2017 – Salem, OR
Public Involvement in the Transportation Decision-Making Process
February 14-16, 2017 – Austin, TX
March 28-30, 2017 – Fort Worth, TX
http://www.ntionline.com/courses/
Project Management for Transit Professionals
December 12-13, 2016 – Cleveland, OH
Procurement 1 – Orientation to Transit Procurement
December 5-9, 2016 – Tucson, AZ
March 6-10, 2017 – Seattle, WA
FTA Real Estate Requirements
December 6-7, 2016 – Phoenix, AZ
May 17-18, 2016 – St. Paul, MN
Community Solutions – Delivering Outcomes with Communities
November 30 – December 2, 2016 – https://communitysolutions.sites.usa.gov/category/training/
December 1-2; Sacramento, CA
December 6-7; Austin, TX
December 14-15; Orlando, FL
For more information: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/summit.cfm
November 15, 2016; Sacramento, CA
For more information: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2016/05/12/introducing-street-lights-the-first-ever-complete-streets-conference/
December 1-2, 2016; Washington, D.C.
For more information: http://www.trb.org/Calendar/Blurbs/174017.aspx
January 8-12, 207; Washington, D.C.
For more information: http://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting/AnnualMeeting.aspx
January 26, 2017; Washington, D.C.
For more information: https://www.enotrans.org/events/capital-convergence-2017/
February 2-4, 2017; St. Louis, MO
For more information: https://www.newpartners.org/
May 6-9, 2017; New York, NY
For more information: https://www.planning.org/conference/
May 14-18, 2017; Raleigh, NC
For more information: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/173442.aspx
Vontra Giles – Illinois
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Shana Baker | HQ HEPH | HQ HPL |
| Gary Jensen | HQ HEPH - Implementation Team | HQ HEPH - Livability Team |
Visit the calendars posted on the following websites for upcoming transportation events:
FTA:
FHWA Planning, Environment and Realty:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/calendar/
FHWA Resource Center:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/index.cfm
Transportation Research Board:
Photo Credits: Page 1 Left: Plan El Paso 2010 Public Engagement Workshop, Photo courtesy of the City of El Paso. Page 1 Left Center: Mountain road, Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Page 1 Right Center: Cable car in Sacramento, CA, Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Page 1 Right: Burlington, VT Church Street Marketplace, Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Page 4: Federal Automated Vehicle Policy cover. Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/AV. Page 5: Dollar Sign, Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Page 7: Downtown Chicago, Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Page 8: Passenger Travel Facts and Figures 2016 cover. Retrieved from: http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/publications/passenger_travel_2016. Page 9: Map of Transit Stops and Buffers. Retrieved from: http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/ntm/map. Page 10: Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation cover. Retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/strategic_agenda/. Page 10: Supporting Performance-Based Planning and Programming through Scenario Planning Guidebook cover. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/scenario_and_visualization/scenario_planning/scenario_planning_guidebook/. Page 11: Map of Buffalo, Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Page 11: Map of Biloxi, Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Page 12: Transit buses, Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Page 14: Texas Livability Workshop, Photo courtesy of Kirk Fauver, FHWA Texas Division. Clip Art courtesy of Microsoft.
NOTICE: The information and articles in this newsletter are for your information and do not necessarily constitute policy positions of the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration. The mention of commercial products, their source or their use in connection with material reported herein is not to be construed as either an actual or implied endorsement of such products.
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