EDC-7 Strategic Workforce Development

November 30, 2023, 9:30am – 11:30am PT

FHWA’s EDC-7 Strategic Workforce Development (SWD) team is hosting a virtual fireside chat that will cover proven funding strategies from workforce development programs and how their impactful partnerships have resulted in access to invaluable resources.

Use this opportunity to ask questions and fuel the conversation with SWD program leaders who are experienced in building workforce development programs. FHWA encourages you to submit your questions early.

Register now to attend

Connect SoCal 2024 Public Review

SCAG has released the draft Connect SoCal 2024 plan—the region’s 2024-2050 Regional Transportation Plan & Sustainable Communities Strategy—for public review and comment. Updated every four years, Connect SoCal 2024 outlines a regional vision with integrated strategies that span mobility, community, environment, and the economy.

During the public comment period (now through January 12th, 2024), SCAG will host three public hearings on December 4th, 5th, & 8th, in addition to briefings for elected officials in each county within the SCAG region.

Read the draft plan or watch this video

for more information on Connect SoCal 2024

USDOT Invests 653$M in Port Infrastructure

USDOT’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) released over $653M to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). 

This included over $172.8M for 26 small ports to improve and expand their capacity to move freight reliably and efficiently, boosting local and regional economies while protecting surrounding communities from air pollution.

4 Ports in California were awarded, capturing over $74M in total funding:

• Long Beach North Harbor Transportation System Improvement Project, funded at $52,633,331

• Eureka Redwood Marine Terminal & Baywide Master Plan Project, funded at $8,672,986

• Oxnard Port of Hueneme Parking Structure Planning Project, funded at $2,000,000

• San Diego National City Marine Terminal Berth Rehabilitation & Electrification Project, funded at $11,250,000

Read the full announcement or access the complete list of winners

Native American Heritage Month

Strengthening Tribal Transportation

A new NASEM report reveals thousands of miles of roads owned by BIA on reservations are among the most unsafe and poorly maintained. In addition, despite Indian Country's 160,000+ miles of roadway eligible for federal funding, their transportation systems continue to remain underdeveloped.

During Native American Heritage Month, TRB is spotlighting its resources to strengthen the safety and services of tribal transportation:

• TRB's 2024 Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. will feature two studies focused on inequities in tribal transportation safety

• BTSCRP report "Highway Safety Behavioral Strategies for Rural & Tribal Areas" provides strategies for safer transportation and post-crash care

• NCHRP report "Integrating Tribal Expertise into Processes to Identify, Evaluate, & Record Cultural Resources" explores the requirements and intent of Section 106 for successful surface transportation projects

• NCHRP report "Access to Jobs, Economic Opportunities, & Education in Rural Areas" defines/addresses the unique accessibility challenges in rural communities, offering planning examples & strategies

Visit TRB for more information & resources on tribal transportation

Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions

Concrete Overlays: How to Get Started

September's TOPS newsletter focused on feasibility considerations and evaluation steps to help determine if a concrete overlay is the right solution for the problem. For October, FHWA is sharing five tips on how to get started as presented in a recent TOPS webinar:

• Start Simple: Choose a project without complicated staging or tight completion requirements. This makes it easy to get started on your procedures and work out specifications.

• Build Confidence: Evaluate the performance of your overlays. Build a few projects a year, establish a process for annual field reviews and performance data collection, and build confidence in the technology.

• Build Competency: Reference available tech manuals and training materials. Reach out to peer agencies and consult FHWA for help.

• Collect Data: Integrate concrete overlays into your toolbox over time. Collect local cost/performance data from your/peer projects and make sure they're an option in your project scoping software.

• Pay it Forward: Tell others what you learned!

Learn more about TOPS from this overlay feasibility webinar,

the TOPS website, or by downloading the program flyer

Public Involvement in

Transportation Decision-Making

USDOT has updated their technical assistance resource "Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making" to include a new appendix on "Using Federal Funds for Meaningful Public Involvement Activities" with illustrative examples like:

• Hiring Community-Based Organizations
• Providing Food at Public Meetings
• Providing Childcare at Public Meetings
• Providing Financial Incentives or Reimbursements for Participation

This guide provides a shared definition of meaningful public involvement and promising practices to help DOT funding recipients across all modes of transportation address barriers to inclusion in decision-making. 

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

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