Volume 1 Issue 13 | June 25, 2020
Transportation Planning Newsletter
Chair: Kristina Swallow, Nevada DOT Vice Chair: Lynn Weiskopf, New York State DOT

The Committee on Planning addresses all aspects of the transportation planning process including federal regulations, current industry practices, and emerging approaches and concepts. The committee is dedicated to providing State DOTs the expertise, resources and tools they need to implement a robust planning process within their agencies that is multimodal, multidisciplinary, innovative and consensus-oriented.
Committee News
POSTPONED: 2020 JOINT POLICY CONFERENCE
Please know that AASHTO’s first priority is the health, safety and well-being of our attendees, volunteers and staff attending any AASHTO meetings. We continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements and guidance closely. Currently, consideration for cancellation or postponement of upcoming AASHTO meetings as a result of COVID-19 is being made on a case by case basis.

At this time, the AASHTO 2020 Joint Policy Conference has been postponed to next year as a result of COVID-19. AASHTO staff and the planning committee are currently in the process of identifying new dates for an in-person program in 2021. Additionally, virtual committee meetings are being explored that will occur on the same dates (September 29-October 1, 2020). Additional information is forthcoming and will be announced on the conference website and this newsletter. If you have any questions, please contact us at committeeonplanning@aashto.org. Thank you for your understanding.
AASHTO Update on the INVEST in America Act
Earlier this month , the AASHTO Committee on Planning's Transportation Planning Newsletter detailed the release of the draft text of a five-year, $494 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill entitled the  Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation In America  (INVEST in America) Act. 

The bill as introduced significantly increases administrative burdens to state DOTs compared to prior surface transportation bills that sought to provide additional flexibilities and improve the efficiency of the surface transportation program. After two full days of markup considering over 300 amendments, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the INVEST in America Act by voice vote. 
This legislation will now head to the full House floor prior to the July 4 holiday to be considered as part of a comprehensive $1 trillion-plus infrastructure packaged entitled the "Moving Forward Act", alongside investments in broadband infrastructure, public housing, clean energy, health care infrastructure, and drinking water systems. It should be noted that there are no pay-fors identified yet for this full package.

AASHTO will continue to work very closely with the House majority and minority in the coming days and weeks to relay AASHTO’s policy positions on amendments accepted by the House Rules Committee prior to full floor consideration and adoption. Please visit https://policy.transportation.org/surface-reauthorization/ to learn more about AASHTO's work on the surface transportation reauthorization effort.
COVID-19

State departments of transportation are actively supporting their residents, businesses and local communities in response to the current COVID-19 outbreak. And in turn, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is working to support state DOTs in those efforts.

AASHTO remains committed to responsibly following federal and state recommended workplace actions related to COVID-19. We hope you’ll find the resources available at https://www.transportation.org/home/covid19/ useful.

If AASHTO staff can assist you with comments or questions regarding COVID-19, please email us at committeeonplanning@aashto.org.
Industry News
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Why bike riding has soared in popularity during the pandemic
NBC’s Today

Planning Group Seeks 425-Mile Bike Lane Network for NYC
Daily News
 
Virtual Event: Tackling Racism in Cycling and Transit-Oriented Development
MassINC

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

West Coast States Are Teaming Up to Build an Electric Highway
Gizmodo

Virginia regulators seek input on how state should prepare for electric vehicles
Energy News Network

Electric Car Charging Stations Are Finally About To Take Off
Bloomberg Green

Here's why e-mobility must be at the heart of the green recovery
World Economic Forum opinion

FREIGHT
 
OOIDA tells T&I Committee it no longer supports highway bill
Land Line

FUNDING
 
House T&I Advances Surface Transportation Reauthorization
AASHTO Journal

MOBILITY  

Pandemic Travel Patterns Hint at Our Urban Future
Bloomberg CityLab

Microtransit Gives City Agencies A Lift During The Pandemic
Undark

Austin Transit Is Banking on Bikes to Improve Mobility
Government Technology

Is Our Mobility Changing Because Of Corona?
Innovation Origins

MPOs
 
Transportation leaders approve transit plan for Tampa Bay area
WTSP-TV

SANDAG Commits $200,000 to Support Collaborative Planning with Tribal Nations in the Region
SANDAG

OTHER
 
Szabat Highlights USDOT Priorities in Senate Testimony
AASHTO Journal

Uber, Lyft algorithms charged users more for trips to non-white neighborhoods
Salon
 
Societal Changes Could ‘Decouple’ Traffic, Economic Prosperity
Government Technology

PLANNING

Minnesota DOT’s Online Meetings Draw Surprising Number Of Viewers
Star Tribune
 
How the Coronavirus Recovery Is Changing Cities
Bloomberg CityLab

How Can Transportation Planners Better Serve Black And Brown People?
Seattle Times

City of Missoula retooling approach to transportation planning
Missoula Current

Transport Planning In A Pandemic And Beyond  
Podaris blog

ROADWAYS
 
U.S. traffic has rebounded to about 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, analysts say
Washington Post

Bolstered by racial justice debate, critics of I-45 project call for protection of vulnerable communities
Houston Chronicle

Nebraska DOT Sees Early Success In Roadside Memorial Policy
KLIN Radio

TRANSIT
 
Transit advocates dismiss 'baked-in, societal' density bias
Smart Cities Dive

Sound Transit Needs Better Early Planning To Avoid Cost Overruns, Audit Finds
Seattle Times
 
Purple Line builders will exit project in 60 days if there's no deal on overruns
Washington Business Journal

The Impact Of Innovation On MaaS/MOD With FTA’s Vincent Valdes
ITE Talks Transportation podcast