Transportation Planning Newsletter

Volume 1 Issue 23 | September 17, 2020

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.

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Committee News

AASHTO 2020 Virtual Joint Policy Conference - NOW VIRTUAL

Registration for the AASHTO 2020 Virtual Joint Policy Conference is open, and representatives from state DOTs across the country have signed up to join the program. With less than 2 weeks before the start of the event, registration is quickly approaching 200 participants.

One of the highlights of this conference will be a lunch presentation by Dean Piyushimita (Vonu) Thakuriah, Ph.D., Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University. Dean Thakuriah will provide a compelling presentation on how data analytics and visualization can be used to inform an integrated planning process – including considerations for active transportation, sustainability, resilience, freight, security and equity. Click here to see a full abstract of the presentation.

Additional plenary, technical, and cross-disciplinary sessions feature the country’s leading transportation practitioners, making this event a true interactive exchange of perspectives and innovative solutions. The AASHTO Committee on Planning, Special Committee on Freight, Committee on Transportation System Security & Resilience, and Council on Active Transportation will have business meetings on October 1.

Thanks to the support from our Premier and Capitol Sponsors, registration is complimentary! Each conference day has a distinct registration link, and all details can be accessed by visiting https://2020policyconference.transportation.org/. Please check back often as agenda information is frequently updated.

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

Baltimore City Department Of Transportation To Add 10 Additional Miles To Slow Streets Program

WJZ-TV

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/09/12/baltimore-city-department-of-transportation-slow-streets-program-latest/

A growing pedestrian safety crisis: Speed, short lights and SUVs are worsening a health epidemic

USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/09/17/pedestrian-safety-crisis-right-of-way-book-angie-schmitt/5807237002/

Seattle cyclists push city for dedicated bike lanes across Fremont Bridge

KING-TV

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-cyclists-push-city-for-dedicated-bike-lanes-across-fremont-bridge/281-588ce19b-f3f1-4e75-a0d7-b7edfa91c8da

FREIGHT

Kentucky Officials Award Funds to Freight-Moving River Ports

Transport Topics

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/kentucky-officials-award-funds-freight-moving-river-ports

OOIDA will push for more truck parking in next Congress

FreightWaves

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ooida-will-push-for-more-truck-parking-in-next-congress

FUNDING

Letter Calls on Congress to Make ‘Turn-Key’ Transportation Deal

AASHTO Journal

https://aashtojournal.org/2020/09/11/letter-calls-on-congress-to-make-turn-key-transportation-deal/

Utah looks at per-mile 'usage charge' to pay for roads in the future

KSTU-TV

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/utah-looks-at-per-mile-usage-charge-to-pay-for-roads-in-the-future

INFRASTRUCTURE

House Republicans issue post-election infrastructure plan

American Shipper

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/headline-house-republicans-issue-post-election-infrastructure-plan

Audit reveals Atlanta road and infrastructure projects underfunded due to misspending

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/audit-reveals-atlanta-road-and-infrastructure-projects-underfunded-due-to-misspending/BTITDVKSBJFWFNYACVDZ6VISNQ/

MOBILITY

Next-Gen Transportation Isn’t Going Anywhere Without Data

Government Technology

https://www.govtech.com/fs/data/Next-Gen-Transportation-Isnt-Going-Anywhere-Without-Data.html

Newly formed corporation could divert Harris County toll road revenue to non-mobility projects

Community Impact Newspaper

https://communityimpact.com/houston/cy-fair/transportation/2020/09/16/newly-formed-corporation-could-divert-harris-county-toll-road-revenue-to-non-mobility-projects/

MPOs

Hernando-Citrus MPO Board Agrees To More Budget Transparency

Citrus County Chronicle

https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/mpo-board-agrees-to-more-budget-transparency/article_10f25836-f3a7-11ea-85c2-b7d3e1d5e918.html

Area transportation group NET RMA names new executive director

Longview News-Journal

https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/area-transportation-group-net-rma-names-new-executive-director/article_e5e2402a-f789-11ea-ada0-cbda01b1e50a.html

Report: Capital Region needs more transportation funding

Daily Gazette

https://dailygazette.com/2020/09/11/report-region-needs-more-transportation-funding/

MORPC Matters: Central Ohio working to end serious traffic crashes

ThisWeek Community News commentary

https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20200913/morpc-matters-central-ohio-working-to-end-serious-traffic-crashes

OTHER

MassDOT Dashboard Reveals COVID Impact

ITS International

https://www.itsinternational.com/its5/products/massdot-dashboard-reveals-covid-impact

Lack of transportation options in San Antonio limits job, education opportunities, local experts say

KSAT-TV

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/09/16/lack-of-transportation-options-in-san-antonio-limits-job-education-opportunities-local-experts-say/

Overall Travel Down, Long-Distance Travel Up for Labor Day Weekend as Americans Bid Goodbye to COVID-19 Summer

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

https://www.bts.gov/covid-19/labor-day-weekend

PLANNING

Representatives meet to discuss the future of transportation in Orlando

WKMG-TV

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/09/16/representatives-meet-to-discuss-the-future-of-orlandos-transportation/

Bosch Technology Testing In Georgia Expected To Aid Traffic Planning Of The Future

ITS International

https://www.itsinternational.com/its4/news/bosch-video-invokes-spirit-curiosity

ROADWAYS

New Signal System Helps I-26 Alternate Routes

North Carolina DOT

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-09-15-icm-i-26-alternate-routes.aspx

Why are we pursuing a Traffic Reduction Study?

Los Angeles County Metro’s The Source

https://thesource.metro.net/2020/09/16/why-are-we-pursuing-a-traffic-reduction-study/

TRANSIT

Maryland transit officials make pledge to finish Purple Line to Montgomery Co. Council

WTOP Radio

https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2020/09/maryland-transit-officials-make-pledge-to-finish-purple-line-to-montgomery-co-council/

Chicago mayor announces push to get more apartments built near public transportation on South and West sides

Chicago Tribune

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lori-lightfoot-transit-development-minority-neighborhoods-20200914-zuyyy2vstbendpvr5tzsou3624-story.html

MBTA Officials Try to Envision Post-COVID-19 Transit System

WYCN-TV

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/mbta-officials-try-to-envision-post-covid-19-transit-system/2194804/

What the World Can Learn From Life Under Tokyo’s Rail Tracks

Bloomberg CityLab

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-09-10/what-the-world-can-learn-from-life-under-tokyo-s-rail-tracks?srnd=citylab

Iowa DOT publishes the Iowa Public Transit Long Range Plan for rightsizing Iowa’s statewide public transit system

Iowa DOT

https://www.news.iowadot.gov/newsandinfo/2020/09/iowa-dot-publishes-the-iowa-public-transit-long-range-plan-for-rightsizing-iowas-statewide-public-tr.html

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

Transportation Research Board compiles resources for trucking industry

Land Line

https://landline.media/transportation-research-board-compiles-resources-for-trucking-industry/

TRB Webinar: Modeling Long-Distance Intercity Travel for Sustainable Global Travel

TRB

https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/09-21-2020/trb-webinar-modeling-long-distance-intercity-travel-for-sustainable-global-travel