Volume 1 Issue 5 | April 30, 2020
Transportation Planning Newsletter
Chair: <vacant> 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
COVID-19 RESPONSE DISCUSSED BY JOINT SYSTEM MOBILITY AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE
• Chair: Daniela Bremmer, Washington State DOT

• Vice Chair: Jay Styles,
Virginia DOT

• AASHTO Liaison: Matt Hardy

• Meetings: Even months, third Tuesday from 2:30-3:30PM Eastern
The newly formed Joint Subcommittee on System Mobility and Emerging Technology recently hosted a very exciting and informational meeting to share a number of resources related to the COVID-19 crisis.

This webinar was held with recognition of rapid change and the desire to optimize data to answer critical policy questions. With an outstanding panel from academia and the private sector, webinar participants were provided critical information from a variety of different perspectives.
Below are some follow-up links and information from the webinar that took place on Tuesday, April 21. The webinar featured INRIX, University of Maryland, and Google. 

ACTIONS
1. AASHTO Data Survey —Click the image to the right to access the most recent version of the survey we have been maintaining to document State DOT data and information needs and what you are seeing regarding traffic. We will be updating this on a regular basis. Let Will Lusk, AASHTO Staff know if you would like to have your state’s information be updated.

2. Google Follow Up Survey —On the webinar, Monali Shah from Google asked for input on what the State DOTs needed/wanted in terms of information and data. She is seeking your feedback using this survey .

Participation in the subcommittee's teleconferences is open to all AASHTO members. For further information, please contact Will Lusk, AASHTO Staff via wlusk@aashto.org.
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.
2020 JOINT POLICY CONFERENCE
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official’s (AASHTO) 2020 Joint Policy Conference: Connecting the DOTs will bring together six AASHTO committees and councils to meet and discuss critical issues surrounding multimodal freight and passenger transportation. Focus areas will include planning, freight, maritime, security and resilience, environment and sustainability, and active transportation. With an estimated 300 participants from all 52 AASHTO member departments, this is a unique opportunity to reach out and connect with key decision-makers at state DOTs.

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, no decision has been made regarding cancellation or postponement of the 2020 Joint Policy Conference. It is also possible that this conference will be held virtually. Additional details will be available in future editions of this newsletter.
Industry News
ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION

D.C. widens sidewalks in five locations to allow better social distancing during pandemic
Washington Post

Filling a post-coronavirus commuting void with bike lanes
Plain Dealer
 
Seattle will close 6 more miles of streets to vehicle traffic to make space for pedestrians, bicyclists
Seattle Times

Pandemic Fuels Big Increase In Biking, Walking In Minnesota
Star Tribune

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Without fanfare, Houston unveils Climate Action Plan, shooting for carbon neutrality by 2050
Houston Chronicle

Transit advocates want to “build political will for a green transportation future plan”
Washington Policy Center blog

FREIGHT
 
Heartland Shippers Feel 20-Foot Box Squeeze
FreightWaves

FUNDING
 
State DOTs Feeling the Budgetary Impact of COVID-19
AASHTO Journal

NC Senate's coronavirus relief bill has $125 million for small businesses, $300 million for NCDOT
Triangle Business Journal

INFRASTRUCTURE

Trump Shines Spotlight on Infrastructure Amid Uncertain Legislative Agenda
Transport Topics

McConnell: Infrastructure will not be in next coronavirus relief bill
The Hill

INTERNATIONAL
 
German Universities To Offer Bicycling Traffic Degree Program
Forbes

MOBILITY  

Spin calls for designs to reimagine protected mobility lanes
Intelligent Transport

Coronavirus outbreak adds hurdles in mobility startups' paths
Automotive News

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership wants public input on proposed mobility principles for Golden Triangle
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

MPOs
 
Metroplan adding $350M to I-30 plan
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Grand Traverse County Road Commission Prepares For Next Phase Of East-West Corridor Study, Takeover Of M-137 In Interlochen  
The Ticker

Benton-Franklin Council of Governments: BFCG celebrating period of growth and transition 
Tri-City Herald commentary

OTHER
 
Idaho Officially Decommissions Highway Radio Network
AASHTO Journal

Maryland highway administration hopes to exchange education for credits toward stormwater permit in new pilot
Capital Gazette

Port Of Seattle Delays Controversial New Cruise Terminal As It Pares Spending Due To Coronavirus
Seattle Times
 
PLANNING
 
Salt Lake City to update its transportation master plan for the first time in almost 25 years
KSL Radio

The Coronavirus Pandemic Makes a Case for Megaregions  
CityLab

Public Involvement For Iowa’s Transportation Future
Iowa DOT’s Transportation Matters blog

Want Equitable Cities? We’ll Need More Women in Transportation Planning
Streets.mn commentary

Thoughts On Regions In Indiana
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly commentary

RAIL
 
Amtrak’s Downeaster Maine-to-Boston service suspended through end of May
Penobscot Bay Pilot
 
ROADWAYS

NJ Groups: Don’t Spend $16 Billion On Parkway, Turnpike. Spend $36 Billion On Transit Instead
WKXW Radio

TRANSIT

White House is reviewing guidelines for reopening transit
Washington Post
 
The Impacts of COVID-19 on Public Transit with Paul Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO
ITE Talks Transportation podcast

Cars, trains and uncertainty: How coronavirus will change Bay Area transit
San Francisco Chronicle

As Commuters Eye Return To Work, Some Cities Accelerate Ticketless Public Transit
Forbes
 
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
 
TRB Webinar: Data Sharing Tips for Public Transportation Agencies
TRB
 
TRB Webinar: Attracting the Future Construction Workforce – Case Studies
TRB
 
TRB Webinar: Designing Landscapes to Enhance Roadside Water Management
TRB