USDOT News & Updates

by


Uniform Act Final Rule Update
In response to Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) May 3, 2024 publication of a final rule updating the government-wide Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Uniform Act) regulations 49 CFR Part 24, FHWA’s Office of Real Estate Services (HEPR) is presenting a series of webinars and developing resources to assist FHWA Division Offices; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders in implementing the new rule.

For more information on the Uniform Act and upcoming webinars and resources visit HEPR’s Uniform Act webpage or contact Melissa Corder, Office of Real Estate Services.

Right of Way (ROW) Oversight of Direct Recipient Projects
In support of Division Realty staff, HEPR continues to develop tools for Division Realty Specialists to help advise divisions on what oversight, review, and approvals are required for a non-State DOT direct recipient project, which includes ROW acquisition.  HEPR provides access to examples and templates that can be used to cover project requirements (e.g. assurances and ROW Certification), guidance documents (e.g. ROW Certification and Requirement Checklist), and a ROW Risk Assessment/Review form that can be used to review ROW acquisition project documents and files.

For more information on resources and research related to ROW, visit HEPR’s ROW webpage or contact Arnold Feldman, Office of Real Estate Services.

Uniform Act Conference
HEPR sponsored the Uniform Act Conference (UAC) at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Training Center for Realty Program outreach to other Federal, State and local agencies. Session topics included: State of the Uniform Act, Stewardship & Oversight, Appraisal, Acquisition and Relocation Disciplines, Leveraging Technology, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Project Planning, and Cost Estimation. HEPR is planning the next UAC for 2026.

For more information on the upcoming Uniform Act Conference, contact Derrick Roma, Office of Real Estate Services.

Environmental Excellence Awards
FHWA has announced the 2024 Environmental Excellence Award (EEA) recipients.  The winning projects and programs exemplify FHWA’s priorities of safety, economic strength, global competitiveness, equity, climate and sustainability, transformation, and organizational excellence.  The EEAs recognize outstanding transportation projects, processes, and organizations that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development processes using FHWA funding sources. For information on the winning projects and programs for 2024 visit the EEA webpage or email EEA directly.

Funding Opportunity for Electric Vehicle Charging and Alternative-Fueling Infrastructure
FHWA is announcing the second funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. The $1.3 billion funding opportunity is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature EV charging investments: the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Eligible entities for funding include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, and more as defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. New Round 2 applications are due August 28, 2024. For more information on this opportunity, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on grants.gov, opportunity number 693JJ324NF00017.

Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Case Studies on Equity and Housing
The FHWA Office of Planning published the following new case studies:

• Portland, Oregon’s Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Racial Equity Approach to Transportation Planning details PBOT’s data-informed planning and decision-making, and robust community engagement plan. Equitable transportation planning considers the circumstances impacting a community’s mobility and connectivity needs.
• The City of Palm Beach Gardens’ Vision and Framework for a Transit-Oriented Future details the policy, public engagement, and multi-jurisdictional coordination tools leveraged for transit-oriented development.
• Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) Approach to Transportation and Housing Planning Coordination case study shares GCMPC’s community development, transportation planning, and environmental programs, including planning efforts across these programs to leverage resources and enhance livability in local communities.

Previous planning case studies are available in the Resource Hub on the TPCB webpage.  In addition, get notified of updates to the TPCB website by signing up for GOVDelivery notifications.  For more information on TPCB case studies, please contact Lindsay Donnellon, Office of Planning.

EDC-7 Integrating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Assessment and Reduction Targets in Transportation Planning
The EDC-7 Integrating GHG initiative is developing a white paper highlighting current practices to address the following:

• GHG assessment and reduction throughout the transportation planning process
• Handbooks on analysis methods for GHG, and opportunities to address GHG in the planning process
• Case studies of efforts by State DOTs, MPOs and transit agencies
• Factsheets on basic relevant topics and peer events
• Roundtable discussions

Resources on the EDC-7 GHG initiative are available on the Integrating GHG Assessment and Reduction Targets in Transportation Planning webpage. For more information contact David D’Onofrio, Office of Natural Environment or Jim Thorne, Office of Planning.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Safe System Approach Needs Assessment
The Office of Planning is working on a joint project with the Office of Safety to examine how to support MPOs in integrating the Safe System Approach (SSA) in the regional transportation planning process.  This project is looking into bringing the SSA Principles and Elements into policy development, planning, programming, and agency culture to achieve the zero deaths goal.

FHWA will collaborate with several MPOs to identify potential challenges and opportunities that influence the integration of the SSA into their transportation planning process. The project will document successes in advancing some or all aspects of SSA integration as noteworthy practices, case studies, and other reference materials MPOs can use to advance the SSA in their planning processes. Workshops are set up over the summer with 15 MPOs to conduct these assessments.

For more information contact Brian Goodson or Jim Thorne, Office of Planning, or Chimai Ngo, Office of Safety Programs.

Organizational Safety Culture Self-Assessment Toolkit – Pilot Testing with a Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Office of Planning has joined the Office of Safety in developing a self-assessment toolkit designed for transportation agencies to determine the maturity level of organizational road safety culture and identify opportunities for improvements. The self-assessment toolkit has two focus areas: 1) internal safety culture, and 2) programmatic safety integration. The Sarasota/Manatee MPO pilot tested the tool and two workshops were held with staff and planning partners to examine and apply the toolkit and assessment process.  The toolkit and assessment process for the Organizational Safety Culture Self-Assessment will be a valuable resource for MPOs looking to improve road safety and their internal safety culture.

For more information contact Jim Thorne, Office of Planning or Chimai Ngo, Office of Safety Programs.

PlanWorks
The Office of Planning streamlined the PlanWorks website, which provides information on the key decisions in long-range planning, programming, corridor planning, and environmental review to show when and how to engage partners and stakeholders. PlanWorks has four major components:

  • Decision Guide – identifies common decisions and opportunities for cooperation.
  • Assessments – enables practitioners to improve communication and cooperation.
  • Applications – provides information and approaches for how topics can be considered in a collaborative decision-making framework.
  • Library – contains relevant case studies and reports of successful collaboration.

For more information, visit the PlanWorks website or contact Brian Goodson, Office of Planning.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 2023 Annual Report
The FHWA-funded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) published its PBIC 2023 Annual Report. The report provides information and context about major advancements in pedestrian and bicyclist safety through 2023, including nationally recognized innovations, resources, and approaches, and PBIC contributions to these efforts.

Learn more about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and access resources and publications. For more information contact Christopher B Douwes, Office of Human Environment.

Planning and Environment Handbook, Flowcharts, and Webinar
The Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Handbook and Flowchart show agencies the various PEL authorities and approaches for implementing PEL. The PEL Handbook provides detailed information on how to effectively implement PEL and leverage planning information and decisions during the environmental review process. Three PEL Flowcharts also provide a step-by-step guide through the PEL authorities and highlight the considerations and requirements involved. The FHWA’s PEL webinar recording offers practitioners guidance to support implementing PEL approaches. The webinar includes detailed information on the PEL Handbook and how to effectively implement PEL and leverage planning information and decisions during the environmental review process.  

The PEL Handbook, Flowcharts, and webinar can be found on the Federal Highway Planning and Environment Website.  

Transportation Access Pilot
FHWA invites eligible agencies to express interest in participation in the Transportation Access Pilot Program (APP). FHWA will provide technical assistance to States, MPOs, and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations in developing and processing accessibility data and defining accessibility measures.  

The purpose of APP is to improve transportation planning by measuring the level of access by surface transportation modes to destinations essential for daily living,​ and assess the change in accessibility that would result from new transportation investments.

The APP recording of the webinar (Passcode: VugG4P1?) provides a detailed overview, eligibility information, the application process, criteria evaluation and selection​ process, and program resources. 

For more information or questions on the pilot program, visit Transportation Access Pilot Program or contact APP.

Upcoming Webinars:
EDC-7 Integrating GHG Assessment and Reduction Targets in Transportation Planning Webinar
As part of the EDC-7 Integrating GHG in transportation planning initiative a webinar series is underway to share notable practices related to GHG assessment and reduction among State DOTs, MPOs, and transit agencies.  The first two webinars have included practitioners from a State DOT and an MPO to share their experience in addressing GHG in their planning processes and topics like communicating on GHG efforts and setting goals, objectives, performance measures and targets. The third webinar in the series, held July 9, 2024, focuses on developing GHG emission baselines, forecasts, and analyzing reduction strategies. Recordings and presentations from these webinars are posted on the TPCB GHG in Planning topic page: GHG in Planning – Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program.

For more information contact David D’Onofrio, Office of Natural Environment or Jim Thorne, Office of Planning.

New NHI Fundamentals of Community Impact Assessment Course
FHWA is offering a new FHWA-NHI-142096: Fundamentals of Community Impact Assessment (CIA) course that explores the iterative process of evaluating the effects of a transportation action on a community and its quality of life.  The CIA process offers a flexible approach that is scalable throughout the transportation decision-making process, from envisioning to planning through project development and implementation. The CIA process focuses on meaningful public involvement, dynamic community characterization, quantitative and qualitative data collection, and analysis to shape transportation decisions, and monitor benefits and burdens. 

This course will inform transportation practitioners from State DOTs, MPOs, regional and local agencies, and partners about resources and techniques to prepare for and conduct CIAs, act on their findings, and monitor results.

  • Free, four-hour online, self-paced course
  • Visit the NHI Blackboard course catalog and search for the course description.
  • First time Blackboard users should visit the NHI registration page for instructions on how to access Blackboard, the organization’s new training platform that hosts this course.

For further information visit the FHWA Community Impact Assessment page or contact Faith Hall, Office of Human Environment.

Traffic Noise Model (TNM) 3.2 Training
This two-day instructor-led training provides an in-depth overview of the TNM 3.2 model interface and features. It is designed for the novice and intermediate traffic noise specialist and includes several hands-on class exercises to help users gain familiarity with the TNM 3.2 modeling workflow process.  The FHWA’s Resource Center offers free training courses to States. The courses include an overview of the FHWA Noise Program tailored to the requesting State DOTs needs; and a TNM-focused course that demonstrates how to perform various modeling tasks.

For more information please contact the Mike Roberts or George Noel, FHWA Resource Center.

Highway Traffic Noise Assessment and Abatement Workshop:
This 1.5 day workshop provides an in-depth review of all topics encountered by traffic noise practitioners including, basic acoustics, procedures for noise analysis, traffic noise mitigation and measurement, construction noise, traffic noise modeling overview, and Federal noise regulations and guidance. The Resource Center offers free on-site training locally or remotely over the web, when requested. 

For additional information on how to attend or schedule training, contact Mike Roberts or George Noel from the Resource Center.

Practical Applications in Federal-Aid Highway Program Appraisals
The FHWA’s National Highway Institute (NHI) is offering two appraisal courses: NHI-141053: Foundations of Federal-Aid Highway Program Appraisals and NHI-141054: Practical Applications in Federal-Aid Highway Program Appraisals.  These courses are essential for appraisers who want to understand how to incorporate Uniform Act and 49 CFR Part 24 appraisal requirements into right-of-way appraisals. 

The course Foundations of Federal-aid Highway Program Appraisals (NHI 141053) is a seven-hour course that addresses the nuances and state-specific differences related to the application of appraisal concepts and Uniform Act requirements of 49 CFR Part 24 and is available on-demand any time through the NHI website link.

The course Practical Applications in Federal-aid Highway Program Appraisals (NHI 141054) is a 7.5 hour course that builds on the foundation developed in course NHI-141053.  Each session will have one FHWA instructor and one contract instructor.  Registration for this course is available through the NHI website for the following dates:

  • August 6-8, 2024 (10:00 am – 12:30 pm PT each day)
  • October 22-24, 2024 (10:00 am – 12:30 pm PT each day)

For more information about the appraisal training courses, please contact NHI Customer Service, or Kevin O’Grady, Office of Real Estate Services.

Environmental Justice Analysis in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Course
The Environmental Justice (EJ) Analysis two day course, FHWA-NHI-142095, is now available to State Department of Transportations, Local Public Agencies, and consultants. 

The course focuses on helping transportation professionals effectively implement Executive Order 12898, DOT Order 5610.2C, FHWA Order 6640.23A, and FHWA 2011 Guidance on Environmental Justice in NEPA by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse effects of proposed transportation projects. In this course, attendees will walk through the EJ analysis process, including proper documentation of the process, evaluation of community outreach and involvement strategies, and attaining hands-on experience working with U.S. Census data and analysis tools.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: 

  • Explain why EJ is important when implementing transportation projects.
  • Use available data and stakeholder input to identify and evaluate beneficial and adverse effects of preferred alternatives on EJ populations.
  • Explain EJ analysis and document best practices.

For more information about the FHWA-NHI-142095 training, please contact NHI.

Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) and tools
NHI is offering the following Planning and Environment Linkages Courses:

PEL represents a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making that considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process, and uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process. 

For more information visit the PEL webpage and explore the PEL tools and resources shared by liaisons.

Resource Center Air Quality Team to Offer MOVES4 Training
The FHWA Resource Center’s Air Quality Team will begin delivering MOVES4 training through virtual and in-person courses. The purpose of this training is to provide attendees with an overview of EPA’s MOVES4 mobile source emissions model. The training will cover the functionality of the model, input requirements, output processing, and relevant EPA and FHWA guidance documents. The course also includes hands-on exercises that will demonstrate several realistic modeling scenarios applicable to greenhouse gases, conformity (regional and project-level), and NEPA analyses. The intended audience are those who use, expect to use, or will be reviewing MOVES-based analyses. Contact Chris Dresser, Resource Center, to request a training for your state.

New Transportation Planning Video Learning Series
Two videos now available on FHWA’s Transportation Planning Capacity Building Website under Connect & Learn.  This video learning series is designed to exchange information on planning tools, share common experiences and noteworthy practices across the planning discipline, and establish a common knowledge base for all planners.

The Office of Planning is also solicitating future topics for this video learning series.  If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, contact Cheng Yan, or Jim Thorne, from the Office of Planning.

Climate Resilience Training Courses
The FHWA’s National Highway Institute (NHI) is offering five environmental courses addressing climate change through adaptation and resilience.  The target audiences for the courses are primarily transportation personnel who work in engineering, design, and project development/NEPA units in transportation agencies (mainly State DOTs). The courses are also relevant to those interested in planning, asset management, operations, and maintenance. Expected participants include experienced staff from State DOTs, local governments, Tribal governments, Federal State agencies, and consultants.

Visit NHI’s website for more information on the best methods to address climate resilience for highway projects in your community.  For more information contact Rob Kafalenos, Office of Natural Environment.

Introduction to NEPA and Transportation Decision-making
This Introduction to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Transportation Decision Making course is an updated version of the existing Web-Based Training (WBT). This course describes FHWA’s approach to the NEPA transportation decision-making process. That process considers impacts of transportation projects on the human and natural environment while balancing with the public’s need for safe and efficient transportation. This training covers NEPA regulations, policies, and guidance defined by the Council on Environmental Quality and FHWA.

This self-paced training is a recommended prerequisite prior to enrolling in NEPA and the Transportation Decision Making Process FHWA-NHI 142005.  For more information about this NHI training, contact NHI.

Integrating Transportation and Land Use Training
The free Integrating Transportation and Land Use web-based training course is designed to help practitioners plan multimodal transportation systems that supports community development goals and shape land use patterns that support transportation system performance goals. Course lessons include determining the interplay between transportation systems and land use development patterns, the processes and principles that influence integrated transportation and land use planning, and strategies for applying integrated land use and transportation principles to different types and scales of planning and decision-making processes.

For questions or further information on this course, contact Tameka Macon, Office of Planning.

Upcoming Events:
Transportation Research Board’s 2nd Conference on Advancing Equity
The 2nd Conference on Advancing Transportation Equity (CATE) is being held July 15-18, 2024, in Baltimore, MD. The CATE 2024 theme, Reaching Across the Divide: Research, Community Implementation, and Shared Experiences, suggests that transportation equity and mobility justice goals will only advance by connecting transportation work to community needs. Presenters will emphasize concrete outcomes and examples of advancing transportation equity. FHWA Office of Planning and FTA will participate by hosting a Federal Roundtable overview of USDOT’s framework for advancing equity in transportation planning including updates on recently released resources and research materials.

Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) Conference
Join active transportation professionals and advocates at the 2024 APBP Conference from August 12-14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. This year’s conference will feature:

  • Four engaging workshops and 25 panels that will explore accessibility, best practices in design, community engagement, emerging tools and trends, equity and inclusion, funding and implementation, and safe systems approach.
  • New quick shot session, featuring 6 presentations in a rapid-fire format.
  • 8+ mobile tours allow participants to explore the host city and surrounding areas while learning from community partners.

In addition, 14 hours of professional development credit for AICP is available for attending the APBP Conference.  Registration includes entrance to the full Conference, admission to the exhibitor and poster viewing areas, mobile tours, two evening social events, plus a continental breakfast each day.

2024 Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) Annual Conference
The 2024 AMPO Annual Conference will take place September 24-27, 2024 in Salt Lake City, UT. AMPO’s mission is to help communities thrive by strengthening the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) that plan for safe, reliable, and equitable multi-modal transportation networks that are accessible to all. AMPO offers our member MPOs technical assistance and training, frequent updates on federal policy, research findings and analysis, and conferences, workshops, and forums for collaboration and peer sharing.  Registration information will be available soon.

TRB Annual Meeting 2025
The 104th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting is scheduled January 5-9, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  Registration includes over 4,000 presentations in more than 650 workshops and sessions, 400+ meetings organized by TRB standing committees, three days of exhibits showcasing transportation-related products and services, and more.  Registration opens in September.  Paper submission is now open and site closes on August 1, 2024.  Information for Presentation Submission Requirements is provided.



Leave a Comment