 FHWA Releases Safe System Strategic Plan
The Federal Highway Administration published the Safe System Strategic Plan, which provides a roadmap for the strategies, focus areas, performance measures, and action items that will facilitate adoption of the Safe System Approach in the United States. The approach for adoption outlined in this document is structured around changing mindset, scale, and practice with immediate, near-term, and long-term timelines. The actions in this plan further strategic goals of solidifying the vision and building consensus on prioritizing safety in the U.S.; creating pathways for successful adoption; and supporting implementation at the community, corridor, and project levels.
FHWA Public Roads Magazine Focuses on the Safe System Approach from a Variety of Perspectives
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Winter 2022 issue of the Public Roads magazine elaborates on FHWA’s efforts to integrate the Safe System approach to comprehensively address safe roads and safe speeds (see “The Highway Safety Improvement Program: Paving the Road to a Safer Future” article). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration detailed their work in addressing safe vehicles, road users, and post-crash care. In addition, Safe System examples from States, cities, and international partners are highlighted. Finally, this issue provides insight into speed management and human factors research.
Recording of U.S. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s Keynote Address at TRB’s 2022 Annual Meeting Now Available
The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 2022 Annual Meeting. Secretary Buttigieg answered questions from TRB Executive Committee Chair Susan Shaheen of University of California, Berkeley and TRB Vice Chair Nat Ford of Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The Secretary discussed an array of topics, including the National Roadway Safety Strategy, equity, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and supply chain issues.
CDC Data Repository PLACES Provides Public Access to County-Level Health Data Which Can Support Transportation Planning
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PLACES data repository allows local health departments and jurisdictions to better understand the burden and geographic distribution of health-related outcomes in their areas, regardless of population size and urban-rural status. PLACES provides model-based population-level analysis and community estimates across the United States. The updated December 2021 data release includes estimates for 29 chronic disease related measures, many of which have significant transportation connections as research shows that transportation is an important social determinant of health.
Research Analyzes Micromobility Safety Behavior and Outlines Improvements for Injury Data
The Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety published the final report for their research on Understanding Micromobility Safety Behavior and Standardizing Safety Metrics for Transportation System Integration. The project focused on four core tasks that included exploration of new big data sources, injury surveillance methods, survey research assessment, and safety data. This research has contributed to the addition of a set of new injury codes to the next update of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM) for most main micromobility modes, including scooters and e-bikes. The report includes an analysis of micromobility trip patterns, a survey on micromobility safety experience and perception, and a case study comparing bicycle and e-scooter crashes.
ITE Publishes Information Brief on Transportation as a Determinant of Health
The Institute of Transportation Engineers publishes a series of informational briefs on a variety of topics called QuickBites. This Active Transportation QuickBite discusses Transportation as a Determinant of Health. The author highlights how transportation infrastructure influences an individual’s health status through access to health-promoting destinations, traffic safety, active living, air pollution, and noise pollution. The document includes actions that transportation professionals can take to create transportation systems that support healthy communities.
 U.S. DOT Announces Historic Bridge Investment with a Focus on Safe Accommodation for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched the Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection, and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program). Established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bridge Formula Program will provide over $27 billion to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Tribes to improve an estimated 15,000 bridges nationwide. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will administer the program, and the agency released Bridge Formula Program funding to States for Fiscal Year 2022. The program implementation guidance includes a new section on accommodation for bicyclists and pedestrians. Under this guidance, “all projects with Federal financial participation that replace or rehabilitate a highway bridge deck are required to provide safe accommodation of pedestrians or bicyclists, as applicable, on the bridge, when both of the following conditions are met: (1) the bridge is located on a highway on which pedestrians or bicyclists are allowed to operate at each end of the bridge, and (2) FHWA determines that safe accommodation can be provided at reasonable cost.”
FHWA Published 10 BIL Fact Sheets to Help Educate Stakeholders and the Public
The Federal Highway Administration published 10 fact sheets providing key information to educate stakeholders and the general public on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) highway provisions. The fact sheets cover (1) Apportionment; (2) Bridge Formula Program; (3) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program; (4) Highway Safety Improvement Program; (5) Metropolitan Planning Program; (6) National Highway Freight Program; (7) National Highway Performance Program; (8) Railway-Highway Crossings Program; (9) Surface Transportation Block Grant; and (10) Transportation Alternatives. The BIL’s highway provisions include new eligible projects and activities related to shared micromobility; intersection safety improvements for all road users; installation or upgrades of traffic control devices for pedestrians and bicyclists; installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and vehicle-to-grid infrastructure; vulnerable road user safety assessments; and more.
FHWA Publication Revisits Guiding Principles and Public Involvement Strategies Used to Advance Environmental Justice on Highway Projects
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Successes in Stewardship Newsletter featured two projects that demonstrate how FHWA and State agencies are prioritizing environmental justice (EJ) in major transportation projects. The newsletter highlights how guiding principles on the Newtown Pike Extension in Lexington, Kentucky helped to improve quality of life in an EJ community. The newsletter also highlights how the Indiana Department of Transportation’s I-69 Improvement project used innovative public involvement approaches to address EJ communities’ concerns and needs.
FHWA and FTA Issue Updated Planning Emphasis Areas to Guide State and MPO Planning and Research Programs
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Offices of Planning issued updated Planning Emphasis Areas (PEAs). The PEAs are areas that FHWA and FTA field offices should emphasize when meeting with metropolitan planning organizations, State departments of transportation, public transportation agencies, and Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) to identify and develop tasks associated with the Unified Planning Work Program and the Statewide Planning and Research Program. The 2021 PEAs include: (1) Tackling the Climate Crisis – Transition to a Clean Energy, Resilient Future; (2) Equity and Justice40 in Transportation Planning; (3) Complete Streets; (4) Public Involvement; (5) Strategic Highway Network/U.S. Department of Defense Coordination; (6) FLMA Coordination; (7) Planning and Environment Linkages; and (8) Data in Transportation Planning.
FHWA Releases Updated Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework and Case Studies
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework to help transportation professionals incorporate health considerations and outcomes in the corridor planning process. This updated resource provides questions to consider at each common corridor planning process step, including examples that demonstrate real-life use cases and the resulting outcomes. The examples summarize diverse applications from six transportation agencies across the country that tested the framework in a corridor study. In November 2021, FHWA hosted a webinar featuring transportation professionals sharing their use of the framework tools and information to conduct community engagement, forge partnerships, leverage resources, and garner support for investments that support healthy outcomes for their community. The webinar recording is available online.
FHWA Releases Active Transportation Funding and Financing Toolkit
The Federal Highway Administration published a web-based toolkit that highlights innovative funding and finance strategies for implementing active transportation projects, such as value capture, bond financing, Federal funding options, local planning assistance grants, and other effective methods to accelerate delivery of pedestrian and bicycle projects. The toolkit includes a literature review, six case studies, and a peer exchange summary that provide examples of how various funding sources and financing methods were used to implement active transportation projects nationally. The webinar recording and presentation materials for this research is available online.
Finalists Announced for Build Back Better Regional Challenge
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is facilitating the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which aims to boost economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities, including those grappling with decades of disinvestment. The two-phase competition will ultimately award 20-30 regional coalitions between $25 and $100 million to implement 3-8 projects that support an industry sector. In December 2021, EDA announced the 60 Phase 1 finalists that will develop or scale regional industry sectors, develop and train the workforce of today, and build resilient economies.
U.S. DOT Announces Six Guiding Principles to Drive Innovation
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced its six innovation principles, which include commitments to (1) serve our policy priorities, (2) help America win the 21st century, (3) support workers, (4) allow for experimentation and learn from failure, (5) provide opportunities to collaborate, and (6) be flexible and adapt as technology changes. The principles promote a focus on equity, resiliency, public sector experimentation, open data and transparency, public private partnerships, and cross-modal integration.
NHTSA Partnership Releases Report on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems with focus on Pedestrian Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety – a partnership between automobile manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Transportation – released a report on advanced driver assistance systems with data from eight manufacturers showing significant increases in the amount of vehicles produced with automatic emergency braking (AEB), with a focus on AEB to avoid crashes with pedestrians, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and blind spot warning technologies.
Study Examines the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Proactive Road Safety Management to Support the Safe System Approach and Achieve Vision Zero Goals
The International Transport Forum released a study showing how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for proactive road safety management. To decrease road traffic deaths, especially among vulnerable road users, new tools and methods must be used to implement the Safe System approach in a proactive way. This report outlines the main ways that AI can support road safety interventions. One involves sensing the road asset and traffic conditions, including near misses. The other identifies risky areas and elaboration of countermeasures. This information can help transportation professionals determine high risk areas for all modes and influence investment decisions to support Vision Zero goals.
GIS Mapping Tool Assists in Aligning Mobility Options with Underserved Populations
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation introduced a GIS tool to support policymakers, transportation planners, and mobility providers in providing seniors, people with disabilities, young people, and low-income individuals without cars access to transportation resources. The Non-Driver ArcGIS Online Application overlays census data with Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles data on a state map. The tool aims to increase access to work, school, and other essential destinations by identifying areas of public transportation need.
Report Details Why Both Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure and EV Implementations are Necessary to Address Climate Change
The Institute for Transportation Development and Policy conducted a study that models climate change impacts of compact city infrastructure, electric vehicles, and a combination of both. For the urban transportation sector, lowering cumulative greenhouse gas emissions involves both compact cities developed for walking, cycling, and public transit, as well as a rapid and strategic transition to electrified vehicles. Researchers found that the combination of the two policy changes would reduce the emissions by the urban transportation sector by 50 percent over the next 30 years.
 FHWA Announces $17.8 Million for Tribal Technical Assistance Program Centers to Help Tribes Administer Transportation Programs
The Federal Highway Administration posted a press release announcing the availability of funds to re-establish seven Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Centers across the country. The TTAP Centers will help Tribal governments administer and manage their transportation programs and systems. The Centers will also provide Tribal governments with training, technical assistance and technology services that best meet the needs of the Tribal community, including on-demand, virtual, and hands-on services that strengthen Tribal capacity for self-governance of transportation programs.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Pocket Guide to Transportation Highlights Safety Trends for Pedestrians and Cyclists
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics published the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2022, which is a quick reference guide to significant transportation statistics. This document covers data on infrastructure, moving people and goods, safety, performance, economy, and environment. Page 49 of the Pocket Guide provides information on serious injuries and fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists during 2010, 2019, and 2020.
Summary of Public Comments Received on U.S. DOT’s RFI on Transportation Equity Data Now Available
In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) published a Request for Information (RFI) on transportation equity data, which was open for public comment through July 2021. The purpose of the RFI was to solicit public input on how U.S. DOT can develop policies and programs that deliver resources in an equitable way that serves underserved populations. The Department received over 300 comments from many individuals and public and private sector organizations. This Summary of Public Comments document aggregates and summarizes comments received in response to the RFI’s 25 questions, highlighting common themes and tools identified by respondents.
EPA Holds National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call and EJSCREEN Office Hours
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has two upcoming Environmental Justice (EJ) virtual events. The next National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call will take place on February 22, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 PM ET. The purpose of this call is to inform community stakeholders about EJ efforts at EPA and other Federal agencies and enhance opportunities to maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates. In addition, the EPA will hold EJSCREEN Office Hours to provide support to users of the Agency’s EJ screening and mapping tool on February 23 at 12:00 PM ET. Recordings of previous sessions for both meetings are available online.
Business Coalition on Outdoor Recreation Releases Annual Report
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is a coalition of industry leaders working to advance a sustainable and growing outdoor recreation economy. The ORR 2021 Annual Report outlines how ORR forged relationships with federal agencies, hosted virtual events, released new data, and expanded education efforts with policymakers and the public. Through 2021, ORR continued to support rural communities by creating the Rural Economic Development Toolkit and launching ORR's first ever rural development grant program. ORR also launched Together Outdoors, which works to identify and overcome systemic issues that contribute to barriers to the outdoors for historically marginalized groups.
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