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Welcome to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Human Environment biweekly email digest. This digest shares the latest information from a range of Federal and non-Federal sources, addressing transportation and its relationship to the human environment. Through this information exchange, FHWA hopes to foster dialogue at all levels and continue to further the state of the practice on these important topics.
For more information on any of these topics, see the FHWA Related Links on the sidebar.
*The information provided in this mailing does not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Contents:
FHWA Launches #RoadDiets Selfie Campaign
On October 3, 2016, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) launched the #RoadDiets Selfie Campaign, which is designed to generate interest and support for Road Diets. To support the campaign, individuals should print a sheet of paper with the hashtag "#RoadDiets," take a selfie (safely away from traffic) with their favorite roads that have been put on a diet, and then post the selfie to Facebook and Twitter.
Call for Abstracts for Student Projects Addressing Climate Concerns
The Educate, Motivate, and Innovate (EMI) Climate Justice Initiative is seeking abstracts on student projects that address climate resiliency, adaptation, and mitigation. Students should emphasize the relationships between climate change and the following: public health, cultural and traditional practices, economic development, and environmental justice communities. The EMI Committee will use these abstracts to select students to participate in the EMI Workshop at the National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program in March 2017. For more information, visit Building the Next Generation of Climate Justice Leaders.
UNC Highway Safety Research Center Selected to Administer PBIC
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) was selected to administer the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), a national clearinghouse funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). PBIC supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) initiatives to promote integrated, convenient, and safe transportation systems for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
20th Anniversary of International Walk to School Day
On October 5, 2016, thousands of schools and communities across the United States participated in the 20th anniversary of International Walk to School Day. This event promotes the many benefits of safely walking and biking to school and provides an opportunity to bring attention to needed safety improvements. Communities still have time to organize and register an event in October as part of Walk to School Month.
EPA Awards $1.2 Million in Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreements
On October 5, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced competitive cooperative agreements with 10 community-based organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. Each recipient will receive up to $120,000 to support two-year projects that address a variety of environmental justice issues through innovative project activities in areas such as green infrastructure and recycling.
EPA Launches EJSCREEN User Impact Survey
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) recently announced the launch of the EJSCREEN User Impact Survey. The information collected through the survey will be used to catalog the diverse ways in which people are using EJSCREEN to support their analyses of environmental justice concerns in their personal and professional lives. Survey responses will also help EPA identify opportunities to continue developing and improving this tool. The survey is open until November 8, 2016.
AARP Addresses Equality in Land-Use Policies
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) published a new interview titled, "How to Make Land-Use Policies Better for Women, Families, Caregivers, and Older Adults." In the interview, urban planning professor Mildred Warner addresses ways to make everyday living less stressful for vulnerable populations by improving land-use policies.
FHWA's October, Fostering Livable Communities Newsletter Now Available
The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) October, Fostering Livable Communities newsletter is now available. The quarterly newsletter provides transportation professionals with real-world examples to help them improve relationships between transportation and communities, such as road safety assessments and information about programs like LadderSTEP.
Every Day Counts Innovations Webinar Recordings Now Available
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently completed a webinar series on Every Day Counts (EDC-4) Innovations. View the webinar recordings to learn about programs such as Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) and Community Connections. Seven EDC-4 Regional Summits that are scheduled to take place this fall will set the stage for the deployment of 11 innovations through the fourth 2-year cycle of the EDC program.
USDOT Announces $5 Million to Improve Transit Options on Tribal Lands
On September 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the award of $5 million to help American Indian and Alaska Native tribal citizens initiate and enhance transit service in Indian Country. FTA's Tribal Transit Program will provide grants to 34 tribes for 35 competitively selected transit-related projects in 12 States.
"National Summit on Transportation and Opportunity"
On September 29, 2016, U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx spoke with key stakeholders in the transportation community, including academics and mayors from across the Country, at the National Summit on Transportation and Opportunity. The National Summit was a unique forum for local and National leaders to discuss ways to better serve the public by strengthening the connections between multimodal transportation systems and employment, education, and other essential services.
"Rethinking How Cities Connect Residents to Opportunity"
On September 23, 2016, Living Cities president and CEO Ben Hecht spoke at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Volpe Center about the potential of transportation to address disparities of income and wealth. The event was part of the Volpe Center's "Future of Transportation" Series, which brings together top transportation experts who are thinking beyond the horizon on issues of transportation innovation.
FTA Publishes Revised Guidance on Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently published revised guidance to transit agencies on how to comply with Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) guidelines. FTA produced the Circular to ensure that transit agency leadership understands and follows EEO requirements to prohibit discrimination in the workplace and aligns with changes that have occurred as Federal laws impact civil rights.
