AASHTO's ETAP Podcast

This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – offers a wealth of knowledge on all things meteorology and extreme precipitation, including over 40 years of climate and precipitation research. He is an author on the third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. He is also the lead author of the 2020 North Carolina Climate Science Report. He has published around 170 scientific journal articles and book chapters, mostly on climate variability and change.In this episode Kunkel discusses the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration or NOAA tool known as Atlas 15. The purpose of Atlas 15 is to produce extreme precipitation values that are used in design in infrastructure. Atlas 15 is also able to incorporate changing climate models when producing future data. He dives into how effective and accurate Atlas 15 is and how its data can improve the resiliency of infrastructure, particularly in the transportation sector. 

This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.In February 2025, the CEQ announced an Interim Final Rule that removes its longstanding NEPA implementing regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. This shift places the responsibility for NEPA compliance directly on individual federal agencies, allowing them to follow their own procedures rather than a centralized set of rules.In this podcast episode, Boling delves into how, if NEPA is revoked, it removes a “universal framework” that will prevent federal agencies working in tandem on environmental reviews.Boling also outlines the potential impact of mass layoffs within the federal government, especially among senior leadership and recent hires, and how that could slow down decision-making regarding environmental reviews for infrastructure projects.

This episode will cover the coordination of rapid response and resilience resources across states. As natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires increase in frequency and intensity, state DOTs face unprecedented challenges in constructing and maintaining a resilient transportation system. States also face a variety of devastating human caused incidents and compounding events that demand rapid response. The discussion includes cooperative strategies for rapid response and recovery, focusing on interstate resilience utilizing hazard mitigation planning, risk and vulnerability assessments, data sharing, and collaborative priority setting.

More information on AMPO can be found here: AMPO | Association of Metropolitan Planning OrganizationsA PDF version of the Blueprint can be found here: https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/blueprint-for-arterials/ 

Cadaver dogs play a crucial role in identifying buried remains and culturally sensitive artifacts during transportation projects. Their exceptional sense of smell helps locate historic and prehistoric resources, ensuring that significant cultural sites are preserved. Today, Jen Anderson from the Texas Department of Transportation will discuss the impact of these trained canines on managing archaeological resources in transportation initiatives.

Join us for an insightful conversation by Kevin Robertson, Surface Treatment Engineer at the Arizona Department of Transportation. Kevin discusses the benefits of quiet pavements and other cutting-edge methods for noise reduction, showcasing practical examples from Arizona's transportation projects. Discover how these innovative strategies are making a difference in minimizing noise impacts.

To learn more about traffic noise, visit the following links:The Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTOAASHTO's Noise Summit - August 26, 2024

This is the second episode of a two-part series covering NEPA in the transportation sector. Joining us to talk about challenges and creative solutions to completing the NEPA process is Douglass Kolwaite, Environmental Program Manage with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mandates federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of their actions, crucially influencing transportation projects like road construction and bridge expansions. Our special guest, Ted Boling, a Partner at Perkins Coie with over 30 years of public service, will discuss NEPA's role in promoting sustainable development within the transportation sector.

https://aashtos-etap-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/shadows-in-motion-emergency-management-during-a-solar-eclipse

This is the first episode of a two-part series where we explore effective management during a solar eclipse. This episode highlights the significance of preparation, planning, training, and effective communication. Featuring insights from Michael White, Assistant Director at the Missouri Department of Transportation, we gain valuable perspectives on advancing safety protocols and bolstering resilience to ensure operational continuity during celestial events.

As the newly elected President of AASHTO, Craig Thompson is committed to fortifying the workforce to construct a modern and efficient transportation system that centers the needs of all citizens. Recognizing the profound impact of transportation on our daily lives, the economy, and society at large, President Thompson looks forward to collaborative efforts to propel the transportation system into the future. In this podcast interview, President Thompson shares insights into his presidential emphasis areas. Listen to this episode to gain a deeper understanding of this year's AASHTO president and explore how his extensive experiences have shaped AASHTO's strategic focus for the 2024-2025 year.

This episode concludes our four-part series on equity, where we've focused on transportation professional's work towards building an equitable transportation system. This episode is brought to you from the AASHTO 2023 Annual Meeting where we spoke with guests and attendees from all over the country. Our guests today join us from the audience and the panel of the annual meeting knowledge session titled "Stop, Look, Listen: Engaging Communities to Put Equity into Action!" We speak to them today about their immediate thoughts and reactions on the knowledge session and get their perspective and opinion on what equity looks like in transportation.

To learn more about today's topic of conversation please visit the links below: ReConnect Rondo City of Seattle's Reconnect South ParkAlbina Vision Trust Salt Lake City's I-15 Reconnecting Communities Plan StudyLauren Hood  CA's Highways to Boulevards Project

To learn more about today's topic of conversation please visit the links below: Tamika Butler, Esq. Alabama DOT's City Walk Project  RAISE Discretionary GrantsCity Walk AASHTO Transportation Award

To learn more please visit the links below: ReConnect Rondo 2023 Inaugural Reconnecting Communities Summit - ReConnect RondoFunding - ReConnect RondoReConnect Rondo - ReConnect RondoReconnect Communities Grant Program  Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program | US Department of TransportationBiden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Awards from Program to Reconnect Communities | US Department of TransportationPast, Present, and Future of Reconnecting Communities (arcgis.com)

The Lehigh Planning Commission is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that was created to provide planning services to Lehigh and Northampton counties while working alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. LVPC coordinates with its respected communities, community leaders, and businesses, elevating Pennsylvania's transportation and quality of life while keeping the environment in mind. In this episode you will hear from Executive Director of LVPC, Becky Bradley and the impact LVPC is making in Pennsylvania.

In this episode Tony Bush, Stormwater Branch Manager at Washington Department of Transportation speaks on its stormwater management innovations and key takeaways.

Joining us today from Ohio DOT is Erica Schneider, Assistant Environmental Administrator and Tom Barrett, ODOT's Historic Bridge Program Manager and State Byways Coordinator to speak on Ohio's Historic Bridge Inventory, Evaluation, and Preservation Plan and how other DOTs may implement these findings in their state.

FHWA recently launched its Wildlife Crossing Program, approving $350 million for wildlife crossing projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. The Oregon Department of Transportation has set a successful wildlife corridor, reducing 86% of wildlife-vehicle collisions. In this episode, Cidney Bowman, Wildlife Passage Program Coordinator with the Oregon Department of Transporation speaks on Oregon's accomplishing work.

Leaders of the transportation sector sit with us as they consider today's transportation climate and how DOTs can best equip tomorrow's leaders in tackling future challenges. Joining us today are Sara Stickler, Thomas Davidenko, and Alicia Walker. Sara is the President and CEO of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) International, Thomas is the Director of Programs at the Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), and Alicia is the Director of Programs and Strategic Engagement at the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). Our guests discuss a variety of topics such as workforce development, the challenges faced in recruiting and retaining quality candidates, and more.

In 2012, the Georgia Department of Transportation approved a one percent sales tax to fund local transportation projects. Now, it is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Joining us in this podcast is Kenneth Franks, State Transportation Investment Act Administrator to speak on TIA's success, future projects, and regional and local impact.

The U.S. has experienced severe weather changes including floods, droughts, and hurricanes, damaging infrastructure and habitats. Recently, the U.S. experienced a wave of winter storms one of which took place in the state of New York. Listen to this episode to hear from Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez to learn about how the New York Department of Transportation works to build a resilient transportation system.

In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Lee Smith Interim Traffic Operations Division Director at Tennessee Dot and Dr. Dan Work Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University join the podcast to discuss the I-24 Motion test bed.

In this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Roger Millar – AASHTO's newest president and Secretary of Transportation at Washington State DOT joins the podcast to discuss AASHTO's presidential emphasis areas.

Founded in 2014, The Ray is a Georgia-based corporate venture devoted to roadway technology testing and collaborates with a number of state departments of transportation across the country. For example, in 2019, it formed a public-private-philanthropic partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation to create and install a digital testing environment focused on critical interstate use cases, such as crash and weather warnings, for stakeholder engagement and education.

PennDOT helped launch the new program – formally entitled “PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters” – in August along with several other state agencies. The program seeks to get state residents to ensure that every piece of their trash, regardless of size, is disposed of properly as research shows only 3 percent of Pennsylvanians approve of littering, yet 40 to 50 percent of them admit to littering roadways and other public areas.

The Ray and consulting firm NGI released the NextGen Highways Feasibility Study for the Minnesota DOT in April; a study that examined strategies for “co-locating” electric and communications infrastructure in highway right-of-ways or ROWs.The study focused on the potential deployment of buried, high-voltage/direct current or HVDC transmission lines within Minnesota interstate and highway ROWs – an effort that offers broader implications for highway ROW strategies in other states.In April 2021, the Federal Highway Administration released guidance clarifying the highway ROW “can be leveraged by state DOTs for pressing public needs relating to climate change, equitable communications access, and energy reliability.”Projects listed include renewable energy generation, electrical transmission and distribution projects, broadband projects, vegetation management, inductive charging in travel lanes, and alternative fueling facilities, among others.“At the heart of this study is the need to examine the energy transmission infrastructure we will need in order to electrify our transportation network; part of a broader effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy,” Oh explained during the podcast.“The concept we're evaluating looked specifically at burying [electric power] transmission lines in the highway ROW,” she noted. “Only three states allow for that now. Yet the use of existing distributed ROW could contain the visual impact of expanding our electric grid while lessening the need to acquire more land to support more transmission.”Building transmission capacity in existing highway ROW could also reduce project-siting timelines by seven to 10 years, Oh added, while reducing the need to work with hundreds of landowners on a project down to dealing with a single state department of transportation.“There is a great benefit for communities if they allow transmission capacity to be built in the highway ROW,” she emphasized.

Kuran is the co-founder and CEO of Power Edison as well as co-founder and executive chairman of its sister company EV Edison – companies offering innovative renewable energy, EV charging, and mobile energy storage solutions for the grid. Kuran explains how a “vision” for a peaceful world with universal access to clean and sustainable sources of energy, food, and water drives his efforts in the EV sector. Here, Kuran lays out a variety of approaches and solutions for meeting the electric grid demand generated by EV charging – how state DOTs can support those efforts.

The United States is a country with no national language, and with over 150 Indigenous languages still spoken today. With 5.2 million Indigenous people residing in the US today, speaking these 150+ languages—why aren't more of our road signs printed in these native languages? Teams from the Iowa and Minnesota Departments of Transportation, along with Indigenous partners set out to change that. Joining us today on the podcast to discuss this project are: Brennan Dolan, the Cultural Resources Team Lead and Tribal Liaison at Iowa DOT; Ed Fairbanks, the retired Tribal Liaison for the Minnesota DOT and Mary Otto, the Tribal State Relations Training Manager in Minnesota DOT's Office of Tribal Affairs.

Equity in transportation has become a major topic of interest the past few years, but the need for a more just transportation sector is not new. Groups like the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) began working to promote equity in transportation decades before the concept became mainstream. COMTO was founded in 1971, just over 50 years ago, and as the association representing minorities in transportation they aim to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, as well as minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises. COMTO's work towards equity heavily intersects with environmental topics such as environmental justice, workforce diversity, public involvement and more. Joining us today to chat about equity, transportation and the environment is April Rai, the President and Chief Executive Officer of COMTO.

Empty your pockets at the gas station each week or navigate charging anxiety? Americans are caught in a catch-22; and that's just for folks with the income to consider purchasing an electric vehicle. As gas prices climb quicker than electric vehicle charging infrastructure expands, organizations like Forth and the Greenlining Institute are working to ensure equitable access to our growing electric vehicle charging network. In 2019, the Federal Highway Administration reported that the average American drove 14,263 miles per year- or 274 miles a week. The average electric vehicle battery can go ~250 miles between charges- which would seem to be plenty of range most of the time. But what about that occasional road trip? More importantly, what about people who can't easily charge up in their garage? Leslie Aguayo, climate equity program manager at the Greenlining Institute and Jeff Allen, the executive director at Forth, join us this month to discuss just that—equitable electric vehicle charging. More information: https://forthmobility.org/ https://greenlining.org/

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to facilitate collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Joint Office will align resources and expertise across the two departments toward leveraged outcomes. The office will be a critical component in the implementation of the BIL, providing support and expertise to a multitude of programs that seek to deploy a network of electric vehicle chargers, zero-emission fueling infrastructure, and zero-emission transit and school buses. BIL also created what is now being called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program or NEVI. In early February, FHWA released the guidance for the NEVI program and the state departments of transportation are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on developing state EV infrastructure deployment plans that will be submitted to the Joint Office by Aug. 1, 2022 In the meantime, state DOTs are partnering with their sister state agencies like state energy offices and working with the Joint Office to leverage the expertise and technical assistance available through this interagency partnership. Today we're joined on the ETAP podcast by Rachael Nealer, the Deputy Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

            With school buses providing 10 billion annual student rides, electrification presents a major opportunity to green the transportation industry; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA, in concert with state DOTs and organizations like World Resources Institute, sets out to do just that. With a coming influx of $5 billion from the IIJA to replace existing buses, and additional funding for EV charging infrastructure, it's time for a big change in school transportation.Joining us on the podcast today is Sue Gander, Director of the Electric School Bus Initiative at the World Resources Institute. Sue and her team are currently working at their goal of electrifying all 480,000 school buses by 2030. Sue, thanks for joining us!Please see additional resources here: Dataset of Electric School Bus Adoption in the United States - Datasets - Data | World Resources Institute (wri.org)WRI Comments to US DOT on National EV Infrastructure Program5 Ways US States Can Support the Electric School Bus Transition | World Resources Institute (wri.org)How to Help Your Community Fund Electric School Buses in the US | World Resources Institute (wri.org)

Since 2020, the AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability has held a weekly webinar series throughout the month of September with each week's segment hosted by one of its four subcommittees. This year, when the Cultural Resources Subcommittee sat down to plan their webinar, it became clear that there was one topic on everyone's mind– and that was: Post World War II construction (and what to do with it). The Cultural Resources webinar on the topic illuminated the desire for more resources on how to best deal with post war construction as a practitioner. As such, the subcommittee is conducting their own nationwide survey of the state DOTs on their post war practices and protocols. Heading up that effort is Scott Williams, Cultural Resources Program Manager, Washington State Department of Transportation. Scott joins us today to tell us about the project. Email jbillo@aashto.org to join the subcommittee friends list!

Today's ETAP Podcast will focus on the upcoming 2022 Transportation Research Board's Annual Meeting as well as provide a preview for the TRB Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Technology Conference taking place in March. This year's meeting will be of particular interest to environmental practitioners and is titled: Innovating an Equitable, Resilient, Sustainable, and Safe Transportation System. With over 800 information sessions and meetings, TRB will cover a wide array of topics across all modes within this year's theme. Joining us to discuss the 101st TRB Annual Meeting is Tim Sexton; Chief Sustainability Officer at the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Chair of the Transportation Research Board's Transportation and Sustainability Committee. Tim will also provide a preview of the TRB Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Technology (SETT) Conference taking place in Irvine, California, March 15-18, 2022.

“One of the significant advantages of serving as AASHTO president is that it gives me a platform to address issues that matter,” says Dr. Shawn Wilson. Dr. Wilson is the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and was elected AASHTO's first African American president in October. During his tenure as president, Dr. Wilson will be facing ‘issues that matter' head on. Each year the incoming AASHTO president identifies emphasis areas that will be the focus of their term; Dr. Wilson's emphasis areas are Pathways to Equity and Partnering to Deliver. He, along with AASHTO Vice President Roger Millar of Washington State, will work with AASHTO and the states to promote equity and to encourage participation in non-traditional partnerships.

From loss of sleep to loss of hearing, noise can pose a real threat. Recent studies have even identified a possible link between noise exposure and dementia. Traffic noise is a major contributor to noise pollution that fuels these negative health outcomes. Tires hitting pavement make up the majority of highway noise. Better modeling and barriers can work to mitigate this for folks living near areas with high levels of noise- and DOT practitioners are working toward such solutions for all affected. Joining us on the podcast today is Noel Alcala, Noise and Air Quality Coordinator at Ohio Department of Transportation. Noel also heads the AASHTO Noise Working Group, which operates under the Committee on Environment and Sustainability. The noise working group convenes state DOTs and promotes discourse on, and works in reducing traffic noise and its negative effects. Reach out to Noel and the Noise Working Group at: noel.alcala@dot.ohio.gov

Joining us today to discuss the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (or IIJA) is Joung Lee, AASHTO's Director of Policy and Government Relations. This episode of AASHTO's ETAP Podcast was recorded while the House of Representatives was reviewing the IIJA. As the bill works its way to President Biden's desk, AASHTO has been working to represent the interests of state DOTs, and has done so quite successfully. Four out of five of the Association's core priorities have been incorporated into the most recent version of the bill.

Mark Hoffman, an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University, and his Graduate Research Assistant Karl Bohnenberger have been studying one of the lesser known contributors to poor fuel economy: rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is a measure of the effort required to keep a tire rolling. It might not grab headlines, but rolling resistance has a substantial impact on emissions and energy use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, conventionally fueled vehicles use up 11% of their fuel to keep their tires rolling, while electric vehicles use up to 25% of their energy for this purpose. As a result, reducing rolling resistance, as well as quality research on the subject; presents a valuable opportunity to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce the transportation sector's carbon footprint. Today Mark and Karl join us to chat about rolling resistance reduction as an attainable step toward a sustainable future.

Once ubiquitous in North America, the Monarch's striking orange and black wings are likely the first image that comes to mind when picturing a butterfly. The Monarch is famed not only for its beauty, but also for its role in a healthy ecosystem- the pollinators are a critical support to some uniquely American landmarks: from the Great Smoky Mountains to Zion National Park. Yet, over the past few decades, the Monarch has experienced a dramatic dip in population. As the eastern members of this iconic species prepare for their annual migration to Mexico, we'll sit down with Arizona Department of Transportation's Roadside Resource Specialist, Kris Gade-- one of the professionals leading the charge for Monarch conservation.

In this week's episode, host Bernie Wagenblast sits down with Matthew Quirey, a Landscape Design & Research Fellow at The Ray. For his thesis, Matthew partnered with The Ray to produce new classifications of the most beneficial and well rounded roadside vegetation systems which can now be used to guide Georgia's efforts in sustainability and harmonious roadside ecology.

Today's ETAP podcast will focus on how state agency partnerships are helping Connecticut both achieve its state climate goals and implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program, or TCI-P. State DOTs are critical stakeholders in deciding how to re-invest revenue generated caps on emissions. TCI-P is a historic multi-state effort to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation In Connecticut, for example, TCI-P is projected to generate roughly a billion dollars over the next decade, much of which will support transportation systems. To learn more about TCI-P and the ongoing collaboration between state agencies in Connecticut, we are joined by Katie S. Dykes, the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, as well as Garrett Eucalitto, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

Today’s ETAP podcast will focus on transportation equity and environmental justice. Transportation systems are critical to people’s ability to reach jobs, educational opportunities, health care, and a number of other goods and services. However, underserved and marginalized communities often lack transportation options that are accessible and affordable. In its efforts to address these issues, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has earned national recognition for its Rethinking I-94 project. MnDOT began the project in 2016, working with communities negatively affected by the construction of I-94 in the 1960s to develop a new vision for the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Rethinking 1-94 Livability Director, Gloria Jeff, join us on this episode to discuss transportation equity and environmental justice.

State departments of transportation will play a critical role in rolling out electric vehicle infrastructure. Shoshana Lew, the Executive Director of Colorado DOT, is leading the march towards a greener future for her state’s drivers and riders. This month's podcast discusses how Colorado is ramping up its efforts to promote electric vehicles and provide the infrastructure necessary for the future of transportation.

In this episode of the ETAP Podcast, Paula Hammond – market leader-multimodal at consulting firm WSP USA and a former secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation – talks about the career challenges and opportunities for women in the transportation industry.

Jeff Bennett -- Transit Delivery Division of DC Department of Transportation and president of the DC Conference of Minority Transportation Officials -- is interviewed by host Bernie Wagenblast about how Washington DC is advancing transportation equity. 

The January ETAP Podcast focuses on the Transportation Research Board’s 2021 Annual Meeting, taking place throughout the month of January. Like most organizations, TRB has shifted to a virtual meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting will celebrate TRB’s centennial with the theme, “Launching a New Century of Mobility and Quality of Life.” The program covers all transportation modes and addresses a range of topics, including dozens of sessions on how COVID-19 has affected transportation and how transportation professionals and researchers are responding. This month's guest is Martin Palmer, Washington State DOT engineering services manager and co-chair of TRB’s Standing Committee on Environmental Analysis and Ecology.

The latest AASHTO ETAP Podcast will feature Carlos Swonke, Texas DOT's director of Environmental Affairs, who will discuss how TxDOT implements Environmental Justice as part of its planning and project development process. TxDOT, which has a nationally known EJ program, has used project-specific EJ lessons to help shape its project development process.

Planning and Environmental Linkages or PEL represents a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making that 1) considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process, and 2) uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process.The benefits include: Improved relationships with stakeholders; improved project delivery timelines; and better transportation programs and projects.More information about PEL can be found at the Center for Environmental Excellence website, environment.transportation.org.

Episode explores active transportation.Host: Bernie WagenblastGuest: Toks Omishakin, Director, California Department of Transportation