Researchers for NCHRP 08-152 invite you to share your opinion in a study investigating meaningful and effective strategies for public agencies to increase and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their transportation planning staff. The survey is for all transportation planning professionals over 18 years old who currently work or previously worked for a public agency within the last 5 years. It is confidential and takes about 7-10 minutes to complete. The results from this survey will guide the development of resources to promote diverse and inclusive environments where transportation planners work. They will be shared in reports, scholarly publications, webinars, and conference sessions. If you know of someone who might be interested in this study, kindly forward the survey link to them. If you are a Planning Director, we respectfully request if you can please distribute the survey to your department staff. Click (http://staff.Click)here to access the survey (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__transportation.us21.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Db5fb127a71be87b8270115dfc-26id-3Db10bef18f9-26e-3D4c384d23b3&d=DwMFaQ&c=0CCt47_3RbNABITTvFzZbA&r=tkSzIt60NpJxRGk4AL7jZsc4Go-Bt7IqLGgL4Pyx3Bc&m=xcCes8fX_2NnSZ583RcCsvEsLXUEL7A1D5e3GL8z9Clt-gc4oy3tbOL00gr2LSeB&s=ovVQdZ9Lw2MY1gASJWId7HbqxENZlFYDCgy7r0nI_wg&e=)or type https://canetemedina.com/sbd31-dei-survey/ (https://canetemedina.com/sbd31-dei-survey/)on your web browser, smartphone, or web-enabled devices. This study is being performed by Canete Medina Consulting Group for the Transportation Research Board under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). You can read more about the project by visiting https://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5130.(https://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5130)

As a transportation professional, we invite you to help us develop a roadmap of high priority research needs related to transportation equity. The roadmap will be used by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials members and partner agencies interested in institutionalizing equity into transportation practice, focused on the project delivery process. The roadmap will elevate around a dozen high-priority research needs alongside about 30 other important research needs. We need your expertise to select these highest priority research areas and your participation in this survey is an important part of our process. The survey is intended for any transportation professional over 18 years old and takes up to 30 minutes to complete.  You can access the survey here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__portlandstate.qualtrics.com_jfe_form_SV-5F1TwPLv4v6JSvXvw&d=DwMFaQ&c=0CCt47_3RbNABITTvFzZbA&r=tkSzIt60NpJxRGk4AL7jZsc4Go-Bt7IqLGgL4Pyx3Bc&m=5Kuw_WrUuEKmkZkIDtpHbgzhlXd9_DrAOeDIZMpt8b8y-J5SSobmvG59uFdJK_Yz&s=IMGMlgXQMCqnAVi3XitquJXuONE97_LcQDrkNdNeXHk&e=)on your web browser, smartphone, tablet or other web-enabled device. If you know or work with someone who might have important insights for this study, feel free to forward the survey link to them.  This survey is part of a research effort funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and led by Aaron Golub at Portland State University in collaboration with Amber Ontiveros and Associates and Bills Formula Consulting. You can read more about the project by visiting the NCHRP project site at this link.(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__apps.trb.org_cmsfeed_TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp-3FProjectID-3D5414&d=DwMFaQ&c=0CCt47_3RbNABITTvFzZbA&r=tkSzIt60NpJxRGk4AL7jZsc4Go-Bt7IqLGgL4Pyx3Bc&m=5Kuw_WrUuEKmkZkIDtpHbgzhlXd9_DrAOeDIZMpt8b8y-J5SSobmvG59uFdJK_Yz&s=LNDAXKolNlku5HQWdWwyIu9p3XWNegGqnVmWJbTDA2I&e=)

Transportation agencies regularly consider trade-offs between investment options to address competing priorities with limited resources. Inadequate funding for all needed transportation improvements forces agencies to make difficult decisions across asset classes, such as mobility improvements versus preservation or on-going maintenance versus system expansion projects. The results of these decisions can have a positive impact on one performance measure but a negative impact on another. For instance, increasing funds to address mobility issues through the construction of new roads and bridges can divert needed funding from planned long-term asset management activities that are vital to minimize the life cycle costs necessary for sustainable system performance. In this example, the investment to address mobility improves traffic reliability measures but may lead to lower asset conditions. In addition to factors such as system preservation, mobility, and safety when making transportation investment decisions, equity is also an important consideration. Interest in finding ways to strengthen equity considerations is growing, as evidenced by its prominence at the 13th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in August 2021 and the TRB Advancing Transportation Equity Conference held virtually in September 2021. The FHWA’s Transportation Asset Management Expert Task Group (TAM ETG) recognized the importance of equity as an emerging topic and prepared this document to explore existing initiatives underway in State, local, and regional transportation agencies to better consider equity in asset management decisions. The results indicate that equity considerations are more common in transportation planning activities than in asset management decisions impacting project selection. Therefore, the document presents suggestions for advancing the consideration of equity in asset management investment decisions. To read the case studies, go to: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/asset/pubs/hif23033.pdf(https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/asset/pubs/hif23033.pdf)

RFA 23-2 seeks to fund studies that assess the effects of actions, programs, or other interventions on ambient or indoor air pollution exposure, health outcomes, or both in historically marginalized and environmentally overburdened urban or rural communities (hereafter referred to as “historically marginalized communities”) in the United States. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES The overall objective of RFA 23-2 is to fund studies that evaluate actions, programs, or other interventions in the United States at the national, regional, tribal, state, or local level that have affected or have the potential to affect air quality, exposure, or health outcomes in historically marginalized communities. Areas of interest include the following: Studies that evaluate past or current actions, programs, other interventions at the national, regional, tribal, state, or local level that were specifically designed and implemented to reduce exposures to ambient or indoor air pollutants and improve health in historically marginalized communities. Studies that evaluate past or current actions, programs, or other interventions at the national, regional, tribal, state, or local level that were specifically designed and implemented to reduce exposures to ambient or indoor air pollutants and improve health in the general population  that might have benefited historically marginalized communities, had an inequitable distribution of benefits among communities, or worsened conditions in historically marginalized communities (e.g., have had unintended consequences). Studies that evaluate past, current, or proposed actions, programs, or other interventions at the national, regional, tribal, state, or local level that were or are designed or implemented to achieve goals other than decreasing air pollution exposures but indirectly affect exposures to ambient or indoor air in the general population.  The actions might have benefited historically marginalized communities, had an inequitable distribution of benefits among communities, or worsened conditions in historically marginalized communities. Studies that prospectively evaluate the expected health or exposure changes in relation to proposed actions, programs, or other interventions at the national, tribal, state, or local level that are intended to reduce inequities in exposures or have the potential to affect inequities in exposures to air pollutants in historically marginalized communities. Studies should be designed to directly inform development and implementation of the proposed action under study.   STUDY DURATION AND BUDGET GUIDELINES Between $2 and $3 million will be available for this RFA. HEI expects to fund a small number of studies (2 to 3 years in duration). For more information, go to https://www.healtheffects.org/rfa/rfa-23-2-assessing-changes-exposures-and-health-outcomes-historically-marginalized

Take Texas Transportation Institute's survey to address disparities in pedestrian and bicyclist traffic crashes. Let's make a positive change! Survey link: https://tti.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3WfrV5V4sH9oeq

WRI is circulating a SOW for a disability rights white paper. The paper will explore the most effective ways to center disability rights and justice in the transition to electric school buses. We are looking to identify a contractor to partner with the Electric School Bus Initiative in this important research. You can find all the details in the attached SOW. Understanding this may not be specific to you and your organization, we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward or send us any contacts that would be good connections for this paper. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

On Wednesday, May 25 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm EDT, join Secretary Buttigieg and other DOT leaders for a virtual Info Session on Transportation Equity focused on our first-ever Equity Action Plan and how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can help advance transportation equity. Register and submit your questions here.

DOT is proud to announce the reestablishment of the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE), the first federal advisory committee established under Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The ACTE is a direct legacy of Secretary Anthony Foxx who first established it in 2016. The goal of this committee is to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary about comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to civil rights and transportation equity in the planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy contexts. DOT is soliciting applications for membership and would love your partnership spreading the word to your networks. The ACTE will consist of up to 25 members with cross-cutting experience at the intersections of civil rights, housing, health care, disability access, and environmental justice. It is expected that the Committee will meet quarterly. To apply, interested parties will need to submit a statement of interest and a statement of qualifications (such as a resume) to equity@dot.gov. Applications are due by COB on June 15.

PIARC has established a Special Projects mechanism to enable it to respond to emerging issues and priorities identified by its members outside the usual four-year Technical Committee cycle. This year, PIARC Special project will cover the issue of social equity and social accessibility on the road sector. The work to be conducted should address the notions of social equity (are all segments of the population served fairly) and social accessibility (are all geographic areas accessible to all who need it in an affordable way) applied to road infrastructure and road transport. This research will seek to capture and analyse the current status quo in terms of how road authorities are currently managing accessibility of their road infrastructure, whilst implementing this in the most socially equitable manner possible. Through the analysis process, the research will identify significant observation and develop a best practice guideline based on these observations. This call is described in detail in the call text. For any questions, please send an email message to info@piarc.org Download the call for proposals "Social equity and social accessibility"(Pdf in english) Download the template to submit proposals to "Social equity and social accessibility"(Word in english)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) is conducting an open “Call for Ideas” session on March 18, 2022, 1:30 – 3:00PM EST. The purpose of this listening session is to obtain stakeholder input and research ideas to help inform the development of DOT's Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026. We welcome your views on USDOT's research vision, strategic goals, and priorities, and how our research programs can advance the transportation system of the present and future. The RD&T Strategic Plan will align with DOT’s Draft Strategic Framework. We are soliciting research ideas in advance of the session and may call on you to share your idea during the event. Please register to attend and submit research ideas at: https://usdot.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_oQL96GxpTMSHQ9_0Gdl4Fw. Please help us shape our research plans at this pivotal moment in the transformation of the nation's transportation system. If you are unable to attend the “Call for Ideas” session, please submit research ideas to the Request for Information at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/30/2021-28283/transportation-research-and-development-strategic-plan-request-for-information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jordan Katz at Jordan.katz@dot.gov.

Thursday, March 3, 2022 1:00 – 2:30 PT / 4:00 – 5:30 ET Presented by the TRB Transit Management and Performance Committee (AP010) As leaders rethink the role transit plays within their communities, many agencies are looking at whether transit meets the needs of all community members equitably. This webinar will focus on how transit agencies integrate equity into their organization and better meet the needs of customer groups who may not have had their mobility needs met through traditional transportation planning. Being able to measure how well transit services are meeting the mobility needs of those most in-need of mobility options is a first step in the process. In order to do that, agencies need to adopt policies that support efforts to make systemic change. We’ll discuss what's needed and how we adjust our transit planning to improve mobility for all. Presenters: Diane Allen Jones - Transit Deserts: A Result and Cause of Economic and Social-Cultural Inequity Mary Buchanan - Processes and Priorities Behind Transit Equity Evaluations Carrie Cihak & Krisda Chaiyachati - Becoming a Mobility Agency: Impact Evaluation of King County Metro’s Fully-Subsidized Transit Pass for Low-income Residents Stephen Mattingly - Developing Public Transportation Performance Measures for Assessing the Service of Transit Dependent Riders Anna Gartsman & Alissa Zimmer - Measuring our Values: Equity in Performance Evaluation of the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign Register in advance for this meeting: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrfu-rrTosHdLE0VsRB1GACWtS0hldTPjp After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with the intent to award 1 cooperative agreement to operate a national Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC); conduct pedestrian and bicycle research; and provide technical assistance on topics related to pedestrian and bicycle activities. The Federal share is $2,670,000 with a required non-Federal cost share of $667,500, and a period of performance of 5 years. The NOFO closes on March 31, 2022. Since 1999, FHWA has sponsored the establishment and operation of a PBIC through 5-year cooperative agreements. The PBIC will support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s efforts to promote an integrated, convenient, and safe transportation system for all users, with an emphasis on pedestrians and bicyclists, including those using micromobility devices. The national information center will disseminate techniques and strategies for improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety; develop information and educational programs and products related to pedestrian and bicycle facilities; provide tracking and technical support to safety professionals at the State, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and local levels; and conduct research and technology activities for pedestrian and bicycle programs and activities to help reconnect communities divided by highway, transit, rail, or other transportation infrastructure, including network continuity for network gaps (such as bridges, overpasses, tunnels, highways caps, or other connectors). For additional background information, see www.pedbikeinfo.org. If you have questions, please contact: Freida Byrd, Agreement Specialist, 202-366-6547, Freida.Byrd@dot.gov

Post-doctoral Fellow: Data Science for City Logistics Faculty / Division: Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Department Civil & Mineral Engineering Campus St. George (downtown Toronto) Description The Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Fellow position in the recently established Smart Freight Centre. The new hire will become a member of the research team and be responsible for managing and conducting research in “CLUE: City Logistics for the Urban Environment”, specifically in Theme 1: Freight Data Warehouse, Data Collection, and Data Science Applications. CLUE is a four-year, $11 million research program funded by NSERC and a collaboration of three universities, six private-sector partners, four public sector partners and two non-governmental organizations. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Matthew Roorda, Professor, Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, and Canada Research Chair in Freight Transportation and Logistics. CLUE will fill major knowledge gaps about the Canadian urban freight system through the execution of 24 research projects organized under four broad themes: • Theme 1: Freight Data Warehouse (FDW), Data Collection and Data Science Applications • Theme 2: Logistics Network Design for New E-commerce Delivery Models • Theme 3: City Logistics Pilot Studies • Theme 4: Safety, Environment and Labour Force Dynamics The Smart Freight Centre is a multi-university multi-disciplinary research centre that conducts research and implementation projects relating to urban goods movement and freight transportation. Its objective is to improve the ongoing vibrancy of business and quality of life for residents in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area by conducting innovative, evidence-based research, decision support, and trend monitoring in order to coordinate transportation infrastructure, land development, regulation, technology tools, training and resources that improve goods movement activities. The Theme 1 Post-doctoral fellow will work alongside the Project Manager, the Principal Investigator and the co-investigators to conduct independent research and oversee and report on research progress in Theme 1 and its 7 research projects, coordinate and facilitate research activities among the many partnerships, projects and research team members, and assist with the various reporting requirements and outreach events. Key Duties The Post-doctoral fellow will balance three primary roles: 1) Conduct collaborative and independent research projects, 2) manage and report on research progress, 3) facilitate research activities among the many partnerships, projects and research team members, and 4) manage and support undergraduate and graduate student researchers. Specific duties include: Conduct collaborative and independent research on the topic of urban freight transportation and logistics; Manage the successful execution of CLUE Theme 1, in collaboration with Prof. Matthew Roorda (see clue.utoronto.ca and select Theme 1 for more information); Oversee the continuing development of the Freight Data Warehouse; Ensure research project goals are met according to budget and timeline; Liaise with co-investigators, government, industry and NGO sponsors and stakeholders, to ensure administrative and research requirements are met; Assist in the preparation of research proposals, research agreements and related paperwork, administrative reports and peer reviewed journal publications related to the research; Contribute to development and maintenance of the CLUE website clue.utoronto.ca; Contribute to the organization of research related events (symposia, workshops, meetings). Qualifications Candidates require a PhD in transportation engineering, data science, computer engineering, or relevant scientific field, or equivalent combination of education and experience in freight transportation. The candidate must have experience working in teams and managing tasks in large projects. The candidate must have experience in data management, data science, and data visualization. The candidate must have excellent inter-personal and communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to work independently and in a group setting. Appointment Type: Grant - Term Schedule Schedule: 1.0 FTE Supervisor: Prof. Matthew Roorda Application instructions All individuals interested in this position must submit a single electronic file consisting of a cover letter, detailed CV, a one-page statement of research interests highlighting research experience, and the names and email addresses of three references to Prof. Matthew Roorda (matt.roorda@utoronto.ca) by the closing date. Please use Application for Data Science in City Logistics PDF as the email subject. Closing date: February 18, 2022. The search will continue until the position is filled. Supervisor: Prof. Matthew Roorda Salary: $60K CAD + benefits. For details see employee PDF information here https://postdoc.sgs.utoronto.ca/ Expected start date: March-April, 2022 (negotiable) Diversity Statement The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Accessibility Statement The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact matt.roorda@utoronto.ca. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

A new federal framework for ensuring racial equity will guide the implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure plan, says EPA Administrator Michael Regan. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-11/an-infrastructure-bill-built-on-environmental-justice

**Message from AME70** The TRB Standing Committee on Transportation and Public Health (AME70) is recruiting ambassadors to share a ready-made PowerPoint (attached) of key findings from the NCHRP Guidebook for Communications between Transportation and Public Health Communities. The Guide provides invaluable information regarding cross-sector collaboration for the advancement of transportation and health efforts. We invite our network of transportation and public health professionals to promote the Guide and spur creative thinking and new partnerships. You do not have to be an expert on the Guide to share it, we would appreciate you letting people know it’s out there! Next month’s TRB Annual Meeting provides an excellent opportunity to share the Guide at lectern sessions, committee meetings, and in committee handouts. The attached PowerPoint slides and suggested talking points is your ready-made script for sharing this message. Please adapt it for your audience and time available. Feel free to include all or part of the slides in a committee handout for distribution or for download. Our goal is that by using a clear and concise set of slides, information in this important Guide (published in 2019) can be disseminated to any audience of transportation and/or health professionals with relatively little effort from the presenter. We appreciate your help! Please email Faith Hall at faithcole@gmail.com with questions and if you share the Guide (for tracking purposes).  We encourage you to share this email and the PPT with your networks. Together, we can advance the important effort of improving coordination between the fields of transportation and public health.