Colorado DOT Updating Active Transportation Plan
The Colorado Department of Transportation has published a draft of an updated Statewide Active Transportation Plan that seeks to beef up safety and convenience for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others engaged in non-motorized mobility.
[Above photo by Colorado DOT]
That plan – made available for public review and comment though July 18 – is viewed as an ambitious update to the agency’s 2012 Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. While the 2012 plan “provided a big picture view of walking and biking needs,” the active transportation world has evolved, said Mayra Washburn, policy and programs communications manager for Colorado DOT.
“Much has changed since the 2012 plan was developed, including many new data sources on active modes, the emergence of new micro-mobility devices like e-scooters, and the rise in traffic fatalities for vulnerable roadway users,” Washburn said. “The new plan provides insights on these changes and identifies how Colorado DOT can work to improve bicycling and walking opportunities for Coloradans across the state.”
Once it is finalized, the plan will give Colorado DOT and its partners a set of policies, strategies, and tools to uniformly evaluate, prioritize, and develop active transportation projects that compete for limited funding.
To prepare for the 2025 update, Colorado DOT consulted with representatives from local governments, regional planning organizations, other agencies, and active transportation advocacy groups. The agency also conducted a three-month statewide public survey, which garnered 3,099 responses.
Many survey respondents said it’s often just too far to walk or bike, even to get to or from a transit point. The plan acknowledges this “first/last mile gap…and if there is no way to safely walk, bike, and/or roll for those first and last miles, people will be less likely to choose transit over a personal vehicle for longer trips, even if the actual transit service is convenient.”
One action step is to identify those gaps “especially in places where we know people want and need these options,” the plan states. Colorado DOT plans to complete that list by July 1, 2026, to “help us focus on projects that will make the biggest difference in improving safety and making it easier for people to walk, bike, roll, and take transit.”
Other barriers to active transportation include heavy traffic, not enough sidewalks or bike lanes and “concerns for personal safety.”
Recently, Colorado has averaged “approximately 100 fatalities and 500 serious injuries” a year for vulnerable road users, defined as pedestrians and bicyclists, the plan states. Compared to 2013, annual pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities “have surged by 161 percent and 67 percent, respectively, as of 2023.”
Safety emerged as one of the top concerns in the plan, which spelled out 19 safety strategies to improve active transportation. One strategy states Colorado DOT will “prioritize safety impacts over operational impacts when evaluating projects.”
“This strategy clarifies that safety for all roadway users is paramount for project development and evaluation,” Colorado DOT’s Washburn said. “As noted in the plan, this strategy is already in progress.”
Other safety strategies include setting “safe and realistic speed limits” by including multiple road and traffic factors, including active transportation activity; addressing design deficiencies such as inadequate lighting, insufficient sight distance, and substandard turning radii at high-risk intersections; and designing roads to promote lower vehicle speeds in areas conducive to active transportation.
The 100-page plan recognized Colorado DOT’s many active transportation accomplishments since the 2012 plan was published, including:
- Publishing the Pedestrian Crossing Installation Guidelines and Guidelines for Pedestrian Signal Timing.
- Improving the Safe Routes to School program.
- Updating the Statewide Bicycling Manual.
- Planning, designing, and implementing Interstate Mobility Hubs.
Colorado DOT said it plans to review public comments about its proposed update to the state’s active transportation plan through July and August for possible changes, with the goal of having the plan finalized and approved in September.
Other state departments of transportation are engaged in similar active transportation plan updates.
In May, the Michigan Department of Transportation sought public input on a draft of its North Region Active Transportation Plan, which highlights current and proposed nonmotorized connections throughout the northernmost 21 counties of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
The agency said it worked with the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG), private firm Networks Northwest, and local communities throughout those 21 counties to develop this plan, which will formally “assemble” both current and future separated pathways, bike lanes, wide shoulders, sidewalk connections, and regional trails into a single system.
In September 2024, the Maryland Department of Transportation began developing what it calls a “landmark action plan” to improve and expand trail connectivity statewide.
The agency said this plan will guide future investment in shared-use paths, helping to advance efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost alternatives to driving, and prioritize the safety of all road users across the transportation network.
In May 2024, the Utah Department of Transportation issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state.
The agency said that it collaborated with communities statewide regarding the allocation of that funding – approved by the Utah Transportation Commission – to select the key projects for this statewide trail network.
Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state.
TxDOT noted the SATP is being integrated with its other long-range mobility plans to help it maintain a safe, accessible, connected, and fully integrated multimodal transportation system for the future, since the population of Texas is expected to grow by 28 percent by 2050.
Illinois DOT Enters ‘Peak Mowing Season’ for Roadways
The Illinois Department of Transportation said it has entered “peak mowing season” for roadways statewide, with the heaviest mowing period to continue until August 15.
[Above photo by Illinois DOT]
During the summer, the agency said it conducts two primary types of mowing: Safety mowing occurs directly adjacent to the road as needed, while maintenance mowing – which lasts for approximately six weeks and starts around July 1 – includes areas next to culverts, ditches, traffic control devices and other structures.
Both types of mowing operations conform to the Illinois Monarch Project Mowing Guidelines for Pollinators, protecting as much roadside habitat and nectar resources as possible.
[Editor’s note: As an aside, the agency’s latest “Take the Exit” podcast episode interviewed one of the many frontline workers who handle not just mowing operations but pothole repairs, winter storm response, and other critical duties for Illinois DOT – in this case, Daby Sabo; a highway maintenance lead worker based out of the agency’s Carlinville Maintenance Yard.]
The Illinois DOT added that its mowing schedule helps to minimize the impact on the traveling public and encourage pollinator activity, which assists in the reproduction of flowers, fruits, and vegetables that are essential to the state’s ecosystem and agricultural economy.
Reducing the amount of land maintained and growing pollinator habitat also protects the endangered rusty patched bumble bee and the monarch butterfly, the official state insect of Illinois, the agency said.
“By strategically scheduling when and where mowing takes place, Illinois DOT is doing its part to help the environment and Illinois businesses,” said Gia Biagi, the agency’s secretary, in a statement.
She noted that, in 2020, Illinois DOT joined in the launch of the Illinois Monarch Action Plan as part of the Illinois Monarch Project; a collaborative effort with local and state partners to help ensure the survival and successful migration of monarchs by increasing and protecting habitat.
Other state departments of transportation also tailor their mowing operations to aid roadside pollinator habitats – as well as to support other endeavors.
For example, in 2023, the Wyoming Department of Transportation detailed how the agency’s highway mowing program helps makes things easier for snowplow operations in the winter months; specifically, to reduce the formation of snow drifts.
Environmental News Highlights – July 9th, 2025
Hawaii DOT Implements EV Road Usage Charge
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently implemented a Road Usage Charge or RUC for light-duty passenger electric vehicles or EVs on July 1, following a federally funded three-year research and demonstration project in concert with authorizing legislation passed in 2023.
[Above photo by Hawaii DOT]
From July 1 forward, EV owners renewing their vehicle registrations will have two options: a state per-mile RUC of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or a flat annual RUC of $50. These options replace the existing $50 EV registration surcharge. EV owners can use a RUC Estimator to help determine which option is best for them, the agency said.
Hawaii DOT added that the registration renewal process will be nearly identical to today, with the primary difference being that all vehicle odometers will be photographed at their next periodic motor vehicle safety inspections, or safety checks.
By 2028, the agency noted, this per-mile RUC will become mandatory for EVs – and by 2033 it will apply to all light-duty vehicles.
Hawaii DOT explained that, as more drivers in Hawaii choose more fuel-efficient or all-electric vehicles, revenues from motor fuel taxes and other vehicle registration fees have declined, resulting in less funding to maintain state roads, bridges and infrastructure – and why it believes the RUC will help ensure long-term, sustainable funding for state transportation needs.
“Instead of paying based on what type of car you drive – or can afford – a road usage charge means vehicle owners will pay only for how much they actually drive. It’s a much fairer way for everyone to contribute to keeping our roads and bridges safe and operable,” said Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii DOT, in a statement.
“We are starting initially with EVs and aim to phase all light-duty passenger vehicles into the program by 2033,” he explained. “Hawaii is fortunate since we can use our annual safety inspection program, making the process easy and cost-effective.”
“EV drivers have long led our journey to a sustainable transportation future. As we move away from gas vehicles, we must modernize how we fund our roadways and bridges. The Hawaii Road Usage Charge is a fair and forward-looking solution that ensures everyone contributes to the infrastructure we all rely on,” said Noel Morin, president of the Hawaii EV Association. “Hawaii EV has worked closely with the Hawaii DOT over the past two years and supports this transition. We are proud that EV owners continue to lead the way.”
Other state departments of transportation are also testing out similar RUC programs.
Since 2015, the Oregon Department of Transportation has operated the OReGO pay-by-mile program, whereby program members pay two cents for each mile they drive to help fund state road and bridge funding. New electric vehicles and vehicles with 40-plus mpg receive a $35 to $115 annual savings on Department of Motor Vehicle fees when enrolled in OReGO, the agency noted.
Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Transportation operates a similar RUC program on a voluntary basis for EV and petroleum powered vehicles; part of a long-term transition plan to a RUC proposed for all vehicles operating in the state by 2032.
Montana DOT Works to Promote Safe Bicycling
The Montana Department of Transportation recently highlighted community outreach initiatives it regularly engages in to promote safe bicycling practices statewide.
[Above photo by Montana DOT]
Through various programs and events, Montana DOT regularly collaborates with local organizations to enhance bicycle safety, particularly among children. The agency also provides the Bicycling the Big Sky map – available in both print and electronic formats – that serves as a companion to the Official State Highway Map that includes highway information for bicyclists, state laws and regulations pertaining to bicyclists, and safety tips for sharing the road.
Additionally, Montana DOT noted in a statement that it distributes “Bicycle Tourism” packets via its website that contain an informational letter, its Bicycling the Big Sky map, the State Highway Map, and a bicycle law pocketbook.
The agency also regularly collaborates with local law enforcement, hospitals, and others to educate children on bicycle safety at local bike rodeos and safety fairs – events that provide children with the opportunity to learn essential biking skills in a controlled environment.
The Montana DOT said participants at those events engage in activities that teach them how to signal turns, navigate obstacles, and understand traffic laws, all while emphasizing the importance of wearing helmets and being visible to drivers.
Other state departments of transportation are engaged in similar efforts aimed at boosting active transportation in their respective regions of the country.
For example, in January, the Washington State Department of Transportation launched a new program designed to make electrically-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” more affordable to state residents.
WSDOT’s program – launched with its newly-selected vendor, APTIM, LLC –provides state residents with rebates through point-of-sale discounts on e-bikes and associated safety equipment, with funding for the rebates from $5 million allocated by the state legislature within its 2024 supplemental transportation budget.
In December 2024, the Hawaii Department of Transportation completed construction of the $15.7 million Leeward Bikeway, a dedicated bikeway within the former Oahu Railway & Land Company right-of-way between Philippine Sea Road in ‘Ewa and Waipahu Depot Street.
That new 3.5-mile path links together the previously unconnected West Loch Bike Path and the existing Pearl Harbor Historic Trail. Work included construction of 723 linear feet of retaining wall; utility relocation; demolition and construction of new bridge structures at Waikele Stream and Kapakahi Stream; paving the nine-to-10-foot path with asphalt concrete; and installation of concrete posts to prevent the use of the bikeway by motorized vehicles.
In October 2024, the New Mexico Department of Transportation constructed a “Traffic Safety Garden” at its Santa Fe campus as a way to convey “positive traffic safety behaviors” to young children.
The agency explained that a “traffic safety garden” is a miniature transportation system that uses play as an educational tool whereby children can learn and practice traffic behaviors that will protect them, such as using crosswalks, looking both ways for oncoming traffic, recognizing stop and yield signs, and facing traffic while walking.
Additionally, in June, the Texas Department of Transportation’s El Paso District put together a free bicycle safety event in partnership with the Alpine Police Department – turning an empty college campus parking lot into a bike obstacle course at Sul Ross State University. Before riding through the course – with Alpine police officers leading the way – participants took time for helmet and bike checks. Local riding experts volunteered their time and expertise to make minor repairs and adjustments for bikes belonging to young riders and their parents.
Environmental News Highlights – July 2, 2025
Hawaii DOT Unveils Island Chain’s Energy Security Plan
The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently released its first ever statewide Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan; a document that agency calls a “bold roadmap” for reducing transportation emissions and expanding affordable transportation options for all residents.
[Above photo by Hawaii DOT]
The Hawaii DOT said this new plan provides strategies for the transportation sector to achieve the state climate targets set in law – a 50 percent emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, net negative transportation emissions by 2045 – meaning Hawaii should capture more emissions than it produces – and, ultimately, zero transportation emissions.
“[This] plan is a call to action,” said Ed Sniffen, Hawaii DOT director, in a statement. “Together, we can create a transportation system that is cleaner and safer while fulfilling its purpose to connect our communities. The strategies outlined in this plan will help us build out the system for future generations.”
The pillars of the plan are energy security and affordability for the island chain’s residents as well as emissions reduction. A sampling of strategies in the plan includes incentives for electric vehicles and cleaner fuels; the build out within five years of significant pedestrian, bicycle, and transit projects to foster more active transportation options; and immediate investment in carbon sequestration efforts such as native reforestation.
The plan also fulfills a commitment made by the Hawaii DOT under the youth-led Navahine Settlement Agreement reached in June 2024.
“Transportation impacts everyone in Hawaiʻi and we therefore encourage feedback and ask for partnership from industry, fellow agencies and the public, including Hawaiʻi’s youth,” Sniffen noted. “Collective action across all sectors, public and private, will increase transportation choice, decrease costs for users of the system, and enable us to achieve these ambitious targets.”
In mid- to late-July, Hawaii DOT expects to host a series of public presentations via videoconference to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the plan, ask questions, and provide feedback. The agency added that it expects to update its new energy plan annually to reflect new data, technological developments, and feedback from communities across the island chain.
New WSDOT Pedestrian Bridge Delivers on 2018 Promise
In 2018, the Washington State Department of Transportation improved two intersections along State Road 500 in Vancouver, WA, reducing crashes by 70 percent – but those safety changes left some people with no way to cross the busy road. That’s when the need for a new pedestrian bridge became clear.
[Above photo by WSDOT]
Part of SR 500 is a major connector between I-5 and I-205; a six-mile stretch of four-lane highway that averages 60,000 cars a day. In 2018, there were only two traffic signals on that section of SR 500 – one at Northeast Stapleton Road/Northeast 45th Ave., and one at Northeast Falk Road/Northeast 42nd Ave.
Those two intersections were averaging about 400 crashes a year, many of which were rear-end crashes at the traffic signals. That’s why WSDOT removed the traffic signals on the highway seven years ago; allowing only right turns at the interchanges.
With no signals or left-hand turns to slow traffic, crashes plummeted, but the unabated 55-mile-per hour traffic made at-grade pedestrian crossings impossible. A pedestrian bridge already was in place at Falk/42nd Avenue, but it was a half-mile away from Stapleton/45th Avenue, where SR 500 bisects two residential areas.
“When we removed the signalized intersections to improve driver safety, it impacted those who walk, bike, or use mobility devices,” explained Sarah Hannon-Nein, WSDOT’s Southwest Region communications manager. “We fixed one problem and potentially created another one.”
While active transportation users and advocates pushed WSDOT to build a pedestrian bridge over the busy highway, the agency said funding wouldn’t be available for several years. “We made it very clear to the community that once funding was available, we would restore access,” Hannon-Nein said. “That promise was always there.”
Now, WSDOT has delivered on that promise – finishing construction in mid-June on a $8.7 million bridge above SR 500 exclusively for pedestrians and other active transportation users.
With no funding for a new bridge, WSDOT bought time in 2018 by contracting with a local transit agency to provide free, on-demand bus rides for pedestrians, bicyclists, or wheelchair users who needed to cross SR 500. Those free rides continued through the completion of the pedestrian bridge.
The agency also undertook “pretty extensive community engagement” in 2018 to get feedback about the planned bridge, Hannon-Nein said. People wanted a safe crossing for pedestrians, bicyclists, and wheelchair users that would be low-cost, low-maintenance and would fit the visual aesthetic of the corridor. “We listened to the community and we put those priorities into the design,” she noted.
The new bridge has straight, gradually inclining ramps that tie into existing sidewalks. It features a halfway landing on each bridge approach to give users a rest, and a wide turning radius to make the climb easy for bicyclists and people using wheelchairs.
“This is a project that we are really excited to deliver for the community,” Hannon-Nien pointed out. “This project reflects the promise to the community, but it’s more than just a structure. It’s a step forward in safety and equity in transportation for all users.”