Oregon DOT Using Renewable Diesel in POINT Buses

The Oregon Department of Transportation said its POINT intercity bus service has joined with two other state transit agencies – Lane Transit District and TriMet – in transitioning from operating buses on petroleum-based diesel to renewable diesel fuel.

[Above photo by Oregon DOT]

Oregon DOT said renewable diesel – also known as R99 – is chemically identical to petroleum diesel, allowing it to be used as a direct replacement without the costly engine modifications and maintenance required with other fuels like biodiesel.

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, renewable diesel significantly reduces harmful tailpipe emissions – including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides – while offering a cleaner burn than petroleum diesel. Produced in the U.S. and elsewhere from a variety of plant, animal fats and waste oils, renewable diesel is cleaner-burning and newly available for commercial use in the Pacific Northwest.

After several months of successful testing, buses serving on POINT’s Cascades Route – operated by agency contractor MTRWestern – have fully transitioned to renewable diesel. MTR noted that it currently gets its R99 fuel from Christensen Fuels based in Richland, WA.

“Renewable diesel gives us the best of both worlds – a significant reduction in emissions with no disruption to service or reliability,” explained Jeremy Butzlaff, president of MTR, in a statement. “As an operator, it’s a seamless solution that lets us support Oregon DOT’s climate goals today while maintaining the high standards riders expect from the POINT service.”

“Seventy percent of all POINT rides are on the route between Portland and Eugene,” added Joel Manning, POINT bus manager for Oregon DOT. “This cost-effective, sustainable switch reduces our carbon footprint significantly.”

Several state departments of transportation are involved in a variety of efforts to deploy “greener” options for everything from buses to trains and ferry vessels.

For example, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – a division of Massachusetts Department of Transportation – signed off on a $54 million plan to introduce battery-electric multiple unit or BEMU trains to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line in September 2024. The first of those BEMU trains are scheduled to go into operation in early 2028.

In March 2024, the Texas Department of Transportation put a new “green” maritime ferry into service on the Galveston-to-Port Bolivar route equipped with “cleaner” propulsion technology; marrying together a diesel-electric transmission and lithium-ion battery to reduce diesel engine emissions while improving fuel-efficiency.

Also in March 2024, Governor Wes Moore (D), the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) launched a “Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program” – part of MTA’s broader effort to covert its transit bus fleet to zero-emission units.

VTrans Seeking Bike, Pedestrian Project Grant Applicants

The Vermont Agency of Transportation – known as “VTrans” – seeks grant applications for infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

[Above photo by VTrans]

The agency said its Bicycle and Pedestrian Program aims to improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians statewide via the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects – expanding and improving transportation options for commuters, visitors to the state, and recreational users. Applications must be received by July 11, VTrans noted.

[Editor’s note: State departments of transportation interested in doing more to support bicycling in their states can order the 2024 “AASHTO Bike Guide.” The guide, recently updated from the original 2012 edition, was developed by AASHTO’s Committee on Design and the Technical Committee on Non-motorized Transportation and offers engineering design guidance on the physical infrastructure needed to support bicycle travel.]

As was the case in 2024, the agency said the 2025 grant cycle for the program incorporates funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA’s Carbon Reduction Program, which funds projects designed to reduce transportation emissions. In 2024, VTrans noted that it awarded more than $7 million for bicycle and pedestrian construction and planning projects across the state.

“Transportation options such as walking and bicycling are valuable for public health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting economic development in Vermont’s downtowns,” noted VTrans Secretary Joe Flynn said in a statement. “Expanding opportunities for people to walk and bike safely improves quality of life and is a priority for our agency and the state.”

Environmental News Highlights – May 28, 2025

Podcast: Extreme Precipitation and Infrastructure

In this episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast, Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – explains how transportation agencies can use the Atlas 15 weather tool developed by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration or NOAA to measure the impact of extreme precipitation on various types of infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

[Above image by AASHTO]

“The Stream by AASHTO” podcast 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 their infrastructure programs.

Kunkel 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 Assessment and 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 podcast episode, Kunkel discusses how the NOAA Atlas 15 weather tool produces extreme precipitation “values” that are then used in the design phase of various types of infrastructure.

Atlas 15 is also able to incorporate changing climate models when producing future data, he noted.

Kunkel also dives into how effective and accurate Atlas 15 is and how its data can improve the resiliency of infrastructure, particularly in the transportation sector.

To listen to the full podcast, click here.

Feedback Powers INDOT Peddle Path Addition

Hoosiers spoke, the Indiana Department of Transportation listened, and now there are another 187 miles in the U.S. Bicycle Route System or USBRS portfolio of roads, multi-use paths, and bike lanes.

[Above image by INDOT]

Recently, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Adventure Cycling Association formally designated a route connecting two Indiana bike trails as U.S. Bicycle Route 37 – one of four new bike routes approved by the two organizations earlier this year. The new route connects the Erie Lackawanna Trail in northwest Indiana to the Monon Trail in the central part of the state.

The USBRS is a series of cycling routes along publicly owned roads, multi-use paths, and bike lanes that connect to the border of another state or country, or to another USBRS route.

No physical infrastructure is required for USBRS designation, the designation does not imply an infrastructure investment, and no signs or constructed infrastructure are required for the designation, AASHTO and Adventure Cycling said.

Both noted that their joint USBRS goal is to have a 50,000-mile network suitable for cross-country traveling, regional touring, and commuting. A digital map of all current USBRS routes is available here.

In addition to approving USBRS routes, AASHTO and Adventure Cycling provide free technical assistance to state departments of transportation that want to develop a USBRS? route.

In a blog post, INDOT said an enhanced public involvement process gave more cyclists more time to ride the proposed route and provide comments before the department submitted the official route designation request to AASHTO.

“Many Hoosiers submitted comments about their concerns, and we wanted to make sure that we addressed them,” said Alison Shaner, a transportation modeler and planner with the agency.

The designation process was the first time INDOT’s 2023 Planning Public Involvement Plan or PPIP had been applied to a new bicycle route, and it was “the first time this process included a public comment period,” she noted.

INDOT said the PPIP called for a weeklong public comment period, but the agency decided to extend that to 30 days because the route was receiving heightened public interest.

A local Tippecanoe County planner rode parts of the proposed route and recruited other cyclists to ride it “to get a more authentic feel for the route and some of the alternatives that INDOT came up with,” the blog post noted. Later, the agency and the county worked together to refine the route before submitting it to AASHTO.

The USBRS is maintained by state and local governments and is developed for experienced long-distance bicyclists, generally considered “touring cyclists.” Routes often contain roads that have no special treatments or lanes for bicyclists, but they do not include mountain bike trails.

Environmental News Highlights – May 21, 2025

TxDOT Environmental Review Uncovers ‘Megafauna’

During the environmental review for the Loop 88 highway project outside Lubbock, TX, planners with the Texas Department of Transportation made an interesting discovery – and promptly called in one of the agency’s archaeological teams to figure out what they found.

[Above photo by TxDOT]
“They found the bones of some large, prehistoric animals called ‘megafauna,’ which is not unusual in the region,” noted Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with TxDOT’s environmental affairs division, in a recent blog post.

He explained that the Panhandle area of Texas – where Lubbock is located – is home to many “playas” or remnants of lakes from the Ice Age. In prehistoric times, animals and humans used playas as water sources and these sites can sometimes contain evidence of human activity.

“If the site involves humans, we have to address road construction impacts under state and federal law,” Ringstaff said. “If the site has no artifacts and dates to a time well before humans, TxDOT will recommend no further work, and the project can proceed to construction.”

Given that Texas has other sites that show human activity with megafauna, TxDOT decided to take a closer look at the Loop 88 location. They opted for a process called “staged mitigation” that involves archeological excavation to look for human artifacts like chipped stone or spear points.

TxDOT said environmental staff and consulting archeologists excavated bones and took geologic and sediment samples for fine screening, with the agency also collaborating with the Museum of Texas Tech University for assistance with preparation, identification, and housing of the bones.

“We know we’ve found giant ground sloth by its distinctive tooth,” Ringstaff said. “Whether all the bones are giant ground sloth or there are different animals such as mammoth or mastodon, we’re not sure. Paleontologists will give us positive identification.”

Experts are examining the dirt collected around the bones for micro-artifacts and using geologic dating techniques to get a better idea of the chronology of the objects. Should the site reveal human activity with megafauna from the Ice Age, it would be first of its kind for a TxDOT project.

“Excavation is one of many steps we can take prior to road construction to ensure that Texas history is preserved,” added Rebekah Dobrasko, director of TxDOT’s cultural resources section.

Fortunately, even if further excavation is needed, TxDOT said work on the Loop 88 project is still well ahead of any physical construction deadlines – part of its planning work to ensure environmental reviews do not affect a project’s timeline.

“We’re here to get the road built,” Ringstaff said. “But who doesn’t love digging up big ol’ animals?”

Across the country, state departments of transportation are involved in a variety of cultural and archaeological efforts.

For example, in March, the Maryland Department of Transportation showed off a trove of “interesting artifacts” found at the Ben Ross home historical dig site; the place where the father of Civil War-era abolitionist Harriet Tubman lived and where she spent her teenage years in Dorchester County.

The agency said its archaeologists spent the past four years processing hundreds of artifacts collected from the Ross home, which is deep in the wetlands of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

In August 2024, the North Carolina Department of Transportation – in partnership with N.C. State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education – launched a two-year project aimed at mapping unmarked burial sites belonging to historically marginalized groups statewide.

In October 2022, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet helped establish a new website highlighting more than 100 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites across the state’s 64 counties.

The agency launched that website – Discover Kentucky Archaeology – in collaboration with the Kentucky Heritage Council-State Historic Preservation Office, an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet.

And in January 2022, the Colorado Department of Transportation debuted a documentary called “Durango 550 – Path of the Ancestral Puebloans” to show how the agency worked with archaeologists and regional Native American tribes to document, study, and ultimately share the discoveries unearthed near Durango in southwest Colorado.

MassDOT Issues Millions in Community Transit Grants

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued more than $14.8 million through its fiscal year 2025 Community Transit Grant Program or CTGP to municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities, and various nonprofit organizations. 

[Above photo by MassDOT]

In total, those grants will help 30 organizations purchase a total of 115 fully accessible vans and mini-vans to enhance mobility for older adults and people with disabilities.

MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division manages the CTGP annually, with the funds for those operating and mobility management awards coming from the Federal Transit Administration and state Mobility Assistance Program or MAP funding.

The agency noted that, according to federal rules, federal 5310 funds can pay for up to 85 percent of the cost of each vehicle. Massachusetts’ Councils on Aging, nonprofits, and municipalities must pay a 15 percent match, while the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities are eligible for fully funded vehicles with state MAP funds providing a 15 percent match.

“Our administration is proud to partner with municipalities, non-profits, and local transportation providers to increase travel options for seniors and people with disabilities in every corner of the state,” said Governor Maura Healey (D) in a statement. “We look forward to seeing the impact these grants will have by making it easier for people to get to work, school, doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and more.”

“[We are] deeply committed to expanding transportation options that support our age-friendly, accessible, and climate-resilient goals,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt, secretary and CEO of MassDOT. 

“This funding sends a clear and powerful message to older adults and people with disabilities: we see you, we hear you, and we are investing in your ability to travel safely, comfortably, and with dignity,” she said. “We are proud to partner with transit authorities, municipalities, Councils on Aging, and nonprofits who work tirelessly each day to ensure mobility and access for the people they serve.”

Environmental News Highlights – May 14, 2025

Maryland DOT Begins New Commuter Rewards Programs

The Maryland Department of Transportation recently launched two new regards programs via its Commuter Choice Maryland initiative, which is designed to lessen traffic congestion statewide while also reducing vehicle emissions.

[Above photo by David Trozzo for the Maryland DOT]

Under the new Baltimore Vanpool Incentive Program, vanpool commuters in the Baltimore area will now qualify for a $500 monthly incentive. Meanwhile, via the new Baltimore Carpool Incentive Program, commuters will receive a $5 daily incentive for 90 days.

Both programs are funded by the Maryland DOT and administered by Commuter Connections to encourage Baltimore-area commuters to start or join a carpool or vanpool.

“Maryland commuters, business owners and commercial drivers continue to deal with the congestion impacts from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse,” noted Maryland DOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld in a statement. “These new vanpool and carpool rewards programs are promoting and incentivizing alternative options to driving alone, saving commuters real money and reducing congestion impacts for the region.”

The agency added that state residents can also take advantage of CommuterCash as well; an all-new mobile application that helps travelers find optimal carpool, vanpool, transit, biking, and multimodal travel options.

Commuters can log their trips in CommuterCash and earn points that can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or transportation credits, Maryland DOT said.

Across the country, state departments of transportation are working on a variety of commuter-related initiatives, often tied into emission-reduction efforts as well.

For example, in March 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued $1.2 million in grants via its Rural Intercity Bus Connections program.

The agency said this initiative aims to enhance accessibility and connectivity for residents in rural communities who depend on intercity bus services for essential travel to larger urban hubs. Since 2016, MassDOT noted it has awarded nearly $7 million through its Rural Intercity Bus Connections program.

And, in March 2024, the Connecticut Department of Transportation opened a new parking garage at the Stewart B. McKinney Transportation Center in Stamford, CT; a garage that plays a key role in boosting multimodal links to the center’s transit options.

The new garage includes 92 electric vehicle charging stations; 120 bicycle parking spaces, including 50 e-bike charging stations. The project also included the reconstruction of the South State Street and Washington Boulevard intersection, making it safer for all roadway users; with upgrades that include new sidewalks, traffic signals, and thermal crosswalks.