Podcast: Advancing Accessibility in Transportation

The latest episode of the “Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Alan Hejl, founder and lead consultant of Spark Access; a company that helps people with disabilities gain more mobility options to help foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion for them more broadly in society.

[Above graphic by AASHTO]

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 this podcast episode, Hejl explains that the mission of Spark Access is to foster more awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for the disabled community within the mobility industry. The firm’s advocacy efforts focus on helping people with both visible and hidden disabilities gain more transportation options to fit their travel needs.

Also on the podcast, Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors helped open his eyes to the wide range of mobility issues people with disabilities face – a passion that deepened and became more personal in light of the mobility struggles faced by his wheelchair-bound wife.

He discusses how different kinds of disabilities can impact transportation options; how transportation systems are often built with the needs of disabled travelers as an afterthought; and how autonomous vehicles can offer the disabled greater travel opportunities if they meet their accessibility needs.

To listen to the full podcast episode, click here.

Alaska DOT&PF Launches Statewide Trails Program

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities recently launched the Alaska Trails and Local Access System or ATLAS program; a new initiative that will unify the department’s efforts to improve trail access, connectivity, and outdoor recreation opportunities across Alaska.

[Above photo by the Alaska DOT&PF]

The agency said that, as part of the governor’s Administrative Order 361, responsibility for administering the federal Recreational Trails Program transferred from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to the Alaska DOT&PF in October 2025. Under the ATLAS initiative, that program will now be administered as the Multi-Use Trails Program.

Following that transition last year, the agency continued holding the ongoing “open funding application” cycle already underway and worked with the newly formed Alaska Recreational Trails Advisory Committee or ARTAC to evaluate project proposals from communities and organizations across the state.

Based on ARTAC’s recommendations, Alaska DOT&PF awarded more than $2.2 million in federal funding to 15 projects across Alaska, with 14 of those projects receiving full funding, and one project – the Petersville Trails and Rescue Center (Groundbreaking Phase III) – obtaining partial funding. Those projects include motorized, non-motorized, diversified, and safety, and education trail projects that will improve recreational access, enhance public safety, support local economies, and maintain critical trail infrastructure.

“ATLAS represents a new chapter in how Alaska supports trails, outdoor recreation, and community connectivity,” noted Ryan Anderson, Alaska DOT&PF’s commissioner, in a statement. “These investments will help improve and maintain trail systems across the state while creating opportunities for Alaskans and visitors to safely access and enjoy Alaska’s outdoors.”

Other state departments of transportation are engaged in similar trail-supportive efforts.

For example, in early May, the Utah Department of Transportation kicked off construction on the first project within the Utah Trail Network; a plan to build 2,600 miles of new paved trails and 500 miles of existing trails connecting communities statewide similar to how highways connect cities.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation held a celebration for the completion of a 0.9-mile extension of the Neponset River Greenway trail; part of a statewide effort to provide more access to “greenspace” to state residents.

And, also in May, the Virginia Department of Transportation released a revised Statewide Multiuse Trails Plan, providing a foundation for the development of a connected trail network for the Commonwealth.

That plan – a culmination of over two years of research – combined public engagement and technical analyses, including a data inventory of over 1,500 current and 2,900 planned miles of trails across Virginia, plus spatial analyses and practical insights for local jurisdictions.

Environmental News Highlights – June 17, 2026

NETWC To Host Wildlife Ecology Training in September

The Northeastern Transportation and Wildlife Conference (NETWC) will be hosting a “Habitats and Highways” training session developed by The Nature Conservancy as part of its upcoming meeting September 27-30 in State College, PA.

[Above photo by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department]

That Habitats and Highways training session – jointly presented by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and The Nature Conservancy – will span six presentation blocks:

· An introduction to Habitats and Highways.

· Roads and Wildlife Conflicts.

· Wildlife Friendly Infrastructure Solutions.

· Connectivity Planning and Prioritization.

· Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships.

· Funding, Policy, and Regional Initiatives.

Attendees of all six presentation sessions receive the opportunity to acquire certificates of attendance, with engineers getting the chance to gain Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

https://youtu.be/-RJGKru_ZoE?si=wYCl1upadYupYRgs According to The Nature Conservancy, vehicle crashes caused by wildlife collisions in the U.S. contribute to an average of 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries per year, plus an approximately $10 billion in annual losses in terms of property damage from those crashes, medical expenses, and other costs.

To address those issues, The Nature Conservancy developed – in partnership with eight state departments of transportation in the

region – the “Northeast Habitats and Highways Video Training Series” in 2025 and subsequently released it on YouTube. Inspired by the 2022 Federal Highway Administration-award winning “Highways and Habitats” training program developed by VTrans, The Nature Conservancy’s video training series seeks to assist professionals across specialties and sectors in building infrastructure that keeps nature in mind and reduces wildlife-vehicle conflicts.

“We have spoken to nearly 100 engineers, wildlife specialists, and ecologists from New Jersey to Maine. As a result, we have gathered a unique collection of information, including many success stories from peers in this region,” noted Jim Andrews, a VTrans road ecologist and herpetologist who narrated The Nature Conservancy’s video series.

The series is split into five modules, covering topics from connectivity planning to partnerships and resources, and highlights specific state DOT initiatives, such as the New York State Department of Transportation’s “critter shelf” program in Boonville, NY. https://youtu.be/mfyu-LZayvw?si=NtkdH4Jmhu-G6Uq0

“I think [this video project] showed a time where an outside group came to us with a science-based approach and [we] were able to work with them to get the project done,” said Stephanie Delano, director of the NYSDOT’s Environmental Science Bureau. “Partnerships can work and they can work well.”

More information about The Nature Conservancy’s Habitat and Highways training can be found on its YouTube page and by clicking here. Further information about NETWC can be found here.

PennDOT Issues $25M to Build EV Chargers in Western PA

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently made $25 million available to help build electric vehicle or EV chargers in Western Pennsylvania as part of the “Community Charging” phase of the federally funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by PennDOT]

The agency said this is the second region of Pennsylvania where it is making NEVI funding available, with Southeastern Pennsylvania – where funding was announced in February – being the first. Through the Community Charging funding rounds, the administration of Governor Josh Shapiro (D) is directing a total of $100 million in federal funding to build public EV charging stations across Pennsylvania. PennDOT added that it is conducting a survey for interested organizations to connect with EV charging station builders and operators to partner with on submissions, which is available at www.pa.gov/evcommunity.

“The most critical element when considering an EV is knowing where you can charge it,” explained Mike Carroll, PennDOT secretary, in a statement. “We’re directing investments to new chargers in communities that need them and improving EV accessibility for everyone.”

The agency added that Community Charging funding is being made available by region: Southeast, East, Central and West. Local transportation planning agencies will determine specific areas within those regions for EV charger investments, but all publicly available locations within the region are eligible to apply for Community Charging funds, PennDOT said.

Other state departments of transportation are also expanding efforts to build out EV charger networks in their specific regions.

For example, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently opened two more EV fast-charging sites that were built with NEVI funds. The two charging stations, developed by Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, are located in Elizabethtown and Shepherdsville. Altogether,

14 EV charging sites are now open in Kentucky, with 14 more under construction statewide. KYTC added that it recently issued a fourth call for proposals to fund additional fast-charging sites in urban and rural areas across Kentucky.

“We’re proudly charging ahead with more sites anticipated to open all across the state this year,” said Rebecca Goodman, KYTC secretary, in a statement. “With each new site, we are truly becoming more connected as we see our charging network take shape throughout Kentucky.”

Environmental News Highlights – June 10, 2026

WSDOT Program Helping Fleets Buy Cleaner Equipment

The Washington State Department of Transportation launched a $112 million program back on April 29 that seeks to help businesses and fleet operators acquire zero-emission or “clean” equipment.

[Above photo by WSDOT]

That program – officially called the Washington Zero-Emission Incentive Program or WAZIP – is funded by the state’s Climate Commitment Act and provides vouchers to businesses and fleets to help defray the cost of acquiring commercial truck and other equipment.

WAZIP vouchers – available on a first-come, first-served basis – reduce the upfront cost of 100 types of medium- and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles or ZEVs and related commercial equipment by funding about 40 percent of the purchase price. However, the amount varies based on the type of truck and/or equipment being bought.

The types of vehicles and equipment covered by the vouchers also include construction vehicles, agriculture machinery, airport loaders and tugs, commercial boats, forklifts, freight locomotives, refrigerated transportation units, freight-handling equipment and charging/dispensing stations.

“This program is an economic powerhouse for our state,” noted Governor Bob Ferguson (D) in remarks he made during a WAZIP launch event at the Port of Seattle at the time.

“It helps businesses modernize their fleets, dealerships increase their sales, and residents live healthier lives through reduced emissions,” he said. “We’re investing $112 million to make the purchase of cleaner commercial vehicles and equipment more affordable for a wide-range of companies – big and small – across the state.”

“Our state continues to be at the forefront of innovative opportunity with this program and opens up clean transportation to those who otherwise may not have thought about it before,” added Julie Meredith, WSDOT secretary.

According to a report by the NW Energy Coalition, the transportation sector is the number one industry for the release of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 40 percent of greenhouse emissions statewide. It stems from exhaust from cars, trucks, ships and other gas and diesel burning equipment.

The types of pollutants generated by the transportation sector include:

  • Carbon dioxide is considered a “primary” greenhouse gas generated by transportation sector activity. Though it is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth’s carbon cycle, carbon dioxide is also the result of combustion of natural gas, petroleum fuels, and coal. It accounts for 35 percent of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Nitrogen Oxide, or NOx, is a gaseous air pollutant composed of nitrogen and oxygen and forms when coal, petroleum fuels such as gasoline or diesel, and natural gas are burned at high temperatures. NOx in the outdoor air contributes to particle pollution and to the chemical reactions that make ozone, which – when it forms at ground level – can damage lung tissue when breathed in.
  • Particulate matter is comprised of black carbon, heavy metals, ammonia, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs and is sometimes referred to as “soot.”  It is a mixture of tiny liquid and solid particles that are released during fuel combustion, particularly with diesel fuel.
  • VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry-cleaning agents. Some produce harmful effects such as eye and throat irritation, can in some cases cause live and kidney damage, and even cause cancer. However, the Environmental Protection Agency said that extent and nature of such negative health effects will depend on many factors, including level of exposure and length of time exposed to VOCs.

Reducing the emissions of those and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere is the ultimate goal of this new program, noted Gov. Ferguson.

“This program is a really wonderful example of how our Climate Commitment Act not only reduces harmful pollution, [but] also helps lower costs by helping people and businesses switch to affordable clean [equipment],” he said.

TxDOT Highlights ‘Trash Off’ Highway Cleanup Effort

In April, the Texas Department of Transportation hosted its annual “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off” event; a core part of the agency’s Adopt-A-Highway program, which gives volunteer groups a chance to take charge of cleaning stretches of state highways a few times a year.

[Above photo by TxDOT]

Catherine Cromer, TxDOT’s statewide coordinator for the agency’s Adopt-A-Highway program, said in a statement that cleanup volunteers across Texas made a real difference in fiscal year 2025: conducting 375 cleanup events that involved 2,850 people clearing 750 miles of roads and picked up nearly 76,000 pounds of litter statewide.

TxDOT said it counts on partnerships with civic organizations, community groups, and dedicated volunteers working through its Adopt a Highway program to help make roads cleaner and safer; protect natural resources; and build community pride.

The agency highlighted the cleanup effort of more than 30 members of the Denton–Lewisville Kappa Alpha PsiAlumni Chapter, who pitched in to clean up a state-maintained road in April as part of its yearly “Trash Off” event.

Kirk Nobles, chapter treasurer, noted that events like this strengthen community bonds and offer a way to give back.

“We have a very active and supportive chapter,” he said. “Activities like this are a chance for brothers to bond while giving back to the community.”

Many state departments of transportation conduct similar yearly roadway cleanup events as well as provide support to ongoing litter-removal efforts.

In May, in honor of Earth Day, employees and maintenance crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation spent a week picking up trash along highways across Clark County, the southernmost county in Washington State.

In March, the Arkansas Department of Transportation launched a new website for the Adopt-A-Highway program. The new website, now live on the ardot.gov main menu, is designed to make it easier for state residents to get involved in keeping Arkansas roadways and rights-of-way clean and beautiful.

The agency said the new website allows the public to view current Adopt-A-Highway volunteer locations across the state, identify opportunities to participate, and submit requests to adopt specific highway segments for cleanup efforts.

And in December 2025, the Tennessee Department of Tennessee noted that more than 77,000 pounds of litter were removed from roadsides and waterways statewide as part of its 5th Annual “No Trash November” month-long campaign in November 2025.

Throughout that month, 2,470 volunteers participated in 205 cleanup events, the agency said in a statement – collecting 3,596 bags of litter weighing a total of 77,129 pounds.

Environmental News Highlights – June 3, 2026

NCDOT Gets Input on Coastal Resilience Plan

The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently hosted its first round of community meetings for its proposed “Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County” or SAND Plan.

[Above photo by NCDOT] The SAND plan addresses an 11-mile stretch of state highway N.C. 12 in Dare County, between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe “Jug Handle” Bridge, connecting communities along the Outer Banks barrier islands. That segment of N.C. 12 suffers from frequent floods and “overwash” from coastal storms – causing erosion and roadway damage, NCDOT said.

The agency is using the Planning and Environment Linkages or PEL process to streamline future environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA. Building on previous efforts such as the N.C. 12 Task Force and past NEPA reviews, NCDOT said its SAND Plan seeks to evaluate practical solutions based on environmental and community considerations, cost, and feasibility in order to provide both long- and short-term roadway solutions.

[Editor’s note: The drone video below gathered by NCDOT provides an overview of the type of damage storms can cause to this exposed segment of N.C. 12.]

The NCDOT recently hosted three public outreach meetings for members of the Outer Banks community across three islands in late April – part of the agency’s pre-construction process. “We’re trying to create…a sense of urgency to get some feedback [and] to see what folks are open [to] and what [are] non-starters,” explained Lindsay Crocker, NCDOT project manager, in a local news release. During a public meeting for Hatteras Island and Rodanthe Islands community members, residents were invited to study NCDOT-provided display boards regarding the project. In-person meeting attendees could also provide comments and questions directly to NCDOT representatives in attendance as well as fill out a project public input survey. Those who could not attend could fill out an online version of the survey by May 15.

The agency added that the next steps for the SAND Plan will include a second and third round of public meetings, scheduled for July and December, respectively. Data collection will begin June 2026, with a complete planning report scheduled for June of 2027, NCDOT said.