Two bills recently passed by the 2010 legislature and signed by Governor Pawlenty include some pretty powerful transportation policies. 

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently in the midst of reevaluating its air quality standards for six major air pollutants that have direct impacts of human and environmental health. For most of the pollutants, this means that the EPA is tightening the standards in response to improved information about the health impacts of different types of pollution. The new standards - which started coming out in fall 2008 and will all be out by 2012 - could impact whether parts of Minnesota continue  to meet (attain) the standards or fail and move into "nonattainment" status for one or more pollutants.

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With Target Field now open, how to get to a Twins game? At least for the half dozen regular season games that have been held to-date, the answer for many folk is to take transit. Hiawatha light rail and Northstar commuter rail both come directly to Target Field, and Metro Transit has added a special express bus route (Route 679) from stops along I-394 directly to the field.

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The Center for Neighborhood Technology recently released maps and a report of the Housing + Transportation Affordability Index for 337 metropolitan regions around the country. These easy-to-use maps show how much families pay for housing and transportation costs based on where they live.

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Over the past few months the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has held dozens of listening sessions and has been requesting comments about its upcoming $100 million Sustainable Communities Grant Program.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER grants have just been announced. These are the last bit of federal stimulus funding for transportation--$1.5 billion for which there were over 1,400 applications, totaling nearly $60 billion. What's truly great about Department of Transportation Secretary LaHood's decisions is that most of the funding is being directed toward truly innovative, multi-modal projects that typically aren't prioritized highly. There are few traditional highway projects in the mix. Each state received funding for one project. Many are for rail (both freight and passenger) or transit projects, port improvements, bike/pedestrian accommodations, and even a wind power project were selected. Minnesota's award is $35 million to help renovations for St. Paul's Union Depot which will be the transportation hub for the east end of the Central Corridor light rail project, a relocated destination for local Amtrak passenger rail service, and a station for intercity and local bus connections.

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Real, affordable electric vehicles are coming to market soon. Here's a Wired Magazine story about the Nissan Leaf, expected to be in production by this fall. With a 100 miles/charge range, these vehicles are an appealing, clean fuel option for those of us who can't afford a Chevy Volt (to be available by late fall). You'll even be able to rent a Leaf by early 2011. Hertz has recently signed an agreement with Nissan to make the Leaf available in the U.S. and Europe.

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Over the past year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has worked with state and regional stakeholders to create a vision for rail services for Minnesota for the next 20 years--both freight system improvements as well as significant increases in passenger rail options for intrastate and regional travel. A draft Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan has been released for public review.

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At Fresh Energy's first-ever benefit concert on Friday evening, Krista Detor, David Weber, Arbutus Cunningham, and Alice Hurley enchanted Fresh Energy supporters with a program of song and story that made the rafters ring in Macalester College's Weyerhaeuser Chapel. Detor is an international performer whose original songs have been featured at the Cannes film festival, and on NPR,and PBS. Thanks to her remarkable generosity, 60 percent of ticket sales will go directly to support Fresh Energy's work. Alternately tender, thought provoking, and funny, Detor's program was drawn from material commissioned by the Shrewsbury Folk Festival. As one attendee said, "fantastic is huge understatement."

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The wonderful, heart-calming news was that my daughter was okay, with only a bruise. The bad news? My car was totaled. When your work is to advocate for clean transportation choices, what's your next step?

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