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| News and Events:
Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities:
Upcoming Events and Activities:
Resources and Guides:
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| Submit a Poster to Present at the 2019 Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo
TDEC, TDOT, and Tennessee Clean Fuels will hold the fifth annual Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo (STF&E) on October 1-2 at the UT Conference Center in downtown Knoxville. STF&E organizers are currently soliciting proposals for a poster display session during the event. Posters should highlight projects or research focused on the implementation of sustainable transportation and enhanced mobility solutions. Proposals should be no more than 300 words and may be submitted by any entity so long as the summarized projects and/or research pertains to actionable sustainable transportation solutions. All poster presenters will receive free event registration. Poster proposals must be sent to TDEC.OEP@tn.gov by Thursday, July 18 for consideration at the 2019 forum.
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| Nashville Commuter Challenge Success
Nashville Connector, Davidson County’s first transportation demand management program, seeks to help employers and employees in the Nashville region plan for a better commute. The program assists individuals and companies alike in identifying bus, carpool, train, and walking/biking commuter options available to commuters in the Nashville area. Learn more about the Nashville Connector at https://nashconnector.org/.
Nashville Connector held its second Commuter Challenge from April 27-May 3. As part of this challenge, Nashville’s downtown commuting participants pledged to not drive alone for at least one trip to work during the week. Over 33 downtown employers and 900 individuals participated in the Challenge, replacing 5,200 solo vehicle trips with alternative transportation options that could include carpooling, riding a bike or scooter, taking public transit, walking to work, or working from home. Several government agencies received recognition for their participation during the Challenge. The Metro Nashville Department of General Services had a 42% participation rate across their employees and received an award for Government Rate of Participation; TDOT tripled its rate of employee participation over last year’s Challenge and received an award for Increased Participation; and the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ participating employees each took a sustainable commute to work every day of the Challenge, earning the department an award for Rate of Possible Trips. Click here to read the full press release from the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
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| Knox County Greenway Corridor Study
Knox County has unveiled a greenway corridor study that aims to link local neighborhoods with community destinations. By supporting walking and biking through greenways, the county hopes to achieve local benefits in business, health, and safety. The plan proposes the development of over 60 miles of new greenway trails throughout the county along four corridors:
- Beaver Creek West – Hardin Valley to Powell
- Beaver Creek East – Powell to Gibbs
- South Knox County – Gary Underwood Park to Sevier County and Chapman Highway to Alcoa Highway
- Northshore – Lakeshore Park to Loudon County
The county recently held a series of public meetings to receive input on the proposed greenways. A second round of public meetings will follow in late summer 2019. Knox County staff expect the plan to be completed by the end of the year, with construction to follow. Learn more about the project at http://knoxgreenwaystudy.com/.
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| Call for Papers - 2020 TRB Annual Meeting
The 2020 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting will take place in Washington, D.C. from January 12-16. The meeting covers transportation issues in all fields and will feature 5,000 presentations across more than 800 panel sessions. More than 13,000 transportation professionals from around the world are expected to attend.
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| FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES
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| TRB Releases RFP on Transit and Micromobility
TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has released a request for proposals focused on understanding the full impacts of micromobility on public transportation systems. Micromobility technologies include station-based or dockless bike share systems, electric-assist bike share projects, electric scooter share projects, and more. Successful proposals will identify micromobility’s impact on transit ridership and the built environment (e.g., bike lanes, parking spaces, etc.); economic impacts of micromobility on communities and transit agencies; and ways to strengthen the relations between micromobility and transit to maximize sustainable trips. Proposals are due to TCRP by June 25. Click here to learn more.
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| TDOT'S Multimodal Access Grant
TDOT’s Multimodal Access Grant is a State-funded program created to support the transportation needs of transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists through infrastructure projects that address existing gaps along State routes. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Pedestrian crossing improvements, including signage, signalization, median pedestrian refuge islands and crosswalks;
- Shoulders and sidewalks;
- Bicycle lanes;
- Improvements that address requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act;
- Shared-use paths (pedestrian plus bicycle traffic) located within the transportation corridor;
- Transit stop amenities;
- Road diets or traffic calming measures that enhance bicycle and/or pedestrian safety;
- Separated bicycle facilities; and
- Park and ride facilities for carpooling or access to transit.
Eligible applicants include Tennessee cities and counties. Multimodal Access Grants can provide up to 95% of a project’s total cost, requiring a 5% local match. Total project costs must not exceed $1 million. Applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply to tdot.multimodalplanning@tn.gov by June 28 at 4:00 PM Central. Click here to read more.
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| Partners for Places Grant Program
The Funders' Network, in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, recently announced a new round of funding for the Partners for Places grant program. Partners for Places is a matching grant program that improves communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. The grant program will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or between $50,000 and $100,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. Successful proposals will identify planning processes or projects that local government leaders and place-based funders consider important for advancing sustainability goals in their communities. The project must either:
- Advance a key aspect of one of the plans listed below; or
- Support creation of one of the plans listed below.
Eligible plans include:
- A community-focused sustainability, climate action, adaptation/resilience, equity, water, or comprehensive plan provision that specifically addresses sustainability and/or green stormwater infrastructure.
- Any multi-issue community plan that explicitly states and pursues the goal of integrating and/or balancing economic development, environmental quality, and equity.
Applications are due by July 30. Click here to learn more and apply.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Register Now for the 2019 Tennessee SustainableTransportation Forum & Expo
TDEC, TDOT, and Tennessee Clean Fuels will hold the fifth annual Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo (STF&E) on October 1-2 at the UT Conference Center in downtown Knoxville. The forum will highlight new research and technologies that improve transportation efficiency, reduce vehicle emissions, and address the mobility needs of all Tennesseans. Panelists and speakers from across the country will highlight best practices to transform transportation systems efficiently, affordably, and sustainably. An agenda for the 2019 STF&E will be made available soon.
Each year, STF&E features an alternative fuel vehicle and equipment showcase as well as a luncheon that honors both winners of the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and new inductees to the Tennessee Green Fleets (TGF) program. The TGF program recognizes fleets based on actions taken to reduce petroleum consumption, lessen greenhouse gas emissions, and implement alternative fuel vehicles. Applications for 2019 TGF certification are due by June 30. For more information about the program, visit http://www.tncleanfuels.org.
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| Tennessee Clean Fuels Offers Alt-Fuel Tours
Tennessee Clean Fuels is inviting fleet managers, city officials, sustainability personnel, and other interested persons to attend several alternative fuel site tours across the state. These tours will include facility visits as well as live demonstrations of alternative fuel vehicles and refueling equipment. Each tour is designed to educate attendees about advanced vehicle technology implementation and increase awareness of alternative fuel success stories in Tennessee. Register for the first five tours below!
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| Tennessee Clean Fuels to Host Nashville and Knoxville First Responder Training Session for Alternative Fuel Safety
Tennessee Clean Fuels will host two instructor-led classroom trainings provided by the National Fire Protection Association for first responders on alternative fuel vehicles and how to respond to electric, natural gas, and propane vehicle incidents. These trainings, scheduled for July 9 in Nashville and July 10 in Knoxville, are designed to equip local trainers with the knowledge and materials to teach their own staff members about alternative fuels. The session will also feature a live demonstration of onsite alternative fuel vehicles, which will consist of vehicles that currently operate in and around the Nashville or Knoxville areas.
Click here to learn more and to register for the trainings. Registration will cost $40 per person. Stipends or other registration cost assistance may be available based on need. Please call Daniel Siksay, Project Manager at East Tennessee Clean Fuels, at 865-974-9665 to discuss available discount options.
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| Tennessee Greenways and Trails Forum
Registration is now open for the 2019 Tennessee Greenways and Trails Forum, which will be held July 16-18 at Pickwick Landing State Park. To promote this year’s theme, “Communities Build Trails, Trails Build Communities,” forum sessions will highlight the beneficial impact of greenways, blueways, and other types of trails, including benefits to human health, economic development and tourism, accessibility of alternative transportation, and public engagement with nature. The forum will feature three off-site opportunities—a trail building workshop, a guided pontoon boat tour, and a canoe/kayak trip. Click here to register.
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| Urban Runoff 5K Celebrates Green Stormwater Management
Nashville’s Metro Water Services, TDEC, and the Tennessee Stormwater Association have teamed up to host the Urban Runoff 5k run in Nashville on August 3. The run is being held in Shelby Bottoms Greenway and will weave its way past several innovative stormwater management structures. The race will be chip-timed and held in rain or shine. To volunteer for the run, click here. For additional details or to register, click here. Registration for the race will cost $30.
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| 2019 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference
The Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference will showcase the latest alternative fuel technologies in the biofuels, electric, natural gas, and propane industries. The conference will also have a strong focus on data-driven innovations designed to make fleets more sustainable. Registration is now open for the conference, which will be held August 7-8 in Durham, North Carolina. Learn more about the event at https://www.sustainablefleetexpo.com/.
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| Renewable Natural Gas Workshop in Nashville
RNG WORKS is a two-day technical workshop and trade expo for the North American Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) industry, hosted by the RNG Coalition. The Coalition recently announced that the annual event will take place in Nashville from September 11-12. The event is designed to educate feedstock owners (landfill, wastewater, livestock, agriculture, food processing, etc.); RNG project developers, operators, financiers, and engineers; and RNG end-users (fleets, municipalities, utilities, etc.) about RNG best practices and resources for increased development, deployment, and utilization of RNG across the region. Learn more at http://www.rngcoalition.com/rng-works/.
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| Clean Cities 2017 Activity Report Demonstrates Benefits of Alternative Fuels, Advanced Vehicle Technologies
U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Program recently released its 2017 Activity Report, in which the 2017 annual reports submitted by all Clean Cities Coalitions are compiled and synthesized. The report features key findings in alternative fuel vehicle use, idle reduction activities, fuel economy improvement accomplishments, and vehicle miles traveled reductions across the country. According to the report, Clean Cities Coalitions cumulatively averted nearly 4.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2017, equivalent to the emissions benefits of removing more than 1 million conventional vehicles from U.S. roads. Clean Cities staff also provided outreach, education, and training activities on alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies to more than 10 million people in 2017. A compilation of data from this report can be accessed on the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Maps and Data page. Previous reports can be downloaded on the AFDC Publications page.
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