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On April 26th, 2023, the FAA issued its updated Concept of Operations Version 2.0 for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Corridors.  On May 1st, the FAA published a notice in the Federal Register looking for comments on its civil aviation noise policy, specifically calling out unmanned aircraft systems and emerging technology vehicles.

Interest in transportation equity has risen sharply as part of a broader public discussion on disparities in wealth, income, and access to economic opportunities across America. Today we see equity goals in most state and regional transportation plans. But how do we determine what is equitable? That is where it becomes important to develop appropriate measures and goals.

Maps are an excellent tool for conveying information, but what if there’s too much information, and you don’t know what dimensions you’ll want to filter on?

Here at EBP, we are starting a bimonthly blog series on “Shiny apps” we’ve been working on to show how specific data sets can be visualized and explored. Shiny apps are lightweight tools, typically serving a single function or illustrating a specific data series and often turning otherwise static charts into interactive maps or graphs that can answer questions and show subtle patterns.

Written by Scott Middleton and Ira Hirschman

With the current economic crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic still upon us and recovery only just on the horizon, the need for federal assistance is more pressing than ever. In cash-strapped cities like New York, federal aid is critical to meeting ever-present infrastructure needs and accelerating the economic recovery from COVID-19. Fortunately, for some federal grant programs, the 2021 application season is already upon us, and more grant programs will be announced soon.

With the social distancing and stay-at-home mandates precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent general economic downturn, demand for air service has been reduced to essential travel.

If annual events are exciting (think: March Madness, tax returns), then quadrennial are exceptionally so (Leap Day, World Cup). Decennial events, however, are a true occasion. This year, for only the 24th time in American history, the federal government is undertaking its constitutionally mandated count of everyone living in the United States – the U.S. Census.

Scenario planning – a flexible and indispensable methodology for considering alternative futures and identifying appropriate planning responses – is a growing area of practice for EDR Group. As we explain in our Emerging Topic page on scenario planning, it is a useful tool for guiding infrastructure investment plans in the face of uncertainty related to sea level rise, technology adoption, economic growth, and just about any uncertain factor you can imagine.

Departments of transportation increasingly use scenario planning to prepare for future changes that will affect the movement of people and goods. Scenario planning requires planners to prepare for a range of possible futures, considering topics like climate change, demographics, and emerging technology. Technological change is perhaps the most difficult issue to address given the wide uncertainty surrounding new mobility and the number of private operators involved in transportation.