ASC's Intersections Newsletter — April 12th, 2024
Nora's Note
The heat is on. March 2024 was the hottest March on record, the 10th month in a row to set world records for heat. Just this week, six Swiss women won a landmark case at the European Court of Human Rights indicating that the government had violated their human rights by failing to adequately address and provide protection from extreme heat. As the summer months approach in the US, communities across the country are gearing up for another hot summer. Particularly vulnerable to such heat effects are communities located within urban heat islands, where a lack of tree cover and high concentration of manmade structures cause temperatures 1-7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in outlying areas. Such extremes affect both mental and physical health, with older adults, children, low-income, and communities of color most at risk. To combat this effect and promote awareness of heat risks, cities like New York are turning to digital mapping tools and community awareness networks. As this week’s landmark case showed, governments must work to increase adaptation to and understanding of extreme heat, and comprehensive community engagement will be vital to planning effective and inclusive solutions that promote and sustain the health of our people and planet.
Transportation
New York City to make 53 streets car-free for Earth Day. The NYC Department of Transportation is encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transportation including transit, biking, and walking while they close 53 streets across the city, up from 30 car-free streets last year on Earth Day. During NYC’s largest-ever car-free celebration, New Yorkers will be able to watch performances, visit art installations, and have access to free 30-minute Citi bike rides. Read more about this year’s car-free Earth Day. (Source: Gothamist)
Route Fifty: Biden administration mandates two-person crews on freight trains
NBC: Los Angeles secures $900M in federal funds to improve public transit ahead of 2028 Olympics
Mass Transit Mag: FTA awards $17.6 million in competitive grant funding for transit-oriented development projects
Climate
US experienced staggering growth in solar and wind power over the last decade. At the end of 2023, renewable energy made up just less than a quarter of all electricity production in the United States, replacing dirtier energy sources such as coal and methane. This eightfold increase in renewables’ share of the grid leads experts to believe that the US will meet its 2030 and 2035 emissions targets. Read more to learn about how renewable energy will continue its explosive growth in 2024 and beyond. (Source: Grist)
E&E News: US starts ‘green bank’ to finance community climate projects
Smart Cities Dive: High-priority local actions in Biden’s new plan to slash building GHG emissions
Energy News Network: California’s new rules allow solar and batteries to help out the grid
Economic Development
US manufacturing activity grows at fastest rate since 2022. Two reports released in early April show that the country’s manufacturing sector had its highest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in March since September 2022. The Institute for Supply Management’s report also signaled a promising increase in economic demand and new orders and production across the market. Financial strategists believe this uptick in manufacturing could end the third-longest manufacturing downturn period in the country’s history. Read more to see the implications of these rising manufacturing rates. (Source: Yahoo Finance)
The Cool Down: Group of college students builds game-changing sustainable home aimed at combating housing crisis
The 74: Bill Aimed at Improving Iowa Student Literacy Passes House
Houston Chronicle: New Houston app offers perks for shopping at small businesses in underserved communities
Digital
Cities look to AI-powered cameras to keep bus lanes clear. A recent study reveals unimpeded bus lanes could result in improved bus services for lower-income minority workers—with 58% of D.C. public transit commuters identified as Black and 46% identified as low-income. Following NYC MTA and Washington Metro, LA Metro is among the latest to integrate AI software into its metrobus-mounted traffic cameras with the goal of exposing illegally parked vehicles in the designated bus zones. Read more about how cities are incorporating AI into their transit laws. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
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