ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of April 29, 2021
Nora's Note
Next step allyship? As public engagement moves to close gaps between civic planning projects and the communities affected by them, some are shifting into allyship roles in which members of a group currently in power work to advance the interests of those that may not be. There is plenty of risk here for missteps, and those who press forward will need to commit to learn and unlearn, as well as to understand the best place for an ally may well be on the perimeter. To guide my team at ASC toward outreach approaches that are more inclusive, more considered and more equitable, I visited Project Implicit on the Learning for Justice website to test for my own hidden or unconscious bias. I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned in the weeks ahead—join me on the journey.
21 Digital Trends for 2021
Each week, ASC's digital strategies explore the pros, cons and how-tos of using emerging technologies to meet your audiences where they are. Read this week's blog to learn how to engage audiences with the colorful, compact narratives of animated videos.
Transportation
New Study Counts Pedestrians to Guide Urban Planning. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have tested and developed a new model to estimate pedestrian counts and more accurately measure pedestrian traffic. The model uses real-world pedestrian data to forecast how many pedestrian trips will occur and how they will be distributed. The information provided by the model can help officials and planners make better-informed decisions about pedestrian infrastructure. Read on to learn more about how the model was developed and what factors were considered.
FHWA Public Roads: Improving Traffic Flows and Safety at Active Work Zones
Mass Transit: Amazon launches Alexa Transit
NY Post: NYC DOT to reserve hundreds of parking spots for car-sharing vehicles
Gothamist: Here’s How NYC Transit System Is Prepping For Sea Level Rise—And Why It May Not Be Enough
amNY: It’s electric! De Blasio commits to fully electric school bus fleet by 2035
Transportation Today: Bill package aims to improve automotive, traffic safety
Cities Today: Research shows how safety concerns impact women’s travel patterns
Roads & Bridges: FHWA’S National Bridge Inspection Standards Program Reaches Milestone
Energy/Environment
Why “green buildings” are a civil rights issue. As building sustainability increasingly becomes an area of focus, the NAACP's new Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector Initiative plans to shine a light on civil rights in the green buildings sector. Currently, communities of color are much more likely to be exposed to environmental health hazards in their homes. The initiative seeks to develop a model for centering equity in future green buildings projects. Read on to learn more about the communities and organizations that have taken action toward this goal.
CNN: People of color are three times as likely to live in most polluted places, new report says
AP: World leaders pledge climate cooperation despite other rifts
National Geographic: Offshore wind is poised to take off in the U.S.—but it won’t be easy
High Country News: Haaland kicks off tenure focusing on climate and environmental injustice
PV Magazine: 5 state policy actions that are shaping distributed solar’s future
E&E News: A farmer's fight for solar reveals a U.S. land problem
Utility Dive: Equitable energy transition will require more than funding and job training, researchers say
Grist: One activist’s case for creating an ‘Environmental Justice Day’
Economic Development
NYC announces $30M campaign to bring tourism back. In a key next step for New York’s economic recovery, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that the NYC Reawakens campaign will launch in June to encourage tourists to return to the City. The campaign’s goal is to bring at least 36.4 million tourists to New York City by the end of 2021, supporting an industry that accounted for about 400,000 jobs in 2019. Read on to learn more about current trends in the City’s tourism industry.
Forbes: SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman Seeks To Not Only Recover, But Build Back Better
Smart Cities Dive: How construction in 5 'mini megacities' fared during the pandemic
Stateline: COVID-19 Nomads Heed Pandemic Call of the Road
CNBC: Federal government reopens grant applications for movie theaters, entertainment venues after failed launch
TAPinto Belmar: New Jersey EDA Opens New Round of Coronavirus Aid for Struggling Businesses
Route Fifty: Where Are the High-priority Infrastructure Projects in America?
Governing: New York Orders $15-Per-Month Internet for Low-Income Homes
Greater Greater Washington: Racial equity is central as DC builds out three neighborhood planning documents
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