ASC's Intersections Newsletter — February 7th, 2025
Nora’s Note
Congestion Pricing Clears the Way for Transit. Congestion pricing is clearing roads and the air and shaping NYC’s transit future by helping fund the long-awaited Interborough Express (IBX) light rail project to connect Brooklyn and Queens, home to 5 million+ New Yorkers. The project will link up to 17 subway lines, 51 bus routes, and the Long Island Rail Road. The MTA has allocated $2.75 billion from its 2025–2029 Capital Plan to fill a major transit gap, reduce car dependency, cut emissions, and complement congestion pricing efforts by expanding viable transit alternatives with the IBX. The RFP for preliminary engineering has been issued, and public engagement related to the environmental review process will continue a conversation with the community that started with more than 35 project meetings and open houses attended by more than 500. Learn more how you can share your input—the more people involved, the better the outcome.
Transportation
Chicago sets new record for shared bike and scooter trips in 2024. Chicago’s shared mobility programs have experienced significant growth, with over 11 million bike and e-scooter trips recorded in 2024. The city’s bikeshare system saw 6.7 million rides, while e-scooter trips surged alongside investments in bike lanes and electrified docking stations. Officials plan to electrify 110 Divvy stations, increasing e-bike availability by at least 15%. Read more about how Chicago is expanding micromobility and what it means for sustainable urban transit. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Reuters: New York says 1 million fewer vehicles have entered Manhattan since congestion pricing start
AMNY: MTA approves major changes coming to Queens bus network starting this summer
Mass Transit: COTA to begin offering fare free rides to shelters during dangerous temperatures
Climate
Pennsylvania governor rolls out plan to fast-track and subsidize power plants, hydrogen projects. Pennsylvania, a major natural gas producer, is working to balance energy growth with sustainability through a new plan focused on modernizing infrastructure and expanding clean energy options. The initiative includes tax incentives for hydrogen-based projects and aims to streamline permitting for power plants, promoting a transition toward lower-emission energy sources. These measures are designed to strengthen the state’s power grid and encourage investment in sustainable energy sources. Read more about Governor Shapiro’s plan. (Source: Associated Press)
Smart Cities Dive: California cities launch nation’s first public hydrogen utility
The Cool Down: Government awards Texas power plant over $1 billion for major transformation
Solar Power World: Connecticut increases amount of incentives available to growing C&I energy storage market
Economic Development
NYC unveils plan to transform Meatpacking District’s last-remaining market into housing and cultural hub. Mayor Adams and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced plans to redesign the Meatpacking District’s Gansevoort Square with a mixed-income housing development and cultural hub transformation, adding 600 more housing units and expand open space to foster a more dynamic cultural and artistic hub. With expected completion in 2027, the project is set to generate $950 million while addressing housing shortages. Read more about the redevelopment project. (Source: AMNY).
Engadget: Whole Foods workers form first union since Amazon acquisition
Associated Press: Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week as labor market shows continued strength
Time Out: An affordable housing lottery just opened on the Greenpoint waterfront
Digital
Purely AI-generated art can’t get copyright protection. The U.S. Copyright Office has ruled that AI-generated content created solely from text prompts is not eligible for copyright protection under current law. They reaffirmed that copyright law protects human authorship and expression, not machine-generated content. However, works that integrate AI-generated content but are significantly modified by humans may qualify for copyright protection on a case-by-case basis, provided they retain perceptible human expression. Read more about the implications for artists, writers, and businesses using AI. (Source: The Verge)
Route Fifty: OpenAI debuts ChatGPT Gov for public sector use
The Conversation: How satellites and AI help fight wildfires today
GovTech: Philadelphia School Leaders to Get AI Training from Penn
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