ASC's Intersections Newsletter — June 30, 2023
Nora's Note
Bridging the gap. In Summer 2020, ASC launched asc-Remote.com, an initiative to support the public sector with virtual approaches to public engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic; today, some combination of in-person and virtual engagement is generally expected in outreach, and hybrid engagement has become the emerging area of engagement practice. Monday night, 200 people attended a synchronous (participation remotely or in-person at the same time) public meeting on 30% design concepts for the North/West Battery Park City Coastal Resilience Project. A remote platform liaison delivered input from the online audience to an on-the-ground facilitator, enabling a rotation of questions from participants on and offline, while an engagement + tech team prepped a virtual experience to meet stakeholders wherever they were. Staying on top of rapid changes in technology to create new hybrid strategies will give more people a voice in public planning for inclusive, equitable outcomes.
Intersections scored a Bronze Mercury Excellence Award, joining a prestigious roster of winners chosen from 400 entries in public relations and corporate communications from 14 countries. Only the top 30% scoring entries placed high enough to win an award in this, the 36th annual Mercury Awards, the world’s only independent awards organization. The award recognizes ASC's commitment to providing top-quality content every week on climate action, civic planning, transportation, and cutting-edge developments in public engagement.
Transportation
High Line opens new wooden bridge to Moynihan Train Hall. The Moynihan Train Hall can now be reached directly from the park thanks to the Friends of the High Line's newly inaugurated pedestrian bridge, made up of a rustic Woodland Bridge that spans West 30th Street from the High Line's Spur. A partnership between Empire State Development, Brookfield Properties, and Friends of the High Line provided project's funding. The project aims to make a seamless and sustainable entrance for pedestrians to the walkway. Read more about this new addition to the High Line. (Source: AMNY)
Mass Transit Mag: CTA plans to nearly double all-electric bus fleet
Maine Public: New Maine law paves way for statewide e-bike rebates
Canary Media: Driving less may be as easy as riding a bike — a big electric one
Smart Cities Dive: Collapsed I-95 overpass will be repaired, reopened in next 2 weeks
Climate
“First of its kind” wastewater-to-RNG project celebrated in New York. The Newton Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility in Brooklyn is converting 100% of the facility’s biogas, a byproduct of processing organic waste, into renewable natural gas. Renewable natural gas is considered carbon-neutral and can be used in the same systems as fossil fuel natural gas. Expanding this new technology to New York City’s 14 other wastewater resource recovery facilities could help reduce emissions from city operations by 15%. Read more about how this innovative fuel source could power homes while reducing pollution. (Source: Bioenergy Insight)
Ohio Capital Journal: Central Ohio solar project can be model for solar, farming mutual benefits
Daily Freeman: State OKs additional $25 million for Central Hudson’s ‘Clean Heat’ program
Canary Media: Agrivoltaics finds new fans in US Senate
Grist: The feds move to speed up development of wind and solar on public land
Economic Development
Women are part of an ‘invisible’ labor market building Maine’s fiber networks. Maine is expanding its broadband infrastructure, and women are increasingly filling gaps in the fiber optics workforce. A recent Maine Broadband Workforce Strategy report predicted that the state's fiber broadband workforce is short hundreds of positions needed to install fiber-optic cable in some of the most rugged regions of America. However, in rural areas, many women see fiber optic installation as a promising career opportunity. Read more about this trend in the fiber optics workforce. (Source: The Daily Yonder)
Gothamist: NY lawmakers close ‘Frankenstein’ loophole used by landlords to spike regulated rents
Smart Cities Dive: To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits
Axios: New law protecting pregnant workers set to take effect — and it's a big deal
Route Fifty: A different kind of green bank—one that targets affordable housing
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