ASC's Intersections Newsletter — June 8, 2023
Nora's Note
A place at the table. ASC was part of government at work this week when we facilitated a federal advisory committee, an inspiring and humbling experience. The committee, comprising a diversity of stakeholders, had gathered to consider and advise on national actions. The members were thoughtful, articulate, and passionate, and while they didn't always agree, they made room for other points of view. More than 60,000 Americans serve on more than 1,000 advisory committees guided by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to give agencies outside professional input on policies and programs. The process is transparent, independent, and open to the public, and the public, too, has a chance to address the committees and share their insight. It was a profound moment, highlighting the importance and value of public participation. I was proud of ASC's facilitation team and of being an American.
Transportation
Shared micromobility boosts job access when linked with public transit. A recent report issued by the New Urban Mobility Alliance and Transport for Cairo determined that the integration of shared electric bikes, scooters, and other forms of micromobility in public transit programs improved access to jobs for lower-income residents. The study used data from mapping systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Cairo and Mexico City to track change in job access by neighborhood, race and income. Read more about how public micromobility programs can increase equity in job access. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Route Fifty: State DOT Streamlines Traffic Monitoring
New York Post: NYC will use cell data to study impact hybrid work has on mass transit
Mass Transit Mag: PA: Pittsburgh-area utilities and transit agencies are launching hydrogen pilots, anticipating wider use in the future
Transport Topics: NHTSA to Require Automatic Emergency Braking on New Vehicles
Climate
Native Hawaiians Reclaim Energy Sovereignty. Ho’āhu Energy Cooperative, a small volunteer-based group on Moloka‘I, has secured a contract for Hawaii’s first two community-owned renewable energy projects. Hawaii had the highest household electricity price among U.S states last year, and the project is expected to lower electric bills for low- and moderate-income residents. The project will include nearly 2.5 MW of solar paired with battery storage, enough to power 20% of the island's population, or about 1,500 households. Read more about efforts to lower utility costs and restore control to communities in Hawaii. (Source: Axios)
Grist: HUD takes on climate crisis with a new retrofit program
Anthropocene Magazine: Curbside recycling turns out to be a surprisingly good climate investment
Mass Transit: SMART will use ODOT grant to fund zero-emission fleet initiatives
Utility Dive: $400M for low-emission school buses available from EPA grant program
Economic Development
Why more cities are hiring ‘night mayors’ and establishing forms of nighttime governance. As cities formalize nighttime governance systems, municipal governments across the US are testing structures and technologies to address safety concerns in public spaces. Ensuring public safety at night requires a nuanced understanding of population density, public transit routes, and common risk factors for violence. While surveillance technologies often use biased data and ignore historical inequalities, careful data collection is key to understanding what public resources are needed. Read more about what cities are doing to improve public safety at night. (Source: The Conversation)
Route Fifty: How One State Is Tackling Child Care Challenges
JD Supra: New York City Enacts Law Prohibiting Height and Weight Discrimination
Route Fifty: State Looks to Better Assess Vendor Security
Axios: FDA proposes easy-to-read drug package inserts
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