ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of March 14, 2022
Nora's Note
Made—and Making—Herstory. Continuing our Women’s History Month coverage of programs that give women entrepreneurs a leg up, we salute the 40 graduates in the inaugural cohort of VetBizLadyStart, a Department of Veteran Affairs’ Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative program for women transitioning out of military service into government contracting. We talked with Andee Hidalgo, CEO of Spearhead Construction, named for the Army Tank Division she fought with in Desert Storm. Hidalgo, who earned a Bronze Star for her service, graduated from PenFed Foundation’s women veteran accelerator, launched Spearhead in 2016, and ran eight concurrent projects during the pandemic, exceeding $10M in value. WVOB status gives Spearhead a seat at the contracting table, but Hidalgo credits a team comprising 30% veterans with delivering on projects. We thank them for their service—and for inspiring a next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Transportation
Federal Highway Administration advances Complete Streets program. In response to rising traffic fatalities throughout the nation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released its Complete Streets plan with recommendations to improve roadway safety. The program is especially focused on protecting pedestrians, bicyclists and micromobility users, who are at the highest risk of experiencing injury. The plan’s recommendations include improving lighting at intersections, installing center-line rumble streets and adding bike lanes. Read more to learn how local, State and Federal stakeholders are reacting to the program. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
The Baltimore Sun: Amtrak, MARC trains to resume regular service Monday between DC and Philadelphia after derailment in Harford County is cleared
NBC News: Truck drivers push for infrastructure dollars to expand parking capacity
Gothamist: Jump in red-light violations in NYC renew push for local control of state traffic laws
Pew Stateline: States Use Road Sensors to Combat Treacherous ‘Tire Carcasses’
AP News: Public transit gets $3.7B to woo riders, adopt green fleets
The Verge: Electric car prices could go up even as fuel prices soar
Transportaion Today: Governors Highway Safety Association awards grants for youth mobility
Car and Driver: EPA Proposes Tougher Emissions Rules to Make Heavy-Duty Trucks Cleaner
Energy/Environment
County by county, solar panels face pushback. Solar panel farms throughout the country are facing resistance from some conservationists, who are concerned about the impact solar installations will have on local ecosystems. One report tallied that at least 57 municipalities proposed solar moratoriums in 2021 alone, throwing a wrench into plans for large-scale solar farms, even as the Biden Administration predicts that solar could provide nearly half the U.S.’s electricity by 2050. Read more to learn how clean energy advocates are pivoting to find new hosts for solar panels. (Source: NBC News)
Grist: Deep-sea mining could begin next year. Here’s why ocean experts are calling for a moratorium.
Tribeca Trib: What Will Protect Tribeca from a Future Deluge?
NY Times: How Air Pollution Across America Reflects Racist Policy From the 1930s
Putnam Daily Voice: NY Officials Announce Addition Of 1,200 Acres To Three Hudson Valley State Parks
CNBC: NYC to turn Brooklyn port into a hub for offshore wind farm construction
CNN: Biden announces ban on Russian energy imports
Reuters: 'Biggest green deal since Paris'—UN to approve plastic treaty roadmap
USA Today: Wind, solar power account for record 13% of U.S. energy in 2021
Economic Development
As Inflation Drives Up Prices, State Lawmakers Eye Cutting Food and Sales Taxes. Policymakers in over a dozen states are considering cuts to food and sales taxes to ease growing financial burdens among lower- and middle-income families in the wake of rising inflation. While policymakers expect the tax reductions will decrease costs for consumers, it’s not yet clear how states would make up for lost tax revenue in their budgets. Read more for insights into why certain lawmakers are supporting or opposing these tax cuts. (Source: Route Fifty)
AP News: Gas prices hit record highs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey
CityLab: The Irresistible Appeal of the ‘Post-Industrial Park’
Governing: The Case for More Backyard Bodegas and Sidewalk Salons
NY Times: Push for Language Access After Ida Highlights a Greater Need in N.Y.
HuffPost: For These Hotel Workers, The Pandemic Recession Still Hasn’t Ended
AmNY: Excluded workers march over Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges for more funding
The City: Retired NYC Workers Celebrate Medicare Coverage Switch Court Win
GovTech: Report Outlines Broadband Fixes for State, Local Governments
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