ASC's Intersections Newsletter — May 17th, 2024
Nora’s Note
Biking to work, together. It's Bike to Work Day across the country, and in Washington, DC, more than 11,000 bikers of all levels hit the pavement early this morning in an event organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Arch Street Communications is proud to support outreach and promotion for the event, which features 100 pit stops, bike convoys, press conferences, bicycle giveaways, seasoned advocates and new riders. The Washington D.C. area boasts about five times more bike commuters compared to the United States average, even as the share of commuters biking to work rises across the country. The pandemic spurred an increase in bike ridership starting in 2020, and expanded access to bike lanes and the growth of shared mobility programs have kept the momentum going. Large bikeshare programs alone grew by 42% from 2020 to 2023 and some estimates suggest that more than 10% of Americans expanded the ways they bike in their daily lives during that time period. As more Americans embrace the sustainability and health benefits of biking to work, such creative events help make biking safer and accessible to us all.
Transportation
New York City to Install 500 secure bike parking hubs in the next five years. NYCDOT recently announced that the city will soon have bike parking facilities, with self-locking, e-bike charging, and other adaptive features. A request for proposal to secure a vendor company to operate these facilities will be released, aiming to install 500 parking facility hubs by 2029. The agency hopes this effort will deter bike theft and provide safe, convenient parking for cyclists across the city. Read more about the bicycle parking hubs. (Source: Streets Blog)
Mass Transit Mag: New Amtrak OIG report shows Amtrak has opportunities to improve support of NJ Transit on Portal North Bridge project
Smart Cities Dive: Air taxis will require urban, aviation planners to join forces
Inside Climate News: ‘Build Green’ Bill Seeks a Clean Shift in Transportation Spending
Climate
New direct air capture plant poised for record removals. The world’s largest direct air capture plant is set to open next week, which will permanently remove up to 36,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Carbon removal efforts have been growing internationally, and a US company is increasing removal capacity to 50,000 metric tons as well as a Department of Energy-funded air capture hub with the capability for removing 1 million metric tons annually. Read more about the carbon removal effort in Iceland. (Source: E&E News)
Energy News Network: Massachusetts legislation seeks to build on state order to phase out natural gas
Utility Dive: Congress passes Russian uranium import ban, unlocking $2.7B to expand US nuclear fuel production
WTAJ: PA lawmakers look to regulate appliances for energy efficiency
Economic Development
A unique zoning policy creates financial certainty, affordable housing developers say. An overlay for affordable housing zoning adopted in 2020 has increased incentives for builders and volatile markets in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The overlay allows developers to build more dense housing than standard residential zoning allows if the housing units are permanently designated as affordable. Experts believe this allowance may help other cities with housing shortages increase the number of units available on the market in a timely manner. Read more about innovative affordable housing policy across the northeast. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Route Fifty: ‘Invisible’ no more: States move to hire people with disabilities
Route Fifty: Easing the housing squeeze on low-income renters
Mass Transit Mag: USDOT's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization launches U.S. DOT Connect to Capital
Digital
Small Business Growth In The Digital Age. According to a May Report, small businesses are rapidly adapting to the ever-changing needs of a digital-first environment. Implementing various growth and innovation tactics such as customer-centric loyalty programs, online payroll systems, AI, and social media/websites will sway prospective customers into becoming loyal buyers and accelerate the user journey from awareness to retention. Read more to uncover how businesses must adapt to stay ahead of the curve and foster trends to overcome inflation, recovery, and technological disruptions. (Source: Forbes)
Axios: DOE aims to move "FASST" on AI with sweeping new initiative
GovTech: Prince George’s County AI Executive Order Targets Equity, Access
Chicago Tribune: Net neutrality restored as Federal Communications Commission votes to regulate internet providers
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