ASC's Intersections Newsletter — April 16, 2026
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Nora's Note
Making the Roads Safer. Safe Streets for All (SS4A) is a federal competitive grant program that funds local initiatives to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The ASC team has been fortunate to work on several SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plans in communities around New York State, each aimed at saving lives and improving safety on the nation’s roads. Most recently, we’ve been spending some time on the Long Island shore, working on the City of Long Beach’s Roadway Safety Action Plan, to support stakeholder engagement activities to collect ideas to identify safe street design solutions for high priority locations. An interesting feature of the Long Beach program is the development of a high-injury network database to locate the most problematic crash locations for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars as a step toward improving safety outcomes in the community. Residents shared input on the draft plan at a virtual meeting April 13, where the ASC team used technologies including live polling to capture real-time feedback on plan components. Councilman George Ennis opened the meeting, underscoring the City’s commitment to the local SS4A effort. Through thoughtful digital engagement tools and clear public-facing communications, ASC turned community input into active participation in the planning process.
Transportation
Governor Hochul announces congestion pricing is funding air quality improvements at Hunts Point Market. Funding from New York City’s landmark Congestion Pricing program is replacing twenty diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) at the Hunts Point Produce Market with clean diesel and hybrid trucks – bringing tangible benefits in air quality to local communities in the South Bronx. Earlier this month, the Governor announced that the replacement with these energy efficient trucks will avoid air pollution equal to about 6,600 trucks traveling along the Cross Bronx Expressway. Another seventy-five TRUs are slated to be replaced this year, funded by $15 million in air quality improvement measures through the MTA’s Congestion Pricing Mitigation program. Learn more about the TRU replacements and its benefits to the South Bronx here. (Source: Bronx Times)
Gothamist: Mamdani ran on fast and free buses. A new plan addresses the ‘fast’ part of his pitch
AMNY: NYC to resume construction on Flatbush Avenue bus lanes later this month
Streetsblog: Push grows to move parking enforcement from NYPD to DOT
Climate
An additional $50 million in funding is coming to New York’s $320 million clean energy initiative: NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Career Pathways Training and Technical Skills Training and Upskilling Program. The new investment is meant to further train and develop New York state’s clean energy workforce, while additionally helping to provide funding for existing and prospective projects. According to the 2025 New York Clean Energy Industry Report, the state’s clean energy jobs saw an increase of 6,000, and the clean energy economy an estimated $6 billion in public and private investment, showing clear benefits to these commitments, despite pushback and criticism from the federal government. Read here to learn more about project eligibility, the selection process, and expected outcomes. (Source: Long Island Business News)
Renewable Energy Magazine: New York DPS approves solar and wind projects
Inside Climate News: As the Alabama Legislature adjourns, environmentalists see a silver lining
Grist: There’s hope for the offshore wind industry—yes, really
Economic Development
As the housing affordability crisis endures, mayors throughout the nation overwhelmingly agree that multifamily and transit-oriented housing development are the keys to a better future. Boston University’s Menino Survey of Mayors, the only nationally representative survey of American mayors, published their 2025 edition earlier this month. Within the findings, two statistics stand out: 80% of mayors believe they have too little multifamily housing, and 82% support adding more apartments near transit and business centers. The driving force in achieving these goals is agreed upon in a broad sense, as 75% of mayors believe adding market-rate housing increases affordability (up from 60% in 2021), but methods of development vary among differing political and zoning ideologies. Read more about the Menino Survey of Mayors and its implications for affordable housing here. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
The City: Mamdani admin moves to make cancelling your subscriptions easier
Camden News: SBA offers relief to Arkansas small businesses and private nonprofits affected by drought
Pittsburgh NPR: Pittsburgh URA approves tax diversion for downtown revitalization
Digital
Utah Governor Spencer Cox is backing a new set of education laws built around a clear shift, less time on phones, more time on reading. The legislation tightens limits on cellphone use in schools and puts new weight on early literacy, with a focus on getting students reading at grade level sooner. The strategy is to reduce distractions in the classroom and reinforce core skills that drive long-term academic performance. State leaders are betting that cutting back on screen time will improve focus, behavior, and comprehension, while renewed attention to reading will strengthen outcomes across subjects. Read more about Utah’s approach reflecting a broader reassessment of how much technology belongs in schools, here. (Source: Route Fifty)
GovTech: West Virginia Bill sets sights on social media censorship
Tech Crunch: Slate Auto raises $650M to fund its affordable EV truck plans
Forbes: Lightning-detecting weather satellite saw Artemis II re-entry
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