ASC's Intersections Newsletter — February 13, 2026
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Nora’s Note
Arch Street Communications continues its award momentum with two new wins from the MerComm Mercury Excellence Awards, adding to a growing list of national accolades in 2026.
GoMyWayVA™ earned a Silver Award in the Marketing Communications Campaign category, marking its second major industry recognition following its Gold AVA Digital Award earlier this year. These awards reflect the strength of the integrated strategy behind the campaign and its ability to make a complex mobility tool accessible and actionable for everyday commuters. We’re grateful to Metropia, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the many regional partners across Northern Virginia who trusted us to help bring GoMyWayVA™ to life.
Intersections received a Bronze Award in the Custom Publications for General Audience category, adding to a growing list of recognition for the newsletter. This marks its fourth award overall, following the 2022/23 Mercury Excellence Award, a 2025 Gold MarCom Award, and a 2025 Silver MUSE Creative Award.
Together, these wins underscore Arch Street’s consistent ability to translate complex public policy, mobility, and infrastructure initiatives into accessible, results-driven communications. Across campaigns and channels, the firm continues to deliver work that resonates with stakeholders and earns industry-wide recognition.
Transportation
New York City’s outdoor dining program may soon return to year-round operation as city leaders reconsider previous restrictions. City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced plans to overhaul the system and allow “shed” dining 365 days a year. Following the pandemic, restaurants and cafes were required to seasonally remove “sheds” as well as adhere to permit fees causing a fall in outdoor dining participation across the city. Learn more about the response to this initiative here.(Source: Gothamist)
Mass Transit: CHSRA marks completion of southern railhead facility
AMNY: Judge rules feds must temporarily resume funding for Gateway tunnel rail project
Planetizen: Paradise lost, paradise found: Planning for people rather than cars in Hawai’i
Climate
Great Lakes winter ice helps regulate water temperatures, shapes fish habitat, and influences lake-effect snow and hazardous winter conditions for communities along the shoreline. Researchers reconstructed lake wide ice cover back to 1897 using historical weather-station temperatures, creating a long baseline that can strengthen seasonal forecasting and complement ongoing monitoring from NOAA GLERL. Learn more about what the reconstruction reveals, why winter data is hard to measure, and how the findings fit into broader Great Lakes climate tracking from GLISA. (Source: Grist)
Anthropocene Magazine: The remarkable climate case for turning farm waste into building materials
Canary Media: Cornell’s deep-down and rocky quest to unlock geothermal for New York
Happy Eco News: Business environmental solutions help companies cut risk and waste
Economic Development
Legislation proposed to steer federal dollars to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) amid prolonged freezing temperatures and an increasing number of heat and hot water outages. Emergency safety and security grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) currently cap funding at $250,000 annually and only cover security items, such as cameras and door locks. Congressman Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan/Brooklyn)'s bill seeks to remove funding caps and include heat equipment for funding eligibility. Read moreto learn how this bill could expand funding for larger housing authorities. (Source: The City)
Smart Cities Dive: Philadelphia’s $2B bet on affordable housing
New York YIMBY: Renderings reveal all-affordable housing tower at 50-58 Cliff Street in Manhattan’s financial district
Brookings: Turning the data center boom into long-term, local prosperity
Digital
In Virginia, authorities are developing a way to modernize waste management by using AI to extend the lifespan of local landfills. By utilizing advanced sorting technology, the facility can identify and separate recyclables and organic matter from general trash with more precision than current methods. This initiative aims to significantly boost recycling rates while converting organic waste into marketable biochar, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The $200 million investment will create 120 jobs and double the lifespan of local landfills, providing a sustainable disposal solution that benefits the regional economy and environment. Learn more about this AI-driven recycling technology investment and its environmental benefits for Virginia. (Source: GovTech)
Route Fifty: California city tap AI to improve public bus service and increase ridership
Engadget: New York lawmakers introduce bill that aims to halt data center development for three years
Forbes: Hybrid AI: industry event signals emerging hot trend
About Arch Street Communications
At ASC, we help government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations across the globe communicate issues that affect people’s lives. We’re the bold, nimble, women-owned small business (WBE) that has supported strategic communications programs to build stronger communities for 30 years.
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