ASC's Intersections Newsletter — January 9, 2026
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Nora’s Note
We’re excited to share some news.
Intersections, the weekly newsletter produced by Arch Street Communications, has just been recognized with a Gold MarCom Award and a Silver MUSE Creative Award for storytelling, clarity, and design. This recognition builds on another recent honor for our team: a Bronze Stevie Award for Social Media Team of the Year for our work with NYMTC.
These awards reflect the care behind the work. Intersections is created week by week, with close attention to what readers need to understand complex topics without feeling overwhelmed. It brings together reporting, insight, and perspective across transportation, infrastructure, energy, climate, housing, workforce development, and economic development.
Each week, more than 1,250 subscribers turn to Intersections to stay informed and make sense of what’s happening, and why it matters.
At Arch Street, we believe clear communication builds trust and momentum. We’re proud to see that approach recognized, and grateful to the clients and partners who trust us to tell important stories well.
Transportation
Mamdani announces a full McGuinness Road revamp. By reviving the original DOT plan, the dangerous stretch will be narrowed to one travel lane in each direction with parking-protected bike lanes. The project, which will cover the entire corridor between the Pulaski Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, will fulfill the long sought after safety improvements that advocates have fought for since a teacher was killed in a hit-and-run in 2021. Mamdani emphasized that street safety is a priority for him and highlighted the families who have lost loved ones to traffic violence, pledging that his administration will prioritize protected infrastructure citywide. (Source: Streetsblog)
Mass Transit Inside the federal program powering transit rail fleet replacement and domestic manufacturing growth
Gothamist A year later, blowback over NYC’s congestion pricing tolls has died down
Transportation Topics 4 Railroads Object to Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger
Climate
Scientists make clean hydrogen from dirty water using simple acid treatment.Princeton researchers have developed a breakthrough method that turns reclaimed wastewater into clean hydrogen by adding sulfuric acid, preventing mineral buildup in electrolyzes. The technique cuts water treatment costs by 47% and energy costs by 62%, making green hydrogen production cheaper and more sustainable. Read more about how this discovery could reshape clean energy production. (Source: Happy Eco News)
Canary Media How community solar turned a Superfund site into savings in Illinois
E&E News California gives SoCal solar farm the nod for sped-up permitting
Inside Climate News Why New York City Is Spending Millions on ‘Bluebelts’
Economic Development
Originating back to Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the Averne East waterfront residential and commercial development project in Queens is underway to be part of New York City’s first net-zero neighborhood. As part of the community design, a joint venture led by L+M Development Partners has secured funding for Building D, which is set to consist of 230 affordable rental units and 90 for-sale homes. The building's units will be income-restricted to future residents earning up to 100% AMI, will include climate-resilient infrastructure, such as the implementation of solar and geothermal energy sources, and aims to eliminate fossil fuels. Read more to learn about the other project components. (Source: Multi Housing News)
Waste Dive By the numbers: What impacted waste and recycling in 2025
New York YIMBY 5 Times Square Begins 1,250-Unit Office-To-Residential Conversion in Midtown, Manhattan
Smart Cities Dive: Home efficiency upgrades could offset data center loads while creating jobs: report
Digital
New NYC ‘Hub’ brings digital literacy to residents, to bridge the digital divide between those with digital fluency and those without. Tech skills are essential today, so the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation launched a program that offers free virtual classes, on-demand resources, and live training covering computer basics, online safety and emerging topics like artificial intelligence to about 333,000 public housing residents. The program has been securely extended with a three-year funding boost to deepen digital equity efforts. Learn more about how digital equity programs like this are being implemented across communities and sectors, here. (Source: GovTech)
Axios The AI supercycle tests the world’s network infrastructure
Route Fifty An AI tool built by local government, for local government
Forbes: Promoting coastal resilience: AI has a role
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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