ASC's Intersections Newsletter — July 30, 2026
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Nora's Note
Behind the Wheel of Change: How TDM Pros Are Reinventing the Commute
Transportation demand management professionals are the unsung heroes of a better commute. They do the deeply local work of helping people rethink how they travel; including learning the bus routes, employer policies, and the human reasons people resist changing a familiar routine. Their work cuts congestion and emissions while making the daily commute a little easier.
That's what made the Association for Commuter Transportation's 40th Annual International Conference in Philadelphia so energizing, drawing more than 650 transportation professionals to share lessons from their own communities.
I moderated the spotlight panel "Unlocking Commuter Habits Through Regional TDM and Shared Data," where leaders from VDOT, DRPT, and GWRideConnect discussed moving beyond fragmented programs to a connected approach — resulting in GoMyWayVA®, an app that helps commuters plan trips, connect with others, and earn rewards for choosing options beyond driving alone.
A keynote on what planners can learn from marketers echoed that same theme: persuading someone to try transit or carpooling means understanding what matters to them, not just making the logical case.
The energy was high, the questions sharp, and the conversations grounded in real experience. It was a great few days among people who care deeply about how we travel.
Transportation
Recent traffic fatality trends in New York City have renewed calls to strengthen Vision Zero through proven street safety measures. A new report from Transportation Alternatives recommends expanding hardened daylighting at intersections, accelerating protected bike lane construction, lowering speed limits, and redesigning high-risk corridors, noting that most pedestrian and cyclist deaths this year occurred on streets lacking these safety features. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed support for many of the recommendations as the city weighs its next phase of Vision Zero investments. Read more about the City’s Vision Zero initiative here. (Source: Streetsblog)
AMNY: Interborough Express updates and subway colors
Courier Post: World Cup fans got world-class rail service. Will commuters?
Transportation Today: Federal transit funding process would get revamp under newly introduced measure
Climate
Amidst rising flooding and extreme weather concerns in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expanding the Bureau of Coastal Resilience’s budget and workforce. The investment will add to the existing support of $190 million in funding from the federal government to upgrade infrastructure in Queens, creating partnership throughout the city at multiple levels of government. Almost 440,000 residents are located within the City’s floodplain, and Mayor Mamdani’s expansion is estimated to begin benefitting 110,000 New Yorkers in its first year. Continue reading here to learn about the improvements, systems, and projects coming in the next few years. (Source: AMNY)
Grist: Here’s how offshore wind helped New England beat record heat
Canary Media: Hawai’i committed to 100% clean energy. Now it’s flirting with natural gas
Inside Climate News: Federal judge orders EPA to administer environmental justice grants
Economic Development
Massachusetts will invest $530 million in Fair Share tax revenue into the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) through its FY2027 budget, including $450 million to address operating needs, $60 million for infrastructure improvements, and $20 million to expand reduced-fare programs. Funded by the state's additional tax on annual incomes over $1 million, the Fair Share program generated nearly $3.4 billion last fiscal year for transportation and education. The investment supports the MBTA's ongoing turnaround, with improved safety, reliability, and a 21% increase in weekday ridership since 2024, demonstrating the value of sustained public investment in transit infrastructure. Read more about MA's investment in transit here. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Planetizen: New Jersey outlaws algorithm-based rent setting
The City: World Cup final score: A win for NYC hotels
Multi-Housing News: NYC Housing Authority closes on $214M Bronx affordable senior development
Digital
Four states in the U.S. have passed laws limiting the amount of screen time elementary students engage in per day. States such as Utah, Tennessee, and Alabama have all implemented policies that require school districts to enforce restrictions on devices in the interest of limiting screen time for young children. However, on a congressional level, there has been some pushback on similar policies in other states, influenced by big tech companies. While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services continues to warn against the dangers of screen time, there are mixed opinions on the benefits of limiting screen time in schools. Read more to find out why. (Source: Route Fifty)
GovTech: Colorado names first Principal Director of AI Architecture
TechCrunch: Are brain waves the next unlock for physical AI?
Forbes: AI is the canal. Forward-looking data is the new water
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