ASC's Intersections Newsletter — May 30th, 2025
Nora’s Note
Thank you, WTS! Last night WTS-GNY celebrated M/WBEs with a showcase of firms, including Arch Street Communications, who shared capabilities with prime contractors working in the urban planning and transportation industries in the greater New York region. Top of the hour was Clarelle DeGraffe, Director/General Manager of the PATH system, who brought smiles to all attending with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s unwavering commitment to equity. Now one of the women leading each of the five line departments of the Port Authority, DeGraffe shared her journey to leadership and the agency’s strategies for fostering inclusion across gender, race, and ethnicity. Inspiration for challenging times—always welcome!
Transportation
House backs electric vehicle, hybrid fees in budget bill. A new House-backed budget bill introduces annual fees for EV and hybrid drivers to offset lost gas tax revenue. This move is part of a broader budget and tax package that includes major priorities such as military modernization, border security, and an extension of the 2017 tax cuts. Read more about the push for EV fairness in infrastructure funding and how this move could affect future green transportation. (Source: Transport Topics)
Mass Transit Mag: Amtrak state-sponsored services set ridership records in April
KTLA 5: Hundreds of LA residents were given monthly stipends for transportation. Here’s what happened
Statesman Journal: New carbon emissions program emerges as way to help fund Oregon transportation
Climate
Maine is training an army of HVAC pros to meet its heat pump goals. After installing an initial 100,000 heat pumps in homes between 2019 and 2023, the State of Maine has redoubled its 2019 energy efficiency plan with a mission to install 175,000 more heat pumps by 2027. This mission will reduce energy bills, transition the state to a greater reliance on renewable energy, and increase its clean energy workforce. Read more about new jobs and funding that will be implemented for clean energy. (Source: Canary Media)
Grist: Despite backlash, more states are considering laws to make Big Oil pay for climate change
Happy Eco News: Living with beavers: a new era of wildlife coexistence in Wisconsin
Tech Crunch: California prepares to sue feds after Senate revokes state’s EV rule
Economic Development
Amid fiscal uncertainty, evidence-based budgeting comes to the fore. A new five-week virtual sprint from Results for America aims to help local governments use evidence-based budgeting to improve outcomes and transparency. The workshops, based on a recently released budgeting guide, support officials in making data-driven funding decisions. Read more about how this initiative can build public trust, optimize services, and stretch limited resources. (Source: Route Fifty)
Smart Cities Dive: Boston unveils new path to first-time homeownership
Detroit Free Press: Detroit officials propose changes to licensing process to ease burdens for small businesses
Gothamist: A casino is off the table at Hudson Yards. Developer now seeks 4k housing units
Digital
What do you get when you cross ecology, acoustics, and artificial intelligence?Researchers are using AI to decode the soundscape of ecosystems, combining acoustic ecology with machine learning to better understand the rhythms of the natural world. From backyard bird feeders to remote rainforests, AI-powered ecoacoustic devices are picking up on the subtleties of environmental change. Read more about how AI is changing the landscape of wildlife science. (Source: Anthropocene Magazine)
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