Nora's Note
Nora Madonick | CEO & Founder
Way More than a Destination. For half a day this week, ASC Account Director Alexia Makrigiannis slipped on steel-toed boots and joined colleagues from WTS-GNY for a technical tour of what's ahead at JFK Airport. Hosted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and HNTB, Desiree Gazzo, RLA, ENV-SP, Public Involvement and Strategic Communications Section Manager at HNTB in New York, mapped a tour that underscored how the project is already transforming lives in our region.
Linda McKenna, HNTB Terminal 1 Project Team Lead shared that when finished, the $9.5 billion, 2.4 million square foot New Terminal One will be the largest JFK terminal, with 23 international gates, while Tes DeJaeger, guided a review of plans for a new Ground Transportation Center, redesigned roadways, and upgraded electrical infrastructure. Plus improvements are coming in connections with the Van Wyck and JFK Expressways.
Alexia had much to say about what's to come when the new Terminals 1 and 6 open in 2026, but she was most impressed to learn they barged in project materials, preventing 250,000 trucks trips from disturbing the neighborhood. Public engagement teams will hear that as a talking point sure to generate appreciative nods from locals.
The excitement behind the broad public benefits of this new infrastructure is dwarfed only by the immediate job and supply chain benefits. Terminal 6 alone has sustained over 4,000 jobs, including 1,800 union building roles, and specialty trades, like electricians from IBEW Local 3 include more than 1,700 tradespeople working across some 15 contractors. The barge prevented neighboring communities from being choked by an influx of heavy vehicles, and moved more than a million tons of materials via waterways, eliminating more than 7 million project-related road miles.
For those of us in the minority and women-owned business category, this project delivered a record $2.3 billion in contract awards—the largest participation of diverse business owners in NYS history.
Transportation
Horse-drawn carriages in Central Park could cease to exist as early as June 1, 2028, under New York City’s proposed Romanch’s Law. The law calls for the humane transition of horses and support for workers exiting the industry. The drive to end these carriages in the city comes as safety and animal welfare issues have drawn more attention, as seen in recent reports from Central Park Conservancy. Read more about the incidents behind the proposed law and the new transition plan. (Source: ABC News)
Streetsblog USA: Newsom Signs Bill to Better Align California Transportation Spending With Climate Goals
amNewYork: City Comptroller urges DOT to use Sammy’s Law in 17 community districts that signaled support for 20 mph speed limits.
amNewYork: MTA says new Bryant Park subway station elevators and other upgrades paid for with Manhattan tolls
Climate
Connecticut is increasingly turning closed landfills into solar energy sites, with at least 29 large solar arrays built or approved for development on capped landfills statewide. The projects turn underused, town-owned land with few alternative uses into solar energy sites, supporting the state’s renewable energy goals. Greenskies Clean Energy, which opened a new array atop New Haven’s former landfill in July, expects its landfill solar portfolio to double by the end of next year. State officials are also reviewing permit applications for four additional sites.
Read more about how Connecticut is repurposing closed landfills for solar energy. (Source: CT Mirror)
Associated Press: Can larger batteries safely power residential buildings? A project in New York aims to show how
Waste Dive: Integration plays key role in curbside organics programs, report finds
Canary Media: A new gas line or cash to electrify? California lets households choose
Economic Development
Finding affordable housing remains a challenge for many residents in NYC’s outer-boroughs. According to a recent survey, 84% of outer-borough respondents support housing reforms, with more than half believing the changes will bring affordable housing to their neighborhoods. The reforms aim to encourage development in 12 community districts that have seen relatively little affordable housing construction in recent years, but some local officials have raised concerns about reduced community input. Read more about residents’ views on NYC’s housing reforms here. (Source: amNewYork)
Planetizen: A new platform for New Yorkers is making ADU development a breeze
Smart Cities Dive: Bipartisan housing agenda links federal support to local building rules
CalMatters: There’s a $11.25 billion housing bond on the ballot this November. Here’s what you should know
Digital
Fewer than 20% of state and local government IT professionals report having an active AI governance framework in place, despite widespread interest in adopting the technology. A recent UserEvidence survey found that public sector agencies are exploring AI faster than they are establishing safeguards, with 35% of respondents reporting that their organizations are loosening security or compliance restrictions to enable AI access. Nearly 45% also reported an increase in AI-related security incidents over the past year, highlighting the challenges governments face in balancing AI adoption with cybersecurity and oversight. Read more about the gap between AI adoption and governance in the public sector. (Source: SmartCitiesDrive)
TechCrunch: Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns
Social Media Today: Instagram chief says stronger AI slop prevention is needed
Route Fifty: How digital service experience is shaping CIO approaches to state operations
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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