ASC's Intersections Newsletter — October 3, 2025
Nora’s Note
Plugging In. ASC, in collaboration with WSP, NJTPA, and Somerset County, leads outreach on Powering Ahead for Somerset County, a study to shape the future of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the county. Public engagement is top of mind, starting with an interactive virtual Public Meeting where residents shared input on everything from where chargers should be sited to ways to ensure fair access, and continuing on to pop-ups at the North Plainfield Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Somerville Street Fair, with activities to collect input on charging locations, cost, accessibility, and lowering emissions, generating feedback to help inform Somerset County’s roadmap toward a cleaner, more resilient transportation system, planned with community voices at the center.
Transportation
People are instinctively drawn to walkable, human-scaled environments. Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that our brains seek out spaces that feel safe, engaging, and connected. Wide roads and car-dominated areas have been found to heighten stress. By contrast, streets with trees, storefronts, and design elements that incorporate the natural environment, encourage relaxation, social interaction, and a sense of belonging. Read more about how humans are drawn to pedestrian-centered infrastructure. (Source: Streetsblog)
AMNY: DOT to cut two car lanes, add bus and bike space on Flatbush Avenue
Mass Transit Mag: NJ Transit board approves purchase of nearly 300 new buses to fully modernize fleet by 2031 goal
Transport Topics: FMCSA data shows surge in roadside inspections
Climate
Indigenous communities are convening conversations about creating a law of the sea rooted in thousands of years of stewardship and ancestral protocols, aiming to fill gaps left by international frameworks that overlook Indigenous voices. The newly ratified High Seas Treaty and models like the Māori Law of the Sea in New Zealand offer context for a governance approach based on sovereignty and care for ocean ecosystems. Read more about how Indigenous leaders are shaping advocacy, sovereignty, and ocean conservation. (Source: Grist)
Inside Climate News: Can the latest youth climate case win where others have failed?
Canary Media: Virtual power plants may soon provide more electricity to Illinois’ grid
Anthropocene Mag: Cardboard and soil: the next thing in sustainable construction?
Economic Development
In a contest for three lucrative casino licenses, two New York City-area proposals are considered frontrunners. The MGM Empire City in Yonkers and the Resorts World in Queens were both approved unanimously by their community advisory committees (CACs). Both proposals would turn existing gambling facilities into fully-fledged casinos — supporters cite benefits to local resident employment and tax dollar revenue. The proposals will now proceed to a final round of review by the state board. Read more to learn about the proposals that did not advance out of their CACs. (Source: The City)
Smart Cities Dive: FRA opens applications for $5B in passenger rail safety grants
Urbanize New York: Brookfield extends Manhattan lease in $1.5B deal
CBC: City of Langley completes $19M downtown revitalization in bid to boost business and visitors
Digital
On September 29, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 53 into law, a new AI safety bill that works to enforce regulation while promoting innovation. This first-in-the-nation bill requires transparency from AI developers on their security measures to prevent catastrophes such as building bioweapons and committing cyberattacks. In California, AI regulation is generally seen as taboo among tech giants, echoing the tensions in Washington to become the global AI leader over China. To combat the fears of regulation halting innovation, Newsom’s administration partnered with Silicon Valley AI leaders to create “CalCompute,” a public computing consortium that oversees and deploys safe AI. Read more about this groundbreaking legislation here. (Source: TechCrunch)
GovTech: Oklahoma DOT bridges maintenance needs with emerging tech
Route Fifty: DC office releases guide for public servants to make digital forms accessible
Forbes: This innovative new community fortifies the local electrical grid
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