ASC's Intersections Newsletter — October 31, 2025
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Nora’s Note
Save Time, Save Money, Get Rewards. The launch of the GoMyWayVA™ app marked a key milestone in the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)’s quest to use technology to improve travel. The new app brings together real-time traffic updates, multimodal trip planning, and incentives to encourage better travel choices. It’s a fresh, innovative approach to tackling congestion and emissions, one that empowers people to make small changes that add up to a big impact. Arch Street is proud to play a key role in bringing this initiative to life, from marketing strategy to execution. It has been inspiring to see so many partners come together to make this vision a reality, all with the goal of creating a smoother, smarter, and more connected transportation experience. GoMyWayVA™ is more than an app. It’s progress in motion and for Northern Virginia’s commuters, this is only the beginning.
Transportation
New York City has officially enacted a 15mph speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters in an effort to improve pedestrian safety and reduce crashes on busy streets. The new rule applies citywide and will be enforced through a mix of education and targeted enforcement, particularly in high-traffic areas. Learn more about how the policy will be implemented, who it affects, and reactions from delivery workers and advocates. (Source: Gothamist)
AMNY: IBX stop by stop: East New York, Brownsville poised for more housing, shops and transit as plans for 14-mile light-rail continue
Streetsblog: This Bill would help America build more housing near transit
Mass Transit Magazine: Miami-Dade County launches Metro Express batter-electric BRT service
Climate
Cranberry farmers consider turning bogs into wetlands in Massachusetts as temperatures rise. In response to climate change and rising temperatures, farmers across Massachusetts are turning their cranberry bogs into protective wetlands, critical ecosystems for native species. With assistance from the State, around 500 of the 11,500 acres of cranberry farms transformed into wetlands – a move called a green exit strategy. The strategy helps farmers sell unproductive land to municipalities for $13,500 an acre and make up for lost revenue from declining cranberry production, an industry that produces over $1.5 billion in revenue annually. Read more about the creative green exit strategy and climate change’s impact on cranberry production in Massachusetts. (Source: Inside Climate News)
Grist: Racing against time, Illinois clears a major hurdle in containing an invasive fish
Canary Media: California has a new law to prevent big grid battery fires
Forbes: From data to decisions: Powering the energy transformation
Economic Development
Preserving older properties drives housing affordability, population growth, and investment, says study. In Philadelphia, a new study finds that tax credits to advance historic preservation generate millions of dollars of economic activity and support about 2,500 jobs each year. The study also finds that older homes tend to be smaller in size and lower in cost, supporting housing affordability goals. Preservation advocates in Philly cite that historically protected lots have doubled since 2016. Read more for more insights on historic designation’s role in shaping Philadelphia’s growth. (Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer)
The City: Who’s banking on big bucks from casinos? New York’s transit system
Smart Cities Dive: Baltimore is betting big on vacant and at-risk home revitalization
Manufacturing Dive: Cleveland-Cliffs eyes rare earth metals opportunity at Midwest mines
Digital
Virginia is emerging as the world leader in data center development, prompting a debate on whether the long-term results will be positive or negative to the region. With its proximity to Washington and sprawling lands, VA has long served as a hot spot for data centers, homing many cloud-based centers since the 90s. Experts predict that this current boom could add 74,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in labor income, and $9.1 billion in GDP to VA annually. Critics, however, argue that the resources demanded from these developments—water, farmland, carbon emissions, and e-waste—outweigh the projected economic benefits. The rapidity of investment in data center development also warns critics, speculating an AI bubble is forming akin to the dot com bubble of 2000. Read more on Virginia’s digital legacy and future, here. (Source: Route Fifty)
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