The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is the authoritative body overseeing airports in the New York metropolitan area: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark International Airport. To aid in the Port Authority’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, its Aviation Department retained the Capstone team to provide analysis and recommendations for enhancing the sustainability of airport concessions and vendors. The team compared the practices of peer airports to those of the Port Authority; provided insight on existing and upcoming sustainable legislation; explored relevant sustainability certifications and accreditations; and proposed a pilot program to be implemented at airport terminals. Using a combination of research, stakeholder interviews and surveys, and key document analysis, the team determined areas of improvement for the Port Authority’s overall sustainability practices. The team’s recommendations include enhancing airport bin practices, creating composting and recycling policies by engaging with concessionaires, and establishing local partnerships to donate leftover food.

Metro-North Railroad (MNR), a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, is a suburban commuter rail system that runs service in New York City and its northern suburbs in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut. MNR enlisted a Capstone team to help establish a data management and performance dashboard for internal use to increase operational efficiency and enhance customer service. The team engaged in conversations with peer transit agencies to learn proven best practices and with MNR staff from key operational departments to understand data needs. Using research and real departmental data, the team developed a beta version of a data management and performance dashboard. The team developed an accompanying set of recommendations for the replication of the dashboard and for future implementation across MNR. These deliverables will help create a more consistent data infrastructure and ensure data-driven service planning for the client.

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the restaurant industry in NYC when establishments were forced to close their doors to limit the spread of the virus. In June 2020, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the Open Restaurants program allowing restaurants to take over curb space for outdoor dining. While this program provided a lifeline for nearly 12,000 restaurants, it also increased competition for curb access. As the program is scheduled to become permanent in 2023, DOT engaged a Capstone team to evaluate program impact and recommend improvements. Focusing on five corridors across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, the team used a combination of field data collection and time-lapse camera data to evaluate the program’s impact on traditional curb uses such as parking, passenger drop-off/pick-up, and deliveries. In its final report, the team detailed its findings and recommendations on modifying Open Restaurants regulations to inform long-term strategy and sustainability.

CARMERA is an autonomous vehicle (AV) high-definition (HD) mapping company that specializes in roadway change management. It is critical for public safety that HD maps have granular and up-to-date information on road features to anticipate the road ahead. CARMERA enlisted a Capstone team to review data sharing policies at the federal, state, and city levels and help identify connections between roadway changes collected by cities and private AV firms. The team utilized a spatial regression model to examine whether public datasets can help predict the observed roadway changes from CARMERA’s pilot program in San Francisco. Its preliminary findings indicate an opportunity for the optimization of private company data gathering based on public datasets. The team produced a final report detailing ways to use public data to inform policies and recommendations for cities and private AV firms with the shared goal of coordinated and efficient capture of roadway changes on HD maps.

New York Building Congress (NYBC) is a membership association of contractors, architects, engineers, unions, real estate managers, developers, and owners who comprise the building community of New York City. NYBC enlisted a Capstone team to develop policy recommendations for reimagining the public realm of the Broadway artery running through the Inwood neighborhood in northern Manhattan. The team conducted research on existing conditions, designed a community engagement strategy, and delivered a report with recommendations for interventions to create a safe and equitable space for all users. The team’s final report will be utilized by NYBC in its advocacy efforts with policymakers for improving safety and enhancing the quality of life in the neighborhood.