Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation and other areas. He spent more than 12 years reporting for daily newspapers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and California. He lives in downtown Sacramento.
Well-intentioned transportation projects during the COVID-19 pandemic to slow or remove traffic from city streets tended to serve mostly wealthy, white neighborhoods, said equity activists at the CoMotion LA conference.
The events of this year have emphasized the need for equity and opportunity to be parts of public policy related to transportation and development, said speakers at the fourth annual CoMotion LA conference.
Garcetti used the first day of the CoMotion LA conference to announce the formation of a new Transportation Technology Innovation Zone, where new technologies can be tested and proved with local businesses and residents.
Rather than shy away from shared mobility, riders seemed to welcome the open-air ride of e-scooters; while at least one California city used the summer to launch a pilot delivery project using small sidewalk-roaming robots.
The fourth annual CoMotion LA conference opened Tuesday with leaders imagining how the Biden administration could guide the nation and world toward transportation solutions that are more advanced and sustainable.
Fleet management officials in Louisiana and California are using technology to better track their vehicles, as well as to gain detailed insights into vehicle operations for both gas- and electric-powered autos.
Several cities have taken advantage of nearly empty streets and parking structures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic to roll out technology upgrades for when — and if — drivers return to downtown areas.
Officials from the public, private and nonprofit sectors discussed the need for community testbeds to explore and grow smart city technologies at scale during the recent Smart Cities Connect Conference.
The technology modernization strategy adopted by Pittsburgh nearly two years ago helped to guide the city as it was faced with unprecedented operational challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transportation leaders from San Diego; Columbus, Ohio; and Centennial, Colo., shared how smarter transportation helps to achieve larger regional goals around sustainability, equity and greener urban development.
As the race between former Vice President Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump comes to a close, transportation officials try to sort out what the next four years could hold for U.S. transit and sustainability.
During the Smart Cities Connect Conference this week, tech leaders from Ohio and Colorado shared how digital operations morphed and grew during the COVID-19 crisis because of the earlier efforts to build smarter cities.
During panel discussions at the Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo this week, smart city and industry leaders stressed the positive impacts of data sharing among cities and regional governments.
On the opening day of the annual Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, city officials from around the country discussed how the COVID-19 crisis has ushered in changes, which are helping them to become more resilient.
A recent study examined projects to reduce car use and increase walking and biking on neighborhood streets in five cities, offering a look into how transportation data can be used to craft similar future projects.
Smart city leaders gathered virtually for the Dell Technologies World conference this week to discuss new projects and initiatives. Officials from Las Vegas and Phoenix shared upcoming projects and regional goals.
The nearly overnight shift to remote working situations had a broad impact on commutes across the country, but the changes have also raised questions when it comes to planning for the future of transportation.
Austin’s Capital Metro is piloting a mobile app that siphons real-time bus location data to help officials make better scheduling decisions. Officials hope the tool will be useful in pushing back on the disruptive force that is COVID-19.
Hundreds of smaller communities across the country — with limited routes into and out of town — face greater danger when confronted with emergency evacuations, according to a risk assessment study by Streetlight Data.
A research report by the University of Texas, Austin, identifies more than 127,000 acres of right-of-way areas at interstate exits around the country as suitable sites for locating solar power generating sites.
Project OVERCOME, led by US Ignite and funded by the National Science Foundation, will select five proof-of-concept projects to grow access to broadband connectivity in underserved or unserved areas.
New analysis by the Urban Institute explores the transit challenges for working poor living in suburbs in four U.S. metros. The data study forms the basis for new conversations around transportation equity.
Twenty-five transit projects from around the country received some $14 million in innovation grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration, growing projects like digital fare integration and trip-planning.
A connected vehicle partnership project between the Utah Department of Transportation and Panasonic is moving into phase two, which includes more vehicles, roadside units and expanded data sharing.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials has added polling to its list of activities cities can consider repurposing streets for, as the nation prepares for a presidential election amid a pandemic.
Electronic license plate maker Reviver plans to make the devices available beyond California and Arizona — two states currently offering them — and is in talks with four other states.
The growing laundry list of connected devices and vehicles continue to make the case for platforms that pull all of the data into one easily accessible system. Two projects are doing just that in Georgia and South Dakota.
As part of a pilot project with transportation technology firm Coord, the city has set up five “smart zones” as locations to test technology to better manage the flow of delivery and other traffic on busy curbs.
As public transit in the United States pulls itself out of the COVID-19 downturn, watch for it to fast track innovation as it aims to achieve increased efficiencies, responsiveness and more rapidly respond to community needs.
In a recent Meeting of the Minds panel discussion, transportation experts weighed in on how the future of urban mobility innovation will be tied to a wide range of data sources and thorough analysis.
During a recent CoMotion discussion, officials from companies like Uber and Wisk Aero discussed the opportunities and hurdles presented by small, electric aircrafts as a means of shuttling riders through cities.
The less secure nature of home networks has exposed local, county and state governments to new risks during the COVID-19 crisis, experts say, but those risks also set the stage for new opportunities for collaboration.
City workers in Cary, N.C., are planning to return to the office at the end of February, nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic sent them remote. However, a return to pre-COVID-19 work life may be forever in the past.
Public transit in Florida’s largest city has formed a partnership with a private mobility provider to offer rides in electric, open-air vehicles, providing on-demand service in a number of neighborhoods
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure groups have reached a compromise with California lawmakers and are no longer opposing legislation to add training requirements for workers installing the charging equipment.
The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems has been selected as the lead test site for an FAA program to test and develop virtual traffic management technology, as the technology moves toward on-demand deliveries.
Cities across the nation have fast-tracked bold moves to expand dining and other business activity into city streets. The repurposing of these public spaces have positive effects that extend beyond simple economics.
US Ignite and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions have released the "Smart Cities Data Catalog Specification" to aid in smoother data-sharing efforts among the public sector, third parties and others.
Three Georgia cities and a county will participate in this year's Georgia Tech Smart Communities Challenge, which builds on collaborations to develop transportation and transit innovation projects.
Autonomous vehicle technology is primed to move into any number of use cases, and cities should begin the conversation about how they want to shape this new mobility horizon – or risk being shaped by it.
A new report by the Transportation Research Board looks at public transit’s declining ridership trends from 2012 to 2016, due in part to housing and demographic changes, and of course Uber and Lyft.
The novel coronavirus has prompted some transit agencies to reimagine how they accept fares. Efforts to keep transit staff and riders safe, while serving the “unbanked,” are giving new payment solutions a foothold.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City’s 311 service reached nearly 200,000 calls a day, prompting significant changes in business as usual and a new reliance on data-driven decision-making.
In a press conference Tuesday, the American Public Transportation Association put forward a request for $32 billion as Congress considers another $1 trillion round of funding to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The novel coronavirus forced the nearly overnight shift from government offices to work-from-home setups. In Oakland County, Mich., a vendor helped officials navigate this process with enhanced cybersecurity tools.
Following COVID-19 related stay-at-home orders, transit ridership across the U.S. fell 40.8 percent in March compared to a year ago, after two months of ridership gains in a number of cities.
Analysis from StreetLight Data shows traffic levels have largely returned to pre-COVID levels, particularly in rural counties, and among more blue-collar workers who can’t always work from home.
Bellevue, Wash., conducted a traffic study examining thousands of hours of video footage taken from 40 intersections for data around near-miss accidents. The project is part of a larger effort to reduce traffic fatalities.
Smart city project deployments are anticipated to pull back 25 percent from earlier estimates as COVID-19's stretches the limits of city budgets. Choosing the right projects will be essential for the best return, experts say.
Transportation officials touted the state's enthusiasm for tech innovation during the recent CoMotion Miami conference. The state, especially the southern portion, prides itself as a place to try out pilot projects.
Transportation tech company Coord is partnering with several cities to launch a handful of curbside management pilot projects. The urban real estate is much sought after in the age of ride sharing and on-demand deliveries.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has contracted with OffenderWatch, an IT firm that has developed a vast network of sex offender registries across 21 states.
Autonomous vehicle technology is moving into areas like shared taxis, goods delivery and shuttle operations. Unlike some predictions about an AV in every garage, experts say the near-term looks quite different.
Rohit Tandon, who took over acting chief information security officer duties with the departure of Aaron Call in December 2019, has been tapped to lead state cybersecurity operations in a permanent capacity.
Transit operators in Marin County, Calif., will be making their services available on the Uber app, giving ride-hailing users other transit options. The partnership hopes to increase first-mile and last-mile options.
Smart city leaders from Houston, New Orleans and Columbus, Ohio, discussed their vision for tomorrow's cities following widespread disruptions brought on by the pandemic, economic hardships and social unrest.
The California Air Resources Board approved an aggressive regulation to spur the adoption of electric semi-trucks and similar vehicles. Under the rules, all trucks sold in the state must be zero-emission by 2045.
Capital Metro in Austin, Texas, is set to become the lead agency for a new bike-share program, possibly signaling a trend placing micro-mobility squarely in the hands of public transit.
StreetLight Data's new examination of 100 U.S. metros during the nationwide stay-at-home orders shows that small changes to societal norms, like daily commutes, could have significant impacts for air quality.
The rideshare company plans to have only electric vehicles operating on its platform by the end of the decade. That goal is built on the assumption that current trends hold and that policymakers do their part.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation's collection of trip data for shared e-scooters and similar on-demand devices is being challenged as a government overreach in federal district court.
The Ultimate Urban Circulator Program is being planned as an autonomous vehicle overhaul of the city’s 1980s-era Skyway monorail. Transportation officials have put out the call for qualifications to advance the project.
In an effort to streamline the payment of fees and fines, state courts are now accepting payments through convenience stores like Family Dollar and 7-Eleven with the help of industry partners.
Transit systems across the country are beginning to expand their service schedules in the wake of the novel coronavirus, but some changes made in response to the crisis will linger. For one, safety measures are here to stay.
Shair is a real-time, air-quality monitoring tool that measures particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and several other pollutants, subsequently making the findings easily understandable for all users.
PlanetM, the state’s mobility initiative and a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, has awarded more than $280,000 to efforts to accelerate future-facing robotics projects.
Municipal transit agencies are working with private companies to reduce the difficulty people often have in getting from home or work to public transportation, making trains and buses more accessible for all.
More than 3,200 electric vehicles have been sold in Columbus, Ohio, in the last four years, capping a major goal of the Smart Columbus strategy. The milestone comes as car markets reel from the effects of the pandemic.
The city has developed a public-facing dashboard dedicated to COVID-19 resources for residents and businesses. Features include the mapping of available essential services and other timely data.
The traffic analysis firm StreetLight Data has seen sharp increases in traffic volume in beach communities, a harbinger of what officials can expect during the three-day Memorial Day weekend.
A fleet of remote-operated scooters is being deployed and tested in Peachtree Corners, Ga. The pilot program was set to launch earlier this year, but the novel coronavirus delayed those plans.
Tacoma, Wash., is taking a step forward with its fleet electrification, investing in 34 hybrid-electric police vehicles. While the move signals a willingness to adopt new technology, some barriers to electrification remain.
Johnson County, Kan., part of the Kansas City metro region, will experiment with more on-demand, flexible transit options as it evolves beyond the pandemic and traditional service structures.
Electric vehicle advocates hope to see federal aid focused on more structured incentives to expand the growth of the technology as the nation seeks to recover from the economic damage wrought by COVID-19.
Modern 911 dispatch centers are relying on new technologies to bridge the information gaps typical of landline telephone calls. Now, dispatchers and first responders are pulling data with new tools to improve public safety.
The Shared Mobility Summit zeroed in on all the many ways urban mobility has been rocked by the novel coronavirus. The consensus among experts seems to be that the crisis will force long-term changes.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency slashed 75 percent of its service over a weekend, as the agency reacted to across-the-board service adjustments brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
System upgrades at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles have led to safer and more secure IDs at a time when residents are sheltering at home and offices are shuttered due to the novel coronavirus.
Jennifer Douglas was named the next chief innovation and technology officer in Boulder, taking the place of Julia Richman. Douglas was most recently Colorado’s deputy chief customer officer.
Before pivoting to cloud-based tools, a patchwork of data storage locations made up the city’s records tracking process. Officials say the system left too much room for error when it came to fulfilling public records requests.
The novel coronavirus and resultant stay-at-home orders have ground cities across the U.S. to a halt. But, transit agencies and their industry counterparts are seeing a chance to re-evaluate and plan for a post-virus world.
As the novel coronavirus continues to batter the U.S., transit agencies are searching for ways to reach riders and staff. Despite sweeping ridership declines, many frontline health workers rely on transit services.
Movement data pointed to an increase in vehicle activity on Easter Sunday in several U.S. counties. This revelation comes as many states urge residents to avoid nonessential travel to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Partnering with ride-hailing companies to replace little-used bus routes in Miami could be one of the numerous changes that the COVID-19 crisis brings to public transit as users stay home to slow the virus.
Los Angeles County is bracing for sales tax revenue losses of 50 to 75 percent, while other counties are furloughing workers and planning to cut back on vital public services. Reserves might cushion the blow.
A fleet of autonomous delivery vehicles has been deployed in Fairfax, Va. Until now, a time when human interaction is discouraged to slow the spread of COVID-19, the robots have been regarded as novelty or convenience.
Three California cities have explored locating chargers for electric vehicles in the public right of way. The changes promise to help normalize zero-emissions vehicles across the state.
The U.S. Digital Response is a volunteer effort made of some 3,500 technology experts. Their mission is to help all levels of government meet increased service demands during the COVID-19 crisis.
The unprecedented coronavirus crisis is increasing the needs for county services just as the economic factors severely reduce incoming revenues. Officials believe the road to recovery will be a long one.
At the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., autonomous shuttles are being used to transport viral tests and supplies. The move frees up personnel to test patients at a time when the health-care sector is struggling.
Venture capitalists say they're still optimistic about the future of new mobility options in cities, despite the deep freeze many companies have been forced into as cities confront the coronavirus pandemic.
Knoxville, Tenn., recently launched a chatbot to address U.S. Census questions, then came the novel coronavirus. The shift that followed helped the city meet constituents where they were — stuck at home.
Removing the installation barriers typical of some electric vehicle charging stations, solar units promise to make the technology more accessible to the general public and government fleets.
Data from air-quality sensors shows double-digit reductions in air pollution since millions of commuters in the San Francisco Bay Area are off the roads during the state’s coronavirus stay-home order.
If the state is to reach its ambitious goal of having 5 million to 7 million electric vehicles on the highways and roadways in the next decade, underserved communities will have to be part of the adoption strategy.
Director, Smart Columbus
The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus has disrupted many aspects of daily life. In the transportation sector, on-demand options are being shuffled to meet travel needs at a time when other services are scaling back.
A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists calls attention to the climate impacts of ride-hailing, since a portion of many ride-hailing trips involve an empty car, while the car is en route to pick up a passenger.
The National Association of Counties briefed reporters Wednesday on the needs and demands placed on county governments around the nation as they respond to the evolving new coronavirus crisis.
Upgrades to the company’s electric scooters will make the devices more responsive to travel restrictions set by local rules. Since coming to cities nationwide, governments have struggled to regulate them.
The Commuters Trust program, which blends transit, ride-hailing and carpooling into a suite of transportation options for commuters, is expanding after early successes building partnerships with local employers.
Sloan had been serving as the interim chief information officer since the departure of Morgan Reed in July 2019. Reed left state service to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.
A new service geared toward closing first-mile-last-mile gaps for commuters was announced in Sacramento and Davis, Calif., last week. Officials say their vehicles will also collect data for autonomous advancements.
The Veloz electric vehicle forum titled 'Electric Transportation 2030: Policy, Power and Plugs' brought together attendees from private, public and nonprofit sectors.
California has ambitious plans to have 5 million vehicles on the roads by 2030. But in 2019, the momentum slowed slightly with sales dipping just more than 12 percent. Experts aren’t concerned.
Various transit agencies in the New York City area will partner with nine startups on the focus areas of accessibility, revenue generation and curb space management as part of the Transit Tech Lab.
For regular toll road drivers, there's the E-ZPass. But for drivers who don't use Virginia's toll roads often, the state has launched a new solution: a smartphone app that should make payment easier.
Several companies were given an infusion of funding by the mobility arm of the Michigan Department of Economic Development, PlanetM. The grants include a range of efforts, including streamlining school dismissals.
The city of Los Angeles will soon have an electric-powered fire truck in service out of its Hollywood station. The move is one of several that city officials are making to reduce their carbon emissions.
The Chicago-based effort will launch a months-long project with private-sector partners like Bosch and HERE Technologies to explore improved approaches to managing increasingly busy city curbs.
Programs in Ohio and Arizona are showing signs that the technology could be a real-world solution to first-mile, last-mile gaps in traditional city transportation offerings, like buses and light rail.
The Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project will provide $44 million in funding to transition heavy-duty off-road equipment to electric. The plan could help prompt innovations and lower vehicle costs.
Consumers in the largest electric car market in the country still find it difficult to name an electric vehicle brand beyond Tesla. New data suggests that drivers have more options than ever but less awareness.
The San Jose Digital Inclusion Fund is expected to generate $24 million over 10 years by collecting lease revenue from telecommunications firms. The first round of grants is about to hook thousands up to the Internet.
At the inaugural Fremont Mobility Summit last week in Silicon Valley, officials presented the city's newly released Mobility Action Plan. The plan centers on rethinking transportation and infrastructure in the region.
US Ignite, which is a smart city advisory group for local governments, has picked four projects to receive funding as part of the Replicating Success initiative by that group and the National Science Foundation.
A school district in California is partnering with the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority and autonomous electric shuttle maker Local Motors to provide technical education related to autonomous vehicles.
The Ignite Action Fund, spearheaded by Smart Columbus, has helped to transition commuters to other forms of shared transit by partnering with workplaces to offer the initiative as an employee benefit.
Transit agencies in several cities have partnered with Via to provide curb-to-curb micro-transit. The idea behind these partnerships is to reduce barriers created by gaps in more traditional options.
A partnership among Virginia DOT, Virginia Tech, Audi and Qualcomm will introduce connected vehicle technologies for Audi drivers in northern Virginia. Participants hope the technology will help save lives on roadways.
The 2020 U.S. Transportation Climate Impact Index by StreetLight Data ranked the top 100 metro regions around key transportation metrics and for their contribution to greenhouse gases.
Operators of scooters and other rent-to-ride mobility devices are likely to have more substantive conversations with cities around issues like infrastructure, data analysis, sustainability and safety.
Transit officials in Kansas City, Mo., plan to eliminate bus fares system-wide this year. Leadership views the move, which will erase about 8 percent of the agency's revenue, as a boost to the local economy.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has formed a partnership with Aclima to use roving air sensors that will gather detailed pollution data from across the San Francisco metro area.
The Circular City program, a project by New Lab and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, has issued an open call for startups to use technology to address the city’s sustainability goals.
The Michigan college town is using its ongoing partnership with the University of Michigan and private industry to gather and share data from connected vehicle and infrastructure interactions.
As alternate transportation options have become more widespread, students at California Polytechnic State University have shown no signs of declining car use, according to a study examining car commutes.
Santosham has been heading up the San Jose Mayor's Office of Technology & Innovation as chief innovation officer since 2016. She is heading to a Bay Area startup focused on indoor vertical farming.
The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission has undertaken the development of a modern Web-based and intelligent system to be used for filing and managing compensation claims from workers.
The Ray, an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in southern Georgia, functions as a test bed for next-generation transportation technologies, including striping to enable autonomous vehicle use.
An increasing number of vehicles and devices that have traditionally been gas-powered are easing into electrification, and experts say that this is a trend that will continue all throughout 2020 and beyond.
Transportation for America selected Bellevue, Wash.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Boston as locations to study the demands placed on curb space. The cities are part of the 2020 Transportation for America Smart Cities Collaborative.
Two pilot projects in Baltimore will provide $2.50 flat-rate rides to qualifying residents traveling to area grocery stores. Food deserts are a substantial barrier to healthy living in low-income communities.
The California Air Resources Board heard hours of testimony Thursday related to its proposed Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation. If approved, the new rules could shift the industry in the state away from fossil fuels.
Columbus, Ohio, will be the location for the next pilot project from curbFlow, which is an app technology that is intended to better manage busy delivery, pickup and drop-off areas within cities.
Iowa is the latest state to establish a state IT position dedicated to data management. Rensch comes to the role by way of the Iowa Department of Transportation, where he served as director of the Highway Support Office.
Metrolink, a commuter rail service in the Los Angeles metro area, has already been credited with eliminating more than 300 million vehicle miles from the region's notoriously clogged highways last year.
Officials with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission are finalizing a proposal for Virgin’s Hyperloop One to build high-speed transit to other metro areas, a plan that could help create a “mega-region.”
Four pilot projects in the Los Angeles region have been awarded $500,000 to grow zero-emission transportation efforts. Part of their focus will be connecting underserved communities to new travel opportunities.
Heavy-duty vehicles contribute a disproportionate amount of particulate matter and greenhouse gases, making them prime candidates for converting to zero-emission vehicles. Buses are no exception.
Four pilots in the Los Angeles region have been awarded $500,000 to grow zero-emission transportation efforts. Part of their focus will be connecting underserved communities to new travel opportunities.
Peculiar, which is a bedroom community in the Kansas City metro area, has partnered with Comcast for high-speed broadband communications to support a number of city and community operations.
The recent CoMotion LA conference pushed attendees to try to rethink the very nature of urban mobility as cities continue to grapple with a warming planet and increasingly congested highways.
A seamless transition from a scooter to a bus — covered by a single payment — is part of what the future in multimodal transportation should look like, transportation leaders and experts argue.
LA Metro, the public transit agency in the Los Angeles metro region, is helping to lead a pilot project to introduce congestion pricing. The concept has gained popularity in international cities in recent years.
The system, created by transportation technology and consulting firm INRIX, offers a digital map portal to fill in all the parameters and “rules” making up streets, such as signage, signals, streetlights, and more.
A partnership between the telecommunications company and technology company NEC is looking at whether the fiber-optic networks coursing through cities can be used to glean real-world intelligence.
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is leading an autonomous vehicle pilot project at Fort Carson in Colorado as part of a partnership with the nonprofit group US Ignite.
The tiny city of West Hollywood in Los Angeles County, Calif., has installed new smart mode devices that integrate car-charging, streetlights, Wi-Fi and more for residents to use into a curbside pole.
A pilot project that will launch in Irvine, Calif., is introducing a free autonomous ride-hailing service to several hundred citizens, many of which are college students, with an end goal of studying human behavior.
Cities like Seattle and Chicago are mapping construction and other projects on a new online platform that offers detailed insight into how construction, paving or other work might impact mobility.
The two companies have developed a data-enabled tool to help planning officials better decide where new public electric vehicle charging ports should be located. A case study in Santa Clara, Calif., showed positive results.
Tennessee's Memphis Area Transit Authority has contracted with Chicago-based Americaneagle.com to develop a cashless fare payment system. The upgrades play into the larger plan to reduce traffic and improve service.
The Advanced Mobility Initiative Roadmap is an extension of the Advanced Mobility Initiative launched in April 2019. It will function as a guide for a three-year project to reimagine transportation.
A report by the International Council on Clean Transportation looked at the growth of the electric vehicle market across the U.S. It found that adoption is strongest in urban centers and along the east and west coasts.
A California tech company is testing remote-operated and autonomous scooters at a site in Georgia. The hope is that the technology will better connect riders while also helping to manage them in the public right-of-way.
As Denver and other cities continue to migrate short-term rental permitting and tax-collection to online, software-as-a-service platforms, local governments are seeing increased participation.
The Bay Area test site for autonomous vehicle technology will host the Olli self-driving shuttles, made by Local Motors, as they undergo rigorous connected vehicle testing and prepare for widespread use.
Cupertino, Calif., is one of the latest communities to launch an on-demand transit program, where a shuttle will take you wherever you want to go for $5 a ride. The program could cut the need for a costly fixed bus route.
E-scooter operator Spin is leading a project, in partnership with data firms StreetLight Data and Populus, to make troves of micro-mobility data available to nonprofits advocating for safer streets.
The Minnesota city has launched a pilot to develop four “mobility hubs” in three regions. Officials hope the effort will put everything urban travelers need — be it information or alternative transportation — within reach.
Virginia and several other states are moving forward with a transition away from diesel- and gas-powered school buses and toward modern electric models. The move is expected to save money and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
As the experts see it, midsize cities are the ideal places to test and develop new ways of getting around. During a symposium in California’s capital city, thought leaders discussed the issue and where strides could be made.
Dietrich, chief information officer of Nevada, is stepping down after 18 months in the role. The IT leader is making the move back to the private sector with a position at the Greater Nevada Credit Union.
An initiative to address quality-of-life concerns in an underserved community in San Diego has identified priorities like job creation or affordable housing, and is turning tech to help shepherd those goals.
Federal funding to the tune of $60 million is aimed at supporting autonomous and connected vehicle research projects across the country. The push will see the technology put to work outside of cities and test tracks.
A project in Bellevue, Wash., uses video data and machine learning to learn which streets and intersections are the most dangerous. The data is considered more reliable and less biased compared to traditional surveys.
North Carolina State University has been named as the site of a new next-gen communications research center, funded in part by the National Science Foundation. The center will focus on drone and autonomous vehicle work.
A partnership between a Southern California land conservation nonprofit and a traffic analytics firm is paying dividends as officials paint a clearer picture of just how many visitors are flocking to parks.
Even with electric scooters readily available in many U.S. cities, research indicates that short-distance travelers are more likely to drive a car than use a rentable scooter or bike. Cities could change that dynamic.
Driven by the idea that what works in a larger city won't translate to most Midwest locales, those behind the Smart Columbus initiative are on a mission to share their findings and “lift all the boats.”
Driver's license issuance offices in the two states have upgraded photo technology to help streamline the process of issuing IDs, improve efficiencies and build in better security features.
Seven toll bridges in Northern California’s Bay Area will soon phase out cash payments over the course of the next five years, replacing them completely with all-electronic means of payment.
The Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners will feature a 1.5-mile AV test track, complete with steep grades, curves and trees. City officials hope the track will attract economic development and business investments.
Jeff Nyberg has been tapped to direct the state in matters of information technology infrastructure and strategy. The technologist comes with a 15-year career with companies like Target and Dairy Queen.
The lively Short North neighborhood in Columbus is getting a new parking modernization plan that will include virtual permitting, mobile payment options and license plate recognition technology.
In the four years since Columbus was awarded a multi-million-dollar transportation grant, the state’s capital city has steadily taken a multi-prong approach to growing electric car adoption.
The small town of Hood River, Ore., has decided that it will participate in a new pilot project that will launch a plug-in electric car-share program, which is a relatively unusual thing for rural jurisdictions.
Nicholas Andersen, chief information security officer for the state of Vermont, has stepped down to pursue a role in the West Wing. Andersen, who has a lengthy national security resume, was initially hired in December 2018.
The planned closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle mobilized collaboration and data sharing across several public transportation agencies, helping to establish new behavior towards commuter travel.
PlanetM, which is an arm of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, awarded these grants to six companies that are seeking to launch mobility pilot projects soon somewhere within the state.
A new study by researchers at North Carolina State University concluded that e-scooters have a larger environmental footprint than other forms of micro-mobility. They're greener than cars, but still have room to improve.
The new contactless payment system rolling out across the New York City bus and subway network launched at the end of May. Some 80 percent of riders "tap" into the system via a digital wallet.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority will lead several year-long pilot projects to improve rider experience and system performance. The projects include crowd management and push alerts to ease congestion at stations.
An 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in Georgia will be outfitted with a data management platform to support a connected vehicle pilot project and create a learning lab to educate jurisdictions about the technology.
The data officials thought would show one or two drivers going the wrong way turned out to 30 to 40 a week — a dangerous situation in the best of circumstances. But new tech may help buck this potentially deadly trend.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada participated in a pilot project by INRIX to test-drive its new Road Rules platform, joining six other public entities across the country.
The new $45 million SMARTCenter opened at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio to test autonomous vehicle technologies. Planning for the facility began about five years ago.
Reed, who has served as Arizona chief information officer since 2015, has taken a spot in the private sector — though officials could not comment on the company he had joined or the role he would play there.
Alabama’s capital city has entered into a three-year agreement after a six-month pilot that saw roughly 80 garbage trucks there outfitted with the RUBICONSmartCity platform to better manage routes and maintenance.
Like so many other rapidly growing cities, Austin, Texas, is dealing with considerable congestion and a daunting outlook for the future. But, new recommendations are reframing the conversation and offering officials options.
Bill Nixon will lead the Department of Technology and Innovation in Johnson County, Kan., starting July 29, 2019. He replaces Michael Aldridge, who served in the role for more than two years.
StreetLight Data, the big-data and traffic-analytics firm, has identified congested border crossings between the United States and Canada as possible areas where improved planning could mitigate traffic.
Electric scooters and other forms of urban mobility in Chicago can be accessed via the Transit app, which officials say will allow users to find a close ride without having to toggle between multiple scooter apps.
Nearly 12,000 snowplows in the state will be outfitted with new software and equipment to more efficiently manage winter weather operations. The changes will mean better monitoring of routes, and vehicle maintenance.
A company in Ann Arbor, Mich., is testing the hypothesis that full-sized autonomous vehicles are not the answer to making short-distance food or grocery deliveries, and is instead betting on small electric vehicles.
A new urban travel planning tool called Replica, run by Sidewalk Labs, simulates transportation trends using anonymous data that is expected to be far more accurate than traditional analysis.
A three-month pilot program in several cities is charging scooter operators parking fees when the devices go unused. The hope is that the charges will discourage over-deployments of the devices.
The automaker is partnering with the city of Detroit and other organizations to find mobility solutions that directly and uniquely improve the quality of life of residents and businesses in the area.
VIA Metropolitan Transit in the Texas city is relying on new flash storage technology to speed up numerous operations, increasing the accuracy of real-time bus location data for its riders.
Two California bills aimed at enabling and regulating new forms of urban mobility have been put on hold at least until early next year. Like other states, it is grappling with how to address emerging mobility solutions.
More than 140 cities and counties in the United States have pledged to purchase more than 2,100 electric vehicles by the end of next year, a move that lends more credibility to the alternative fuel technology.
The Utah Department of Transportation has outlined a five-year, $50 million partnership with Panasonic Corp. of North America to develop what state officials are calling “the most advanced transportation data network.”
After a year of reviewing potential private-sector partners, Kansas City opted to move forward with its smart city efforts without selecting a "program manager," and will work to develop a "smart city action plan."
The District's Department of Transportation will conduct a three-month study with the startup curbFlow to explore how to better manage urban freight traffic around overly congested street curbs.
Drive the ARC, a network of 57 public chargers stretching from Monterey to Lake Tahoe in California, has been completed. It offers electric vehicle drivers an escape from what is known as "range anxiety."
In a unique partnership with car-sharing firm Getaround, the city's transit agency hopes to reduce congestion and improve last-mile travel by allowing drivers to turn their vehicles into temporary car-shares.
The Georgia cities participating include Columbus, Milton, Woodstock and Macon, which have all been selected for the year-long mentoring and funding smart cities program, spearheaded by Georgia Tech.
The new vessel will continue a trend that has been seen in other modes of transportation — namely passenger vehicles. If upcoming transit projects are any indicator, ferry use in the region will likely continue to boom.
The proliferation of electric vehicle charging stations has some considering the risks posed by cybercriminals. A new report advocates for contactless payment options to reduce the opportunity for card skimmers.
Syracuse will phase out all of its 17,500 conventional streetlights for an LED-powered lighting network system. But the city also has its eye on pulling in data like never before.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency is in the search for its first chief innovation officer, following a trend by other transit agencies to include innovation as a core mission and to reverse recent declines in ridership.
Next-Generation 911 systems are heralded for their ability to pinpoint caller locations during an emergency while handling the sorts of data coming from smartphones.
The goal of increasing and maintaining a skilled workforce is prompting some in the South Carolina city to target the gnarled rush hour commutes. Local employers are leading the fight and turning to innovative ideas to make it happen.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is considering new regulatory language to allow for the testing of light-duty delivery vehicles on public streets.
The city continues to move ahead with the deployment of new connected vehicle technologies, which officials hope can offer safer and more efficient traffic operations.
Only 16 percent of Americans say they are likely to purchase an electric vehicle, according to the report. Most drivers cite concerns about the lack of charging stations as a prime reason they won't buy one.
The new ePayroll mobile app, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, makes real-time management of highway workers' payroll and time sheets easier from work sites. Officials estimate it could save $7.5 million annually.
The city is in the midst of one of the biggest IoT deployments in North America, involving cameras, microphones and sensors, that will help understand how people move through San Diego's streets.
The Florida city has issued an RFP to bring on a consultant to help the city develop an in-depth smart city roadmap and strategy.
With highly intelligent traffic signals on major 10-lane arterial roads, the county has been using cloud technology and edge computing to control the flow of traffic for the benefit of cars, bicycles and pedestrians.
The sprawling desert metropolis has mined the Internet of Things to grapple with homelessness, traffic and public safety. But as tech makes this easier, the hard part is serving in an ethical and sensitive manner.
A second e-scooter pilot project in Portland, Ore., launched with more companies, but also more fees to support improved scooter and bike infrastructure.
State transportation departments are turning to street-imaging and mapping services like Mapillary to map and categorize thousands of miles of highways. In the future, imaging options might expand.
Alex Braszko will take the place of Bob Bennett as chief innovation officer in Kansas City, Mo. Just like Bennett, Braszko brings a military background to the role in Missouri's largest city.
A new law in Seattle will require new home construction with off-street parking to be wired for electric vehicle charging units, part of a push by the city and the state of Washington toward EVs.
A new high-tech radar system called SkyVision, developed by Ohio's Department of Transportation and the Air Force Research Laboratory, will allow drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight.
Sacramento, Calif., officially rolled out its GIG car-share program, placing 250 electric vehicles on the streets, available to rent with an app. It's part of a push the city is making toward increasing mobility options.
A new report by the National Association of City Transportation Officials finds that micro-mobility networks offering bikes and e-scooters are seeing rapid growth in cities across the country.
The Los Angeles-area city of 34,000 has installed two smart bus shelters for transit riders, complete with real-time travel information, USB charging ports for phone charging and Wi-Fi.
Public transit ridership in 2018 was down 2 percent from the year before, continuing a trend of declining transit use across the country. While there are a number of factors at play, privately owned cars seem to be a driving force.
Car-sharing, ride-hailing and other mobility-as-a-service ventures are now offered by REACH NOW, a joint company formed by Daimler and BMW.
The state currently has just 39 hydrogen refueling stations, but could have as many as 1,000 stations by 2030, enough to jump-start the little-known but environmentally friendly, specialized electric car market.
One of the leaders in autonomous vehicle technology has decided to mass produce the next generation of automobiles in the city where large-scale production of affordable cars got its start.
The winning communities, ranging from San Diego and Edmonton, Alberta, to Racine, Wis., were chosen from a pool of 200 projects and received top marks for impact, collaboration, inclusiveness and sustainability.
The Federal Aviation Administration granted a certificate of authorization to the Chula Vista Police Department to operate drones beyond the "visual line of sight."
As New York and other cities eye congestion pricing plans, transportation experts say coupling the cost with better, cheaper alternatives could go a long way in reducing traffic in dense urban areas.
Tarek Tomes has been selected as the next commissioner of Minnesota IT Services, taking over from Acting Commissioner William Poirier.
Electric vehicle car sales in California grew 13 percent in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period last year.
A panel discussion at the Smart Cities Connect Conference explored how artificial intelligence is being deployed in a number of communities, as well as cautionary advice officials should heed when considering the technology.
The outgoing innovation officer will move on to become chair of the Cities Today Institute, which focuses on sustainable urban development issues.
From its original roots as an electric vehicle showroom, the Smart Columbus Experience Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio, is exploring new opportunities to share a wider range of smart city technologies.
CIO, Chicago
Five winners will be selected during the Smart Cities Week conference April 15-17 in San Diego. Those cities will become part of the year-long Readiness Program to scale up smart city visions into reality.
At the fifth annual Redefining Mobility Summit in San Ramon, Calif., industry and public officials discussed the rapidly changing world of advanced and autonomous driving systems and what that means for drivers.
Metro Transit in St. Louis will work with the Transit App for trip-planning, booking and payment across a range of transportation services, from bus and light rail to private ride-hailing options.
Stefanie Costa Leabo will lead the Analytics Team, a division within the Department of Innovation and Technology, while Gregory McCarthy takes over as the first chief information security officer, the city announced March 1.
Controller Ron Galperin wants to use remote sensing, mapping and data sharing to help with cataloging and managing the city's urban tree forest, which could decline 30 percent in the next decade without proper care.
A new report released by traffic analysis firm INRIX highlights the 25 most congested cities in the U.S., and experts in some of those locales see opportunities to get smarter about how they manage the flow of traffic.
The city wants to leverage data from the popular transportation planning platform to help set regulations that will impact how people move about the city, and the role providers will play in delivering mobility services.
The Pew Charitable Trusts has launched its new Broadband Research Initiative to understand why some 24 million Americans still lack broadband access.
Two self-driving shuttles have launched at the Sacramento campus as part of a three-month pilot program, and the mayor says it shows strong potential for being continued.
After decades of relying on paper processes, California's Contra Costa Transportation Authority is discovering the power of online information and digital devices to manage road projects and inspections in real time.
In Clovis, N.M., the painstaking, manual task of geocoding every street sign and roadway object has been automated using an imagery platform from Mapillary that integrates cameras, computer vision and algorithms.
Making equity a central goal is essential when devising successful and inclusive electric vehicle programs. Too often, programs miss less fortunate communities and the benefits that come with boosting mobility.
A new study by the University of Kentucky concluded bike and scooter-share operations may be depressing bus ridership. On the other hand, train systems such as light rail and subways might benefit from the same options.
The driverless shuttles, operating with autonomous vehicle technology, will serve as a free, first-mile/last-mile solution connecting residents to a community center, recreation facility and a transit center.
EVgo, a network of public electric vehicle charging locations, attributes some of its recent success to the increasing popularity of ride-shares and the need for faster vehicle charging capability.
The document gives the city a foundation for evaluating how technology can improve the lives of residents, serve economic development efforts or other civic purposes.
For the first time, riders can now plan bus or rail trips on their Uber app. However, some transit experts caution against letting private-sector firms become the de facto mobility manager for a transit region.
State interest in digital license plates has steadily grown, thanks to their connected vehicle capabilities, customized messaging and geo-location potential.
The move will help put the state at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology testing by creating a single point where industry can coordinate with agencies, with the goal of reducing crashes and improving safety.
Gov. Ned Lamont has named Josh Geballe as the new commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, which oversees the work done in the Bureau of Enterprise Systems and Technology.
Steve Sisolak, the new governor, has decided to retain Dietrich as the state's chief information officer.
A new transportation analytics tool by StreetLight Data allows cities to view a detailed look at all biking and pedestrian trips.
The new appointee brings experience from both the public and private sectors and will serve as the permanent replacement for Michael Mattmiller, who left in January 2018.
Appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker, David Cagigal has been serving as chief information officer for the state of Wisconsin since 2011. He will remain in his position under incoming Gov. Tony Evers.
One of the capital city’s most active corridors will soon be home to a nine-block living laboratory, complete with Wi-Fi, smart streetlights and a host of other tech-laden features.
The Bay Area Rapid Transit District recently launched a multimodal trip-planning tool that considers transit data from more than 30 transportation operators across nine counties in the San Francisco metro area.
About 77,000 Louisiana motorists have downloaded the license app since the statewide launch of LA Wallet in July 2018. While law enforcement accepts the DDL as a form of identity, the retail sector remains wary.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is allowing a ruling from the Federal Communications Commission — one that takes away decision-making from local government on small cell equipment — go into effect.
Shreveport, La., is set to hire Keith Hanson as the city's first chief technology officer. The IT leader is a native of the city who started a software development company there eight years ago.
A survey by the American Public Transportation Association finds that millennials value transit, but agencies must take the lead in becoming mobility managers to keep up with changing travel options.
GoMentum Station in California has been been under management of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. The move is expected to boost visibility of AVs for AAA's 60 million members.
The largest city in Ohio — Columbus, its capital city — is already setting up its own connected vehicle project. Now the state is looking to set up its own pilot test in a smaller city northwest of Columbus.
As part of a broad rethinking of transportation, Ohio's capital is making $90,000 available for ride-hailing drivers who trade in their gas-powered car for an electric model.
Sacramento State University and the East Valley Institute of Technology in Phoenix will receive test vehicles from LM Industries for both research and actual use as shuttles.
The rule, which requires the adoption of electric or hydrogen-fueled buses, has received mixed reviews from transit agencies.
The city and telecom giant will install an array of sensors in a 30-block area of downtown Las Vegas to study how big data and predictive analytics can prevent travel problems before they happen.
The bike rental app is the first in what is expected to be a wide range of new mobility services that will be available for transit card users across Los Angeles County.
A study found the relationship between gig-driving and traffic can be influenced by a range of urban environmental factors, including land use, location, time of day, urban density and existing transit options.
Gary Brantley, chief information officer for Atlanta, discussed some of the IT changes made in the city following the costly March 2018 ransomware attack.
The 18-month pilot involves more than 1,000 vehicles and will attempt to collected more accurate transportation data that could help drivers and the city's transit service.
Ohio Gov.-elect Mike DeWine named Ervan Rodgers II as the state's next chief information officer. Formerly the CIO for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Rodgers succeeds Stu Davis, who departed in September.
A new report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund has found electric buses are not only clean, but have lower operational costs than traditional diesel buses. Still, few are on the road.
Cybersecurity remains as a leading concern at all levels of government. Arizona’s chief information security officer discusses what he sees in his state and new approaches that can make government more resilient.
City and industry officials gathered in Sacramento, Calif., for day two of the annual Meeting of the Minds Summit to discuss the problems and opportunities in the transportation sector.
City and industry officials are gathered in Sacramento, Calif., for the annual Meeting of the Minds Summit to discuss problems and technological solutions in areas like transportation, sustainability and equity.
The Dallas Innovation Alliance released a report detailing feedback generated from nine smart city pilot projects within the Smart Cities Living Lab in the West End Historic District.
The Ohio pilot project, known as the Prenatal Trip Assistance program, will use a Web platform that will make it easier for pregnant women to request transportation for medical visits.
TriMet, which manages public transit in Portland, Ore., is exploring a range of advancements so vehicles can operate more efficiently and cut through congestion.
The online collection of case studies, strategies and other information will provide cities with insight into how Columbus is making public transit safer and easier to use.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is leading an effort to develop "smart mobility hubs," complete with interactive kiosks, at four locations in Columbus, Ohio.
Scooter- and bike-share operators Lime and Spin form an agreement with transportation technology company Remix to share loads of real-time data with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
A demonstration project will deploy more than 20 Volvo electric trucks to serve ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Electric cars have begun to appear in the market, but bigger EVs are mostly in the development stage.
What if cars talked to traffic lights? Five busy intersections in Austin, Texas, have been outfitted with devices to enable connected vehicle communications. The city plans on installing two more in 2019.
A report by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority has concluded that ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have greatly contributed to traffic congestion across San Francisco.
Envoy Technologies deployed electric Volkswagens as part of a car-sharing program in two neighborhoods as part of a push to introduce the technology.
Electrify America has worked out a deal with EV Connect, Greenlots and SemaConnect to allow members of all three charging networks to use its electric car recharging locations.
UPS launched a pilot project to deliver packages in downtown Seattle using pedal-assist cargo e-bikes pulling specially designed trailers.
The maker of small, autonomous shuttles is behind a competition to offer access to the technology in Sacramento, Calif., and Phoenix.
The kiosks provide free international phone calls, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, and can charge cellphones.
Experts at the MetroLab Network Annual Summit warned about the need for control of data-heavy public safety projects, while emphasizing the positive side of community engagement.
Research in Chamblee, Ga., is focused on how to make the rider experience on an autonomous shuttle an enjoyable one.
MetroLab, a network of 44 cities, five counties and 55 universities dedicated to growing partnerships to solve complex urban problems, has launched its next major initiative.
The 2018 MetroLab Network Summit in New Jersey is bringing university, city and tech leaders from around the country.
FlexLA is the new on-demand, micro-transit service for downtown Los Angeles.
Electric utilities in Ohio, New Jersey and Florida announced plans for the aggressive development of electric vehicle charging ports.
Officials in Fremont, which recently joined the Startup in Residence program, hope to utilize it and a recent Waze partnership to address significant traffic congestion caused by out-of-town commuters.
The city will also reduce the size of its vehicle fleet by 10 percent and is committed to eliminating all fossil fuel vehicles by 2030.
Veloz, an alliance of car makers, electric utilities and others, are launching a $4 million ad campaign in California to familiarize drivers with electric vehicles.
A coalition of thought leaders are behind an effort to focus the collective talent of industry, academia and the public sector to develop and meet smart cities goals.
Garrett Dunwoody, IT systems and technology manager for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in the San Francisco Bay Area, on his agency's unique connectivity challenges.
The city council unanimously approved its Fiber Optics Master Plan earlier this month.
Traffic congestion across U.S. metros continues to rise, according to the Urban Mobility Report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. But solving the problem will mean thinking beyond infrastructure.
Companies want to help cities enforce and regulate new mobility devices like e-scooters, bikes or car-shares by offering up real-time data.
Smart city accelerator US Ignite and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions are facilitating efforts to work through the barriers to smart city data sharing.
More than 450 tiny Bluetooth beacons make navigating Chicago's underground streets a snap.
The region's mass transit commission wants to spend $461 million to integrate the Clipper Card with private-sector mobility providers.
He will leave his role as Missouri's cybersecurity point man at the end of the month.
The Knight Foundation will provide more than $5 million across five cities to explore projects involving self-driving cars.
Cities across the country are moving to ensure e-scooters fill key goals around safety, mobility and equity before granting permits to operate.
Companies like ChargePoint and Tritium announce plans to expand and develop more charging infrastructure, which could boost the adoption of electric vehicles.
A recent study by the American Public Transportation Association found that the traffic fatalities fall the more residents rely on buses and trains.
Electric car enthusiasts, and anyone even mildly interested in electric vehicle technologies, will have a chance to check out the latest tech at some 290 events nationwide.
Ohio's capital city has launched a new trip-planning app called Pivot. Now in the beta phase, the app is working to connect travelers to a variety of public and private transportation options.
For all the talk around the effects ride-hailing is having on the transportation landscape, that actual impact of these services remains elusive.
Gov. Phil Murphy has tapped Carrie Parikh to serve as the state's chief data and privacy officer and chief operating officer for the Office of Information Technology.
Where charging happens and how convenient it is can be a significant determinant behind the decision to buy an electric car, researchers argue.
Smart Columbus and the Central Ohio Transit Authority have issued an RFP to develop a multimodal trip-planning platform to support ride-hailing and other transportation options.
Using new data collection and analysis tools, traffic safety engineers can improve highway design.
New York City selected the company ubitricity to develop a pilot project to allow electric vehicles the ability to plug into a streetlamp for recharging.
The city council in Arlington, Texas, approved a deal with Drive.ai to operate autonomous shuttles near AT&T Stadium.
A majority of the city's traffic signals are part of a network that uses predictive algorithms and other technology to send real-time information to drivers about signal wait times.
More than two dozen transit agencies have launched partnerships with transportation network companies, with varying degrees of success.
Lee Allen was named as the new chief information technology officer in late July.
The city will build its own fiber-optic infrastructure to boost economic development, improve city services and close a significant digital divide.
The state will spend $14 million over the next three years to further develop its electric vehicle charging infrastructure along major highways.
Riders will be able to use different modes of transport, from buses and trains to electric scooters and ride-shares, with a single payment system.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan established the Innovation Advisory Council, which will bring together tech leaders to explore new approaches to issues like homelessness and mobility.
A pilot project in Tampa Bay, Fla., is using machine learning and artificial intelligence technology from Waycare to better manage traffic data and improve safety.
Location and other data collected from smartphones shows which rest stops are most popular along Interstate 95.
The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) project is looking for proposals for advanced communication technology on a citywide scale.
The $70 million program, in partnership with Panasonic, will deploy a 90-mile network that will generate vast amounts of vehicle data along I-70 from Golden to Vail.
A new report by the National Resources Defense Council calls for a multistate transportation collaborative to reduce congestion and pollution on the east coast. But it won't be cheap.
Nearly 2,000 vehicles and more than 100 intersections will be linked to demonstrate how real-time technology can manage traffic and improve safety.
Las Vegas is using a new machine learning platform to troubleshoot and predict IT system failures, getting the networks back online more quickly.
What started as a whimsical, almost gimmicky idea has become an integral part of connecting travelers to other modes of transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is working to install sensors across the state’s 68 rest areas to take the guesswork out of parking for tired truckers.
Some 1,500 intersections in Los Angeles to get upgraded with new traffic signal equipment.
Digitally collected driving and vehicle data from police cars in the Pacific Northwest has led to fewer car accidents and costly lawsuits, all while promoting a culture of safety.
Electrify America is infusing $44 million into the state’s capital as part of the Green City partnership.
The state has nearly $11 million to spend on expanding its electric vehicle infrastructure, but exactly how that happens remains to be seen.
The seven new battery-electric powered buses will operate downtown and are expected to save the transit agency on fuel and maintenance costs.
Both cities expect to move forward quickly to test whether AV technology can work as public transit in an urban environment.
As part of a strategy to reverse declining ridership, the city is opening up its payment app to include a host of new features, including links to private ride-sharing services.
Johns Creek, Ga., and Raleigh, N.C., are using the Alexa Skill platform as a way to make open data information available.
A poll conducted by the Sierra Club with voters on the East Coast found bipartisan support for transit and other projects that would reduce air pollution and climate change.
According to a report by the Electrification Coalition, incentives and other public policy have led to increased sales of zero emissions vehicles.
Current and former policymakers recently gathered in Washington to discuss the far-reaching economic and technological impact of autonomous vehicles that could generate $800 billion annually in benefits.
A bus-rapid-transit route in the works along Campbellton Road in southwest Atlanta is set to get signal prioritization and other improvements to improve the commute.
Taxi operators who opt to trade in their gas-powered vehicles for cleaner electric models could receive cash rebates under a new Smart Columbus program.
The 18-month program will use 200 streetlight sensors to study car, foot and bike traffic on three busy city streets.
Experts say local governments need to incorporate the self-propelled devices into their overall mobility plans, but there's no blueprint on how best to regulate them.
A program to alert individuals about upcoming court appearances in Nashville has shown positive results, especially among the homeless population.
The 2018 Emerging Trends in Parking report by the International Parking Institute points to a growing need to think of parking facilities as more than just places to park cars.
The request for proposal aims to land the city a private-sector partner to help it become the “smartest city in North America.”
The Metro Region Explorer has revealed shifts in demographics, housing and workforce, which could impact the region's transit needs and overall economy.
Improving consumer faith will be central to the success of self-driving vehicles — but so will building out more charging infrastructure.
As communities across the country charge ahead with smart city projects, California’s capital may hold the key to rolling out the high-capacity communications networks needed to support them.
Biking apps like Ride Report and Strava are being used by transportation planners to determine where biking infrastructure should be focused.
The California Energy Commission awarded nearly $1.8 million in funding from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to nine cities and organizations to develop strategic plans for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The Idaho Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment Committee will hold its first meeting May 30 to begin the process of creating a framework for autonomous vehicle use and testing.
ELIX Wireless will begin testing its wireless electric car-charging technology in California.
A survey from AAA found that nearly three-fourths of drivers are fearful of climbing into an autonomous vehicle.
A new survey of 1,000 U.S. residents explored how to lure riders onto public transit.
The Las Vegas suburb of 300,000 may use drones and other technologies as part of its smart city public safety initiative.
A new report by Shared-Use Mobility Center found that peak ridership with transportation network companies generally falls outside of traditional transit operating hours.
The state is exploring how AI and neural networks can help them forecast when vital infrastructure repairs are needed, years in advance.
The two cities have improved bus service at a time when transit ridership in the United States dropped 2.9 percent in 2017.
A new report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute surveyed users of ride-share services in four major metropolitan areas to gain insight into autonomous vehicle adoption.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has issued an RFP to develop an autonomous shuttle pilot program in the Providence region.
New lines have opened, or are in development, in 21 cities across the country.
A new tool is ready for cities of all sizes to better manage their recreation assets and help make public parks more accessible to citizens.
Three private-sector transit providers will show the city's transit agency how an on-demand, door-to-door transportation service should work.
San Mateo County, Calif., is set to lead a smart city project through a new IoT lab aimed at deploying the technology on a regional scale.
The topic of how to plan for autonomous vehicle deployment and use is beginning to come to the forefront for city planners in jurisdictions of all sizes.
Salt Lake City and New York City will serve as testbeds for next-generation wireless communication testing, a project led by the National Science Foundation.
About 250 attendees are expected at this year's second annual Smart Cincy Summit in Cincinnati.
The navigation app helps drivers avoid traffic — which can mean sending highway drivers into residential side streets.
Delivery trucks, car-charging ports and smart parking meters have triggered new challenges when it comes to using curbside space in cities.
The state has issued a new set of voluntary guidelines, with the expectation that the Legislature will formalize AV policies.
A memorandum of understanding with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at USF will facilitate how the city and university work together on smart transportation projects.
Boston, Austin and other cities are using Bluetooth and other digital aids to help blind and visually impaired riders better navigate their way to bus stops and train stations.
Twenty-two cities have been selected to participate in the second Smart Cities Collaborative, organized by Transportation for America, with the focus on mobility.
Cities need to evolve towards a mobility plan that interconnects walking with biking, public transit, and ride-sharing. To do that will require tech, partnerships and collaboration, say experts.
The municipality is the smallest and densest city in Southern California, making it an ideal test bed for the latest urban technologies.
Hannah has been serving as interim CIO since the departure of Bill Kehoe.
The forums, run by nonprofit US Ignite, will help cities in their efforts to scale smart urban projects from pilot to enterprise systems.
The relationship between the public and private mobility sectors will likely continue to evolve as the public gains an increasing affinity for scooters, bikes and other transportation modes.
Companies have until mid-April to file proposals with the city of Atlanta to develop a wide-reaching smart cities infrastructure project.
In a partnership with Kansas City, some 5,000 smart, connected Avis rental cars will receive and send data related to parking, general information or events.
Colorado's Front Range expects its population to grow by more than 1 million in 20 years, making regional, smart mobility solutions an absolute must, say panelists at the annual Smart Cities Connect Conference.
To further the partnership opportunities between cities and universities, the MetroLab Network and National Science Foundation have kicked off a national initiative to innovate complex community challenges.
In his first few months on the job, Kehoe has been spending his time listening and learning about what it takes to lead an organization serving more than 10.1 million residents.
During the Smart Cities Conference in Kansas City, Mo., earlier this week, thought leaders broke down the issues facing technology deployments and the importance of bringing constituents along for the ride.
Rather than relying on the age-old comment card, the Department of Transportation is partnering with a digital feedback platform to improve services at rest areas throughout the state.
The high-speed network will be a public-private operation and will offer free service to any resident living below the federal poverty line.
Both cities are overhauling digital platforms and installing kiosks to bring intuitive, easy-to-use services to residents and businesses.
A simple pilot project to ease over-packed trains in Chicago reduced crowding 18 percent by offering riders incentives to travel outside of peak times.
Panelists at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo discuss the many ways cities are using data.
Director, Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Washington, D.C.
The third annual Smart Cities Connect Conference in Kansas City delivered an important message: become smart or be left behind.
Cambridge and Somerville are investing in traffic analytics technology to assess how and why pedestrians and cyclists are under increasing risk of an accident on their streets and what can be done to improve safety.
Smart city projects, including electric vehicles, to be on display in new Smart Columbus Experience Center in Ohio.
An autonomous vehicle-related death in Arizona might lead some in government to pay closer attention to self-driving car testing and development.
To improve access in areas impacted by bus route reductions, officials are looking at an innovative method of connecting riders with their destinations.
A public-private collaboration is taking digital advertising screens and adding in pertinent travel information to improve the travel experience for the public.
Fort Collins, Colo., is experimenting with smart city technology on five of its street sweepers, which send back data related to travel routes, low-hanging limbs or poorly parked cars.
TriMet, the city's public transit system, is pilot-testing a new trip-planning app that partners with Uber, Lyft and other outside transportation providers, giving local travelers a number of mobility options.
Eight winning proposals to upgrade the New York City Subway received nearly $2.5 million in prize money.
The city of Atlanta and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority were awarded a $12.6 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to help fund a bus rapid transit route and the technology likely to come with it.
The metrics, released annually, are considered helpful for municipalities when it comes to actual traffic counts, as well as traveler demographics for particular streets or specific stretches of highway.
With a significant number of electric cars expected on the road by 2020, power supply researchers say now is the time for strategies that can balance power demands without a costly upgrade to the power grid.
The Governors Highway Safety Association has estimated that pedestrian deaths on U.S. streets and highways numbered more than 6,200 in 2018, accounting for 16 percent of all traffic-related deaths.
The ride-hailing company will test its self-driving car technology at GoMentum Station, a government-managed proving ground for AVs and the largest of its kind in the country.
Big data is shedding new light on the time commuters spend going to and from work. The implications of these insights could be far-reaching – from city planning to worker happiness.
A bill in the Utah House would allow for fully autonomous vehicles to operate on highways — without human drivers.
The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority is launching multiple electric-vehicle charging stations in the region, a solar farm to power them and a car-share service.
The kiosk provides the city with a physical place that showcases how a smart city can assist different modes of transport using clean energy.
Four winning jurisdictions will receive grants to explore issues around mobility, equity and resilience.
The city has issued an RFI to test autonomous vehicle technology on a single street that has quickly grown congested with traffic.
With recently awarded grant funds in hand, the IoT Collaborative is taking aim at making the region smarter and more responsive with the help of two uniquely situated universities.
Transit ridership across the six-county Los Angeles metro region has been slipping since at least the last 15 years as more residents purchase cars. Experts think a mix of technology, public policy and planning could help the ridership numbers bounce back.
Arizona's 25-year highway plan to focus on preservation, safety and modernization.
The White House infrastructure plan would require significant local funding matches.
The intelligent use of rights-of-way is part of a collaborative effort to make cities of all sizes smarter.
The city has signed an agreement with Ericsson to overhaul the communications backbone for its traffic signalling network.
The RFP is the first step for the city in finding a partner that can “design, build, test and implement” the “backbone” operating system.
The city joins eight other jurisdictions vying for five grants that will support better livability, workability and sustainability.
The city will spend $15 million to deploy 4,000 sensor-equipped trash receptacles that will increase collection efficiency.
Workers affected by the now 36-day government shutdown are finding some relief in the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority program that gives them access to free monthly transit passes.
Global City Teams Challenge participants will focus on smart city solutions to common urban issues, with a strong eye toward developing comprehensive security systems to safeguard those projects.
Cincinnati is installing more than 20,000 feet of fiber communications in its central business district.
Nine sensors are set to be deployed across the University District in Spokane, Wash., where researchers have been studying air quality in an urban setting.
A survey released by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety found widespread unease by drivers with regards to autonomous vehicles.
Information from 250 sensors deployed across the state offers local leaders real-time flood forecasts via AI chat bots.
Illinois signed a deal with three vendors to make streetlight purchases cheaper and easier for local governments.
San Francisco sets parking rates on its 28,000 meters based on the demand throughout the day — rising during peak times and falling during lulls.
Several transit agencies are experimenting with service ideas that will pick you up from home, much like a taxi or ride-share service.
Transit and private-sector officials are staking out bus transit system upgrades next year.
The USC Marshall School of Business and Viterbi School of Engineering along with the city have formed the Intelligent Internet-of-Things Integrator, otherwise known as the I3 Consortium, in an effort to further collaboration related to IoT project testing and development.
Albuquerque, N.M., launched its new bus-rapid-transit line with a battery-electric bus, joining a growing movement nationwide to replace diesel or natural gas buses with emissions-free varieties.
Thomas Vaughn, who has served in the U.S. Army and Coast Guard, is the Florida Agency for State Technology's (AST) new chief information security officer.
Gainesville, Fla., has kicked off a three-year project allowing public access to free autonomous shuttles.
Indiana State Rep. Ed Soliday plans to file legislation in the next two weeks to propose a framework for testing autonomous vehicles in the state.
San Diego launches an ambitious $30 million smart city project to outfit 3,200 streetlights with sensors.
From transportation to digital equity, connected communities like Albuquerque, Columbus and Las Vegas keep citizen needs at the forefront.
Transit systems should continue to think creatively as they develop new systems to attract and retain riders, according to a new report from the National League of Cities.
After two years as chief technology officer in Washington, D.C., Archana Vemulapalli will return to the private sector.
Both Tempe and Chandler, Ariz., have become test beds for self-driving car technology.
Officials in Lexington, Ky. are finalizing plans with Internet and cable provider MetroNet to wire the city with high-speed fiber.
An eHighway test site in California has electric-hybrid trucks connecting to overhead power lines.
Cary, N.C., is testing smart parking sensors and other technology on its city hall campus to see how they work on a small scale.
Overall transit ridership in the United States has been in decline since 2014, due in large part to falling gas prices. But the increased use of ride-hailing apps, like Uber and Lyft, is also playing a part.
Five North American cities will be selected as Challenge Grant recipients by the Smart Cities Council, making them eligible for mentoring, products and services.
A new Web-based property data search tool in Philadelphia will bring zoning, assessment value, 311 reports and more under one application.
The county's transportation authority has announced an agreement with AAA and Toyota to test self-driving vehicles in California.
Valley Regional Transit in Boise, Idaho, has taken steps to improve its communications infrastructure, which has led to more on-time arrivals and perks for riders.
The new online version is interactive, alerting bikers to dangerous intersections and other features.
The nation's capital has become a test bed for the next-generation bike-sharing program, in which riders can find a bike to rent using an app and have it powered by an electric motor.
A city streetlight pilot program is packing a lamp with technology to aid communications, as well as charging ports for phones and cars.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has put forth new regulations that would allow for less restrictive testing and deployment of fully autonomous vehicles.
The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance aims to bolster technology industries and partnerships in the Denver metro region.
The Cincinnati International Airport installed a network of sensors, software and other equipment to help reduce security wait times, and it's getting positive results.
The Smart Cities Week conference runs through Oct. 5 in Washington D.C.
Timothy Blute is heading up NGA Future, a new initiative by the National Governors Association to explore how technology can be used throughout state government.
Autonomous vehicle technology was a key topic of discussion at the 50th annual meeting of the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The ConnectATL summit last week united elected, public and business officials discussing the future of transit, transportation and planning in the region.
The International Cycling Safety Conference in Davis, Calif., will explore how data from vehicles, smart and connected devices or sensors and other objects in the urban landscape can work to serve the needs and safety of cyclists.
City officials want to explore "smart cities" projects as a means of improving the overall quality of life, while trying to avoid technology for technology's sake.
Tech companies stress the notion that the market today is strong at the mid-size and small city levels.
National Drive Electric Week launches hundreds of events nationwide Sept. 9 to 17.
New legislation related to self-driving cars will likely reaffirm the federal government's role in regulating the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Audi's Traffic Light Information system available in Las Vegas and other U.S. cities.
Nationwide, some 3.8 million workers filled jobs like trucking, delivery or taxi industries in 2015. And these jobs could be impacted by self-driving technology, according to a U.S. Commerce Department study.
A survey released earlier this year looks at how smart cities projects are developing in smaller jurisdictions nationwide.
The San Joaquin Regional Transit District in California has launched the country's first battery-powered electric bus route.
States like New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Nevada are all open to continuing research in truck-platooning.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will use a self-driving Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle (AIPV), as a barrier to protect highway workers.
The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the Smart City Works Actuator are seeking applications from entrepreneurs, startups and companies with emerging products that are designed to make cities smarter, more livable and more resilient.
The city is looking for 1,600 private vehicle volunteers for pilot program to measure safety features along the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
The Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria's latest edition has new instructions for reporting the emerging sector of autonomous vehicles.
The hope is that the two-month test of smart city tech is successful and can be made available to other cities in the state.
Bellevue, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Newport News, Va.; and Montgomery County, Md., use their Global City Teams Challenge grant awards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to come up with smart tech systems that can be easily replicated.
Smart Columbus is getting serious about promoting electric vehicle use, starting with encouraging more charging locations.
The monitoring programs are part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart City Air Challenge — a 2016 competitive grant program that made $40,000 available to each community.
Smart Cities Guru founder Anil Ahuja has compiled a list of the top U.S. cities — from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles — that have found a way to combine technology and nature.
Public works and IT officials use traffic and other data to predict where the next pothole will form — allowing it to repair or resurface 35 to 45 miles of streets per year versus the previous 20 to 25 miles.
Third annual Gigabit City Summit is set to attract some 300 to 350 attendees ranging from public-sector CIOs, to entrepreneurs, to tech professionals in the private sector.
The sheriff's department has attached sensors to its officers' body armor that alert command officials and emergency services if an officer in the field is injured.
The Smart Cities Living Lab is a test bed for numerous smart technologies in downtown Dallas that has become a mecca for tourism and the arts.
