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Secure wireless connectivity, agile project management, online transactions and more

Welcome to the latest issue of The Districts, where we chronicle the people, issues and activities impacting special districts across the U.S.

The Fall Special Districts Virtual Summit on Sept. 21 offered a real-world look at how innovative special districts are preparing for the future. Check out the recorded event to hear how:

  • The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which manages intercity passenger rail service in northern California, is deploying secure wireless connectivity to modernize passenger information displays in train stations and provide public Wi-Fi service for riders.
  • The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, which provides public transportation in the greater Boston Area, created an easy and accessible digital process for low-income youth, senior citizens, blind residents and others to apply for reduced fare programs.
  • The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which serves nearly 700,000 people in the city of Detroit, moved nearly all its customer transactions online, enabling it to close three physical customer service facilities.


Find More Great Ideas

Visit the Special Districts National Innovation Showcase to find more innovations and best practices. You’ll see how:

  • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the largest supplier of treated water in the U.S., used Agile project management techniques to dramatically reduce the time it took to comply with new regulatory requirements.
  • The Great Lakes Water Authority, which provides drinking water to nearly 40% of Michigan’s population, developed a water quality monitoring dashboard that aggregates water quality data from sensors on the Detroit River.
  • The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, which provides wastewater service to nearly 500,000 people and more than 3,000 businesses in northern California, launched an immersive and interactive website to engage and educate customers.


District Spotlight: Closing Transportation Gaps

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is partnering with SHARE Mobility, a ride-hailing and transportation technology platform, and employers in two suburban areas to help hourly employees get to work. The pilot project will let employees schedule rides from traditional transit stops to employment hubs in the Solon and Bedford Heights communities, which are 30 to 45 minutes from downtown Cleveland.

Read the full story.