Almost half of the fare cheaters on New York City’s subways are children, and they are costing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority millions. According to an unofficial MTA report, 43% of scofflaws are children, most of whom duck under the turnstiles. The New York Daily News spoke with some mothers who did not pay for theirRead… Read more »
The Chicago Transit Authority (IL) ordered 300 new subway cars from Bombardier at a cost of $331 million. The new cars will use alternating current propulsion, which allows dynamic braking regeneration, lower energy and maintenance costs, and improved reliability. The cars will also be equipped with an active suspension system to keep the floor isRead… Read more »
Chicago-area Metra (IL) expects to improve the air quality inside its commuter rail cars by switching to more efficient air filters. After a Chicago Tribune investigation found that commuters were exposed to high levels of soot inside the rail cars, the agency studied a series of options for reducing exposure to the fumes. Soot levelsRead… Read more »
The federal web manager community has been hollering – rightly – about the uncontrolled proliferation of federal government websites for at least 7 years. We’ve known we can’t possibly manage all that content effectively. We’ve known there’s duplication and redundancy. We’ve known that a huge percentage of our web content is written poorly, making itRead… Read more »
GSA’s Section 508 program recently created a guidance document, “Guidance on Acquisition for Accessible EIT” (in PDF and doc format). Federal acquisitions of accessible EIT (Electronic and Information Technology) are based on an agency or department having a detailed process for addressing Section 508. While the process can be quite involved for some acquisitions, itRead… Read more »
We haven’t done a live webchat this month yet, so let’s squeeze one in before August is upon us! So, at 11am on 26th July, please join me on the Kind of Digital site for an hour’s live chatter about overcoming barriers to implementing social media type online innovation. Am sure there’s plenty to keepRead… Read more »
The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is hosting their first-ever summer fund drive. From the announcement: Since 2002, the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation has served as a hub, a resource clearinghouse, and a facilitative leader for our dialogue and deliberation community. Together we have been the catalyst for extraordinary connection andRead… Read more »
There’s an interesting new book project launching in Europe, scheduled to come out next year: Sustainable eParticipation Here’s the introduction: In the past 5-10 years, eParticipation emerged as a novel theoretical and practical domain, and it will further characterise the policy agendas of most industrialised and developing countries in the near future. By eParticipation, weRead… Read more »
(for readers less interested in Open Data – I promise something different tomorrow) In February I wrote how 2011 would be the year of the license for Canada’s open data community. This has indeed been the case. For public servants and politicians overseeing the various open data projects happening in Canada and around the world,Read… Read more »
Last week, New York City announced its first ever hackathon aimed to revamp its web presence, NYC.gov. On July 30-31, teams of designers, developers, writers, photographers and product managers will gather at General Assembly in New York City and spend a weekend implementing their visions for a re-imagined NYC.gov. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the contestRead… Read more »