How CTA built the latest Train Tracker app
After the CTA (IL) rolled out a text-based version of its Train Tracker app, Grid Chicago asked CTA’s Tony Coppoletta about some of the project details. Original post
Posts Tagged: state&local
Toronto asks for citizen input on budget
Toronto is working on its next city budget with the help of its citizens. City officials opened up part of the budget to public debate and input through a series of outreach initiatives designed to get people more involved in municipal activities. The city held public roundtables, posted an online survey and asked citizens toRead… Read more »
Is Unanimous Government A Good Thing?
As a person interested in local government I recently read three years worth of the Town of Tonawanda, NY board minutes (population 78,000). I was shocked to learn how rare it is for a board member to vote “No” on an item. From 2008-2010 the Tonawanda Town Board voted on 3,179 items and during thisRead… Read more »
GovBytes: Street Surveillance – Good Governance or Poor Policy?
In a post 9/11 world, surveillance is becoming prominent as more resources are allocated to fighting terrorism. There are those who oppose surveillance, such as street cameras, out of fear that the government is becoming too powerful. There is also concern that increased surveillance may be bad fiscal policy. Government Technology reported that a 2005Read… Read more »
Rural broadband expands in South Dakota, Alaska
Rural broadband networks are moving forward in South Dakota and Alaska. Last week, South Dakota asked rural residents to complete usage surveys about how they use the internet and what services they would like to see. General Communications Inc. just finished an expansion in Southwest Alaska that would bring internet access to the region forRead… Read more »
MBTA and Boston launch apps challenge to link transit with bikes . . . and lunch
The MBTA and the City of Boston launched a developers challenge for apps that highlight connections between the MBTA and Boston’s bikeshare program. Original post
California Eliminating 400 Redevelopment Agencies
Last year the California State Legislature passed a law eliminating more than 400 redevelopment agencies statewide. Most of the $5 billion in property taxes that provided funding to those agencies will now be funneled to the state, counties and school districts. The elimination of redevelopment agencies statewide was proposed by Governor Jerry Brown. The CaliforniaRead… Read more »
Coders encounter the great outdoors
Before a line of code was written, a wireframe was sketched, or a GitHub repo was created, the first Friday at Code for America began with us away from our computers and traveling out of San Francisco to the Marin Headlands. With the help of our park guides and facilitators, we explored the park andRead… Read more »
California IT project falls behind
California’s most recent government technology effort is running into some hurdles. The Financial Information System for California (FISCal), was supposed to streamline IT costs and staffing but seems to be hitting snags for exactly those reasons. So far, the project has cost over $60 million with final costs stretching into over a billion over theRead… Read more »
Looking ahead: issues facing state governments in 2012
As we start out a new year, I would like to provide some perspective on the major issues likely to face the states in 2012. My perspective is based on having had the opportunity to meet with a large number of governors and state legislative leaders over the last several months and attending several nationalRead… Read more »