Cincinnati (OH) officials are considering a battery-powered system for the city’s planned streetcar line. A wireless system would be cheaper to build and operate than a conventional streetcar system, and eliminating overhead wires has significant aesthetic advantages. But the battery-powered vehicles need a charge every five miles and they face a challenge on hills. “IRead… Read more »
Governing paid a visit to the personal rapid transit system in Morgantown (WV). Serving the West Virginia University campus and downtown Morgantown, the 71 blue and yellow cars carry about 15,000 passengers on a typical day. Boeing built the $120 million system in 1975 with federal funding. Now that Boeing is out of the transitRead… Read more »
Tweet Print PDF Broadband access in the United States is an issue fraught with strong opinions on topics from speed to funding to net neutrality. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) backed by the support of the Obama Administration is pushing a variety of initiatives to increase broadband access nationwide in order to close the technologyRead… Read more »
It’s ‘Energy Data Tuesday’ here on the CEIL Blog. We have two sets of data to share with you today, both courtesy of the EIA. The first is the State Energy Data System. The SEDS, managed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), has recently released data for energy consumption, expenditure and production for the yearRead… Read more »
Deltek Analyst Randi Powell and Sr. Analyst Chris Cotner report. In a press release dated June 30, 2011, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said, “I deeply regret that the last week of intense negotiations between Republican legislative leaders and Senator Bakk, Representative Thissen, and myself have failed to bridge the divide between us.” He continued, “OurRead… Read more »
Metra (IL) may have double-charged some of its riders last week according to a statement on its website. Up to 1,500 customers who used a credit or debit card at station ticket windows on June 27 may have affected. The Chicago-area commuter rail provider is working with the credit card processing company to reverse theRead… Read more »
Caltrain (CA) plans to mount cameras on the front and back of every train to record accidents and suicides. There have been nine suicides along the commuter rail tracks so far this year, and 11 in 2010. “I had one last year,” a veteran engineer told the San Francisco Chronicle. “A guy jumped off theRead… Read more »
In their Digital City plan New York also identifies the need for improving the RFP process. As part of their program to grow the Entrepreneur and Developer Community New York identified the following top 5 wish list from private sector technology entrepreneurs: 1. Engineering Talent 2. Broadband Connectivity 3. Real-time API of NYC Data andRead… Read more »
There seems to be public outcry every time a municipal government agrees to foot the bill for a lavish, state-of-the-art stadium or arena in order to entice a professional sports team to make (or keep) its home in that city. Why, people wonder, are our tax dollars subsidizing an already wildly profitable private business? YetRead… Read more »
Mashable offers three simple technology strategies for making cities greener. First on the list is offering WiFi on transit. Chris Taylor writes: That’s the major advantage transit has always had over driving — you can do other stuff while you’re on it. And in today’s hectic work world, extra time online during the day isRead… Read more »