7 'Smart Cities Challenge' Proposals

The Washington Post details each of the seven proposals competing for $40 million in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Smart Cities Challenge.

1 minute read

June 14, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Public Wi-Fi

Emilio Labrador / Flickr

An article by Michael Laris, with illustrations by Nick Slater, previews the proposals by the seven cities competing in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Smart Cities Challenge.

The article breaks down each of the seven proposals on the following criteria: the problem, "by the numbers," the idea, and "how?".

So, for instance, Kansas City is faced with the problem of neighborhoods isolated "by geography and an information void." The idea is to "[e]xpand an ambitious but limited tech blitz surrounding a just-opened streetcar line to include struggling neighborhoods" by expanding advanced technologies like free wi-fi and public internet kiosks along an eight-mile bus line on Prospect Avenue.

Other cities competing in the competition include San Francisco, Austin, Columbus, Portland, Pittsburgh, and Denver. 

Thursday, June 9, 2016 in The Washington Post

View of downtown Los Angeles at golden hour from top of grassy hill with wooden bench in Vista Hermosa Natural Park

Downtown Los Angeles Park Wins National Award

Vista Hermosa Natural Park, designed by the landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA, has won the ASLA 2023 Landmark Award. Completed in 2008, Vista Hermosa was the first public park built in downtown L.A. in over 100 years.

September 11, 2023 - ASLA The Dirt

View of small-town street with brick buildings and cars parked in diagonal parking with string lights going across street in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

Norman, Oklahoma Eliminates Parking Mandates

The city made a subtle, one-word change that frees up developers to build parking based on actual need and eliminates costly unnecessary parking.

September 14, 2023 - Next City

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

Fast paced scene with people bike and cars at the busy intersection of 14th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.

When it Comes to Transportation, It’s All About Options

Debunking the notion of the personal automobile as liberator.

36 minutes ago - Strong Towns

Mosaic mural at Little Tokyo/Arts District transit station in downtown Los Angeles.

Prioritizing Equity in Federal Transit Funding

TransitCenter recommends several transit capital projects deserving of federal transportation dollars.

September 20 - TransitCenter

Close-up of top of California state capitol dome with U.S. and California flags flying and blue sky in background.

California Housing Bills Streamline Affordable Housing

A series of current and proposed bills are paving the way for more affordable housing production in the state, where environmental laws are often deployed to delay or block new development.

September 20 - CALmatters

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.