Chief Innovative Technology Officer of Los Angeles, Peter Marx, recently stepped down. But first, he offers some lessons learned during his tenure, which included an L.A. mobility app and a successful open data initiative.

Chief Technology Officers are playing a more vital role in adapting governments to the evolving digital technologies that are allowing for more flexibility, transparency, and localized decision-making. Peter Marx, hired in 2014 by Mayor Eric Garcetti, served as the Chief Innovative Technology Officer of Los Angeles for two years after being recruited from Qualcomm Labs. In an exclusive interview with The Planning Report, Marx described how Los Angeles is more connected and shared his vision for how the city might function with ubiquitous digital connectivity.
Marx helped spearhead the Xerox-sponsored mobility app Go LA, which allows Angelenos to see all potential transit options and decide whether they want to get to their destination faster, greener, or cheaper. The app has integrated ride share, rail, bus services, and bike lanes to help remove worries from users.
In addition, Marx helped increase data services and Wi-Fi connectivity through working with AT&T and Google Fiber. Working with Mayor Garcetti, Marx explained how they led the effort for more broadband, cellular, and unlicensed spectrum activity across the city. According to Marx, “LA Metro [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] is putting Wi-Fi and cellular service into the subway systems and on buses, and LADOT is putting Wi-Fi onto the DASH buses. We put Wi-Fi into the bus shelters.”
Updating and modernizing the zoning code has also been a priority in Los Angeles. Marx helped launch the recode.la initiative to help simplify and modernize the zoning code. As Marx describes, "Recode.la is an initiative within the Planning Department to turn the zoning code into XML. This way, homeowners in any neighborhood can easily find out everything they’re allowed to do when redoing their kitchen, changing a wall, or any other project."
Marx successfully coordinated Recode LA's efforts with other open-data initiatives, working with numerous departments to work towards publishing "an open-source, community-supported set of tools to enable anyone in any city in the world to improve and use our solutions for their own applications."
Read more in The Planning Report.
FULL STORY: Chief Technology Officer Peter Marx’s Exit Interview: Led on Digitally Connecting LA

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie