Kansas City to Expand its 'Smart City' Tech

The 1960s had the space race, the 2010s has the smart cities race. Kansas City means to win this one.

1 minute read

June 8, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Downtown Kansas City Missouri

Stuseeger / Flickr

"Kansas City, MO is seeking partners for its smart city expansion plans, according to a request for proposals [pdf] issued Wednesday," according to an article by Chris Teale.

The city is looking to implement improvements to public transportation and public wi-fi along the Prospect Avenue. The project would expand on a similar project implemented in a 5114-block area of the city in 2016.

"Kansas City has big ambitions to be the 'first true smart city in the world,' and it led the way in 2016 with its first RFP that has transformed much of its downtown core," according to Teale.

For more on the RFP and the city's previous smart city investments, see also an article by Elise Reuter, which might be behind a paywall for some readers.

Thursday, June 7, 2018 in Smart Cities Dive

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nithya Ramen talks to an older man. She is smiling and wearing a yellow dress. They are both outside.

Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor

Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.