Category: Basic Services

December 4, 2023

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced more than $220 million in grants to modernize American ferry systems. Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, the program focuses on expanding ferry service in rural communities, helping […]

December 1, 2023

Surveys show that Americans’ trust in government is at near record lows. This mistrust is the cumulative result of many factors — from the dramatic (wars and scandals) to the more mundane (inefficient services and technology failures) — that have […]

November 21, 2023

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Wednesday that it will make approximately $4.7 million in grant funding available for project to improve accessibility in transportation services. Part of the FTA’s Innovative Coordinate Access and Mobility (ICAM) […]

November 17, 2023

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it would open its proposed rules to strengthen state agencies’ ability to oversee rail transit in the United States. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would give State Safety […]

November 9, 2023

The Washington Department of Transportation’s computer systems are partially back online after a security incident this week disrupted its website and mobile apps. A disclaimer at the top of the department’s homepage reads, “Portions of the website and mobile app […]

November 6, 2023

The U.S. government recently published more than 700 artificial intelligence use cases among federal agencies on the AI.gov website. Notably, the Department of Energy and Health and Human Services disclosed more than 150 use cases. As an emerging technology, AI […]

November 3, 2023

Every day, millions of people are unable to access the critical government services they need because of the complexity of navigating program enrollment and the bureaucracy of government agencies. Recognizing its responsibility to provide equitable and fair services to all, […]

October 31, 2023

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced a proposed update to a Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program regulation. The change would expand refresher training requirements for mandatory participants and allow for greater flexibility in the curriculum to address changing […]

October 27, 2023

Chicago officials on Thursday announced a new task force to evaluate emerging technologies that can assist in transforming how the city delivers services to residents. The Chicago Taskforce on Innovation and Technology is intended to find solutions to challenges with […]

October 16, 2023

On Thursday, Caltrans announced Stadler Rail, Inc. will deliver to it the first zero-emission, hydrogen intercity passenger train in North America. The $80 million contract will see Stadler deliver four trainsets to operate primarily between Merced and Sacramento on the […]

October 10, 2023

Fighting fires is no easy task, especially a fire that begins within a waste or recycling facility. In this month’s column, I explore why it’s important to be prepared for a facility fire and explain the difference between DIY fire […]

September 29, 2023

All new school buses sold in New York must be zero emission by 2027, and by 2035 the state requires all school buses in use to be emissions free. “The commitment of public funds and guidance released today puts New […]

September 22, 2023

On Sept. 20, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) called on the U.S. Senate to pass appropriations bills to avoid another government shutdown. In a letter to Senate leaders, the group said the Senate should reach a bipartisan consensus […]

September 13, 2023

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) a $970,000 Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration grant. The agencies will use the funding to strategically purchase and deploy […]

September 12, 2023

A new report released Tuesday found that local governments can boost the public’s trust in its operations by offering government services in a digital format and providing administrative transparency. Specifically, the new report from the government technology software company CivicPlus […]

September 8, 2023

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday his state had been awarded an additional $425 million in Federal Highway Administration funds for transportation projects. The funding, part of the Federal August Redistribution process, will provide the New Jersey Department of […]

August 15, 2023

This month, the Biden administration announced it would create a sustainable purchase plan, to modernize existing sustainable purchasing standards, while prioritizing American-made sustainable products and services. The Sustainable Products and Services procurement rule will not only help the federal government […]

August 14, 2023

Residential customer satisfaction is an ongoing challenge for energy utilities, especially as energy costs increase, technology advances and customer expectations change. “We need to make sure we’re addressing the evolving needs and expectations of our customers because they’re constantly changing,” […]

July 20, 2023

Emergency call centers across the country are steadily trading in their analog call-taking equipment for modern devices packed with new features designed to bolster public safety, while call providers swap out copper wiring for fiber-optic cables. These efforts are part […]

July 18, 2023

On July 14, Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) announced the approval of the state’s transportation plan. The OTC approved the Oregon Transportation Plan, a 25-year plan that shapes the state’s transportation system, the plan includes information on how to prioritize limited […]