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Skip Descant

Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation and other areas for Government Technology magazine.

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News
State Board OKs Rule Making Transit Buses Emission-Free by 2040
The Innovative Clean Transit rule, three years in the making, is designed to spur adoption of electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles while not placing too great a burden on transit agencies.
December 18, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
A Meeting of the Minds: Change Management Key to Smart Cities
How Verizon and Sacramento approach their partnership to deliver solutions like 5G, free Wi-Fi in city parks and digital kiosks may evolve, but neighborhood-level issues and the importance of the underlying 4G and 5G infrastructure won't change, officials from the company and the city said recently.
November 28, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Sacramento Gets Dibs in EV Car-Sharing Program
Two apartment complexes in Sacramento are getting early access to a car-sharing program that’s starting small in largely disadvantaged neighborhoods, with plans to spread to other areas.
November 01, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
Sacramento in Vanguard of Driverless-Microshuttle Project
Businesses, schools, government agencies or others eyeing small, driverless shuttles have a new opportunity to try out the technology during a largely free trial in Sacramento.
October 29, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Silicon Valley City Plans RFPs to Use Data, Apps to EaseTraffic
Its Silicon Valley location has long been a boon to the tech-forward city of Fremont, but that proximity has brought with it a significant rise in commuter traffic. Now, city officials hope that joining the Startup in Residence program and leveraging a partnership with the makers of a popular travel app will help them manage gridlock by keeping drivers on the freeway.
October 10, 2018
 · Skip Descant, Theo Douglas
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News
Alliance to Spend Millions Targeting California in EV Awareness Campaign
If Californians are not already familiar with the details of electric cars, a new multimillion-dollar ad campaign wants to change that. Veloz, a nonprofit alliance of carmakers, electric utilities, policymakers and others, will launch the informational campaign, known as Electric For All, to raise awareness about electric vehicles in the state.
October 09, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
Fiber Optic Master Plan Guides City's Future
In the coming years, the public library in San Leandro could have more than just books and movies to lend out: Patrons may also be able to check out a mobile Wi-Fi hot-spot device. The plan to become a smarter city includes moves like upgrading traffic signals to the latest intelligent tech to better manage traffic, as well as a bevy of sensors and cameras to enhance public safety.
October 03, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
SF Bay Area Planning Upgrades to Its Transit Payment System
The region's mass transit commission wants to spend $461 million to integrate the Clipper Card with private-sector mobility providers.
September 20, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Regulations Catching Up to App-Based Scooters
San Francisco created new criteria for permitting of app-based scooters, and in the end it chose two companies to participate in a pilot program.
September 18, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Free Shuttles Find Their Place in CA Cities
Small electric shuttles -- both human-driven and robot-operated -- are taking to the streets up and down California and across the nation. They offer short, low-speed trips, connecting riders to other transit options or simply moving them through tiny downtown districts.
July 24, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Traffic 'Control Cabinets' Aim to Make Streets Safer
Upgrades to traffic control systems in Los Angeles could make that city’s streets safer for more than just the folks behind the wheel. New control cabinets — the behind-the-scenes nerve center for traffic signals — will include new technology to control features such as the guide-lighting in crosswalks, or signals directing bicycle traffic.
July 19, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
'Green City' Sacramento Set to Amp Up Electric Car Fleet
Capital is primed to set itself apart as a national leader in electric-car adoption by vastly building out charging infrastructure and unleashing more than 250 new electric vehicles available for rent for only a couple of bucks a mile.
July 12, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
First Things First: AVs Need to Be Safe
The growth of self-driving cars will be driven, in part, by improving consumer faith that the vehicles are safe, and building out more electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
June 05, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
Sacramento, 5G and Verizon: 'Just Great Potential,' CIO Says
The close working relationship between Verizon and information technology officials in Sacramento could turn out to be a model for communities across the country as cities move forward with smart city projects and the high-capacity communications networks needed to support them.
June 04, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
CA Cities, Groups Get Funds for EV Charging Plans
The California Energy Commission has awarded $1.9 million in funding from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to nine cities and organizations to develop strategic plans for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
June 03, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
Wireless-Charging Electric Cars to Be Tested at GoMentum
ELIX Wireless, a maker of electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, will be testing its wireless car-charging units at GoMentum Station in Concord, in Contra Costa County.
May 28, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
L.A. Metro Contracts for Feasibility Study
L.A. Metro's chief innovation officer sees lots of potential in microtransit on demand, and three firms are doing feasibility studies.
May 03, 2018
 · Skip Descant
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News
CIO Calls for Buy-In, Aims to Update Strategic Plan
Los Angeles County's new CIO, fresh from Seattle and on the job for just a few months, is planning to update the IT strategic plan and confer with county departments about their business goals.
April 03, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
SF: We Need Public-Private Internet Connectivity
San Francisco says a public-private hybrid plan for high-speed Internet throughout the city is necessary to bridge to connectivity divide among residents.
April 01, 2018
 · Skip Descant
News
LA CIO Touts 'Intelligent IoT Integrator'
USC Marshall School of Business and Viterbi School of Engineering, along with the city of Los Angeles, have formed the Intelligent Internet-of-Things Integrator to further collaborate on projects related to IoT testing and development. LA CIO Ted Ross is among those touting the I3 Consortium.
December 20, 2017
 · Skip Descant
News
eHighway Tech Experiment Targets Emissions
An eHighway test site in California has electric-hybrid trucks connecting to overhead power lines, a pilot project that uses technology to reduce emissions.
November 21, 2017
 · Skip Descant
News
Contra Costa Teams with AAA, Toyota on Self-Driving Cars
Autonomous vehicle technology development continues in California, as some of the most trusted names in consumer car travel sign on. Contra Costa County is working with AAA and Toyota.
November 02, 2017
 · Skip Descant
News
LA Metro Has RFP for 'Micro-Transit' Program
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has put out an RFP to develop what it is calling a “micro-transit” program that would take passengers from one destination to another at a low cost, traveling in a ride-share vehicle.
November 01, 2017
 · Skip Descant
News
Small, Mid-Size Cities are Ripe Markets for Smart Tech
Smaller cities often possess the nimbleness to act quickly in areas of developing and deploying smart city technologies. But they also tend to lack the big budgets for the sort of large projects seen in a major metro. On Monday, members of the smart cities tech industry participated in a panel discussion hosted by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) on industry trends and directions, particularly with the rise of edge computing, cybersecurity concerns and the development of connected vehicles.
September 13, 2017
 · Skip Descant
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