Smart Cities Weekly

Major Policy and Regulatory Developments

U.S. DOT Advances SMART Grants • Department of Transportation announced final approval of six Stage 2 grants under the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program (Transportation.gov) • Projects use technology to improve transportation efficiency and safety nationwide • Program has funded 127 Stage 1 projects and 8 Stage 2 projects to date

Denver Considers Parking Reform • City evaluating proposal to remove minimum parking requirements for new developments citywide (Axios) • Initiative aims to encourage greater public transit use and lower housing development costs • City Council expected to vote on measure during summer 2025

Seattle Prepares for 2026 FIFA World Cup • Officials considering installation of 30 digital touch-screen kiosks in downtown and business districts (Axios) • Kiosks would provide public safety updates, directions, and localized information on events, restaurants, and transit • Downtown Seattle Association anticipates generating ~$1.1 million annually through advertising.

Technology Deployments and Urban Innovation

New Orleans Pauses AI Surveillance • City may become first major U.S. city to implement live AI-enhanced facial recognition surveillance network (Axios) • Police Department paused system use amid growing legal and privacy concerns • Formal review announced to assess officer participation and potential ordinance violations

Charlotte Police Pilot Drone First Responders • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department piloting drones as first responders (Axios) • Initiative aims to improve response times and assist in situation assessments • Drones collect information to help de-escalate incidents before officers arrive

Los Angeles Launches Electric Transit • City introduced all-electric Dash bus service in Pacoima, San Fernando Valley (LinkedIn) • Initiative supports efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality • Provides affordable, sustainable access to key locations in underserved communities

Industry Collaborations and Events

Strategic Partnership Formed • Smart Cities Americas and Smart Cities Council signed Memorandum of Understanding (Smart Cities Council) • Partnership establishes global network dedicated to advancing smart city innovations • Focuses on fostering innovation, sustainability, and citizen-centric solutions • Joint initiatives in policy development, technology deployment, and knowledge-sharing

Smart Cities Summit North America 2025 • Summit convened in San Francisco with visionaries, technologists, public servants, and community stewards (IFZA, Smart Cities Council) • Participants from over 18 countries attended • Platform to address urban challenges and drive sustainable development through smart city initiatives

Key Trends

This week highlighted the balance between innovation and regulation in North American smart cities. While cities like Denver and Los Angeles push forward with sustainable transportation initiatives, others like New Orleans are taking measured approaches to AI deployment amid privacy concerns. The federal SMART grants program continues to drive technological adoption, while industry partnerships strengthen the foundation for future smart city development.

Sources: Developments drawn from Transportation.gov, Axios, LinkedIn, Smart Cities Council, and IFZA.