Comments
Ariella
5/26/2016 3:44:58 PM
User Rank Author
fiber
This is the defined directions for smarter cities (I'm from NY, so I'll leave it spelled that way). Verizon is very smart to capitalize on it in Boston. In NYC, Vonage is the telecom offering free calls on LinkNYC, which will effectively get is name out in that market.
faryl
5/26/2016 3:51:03 PM
User Rank Platinum
Bicycle Safety
Bicycle safety is not exactly the first thing that pops into my head when I think of the benefits of fiber - shows the vast potention of the IoT!
It would be nice if San Diego followed suit with this - we've become more bike friendly, but cyclists seem to be at odds with drivers. From what I've read, it's not an uncommon issue - I think Portland struggles with this as well.
Ariella
5/26/2016 3:55:33 PM
User Rank Author
Re: Bicycle Safety
@faryl Setting up bike lanes is trendy now. But many times they are set outside the side of the street where the cars park, which forces them to be in very close proximity to vehicle traffic. On top of that, the cyclists tend to veer into traffic and go on the left side even when the standard practice set out in the rules if for bicylces to stick to the left.
I know this is not feasible in many cities working off old road plans, but the best solution would be to create bike lanes that are distinct from the paths for cars. There's a small stretch in my neighborhood that has that feature.
faryl
5/28/2016 4:58:02 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Bicycle Safety
They've started this in San Diego as well - there are some decent stretches that you can ride in a dedicated bike lane.
In other areas, they just mark one lane of the roads with a picture of a bike to indicate that bikers can use that full lane and have the right of way (something I don't find especially comfortable either as a biker or a driver, personally).
A major cause of pushback is local businesses, since bike lanes usually end up using space currently used for street parking.
(The left turn issue reminds me of a reverse of the issue with carpool or bus lanes on highways...when you get to areas that are frequently exited, there seems to be a bit of a hiccup in flow as vehicles suddenly all start flowing back the right lane again)
faryl
5/28/2016 5:23:21 PM
User Rank Platinum
I feel compelled to comment
This needs to be said: I think this is my favorite TT headline ever. (evah?)
Re: I feel compelled to comment
I agree that it's a good one. That was Joe's headline.
Michelle
5/29/2016 5:16:42 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: I feel compelled to comment
@Mike I guess this means Joe wins the headline writing competition for May :) I'm really impressed with the level of clever in this simple 9 word headline.
freehe
5/26/2016 3:57:44 PM
User Rank Platinum
Verizon Fiber Rollout
There are better ways to make a city a smart city. Bicycle lanes should be at the bottom of the list. How about automating government processes, implementing sustainability measures, reducing silos and duplication or streamlining processes.
batye
5/26/2016 4:15:02 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Verizon Fiber Rollout
@freehe yes, as new technology creating smarter and safer cities, and I do think it the way of the future... better future....
dlr5288
5/27/2016 11:29:44 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Verizon Fiber Rollout
This made me laugh because it's so true!
Bicycle lanes should literally be at the bottom of the list. With everything going on in today's world and all the new tech advances, if we want to make smarter cities we have to start with the biggest problems.
faryl
5/28/2016 5:22:10 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Verizon Fiber Rollout
Amen!
I've had to avail myself of several government services over the past few years, and I've been astounded at the amount of duplicated effort and waste of time (and paper) that goes on!
Even services that are state or county based (like medical care or SNAP) have separate office locations, paperwork to fill out (that relies on the same documentation as each other for evidence that you qualify) and approval processes. And everything is tied to a person's social security number - so it shouldn't be that complicated to just look something up to verify the information.
Most places have someone at a window that gives you paperwork to fill out, then you bring the paperwork to another window and stand and watch them type all the information you just wrote out into their system...even an investment in touch screens/kiosks to expedite the data entry time at each separate location would probably save a ton on paper costs alone. (Forget being able to enter all the info on one place online and then maybe going to one location to verify identity or something!)
Interestly enough though, our parking meter and ticketing systems seem to be quite streamilined and even somehow seems to link up with the library overdue fines database...amazing what a motivator revenue can be! :-)
Duh!
6/2/2016 12:12:11 PM
User Rank Silver
Re: Verizon Fiber Rollout
Your premise is not well informed. Boston's Department of Information Technologies is quite pro-active in streamlining and providing visibility. Among other things, Mayor Walsh has a prominent "dashboard" display on his office wall and has no hesitation about jumping in when a city service turns red.
Traffic and public transportation are one of the city's biggest chronic problems. Verizon's involvement in infrastructure and in facilitating R&D will be a great thing for the city. Credit where credit is due.
clrmoney
5/27/2016 11:41:20 AM
User Rank Platinum
Verizon Rollout
Verizon has a lot to offer from cell phones and service that so that is a hit now in Boston with what they have to offer.
afwriter
5/27/2016 12:03:16 PM
User Rank Platinum
Slow Clap
Slow slap for the best title of the year! I love how more cities are starting to adopt IoT and can't wait until it is a part of our daily lives, though part of me is concered that in the clamor for the future we are going to have smart cities before they are truly foolproof.
DHagar
5/27/2016 9:05:23 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Slow Clap
@afwriter, I am with you. And I agree that "Smahter" cities (I am from Boston as well, Joe), will connect first and then become actually smarter.
It is exciting and when it links in the consumer use - with more IoT - you will really have something. These "digital" railroad tracks are truly going to move us forward.
Great report, Joe, and congratulations on your success!
Bicycle Lanes
I agree with all of you about Bicycle lanes. This may be one of the things needed but not as one of top priority items.
Priority
One of the key components of Verizon's plans for Boston involves Vision Zero, which is a municipal initiative committed to reducing the number of traffic collisions.
This sounds very interesting and promising. I strongly believe this should be one of the top most items to be considered in priority list. This has real practical value add to people.
dlr5288
5/28/2016 1:26:40 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Priority
I agree.
I think this one factor can help hugely with people and it should be held high in importance level. Obviously traffic problems and things like that are a big issue today.
dcawrey
5/30/2016 5:39:05 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Priority
Given the nature of Boston with its congestion problems, I think fiber deployments can really help. It's going to take time, but smart city initiatives can provide cities like Boston a lot more data to help fix things. Overall, this is a great public-private project that can put the city into the lead when it comes to technology.
Re: Priority
Similar to Boston, Newyork city is another perfect example to be benefitted with many initiative outlined as part of smart city effort. I do not know much about what is already in progress but i am very sure there are efforts currently in progress even in NYC.
faryl
5/30/2016 1:39:56 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Priority
San Diego could really benefit from some "smart" traffic lights.
It seems like the timing of lights don't have any connection to the time of day or how busy certain intersections are.
Or maybe their way of preventing collisions is to make sure cars can only drive one block at a time between red lights!
Michelle
5/31/2016 4:18:25 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Priority
@faryl that sounds awful. We have pretty good light timings where I live (much smaller place than San Diego). Software upgrades and new signal standards already exist to help ease traffic flow. Seems crazy to keep with the old while the new and improved have been around a few years already.
Other Key Services
"Future Smart Cities applications will address other key services, including environmental sensors, energy efficiency, and city lighting management," said Cupelo
This appears to be an adequate list of services. I know that traffic light managemnet has been going on more widely across many cities. Sensors and energy efficiency measures is also coming up.
Getting up to speed
As mentioned in the article that Verizon is accused to be late to this game. With this move with SmartCities intiatives and the lead with Boston's initiative, it is surely getting up to speed in right direction.
Michelle
5/29/2016 5:18:07 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Getting up to speed
@ms ak I agree. I hope they inspire other citites to jump in. This will be a really interesting trend for sure. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Re: Getting up to speed
I surely will join you to be in the list of anxious people to see how this comes along. We do have couple of Bostanians in this forum and I am sure they will keep us posted with upcoming developments.
dlr5288
5/31/2016 11:31:18 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Getting up to speed
Yes I would love to stay posted on this! I'm just very eager to see how this will turn out and what improvements will be made!
Duh!
6/2/2016 1:28:49 PM
User Rank Silver
Gives and Gets
This is one of those rare cases where the city's needs align with Verizon's.
This story lays out most of the "smaht" cities synergies. What it misses is the value of the infrastructure deployment and partnership to Verizon's core wireless business. Cell densification is a strategic priority for VZW in Boston and other major metro areas. The fiber infrastructure is key to that. Rights to site antennas on city streetlights is a major kicker.
Given that VZ will be doing a fiber build-out in high density business areas like the Financial District and Seaport, it's not much of a stretch for them to include residential neighborhoods, like Dorchester and the South End, where people have been clamoring for an alternative to Comcast.
The city is also promising to expedite permitting, which will allieviate a major drag on the fiber deployment project. Since large portions of the duct network are decrepit and/or congested. there is going to have to be a lot of new construction. Fortunately for Verizon, the Big Dig project forced them to build out fiber and duct facilities around the Central Artery/Southeast Espressway and MassPike Extention corridors. That had to have helped project economics.
The city will also expedite video franchising. Previously, the city overreached in their demands in return for the franchise, which caused Verizon to walk away in the mid-2000s.
Amusing story: According to the Boston Globe, the deal came together in typical Boston fashion (see the film "Spotlight" for a sense of how things come together in the city). John Henry, business and civic leader and owner of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Globe, happens to be social friends with Lowell McAdam, as well as a close working relationship with Marty Walsh. The machinery reportedly was set in motion in the Henry's dining room in the wealthy suburb of Brookline. Interesting to note how many improvements are conceived through the quiet machinations of civic-oriented business leaders, just like in the old days.
Overall, a win-win for the City of Boston and for VZ. Unfortunately, it's too much based on Boston's unique circumstances to suggest that VZ plans to repeat in other major cities.
I love it!
Your information about how everything unfolded was great! I'm sure a lot of what happens in most businesses happens this way. That's why networking is so key. It will be interesting to see if other cities do follow suit (or if Verizon moves on to other cities.) I certainly hope so, I am honestly a little jealous that the Bostonians will get such an amazing opportunity. I've never been to Boston, and hold a little inborn resentment for the city as a whole - I come from a family of Yankees fans. We're taught early. ;-)
mhhf1ve
6/9/2016 7:03:47 PM
User Rank Platinum
More Fiber To The Rescue!
I'm wondering how/why cities that are already deploying lots of fiber (Kansas City, etc) aren't benefitting from being "smarter" yet?
And places like S Korea that have had much faster broadband for years.. do those places have any kind of head start?
batye
6/13/2016 5:19:25 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: More Fiber To The Rescue!
@mhhf1ve interesting question... I would say it like the same devide between rich and poor... some cities have better access to latest technology due to the location :) - how I see it...
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