The Future in Context e.Republic Editorial

Reducing traffic deaths is a compelling proposition, but it gets complicated when trying to make it so.
Reduced enforcement of traffic laws, increased rates of driver impairment, cellphone distractions and street designs that prioritize speed have helped reverse long-standing traffic safety gains in American cities.Programs like Vision Zero, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths, face challenges in implementation and efficacy, though success stories like Hoboken, N.J., offer hope. Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All provide substantial funding opportunities for cities to enhance street safety. However, administrative barriers may hinder smaller municipalities from accessing these resources.In TFIC’s occasional series, Your Mileage May Vary, and Senior Writer Jared Brey (Governing) and Senior Writer Skip Descant (Government Technology*) explore how controversies around street design interventions — so-called traffic calming — like bike lanes and curb extensions highlight the challenges of balancing various transportation needs and navigating public perceptions. Technology plays a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements, from speed monitoring to data-driven safety assessments. In the aftermath of the Baltimore bridge collapse, the daunting task of rebuilding underscores the importance of robust infrastructure planning and response mechanisms.
SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:
Traffic Safety Trends: Despite long-term declines in traffic fatalities, American cities have experienced a concerning uptick in traffic-related deaths and collisions, particularly during the pandemic, attributed to factors like reduced enforcement and increased impairment. Challenges of Vision Zero: While programs like Vision Zero aim to eliminate traffic deaths, implementation faces hurdles, with mixed success in cities like San Francisco. Strategies include redesigning streets for safety and setting ambitious goals, but efficacy varies across contexts. Federal Funding Opportunities: Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All offer substantial funding to enhance street safety, but smaller municipalities may face administrative challenges in accessing these resources, highlighting the need for capacity-building support. Controversies in Street Design: Controversies around street interventions like bike lanes and curb extensions underscore the challenges of balancing diverse transportation needs and navigating public perceptions, with technology playing a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements. Lessons from Infrastructure Failures: Infrastructure failures like the Baltimore bridge collapse highlight the importance of robust planning and response mechanisms, underscoring the daunting task of rebuilding and its potential impacts on regional and global trade. Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:
How Hoboken Has Gone Years Without a Traffic Death Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Record High Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
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A 50-state investigation in data journalism suggests the answer is, not yet. The AI agent was insightful on a number of fronts; but, while not descending into hallucinations, its mind strayed from instructions as the experiment went on.
Government Technology Data Reporter Nikki Davidson tasked Google’s AI tool Gemini (formerly Bard) to explore AI’s perspective on government technology use. Davidson’s innovative approach involved treating AI as a collaborative partner to generate insights on AI’s potential applications in government.
Despite Gemini’s occasional inaccuracies and deviations from instructions, Davidson’s project yielded diverse and unexpected use cases across different areas, such as mental health, opioid use and climate change.Gemini’s recommendations extended to climate challenges and infrastructure needs, reflecting a surprisingly deep understanding of regional concerns. Gemini itself suggested it would be five to 10 years before AI is fully integrated in government operations, emphasizing that it is inevitable for government.
Believing turnabout is fair play, Davidson asked Gemini for feedback on her work. It gave the article a strong numerical grade on a scale of 1 to 10 but did have suggestions on how to make it better. Human reviewers, including Benjamin Palacio, a senior IT analyst with Placer County, Calif., highlighted both the promise and challenges of AI applications, particularly in sensitive areas like mental health support. Davidson views AI as a valuable tool but underscores the necessity of human oversight and awareness of its limitations.
SHOW NOTES Takeaways:
AI can be used as a tool to explore the best uses of technology in government. Surprising use cases of AI in government include mental health and opioid abuse awareness. Ethical concerns arise when AI suggests analyzing sensitive data like social media and medical records. Human intervention is necessary to ensure the accuracy of AI. Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Setting Up the Story
00:39 Using AI to Explore Government Use Cases
04:10 The Maps and the Impact of the Story
05:12 Surprising Use Cases of AI in Government
07:18 Ethical Concerns and Gray Areas
09:05 AI’s Role in Infrastructure and Climate
10:26 Realistic Timelines for AI Implementation
11:22 The Relationship With AI and Hallucinations
13:17 AI’s Opinion on the Worth and Accuracy of the Work
14:19 Responses from Human Reviewers
15:30 AI as a Tool With Limitations
16:23 Conclusion and Future Possibilities
Related Links to items referenced in the episode:
How Does AI Predict Governments Will Use AI? It Depends Where You Live Center for Public Sector AI, a division of e.Republic, the parent company of Government Technology and Governing. Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
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The reinvention of a Virginia city built by railway robber barons as a biotech hub defies default strategies of trying to attract new players to do what was done by the companies that left or closed. The story of Roanoke shares the cover of the rebooted print edition of Governing magazine* with a feature on what states are doing to increase the availability and affordability of housing.Governing Editor Alan Greenblatt discusses the magazine’s return to print after five years of being web-only. Greenblatt emphasizes the value of a physical magazine for high-level government officials, providing in-depth analysis and innovative ideas on pressing issues. The magazine aims to offer a thoughtful and lasting resource that readers can reference on their desks, offering a break from the overwhelming flood of web-based information.The cover stories feature Roanoke’s successful transition to biotech and the growing concern of housing shortages addressed by state policymakers.Here are the takeaways from this episode:
SHOW NOTES Solving the Economic Development Puzzle: Roanoke, Va., faced economic hardship when two Fortune 500 companies closed their headquarters. It was situation familiar to many communities that have lost major employers, leading to prolonged efforts to rebuild. However, Roanoke chose a different path. The city went all in on biotech, leveraging existing resources like Carilion Clinic and a new medical school from Virginia Tech. The shift resulted in a thriving biotech research institute that grew from one to over 500 employees.Shift in State Involvement in Housing: States are increasingly recognizing the widespread need for affordable and quality housing, leading them to take a more active role previously reserved for local governments.Zoning Policy Reform: States are reconsidering zoning policies, traditionally a local concern, as a factor contributing to housing cost increases and supply constraints. They are exploring changes to zoning laws to encourage more diverse housing options:
West Coast: States like Oregon, Washington and California are permitting multifamily buildings in single-family areas to increase housing density. East Coast: Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs policy offers grants to homeowners for essential repairs, aiming to preserve existing housing stock. Meanwhile, Rhode Island explores a public developer model, inspired by Montgomery County, Md., to build mixed-income housing. Mountain West: Colorado purposefully introduced multiple housing reform bills with overlapping coalitions to build a broad base of support for legislative change. It has also taken administrative action to reduce turnaround for permitting and eliminate mandatory parking. Colorado took a page from what worked in Montana, which pursued policies that require cities to allow duplexes and accessory dwelling units in single-family areas to address housing affordability and supply issues. While zoning policy reform may address higher housing costs associated with restrictive zoning, it doesn't necessarily lead to immediate cost reduction.
Importance of Transit Proximity: Progressive lawmakers recognize the benefits of building dense housing near transit hubs to reduce car dependency and improve efficiency in moving people.The issue also covers the turnover among school superintendents, citizenship for American Indians, city lobbying and the impact of clean energy credits.
Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
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Lawmakers, industry players and parents are making moves to keep kids safe online, but their approaches vary widely. A bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate is intended to shield children by requiring social media platforms to turn off addictive product features, and require companies to minimize mental health risks. New York state proposed restricting what it called “unhealthy social media usage” by prohibiting minors from accessing addictive feeds without parental consent. In the name of parental rights, Florida legislators considered sometimes competing bills to either ban those younger than 16 from social media altogether or require platforms to perform age verification of their users.
For their part, platform companies have worked to pre-empt government regulation by introducing safeguards in their software to limit what kids can do online, and with whom.The question of who should regulate access to social media — government, industry or parents — is the focus of the debut of another occasional series, this one called Government A to Z, a generational take on the intersection of society, technology and government. It features TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver along with two colleagues from Governing — Staff Writer Zina Hutton and Digital Editor Zoe Manzanetti.
SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:
Government Regulation: There are common themes in state-level legislation aimed at protecting the mental health of underage social media users. Measures address safeguards against concerns over bullying, harassment, sexual exploitation, anorexia, self-harm and predatory marketing. The 2024 legislative sessions in Florida, Arkansas and Utah all sought to regulate social media access for minors. Industry Self-Regulation: Meta's introduction of nighttime nudges is the latest industry attempt to provide teens with automated tools to manage social media time. The panel discusses its potential effectiveness and compares it to similar tools on YouTube and TikTok. Parental Supervision: The introduction of parental supervision tools highlights the importance of privacy, autonomy and collaboration between parents and tech companies but also raises the specter of permanent infantilization. Nothing Resolved: The rapidity of change in the tech industry and changing societal norms and expectations require continuing refinement of legislation and regulations concerning social media access for minors. It is reasonable to expect further legal battles, as lawmakers, parents and tech companies contend for the ability to shape the online experience of minors. Literacy: The panel emphasized the need for education, media literacy and ongoing dialog to address the complex challenges posed by teen social media usage. Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:
States Eye Social Media Bans Despite Legal Roadblocks DeSantis Favors Toned-Down Social Media Restrictions Will Legislation Actually Keep Teens Off Social Media? Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
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The freedom of the open road would become a little less free if congestion pricing became widespread in America. The strategy aims to reduce traffic congestion by charging variable fees for driving at certain times in certain areas. Planners and policymakers see the potential revenue to offset declining gas tax receipts as vehicles become more fuel efficient.
Decades after dynamic pricing was implemented by some international cities, only a relative handful of American cities — New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C. — have adopted plans for at least partial implementations of the pricing model.
In the debut of an occasional series called Your Mileage May Vary, Senior Writers Skip Descant (Government Technology) and Jared Brey (Governing) join The Future In Context to explore the efforts to bring the model to America and whether resistance is waning. The story of congestion pricing underscores the complexity of transportation and infrastructure management; and highlights the importance of strategic planning, community engagement and adaptive policies to address evolving challenges effectively.
SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:
Congestion Pricing: The concept of congestion pricing, though controversial, is gaining traction as a means to manage traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fund transportation infrastructure. It involves charging drivers for road usage, especially in congested areas, to incentivize alternative modes of transportation. Funding Challenges and Alternative Revenue Sources: Traditional funding sources like the gas tax are becoming insufficient due to factors such as increased fuel efficiency and the rise of electric vehicles. Policymakers are exploring alternative revenue sources like vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees to sustainably fund transportation infrastructure projects. Public Engagement and Policy Design: Effective policy design requires thorough public engagement to understand community needs and concerns. Policymakers should align their goals, whether reducing congestion, cutting emissions or improving driving experiences, with the preferences of the public to garner support and ensure successful implementation. Economic, Social and Environmental Importance: Transportation and infrastructure are vital for economic growth, social well-being and environmental sustainability. They affect various aspects of life and are crucial for governments to manage effectively. Long-Term Perspective and Political Will: Implementing significant changes in transportation and infrastructure requires a long-term perspective and political will. Policymakers must navigate complex challenges, including public resistance, competing interests and the need for sustainable solutions that address both current and future needs. Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:
To Sell Congestion Pricing Plans, Don’t Mention Climate Change Washington’s $15 Tolls Hope to Reduce Traffic, Increase Revenue After NYC, Will Los Angeles Be Next to Consider Congestion Pricing? Hope for Car-Haters Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
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Work is well underway in jurisdictions across the country to prepare for the next generation of doing the public’s business.
Governments have the unenviable task of coming to terms with the promise and pitfalls of generative AI through the strictures of public policy. On this cover story episode of the podcast, the writers and editors from our sister publication, Government Technology, take us into the three-story package on a policy-driven approach to AI describe a growing body of work that points the path to the future.
Show Notes Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:
AI Guardrails: Policymakers start from the position that it is a necessity to establish guardrails for the safe and ethical use of AI in government policies. Safety and Privacy: The cover story emphasizes the importance of ensuring AI systems are used safely, protecting individual privacy rights and minimizing biases in decision-making processes. Jurisdictional Innovations: The three-story package on AI in the issue highlights a number of jurisdictions, including New Jersey, Utah and Santa Cruz County, Calif., for their innovative approaches to AI governance. Federal Regulations: The guests discuss the executive order from President Biden and state-level frameworks as part of the evolving framework of AI regulations in government. Human-Centered Policies: The package points to the significance of developing human-centered policies that prioritize the well-being and rights of individuals affected by AI technologies. Data Governance: Each of the three stories helps to unpack the crucial role of data governance in ensuring the quality, accuracy and ethical use of data powering AI systems. Vendor Selection: Government cannot do AI alone but it needs to have internal competence to select AI vendors as essential components of responsible AI adoption in government. Policymaker Collaboration: Getting AI right requires policymakers, data experts and other constituents to work together to shape responsible AI policies and regulations. Technology Education: MIT’s efforts to introduce AI education stand as an early exemplar of curriculum development in preparing the next-generation workforce. Digital Transformation: Columns in the issue address broader themes such as transparency in AI systems, and the persistent need for human copilots in digital transformation of government services. Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:
Adam Stone, How Should Government Guide the Use of Generative AI? Julia Edinger, Where to Start With AI? Cities and States Offer Use Cases Nikki Davidson, A Good AI Program Must Start With Good Data Ben Miller, Making AI Work for Government: It All Comes Down to Trust Noelle Knell, MIT Program Fosters Early AI Education for Future Workforce Paul W. Taylor, Online Government Services Need a 'Human Copilot' Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes.
Listen to this episode on the player below or subscribe for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.