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Planning for e-commerce

E-commerce (short for electronic commerce) describes the buying or selling of products and associated services over the internet or through mobile applications. The most visible vendors are Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair furniture, however, there are millions of smaller entities thanks to the ease of online marketplace platforms. Offerings include durable goods (such as furniture), small goods, groceries and prepared food deliveries. The growth in e-commerce is now reshaping cities, suburbs and outlying industrial districts, as well as traffic patterns for moving goods from ports to warehouses to a shopper's doorstep.

The Future of the Last-Mile Ecosystem

Growing demand for e-commerce delivery will result in 36% more delivery vehicles in inner cities by 2030, leading to a rise in both emissions and traffic congestion without effective intervention. Without effective intervention, urban last-mile delivery emissions and traffic congestion are on track to increase by over 30% in the top 100 cities globally. The Future of the Last-Mile Ecosystem analyses 24 interventions that can reduce emissions, congestion and delivery costs for the urban last-mile. With the ecosystem-wide change, interventions could reduce emissions and traffic congestion by 30%, and delivery cost by 25%, compared to the “do-nothing” scenario.

First/Last Mile Grocery Deliveries: 2019 Report

This 40 page report from Capgemini examines how to address the growing demand for immediate delivery, in particular for groceries, with technology and land uses. This "last mile" delivery refers to the final part of a journey where a customer takes ownership of an ordered product. The report covers five countries and includes the results of research, analysis, and interviews.

Right Size Parking

Cities and real estate developers are rethinking the amount of parking supplied for buildings, campuses and districts as new methodologies and technologies allow managers to better match supply and demand. According to numerous reports, most zoning codes require parking oversupply, occupying land better used for more productive use.

Unsolicited Proposals for Innovative Technology

Government agencies and offices are creating structured programs to accept unsolicited proposals as an alternative to issuing detailed Requests for Proposals (RfPs). This allows an agency to efficiently procure for new products and unique services. Unsolicited bids are similar to sole source contracts, though are often more flexible.

Start-Up Collaborations with Cities

Start-up partnerships and collaborations provide cities the ability to trial new services/products with young companies while giving entrepreneurs their first customers in a real world setting.

Bicycle Transit Stations

Bicycle Transit Stations provide amenities or bicyclists at transit stations. Amenities include high capacity, secure bicycle parking, repairs and retail for bike-related services and products. In some cases, facilities include lockers, changing rooms and showers. Also referred to as Bicycle Hubs.

Mixed Motorized Trails - Low Speed

Mixed Motorized trails host low impact modes of transportation that is both human-powered and motorized, including pedestrians, bicycles, personal mobility devices and low speed electric vehicles. Note this does not include all-terrain, off-highway vehicles (OHVs)

Los Angeles Transportation Technology Strategy

The city of Los Angeles California released its first Transportation Technology strategies in September 2016 to weave emerging policy and technology innovation (apps, software, shared use, vehicles, signage, payment ) into local /regional formal transportation plans.

Call for Innovation

Call for Innovations (or Ideas) is a new procurement tool in which cities/towns issue first a problem statement rather than specifications.

Smart Neighborhood Pilot Programs

Smart neighborhood pilots test how to arrange smart city technology in order to analyze and address specific goals & problems in a neighborhood.

Multi-Functional Infrastructure Guide: Future Value Now

Future Value Now is a guide assessing the value of common ciyy design methods across 12 benefit areas. The purpose is to highlight practices that deliver multiple benefits to deliver enhanced value to property owners and tax payers.

Laneway Revitalization

Laneways are narrow passageways for either vehicle or pedestrian travel. Around the world, cities and towns are revitalizing laneways as usable space for green infrastructure, the arts, cafes & social activity.

Road and Lane Diets

A road diet reduces the number or size of street travel lanes to support multiple modes of transportation, other public utility uses, economic development and/or other amenities. Other terms include lane diets (where lane width is reduced), roadway reallocation or roadway reconfiguration.

Outdoor Dining & Sidewalk Cafes

Outdoor cafes and dining extends restaurant seating and enlivens the sidewalk environment. Cities enact rules and policies to balance restaurant activity with the public's' interest in public spaces.

Pocket Parks

A pocket park (also vest-pocket park or mini-park) is a small park accessible to the general public created on small and/or irregularly shaped parcels of land. They also may be created as part of a large building project.

Arts and Planning Toolkit

The Arts and Planning Toolkit include tools to support & innovate placemaking and community development work incorporating arts, culture, and the creative community. Aimed towards urban/community planners in Massachusetts, any town can adapt the featured strategies.

Inventory Apps for Disaster Recovery

Inventory apps help business owners, homeowners and renters catalog possessions to speed recovery and insurance post-disaster or post-break in. Cities can include these apps as part of disaster planning.

Brewery Incubator

As interest in craft beer rises, cities & food/spirits entrepreneurs can provide space, equipment, and mentors for brewers and bottlers.

Entrepreneur or Start-up in Residence

Entrepreneur (or Start-Up) in Residence programs provide short term positions that benefit the entrepreneur and hosting program. Entrepreneurs bring fresh approaches to product and service development while hosts provide work experience and first hand look at processes.

Digital Plans & Playbooks

Digital plans and playbooks present goals and strategies for developing and improving a city's digital services.