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As the regional transit agency of the Puget Sound region in Washington state, Sound Transit has been building an expansive light rail system over the past three decades, supported by funding measures approved by local voters in 1996, 2008, and 2016. We have collaborated with Sound Transit on major projects that have shaped the system’s infrastructure, stations, and operational capabilities.

We have collaborated on projects that extend service to new communities while strengthening the reliability and capacity of the broader Link light rail system.

Streamlining Delivering Of The Federal Way Link Extension

One of the newest additions to the regional light rail system is the Federal Way Link Extension, which opened for service on December 6, 2025. We served as the lead designer for this 7.8-mile expansion extending light rail service south from Angle Lake Station to the Federal Way Transit Center. The project features three elevated stations that connect directly with new park-and-ride garages, regional bus services, and pedestrian networks.  

We managed overall design coordination and drew on our broad base of design expertise to deliver design plans for elevated guideway structures, stations and parking garages, tracks, power and train controls, communications systems, roadway improvements, drainage infrastructure, and utility relocations.

We also developed a sustainability plan that led to Envision Platinum recognition for Sound Transit and collaborated with artists selected by Sound Transit to integrate public artwork into the stations and station plazas.

Collaboration has been central to the success of the project. Operating within a design-build model, we worked closely with construction partners and Sound Transit staff to streamline project delivery and enable early construction activities to begin while design continued. Through a series of alternative technical concepts and design optimizations, our team reduced construction duration, improved safety, and simplified long-term maintenance needs for the agency.

Collaborating On Design And Construction Of The East Link Extension

On March 28, 2026, Sound Transit opened the Crosslake Connection, which is the final piece of the multiphase, 14-mile project connecting the east side of Puget Sound to Seattle. We provided preliminary engineering for track and systems for the Downtown Redmond Link phase at the east end of the project, and our construction group served as a joint venture partner on construction of the South Bellevue extension, including 2.2 miles of light rail guideway and the South Bellevue Station multimodal hub.

The project required complex construction next to major roadways, including a long-span aerial structure over Interstate 90, which was built using a balanced cantilever construction method to minimize disruption to traffic.

Planning, Coordination, And Design For The Everett Link Extension

We are also supporting planning and project development as a major subconsultant and engineering services lead for the Everett Link Extension and the Operations and Maintenance Facility North. This 16-mile extension north of Seattle will connect Snohomish County residents to the regional Link light rail network, including service to the Boeing Company’s Everett Production facility and the surrounding industrial center. 

We have supported the development and evaluation of alignment alternatives, station concepts, and potential maintenance facility locations. The work includes coordination with regional agencies, feasibility studies, and conceptual designs that inform environmental review and stakeholder engagement.

Rail Systems Expertise To Support Modernization And Safety Enhancements

In addition to our history of collaboration with Sound Transit, we have supported critical infrastructure technology improvements, bringing global experience in rail systems technology to modernize transit operations for clients across our footprint. We have helped agencies around the world evaluate and implement advanced train control systems such as communications-based train control (CBTC), which uses continuous train-to-wayside communication and precise train location data to support safe, efficient operations.

We have conducted similar modernization efforts for transit agencies including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), where we helped develop strategy, requirements, and procurement documentation for a systemwide CBTC program designed to increase capacity and improve reliability.  

Similarly, we have been providing program and construction management services for the New Marseille Metro (NEOMMA) in Marseille, France, featuring new rolling stock, CBTC system, and communications upgrades for unmanned train operation.

As a design consultant to Sound Transit, we were recently selected for two task order contracts that will draw on this systems expertise, including the design of train control and signal upgrades associated with new pedestrian gates for a five-mile segment that operates at grade adjacent to mixed traffic, and support for enhanced collision avoidance detection systems planned for Sound Transit’s light rail vehicle fleet.

A Continuing Partnership With Sound Transit

Recently, we secured a prime contractor position on Sound Transit’s 2025 $1 billion ceiling multiple-award task order contract (MATOC) for design services. This five-year contract, with two potential one-year extensions, will support Sound Transit’s $60 billion capital program, one of the largest transportation infrastructure initiatives in North America.

Under this MATOC, we will provide architecture, engineering, and related services for a wide range of projects, including light rail extensions, system resiliency and sustainability improvements, and state-of-good-repair initiatives. We also hold subcontractor positions on Sound Transit’s MATOCs for environmental and program management/construction management services. 

Our global perspective complements our long-standing support for Sound Transit’s infrastructure, expansion program, and operational needs. With our ongoing work on the Everett Link Extension and the broad range of services we can provide to Sound Transit through its multiple-award task order contracts for environmental, design, and program management services, we look forward to continuing this successful partnership.

The post Partnering With Sound Transit: Past, Present, And Future appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Today, we are joined by two veterans of the electrification movement. Jim Valerio is VP of Business Development for North American Intelligent Infrastructure at Parsons and plays a key role in our Zero-Emission Bus initiatives and planning work. John Daly is a Senior Growth Operations Manager at Parsons, specializing in utility cybersecurity and assisting anyone who needs to manage their energy. Read along as they discuss electrification, Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), electrifying public transit fleets and what the future holds for these industries.

Electrification is a widely used term. How would you define it?

Jim: As we all work to decarbonize our everyday life, from transportation to our homes to our workplace and to the fulfillment of our basic needs, the generation, storage, and use of electricity will be essential. Therefore, I see this term as the embodiment of the work we are undertaking to create a single resource that is generated in a cleaner way, stored, distributed in an efficient manner, and, ultimately, delivered to us safely and sufficiently. So, electrification surrounds every industry as the shared goal to achieve this transformation.

John: There are lots of approaches happening simultaneously to combat climate change as we try and mitigate its effects. I see electrification as one of those approaches.

Flipping our reliance as a society from technologies that utilize carbon-based, non-renewable power resources, like coal, to electricity-powered resources (which can be renewable) is a simple way to think about the term electrification.

The movement has tons of variables, as Jim mentioned, as more things need more electricity than in the past, and with that, we get a greater power demand. But in order to save the planet and make Earth livable for future generations, we need to move to more renewable technologies rapidly.

How is Parsons involved in the electrification movement?

Jim: Our contribution has been focused on supporting the conversion of electrifying public transit fleets to zero-emission (ZE) alternatives, such as battery-electric buses and vehicles. Additionally, we are helping to design the electric vehicle charging equipment necessary to keep vehicles operating smoothly and without any interruption to the service they provide workers and riders. Integrating solar technology into new infrastructure at bus depots is another innovation we deliver, creating natural and clean electricity generation. For our clients, we must consider resiliency as we design and implement these transitions, understanding that emergency responsiveness is necessary when natural disasters may cause utility systems to fail. The battery electric storage systems (BESS) we design provide this resiliency.

John: Energy management is another angle Parsons is taking to help address climate change. Our Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and Meter and Operational Data Management (MODM) technologies are designed specifically to help utilities manage demand loads as increases in power demand strain the electrical grid. Our DERMS solution helps utilities smoothly integrate and manage renewable energy sources, keeping the grid running efficiently even as power demands rise. By smartly balancing supply and demand, DERMS makes energy distribution more efficient and reduces carbon emissions, pushing us towards a greener future. Our MODM technology complements this by effectively managing meter and operational data, enhancing the reliability and performance of the grid. We’re advancing these technologies for microgrids and working with a range of utilities, from resource-strapped rural providers to large power utilities.

What are the benefits of electrification?

Jim: Too many to list here! The most important benefits are sustainability through the clean generation of energy. With this comes reduced air pollution. Electric vehicles are typically quieter while operating and have fewer moving mechanical parts, thus reducing long-term repair and maintenance costs.

John: Climate change will continue to damage our planet and many of its effects are already irreversible in parts of the world. We are working to mitigate the impacts of climate change by adopting as many decarbonizing technologies as possible. Short term, electrification allows people to live without the worry of blackouts affecting their lives as we can establish uninterrupted and renewable energy solutions for the grid. Long term, we can make the planet hospitable for future generations. There is no greater mission than that.

What are the challenges you’ve seen in this space?

Jim: Wide adoption continues to meet with resistance (see the electricity pun I infused there?), largely because this type of large-scale transformation requires collective action, support, and significant new funding. Electrification is also not a simple solution. The mining, manufacturing, and recycling of materials used in lithium-ion and cobalt batteries required for electrification is arguably worse for the environment in the long term. Additional innovation – beyond the type of power – is needed to improve how the power is stored and used in a sustainable way. Also, I hope Parsons can participate in the pursuit of recycling efforts for all lithium-ion and cobalt batteries, as this will decrease costs/expenses while improving the sustainability of electrification for all users.

John: Power distribution technology is extremely old and inefficient to handle the uptick in power needs. The more things that flip to electric, like transportation and mobility, the more infrastructure is needed to handle the demand. The United States is focused on upgrading the grid to handle this rising power demand we’re facing. The biggest challenge with this is the time it takes to do so. There’s an exponential growth of power demand in our country, and the sooner we upgrade components of the aging grid, from transmission lines all the way to neighborhood transformers, the better. This prevents power outages due to overloads. Much of the U.S. power grid is decades old and wasn’t designed to even handle the current load demands. For example, 70 percent of transmission lines are over 25 years old. We’re also strapped for time on how long it takes for distributed energy resources like utility-scale solar projects and wind energy projects to build out. That’s why platforms like Parsons’ DERMS solutions are critical bridges in load management as the grid gets its upgrade.

What do you think the future holds for electrification?

Jim: We must continue to push and strive for better but remain cautious about how fast we get there. For now, finding places where innovative technology meets with the ideas of passionate people is exactly where I want to be!

John: The future of electrification is incredibly promising and essential for our planet’s sustainability. We’re going to see rapid advancements in renewable energy technologies and grid infrastructure upgrades. This means continued investment in smart grid technologies, like our DERMS and MODM solutions, to efficiently manage and distribute power. Electrification will also drive innovation in sustainable energy storage and microgrid systems. My guess is that we will see more decentralized energy production, with communities generating their own renewable energy and contributing to the grid.

Overall, electrification will mitigate climate change impacts, improve energy security, and create a more resilient energy system. Like Jim, I’m excited that we get to be a part of this for a living.

The post Electrifying Our Future: A Q&A With Parsons’ Electrification Experts appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

No matter where you find yourself in life, attaining greater sustainability is always within reach and worth pursuing to ensure we live in a healthy and vigorous world. To me, this means using the tools I have, skills I’ve learned, and the network I’ve built to make a meaningful contribution towards sustainability. Parsons has played a key role as an extension of a series of foundational life experiences in motivating and encouraging me to pursue sustainability as a core value in my projects and daily practice. 

My own journey began as a Venetian blown glass artist, traveling the world to learn new techniques and showcase my work. However, I eventually realized that I craved stability and a deeper connection to community. This led me to State College, Pennsylvania, where I was exposed to a vibrant community of artists, scientists, and engineers. Through collaborations with these innovators, I helped design and build strawbale buildings on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. This experience inspired me pursue a Master of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. With this education and my previous experiences in art and building design, I have been able to integrate economic, environmental, and community sustainability into my personal and professional development. By building innovative paths towards a sustainable future with community at its core, I am committed to making a positive impact on both people and the environment.  

In my day-to-day work, I apply this unique background and experience to contribute to the culture of sustainability at Parsons and to add value for our clients. As a member of Parsons’ Energy and Environment group in Syracuse, New York, I am dedicated to creating infrastructure that has a positive impact on communities. For more than a decade, I have worked alongside an exceptional team of environmental engineers, scientists, and contractors to remediate Onondaga Lake. This project has not only restored the lake’s natural habitat but also provided recreational access to a culturally significant resource in the heart of Central New York. By bringing together stakeholders and building consensus, we transformed both natural and human communities while addressing contamination and dissolving the boundary between an industrial past and a technological future. Our efforts have not only improved the environment but also helped revitalize an economically struggling city with a rich history. 

After the completion of the Onondaga Lake Cleanup, our team took on a major role with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). We developed a program to address legacy groundwater contamination, abandoned gas and oil well impacts, and various environmental liabilities throughout the state. Throughout this process, we have prioritized well-being by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, addressing environmental concerns, and listening to the needs of various communities. Our team is also spearheading the Green Sustainable Remediation program for the state of New York to reduce waste, energy, and GHG when investigating, designing, and implementing environmental cleanups, environmental liabilities and superfund sites. Part of this work involves leveraging existing evaluation tools and sometimes creating new ones to build practical procedures and enable project managers to determine the best solutions to the challenge of integrating sustainability into construction and remediation. 

Beyond this, I am a regular co-leader for sessions in Parsons’ Sustainability Mentorship group, where we enhance awareness through presenting professional skills, personal interests, and the state of sustainability across the industry by education, team building, and internal education with colleagues. It is via this group that I became aware of and am now supporting the implementation of a Clean Fuel Standard for one of our long-standing clients, Seattle City Light (a public utility in the state of Washington) to promote the transition to a clean energy future through enhanced transportation electrification and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

Each of us brings something unique to the Mentorship Group which helps tie personal experiences together with work projects which in turn encourages others to share their backgrounds and interests. This amplifies our capacity to design infrastructure that meets customers’ needs while connecting human and natural communities. No matter where you are geographically or metaphorically, a path towards sustainability is always possible with dedication and hard work.

The post From Anywhere To Sustainability  appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Our Parsons-Systra Joint Venture (PSJV) team is proud to have been presented the “Sustainable Transport Best Consultant” award for the Dubai Metro Route 2020 extension project by the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

Launched in 2008, the Dubai Awards for Sustainable Transport highlight the special efforts made by both public and private sectors to implement sustainable mobility solutions that reduce congestion, conserve the environment, and improve mobility safety.

During the award ceremony, Suad Mousa Khawaja, MEA Sr. Vice President, accepted the award from His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on behalf of our team. The prestigious award recognizes PSJV services and support in achieving a world’s first, the attainment of a LEED v4 for BD+C Gold Certification for all seven metro stations, the most achieved for one transit project. The LEED is the international sustainability rating system and recognizes practices carried out to implement resilient and energy-efficient infrastructures. This certification raises the bar for sustainability in metro rail and mass transportation systems and we are proud to be a part of this achievement.

The PSJV’s project management and consultancy services included:

• Feasibility Studies / Concept Design
• Preliminary Engineering
• Tender Preparation & Evaluation
• Program Management
• Design Review
• Construction Supervision
• Oversight during Defects/Liability
• Project Closeout

Through these services and by designating sustainability subject matter experts for every phase of the project, PSJV oversaw the reduction of construction carbon emissions and energy consumption by 16%, reduced construction water consumption by 10%, and diverted 95% of construction and demolition waste from the landfill to recycling centers.

The Route 2020 Project marks the first major modification and expansion to the Dubai Metro. The 15km-long extension consists of 11.8km of elevated guideways (viaduct) and 3.2km of tunnel and provides a safe, efficient, integrated, rail transportation solution to connect existing communities to the new line. The expansion also encourages further development, offering fast and efficient public transport to all as an alternative to driving.

In addition to making public transportation a viable alternative for more than 270,000 residents, the project was also identified by the US Green Building Council as the first and largest sustainable transit project worldwide and a showcase of leadership in transforming the building and transportation infrastructure industry in the United Arab Emirates and the broader Middle East region.

We are honored to receive this award, as it’s a reflection of our commitment to deliver innovative infrastructure and solutions that enable a sustainable, safer, smarter, and connected world.

The post Raising The Bar For Sustainable Transit appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Water is a critical resource in every community around the world. As part of our mission to deliver a better world, we work with industry, municipalities, and federal installations to help preserve water by creating and maintaining safe, efficient, and sustainable water treatment facilities and processes.

Our team in Syracuse, New York, has operated the Parsons Water Treatability Lab for more than 30 years. This research and treatment process development lab, which was recently expanded to include more space, a walk-in cooler and updated water purification system, gives our experts enhanced capacity to solve and optimize our client’s water treatment challenges while pursuing the latest technological innovations.

Watch our video below to learn more.

The post Innovating Water Treatability appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

The new Laycock Park Pedestrian Bridge, designed by our Calgary team, was successfully opened in 2019. This bridge re-establishes The City of Calgary North-South regional pathway and neighborhood access to Laycock Park that were disrupted by partial washout of an existing timber bridge during Calgary’s 2013 flood.

The new bridge, located on the Southwest corner of the intersection of 64th Avenue NE and Deerfoot Trail, is part of a greater re-naturalization project currently being implemented by The City for Laycock Park.

The new bridge, which features durable Alaskan Yellow Cedar (AYC) glulam girders, that pushed the limits of design and fabrication possibilities at 37-metres long without splices, has a pedestrian and eco-friendly coating system and the first example of a proprietary Glass-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer – wrapped black spruce glulam timber pedestrian bridge deck, coated with a proprietary wearing course system, in Calgary. Harvested from regional renewable resources, AYC provides the required strength, stability, and service-life for the bridge girders and demonstrates the usability of timber as a modern, efficient, and elegant sustainable cold climate bridge construction material.

The materials used in the bridge, including stainless steel girder caps, bike rails, and flashing, align with The City’s vision for sustainable development and coincide with the public interest in protecting the environment and fighting climate change. The new bridge’s abutments and the banks upstream and downstream of the bridge were protected from erosion concerns through a combination of bioengineering and riprap bank protection solutions. The bridge has a ‘natural stone’ finish concrete form lined block retaining wing walls and granite stone bridge curbs that add to the structure’s aesthetics.

We presented the details of this bridge, including the bridge’s structural system, design innovations, and aesthetic design features, at the CSCE 2021 Annual Conference virtually in May 2021.

Sustainability is one of our core values. Backed by empowered teams, we implement best practices in corporate operations and solutions to address environmental risk and minimize our carbon footprint.

The post Bringing Innovation To Pedestrian Bridges appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

My name is Brittanny, and I’m an Associate Inspector. The majority of my work is on-site to ensure and review the project aspects are completed. These reviews correlate with the client’s needs, contract documents, and specifications.

I am proud to be part of a company that values sustainability as one of its core values and is conscious of the impact our work has on the environment. As an Inspector, I value being able to contribute by reinforcing our values in providing environmental-friendly and effective solutions on our projects.

I was always an avid recycler and environmentalist, so I thought. Growing up, I was taught to consume less, optimize my resources, and save every penny I had to travel the world. I took these life lessons and have applied them both professionally and in my personal life.

I enjoy working for a company that recognizes this and continues to implement numerous resource-reduction and reusing initiatives related to our buildings, vehicles, and business supplies, including eWaste. In addition, we look at ways we can implement reducing, reusing, and repurposing on the job site, whether it’s in the office or at the project itself.

Personally, I have adopted a similar approach, and it was apparent to me to spread environmental awareness in my community and beyond! At one point in my life, I had to take numerous daily medications. The frustration of having a pile-up of these #5 rigid plastics because the pharmacy would not reuse my same pill bottle, for the same medication, for me, the same person, led me to do a ton of research to find out where these could be reused. In Ohio, I found a disaster relief organization that accepted these used, cleaned prescription pill bottles as medical supplies. Next thing you know, I was melting down the single-use crayons from my restaurant job and donating them to a community resource center in a low-income area. I was cleaning and sending mascara wands to a wildlife refuge so they could be reused as brushes on tiny animals, taking egg cartons to the food bank for reuse, and collecting the 4L outer milk bags to organizations that make milk bag mats for the homeless. The list kept expanding into my own “Items to Keep Out of The Landfill” initiative.

Sure enough, that’s how Earthub blossomed!

While I realize that the initiative is only a band-aid solution, it is still a tactic to get people thinking about what they are throwing out on a daily basis. Some things are unavoidable; we grow up drinking out of cartons, buying eggs in containers, using makeup products – that’s life. But what I have done is created a way to divert them from the landfill.

There are negativities associated with this band-aid solution, though. Some of the items are shipped elsewhere or require specific packing standards that use other plastic. The prescription pill bottles are shipped in bulk from each city; there is a volunteer with a drop-off location, requiring the use of transportation emissions. In addition to this, the pill bottles are to be sorted and packaged in new zip lock bags to be considered as medical supplies. Although not ideal circumstances, we are certainly taking a step in the right direction.

With Earthub, I now have 43 drop-off locations in Canada and two in the U.S. To date, there have been 4224 pill bottles reused! Another shipment of about 1500 pill bottles will be happening in the next few weeks with collections from Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, and London in Canada.

I feel that many people looking to become more environmentally friendly don’t know where to start. Perhaps it’s the ‘engineering brain’ in me, but I want to make sure people understand the scientific facts behind everything in the environmental world is of utmost importance. Many people think that since they recycle, they are environmentally friendly. Many don’t understand that compost is not the same as a landfill. Demonstrating and teaching these aspects are crucial to get people on board and do better, which ultimately means refusing and reducing.

As I continue to spread environmental awareness on and off the job, I will never stop educating myself and others about what we can do, collectively, to save the planet!

The post Reducing, Reusing, And Repurposing appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

A Technical Webinar Series

Background/Objectives

We strive to increase resilience and sustainability for our client’s projects and portfolios through a holistic approach that incorporates innovative approaches and provides added value. Remedies at contaminated sites are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change-related impacts, and the associated changes in the reliability, sustainability, and cost of energy. As a result, resilience to climate change and energy are increasingly important factors during the investigation, design, and implementation of remedial approaches.

Approach/Activities

The relationship between resilience and sustainability will be discussed, as well as the attributes of resilient systems and the process for identifying hazards and vulnerability to risk to develop effective mitigation approaches as part of a resilience plan. A case study will be presented to demonstrate how solar power was utilized for a groundwater extraction and conveyance system to increase energy and climate change resilience while also increasing sustainability. A second case study will illustrate how consideration of sustainability during evaluation of remedial approaches resulted in a resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable remedial approach utilizing enhanced in situ bioremediation, phytoremediation, and monitored natural attenuation (MNA).

Results/Lessons Learned

Resilience planning and mitigation provides near-term and long-term value through reduced weather-related interruptions and damage, continued operation of essential services, and reduced impacts to social, cultural, and economic systems. Early evaluation of a site’s potential vulnerabilities related to climate change and energy is a critical component to design of a resilient remedy. The most sustainable and resilient approaches are often also the most cost-effective, providing added value while reducing risk and liability.

Watch The Video

The post Energy And Climate Resilience For Environmental Remediation appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Technical Webinar Series

Background/Objectives

We continue to pursue ways to provide added value and services to our clients and portfolios, building multidisciplinary teams to resolve complex issues and to develop innovative solutions. Our landscape architecture professionals contribute to these teams through the establishment of a collaborative design process that utilizes synergies created between disciplines to effectively problem solve and develop solutions, addressing client needs and concerns.

Approach/Activities

Our landscape architecture team works with interdisciplinary teams on a wide array of projects, including design-build infrastructure projects, streetscape design, and parks and recreation facilities. One area of strength that the team delivers is the ability to look at a project holistically to see how its different aspects interact with each other, and creatively address potential conflicts and stakeholder needs.

Results/Lessons Learned

In transportation, environmental, and urban development projects, landscape architects often have been brought in at the final stages of design to add the final touches and “icing on the cake” (for example, planting designs or finishing materials). More often than not, this can result in the final design being impacted due to project limitations set earlier in the design process. This limits the opportunities to create strong context-sensitive solutions on portions of designs which typically receive the smallest of budgets and attention in spite of having the greatest visibility (i.e., landscape and aesthetics). In this webinar we will share the services and added value landscape architects provide, resulting in cost-effective, sustainable, and ultimately stronger projects.

Watch The Webinar

The post Landscape Architecture And Urban Design: Providing Project Solutions And Added Value To Clients appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Around the world, there are many examples of cities evolving into smart cities. Many motivations may drive this trend, but a commonly quoted objective is to improve the overall livability of the city, effectively addressing urbanization issues and working to become a more efficient and sustainable city.

Although this trend may be driven by a desire to remain relevant at a global or regional level, without taking a step back and understanding the complexities around smart-city developments, there is a real risk that the city will be unable to achieve its overall objectives.

Some characteristics of a smart city are inherently interconnected, and a structured and iterative approach is essential to ensure that all dimensions are addressed and are complementary. Multiple stakeholders are involved in ensuring the success of a smart city, making it necessary for a governance framework to be established as early as possible in the process.

Here we believe that smart-city governance provides a structured approach to considering, addressing, and evolving the multidimensional aspects of a smart city, enabling the overall smart-city ecosystem to develop successfully.

The basis for a smart city is first established by defining the smart-city vision and mission, which help focus all activities on achieving both current and future aspirations. These aspirations should be cascaded into a series of true needs and objectives, not to be confused with perceived needs. The objectives may relate to a variety of goals, such as to improve livability, generate revenue, encourage new business, bring efficiencies, or reach sustainability targets. Establishing clear and concise objectives is an essential step in developing a smart-city governance framework.

In Houston, Texas, a series of smart-city initiatives contribute to the city’s resilience, including, most recently, COVID-19–related initiatives such as digital contact tracing to pinpoint community spread more rapidly. These initiatives were established thanks to a clearly defined objective to contain and limit the spread of COVID-19. Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, commented:

Technology is not for technology’s sake. You have to recognize what your needs are and what you want your predetermined objective to be. In the smart city’s old paradigm, we were locked into one mode of thinking, addressing one area of need. But, now, during the pandemic, you can see other things, you can go in several directions. You are not stuck on one track. This is why we have been able to do so much more in a shorter period of time.”

Once a city has established clear and structured objectives, it has a basis upon which to explore and develop a smart city using a structured governance framework. One must consider many aspects to develop a smart city, many of which are interdependent and require multiple iterations to ensure that they are coordinated and complementary. In this brief, we have grouped the major aspects into four main pillars.

Extent Of Smart City

Defining the contextual boundaries of the smart city is vital to its success. Whether restricted to specific industries or sectors or to geographic boundaries, the extent of the smart city should be determined to provide a framework upon which to explore the other pillars. For example, if an objective is to improve public transport ridership, the extent could be focused on smart parking solutions that encourage public transport usage, and that would be concentrated in areas that are most relevant, such as a crowded city center or outlying districts with good public transport connections.

Ownership

A smart solution or service may require a different set of ownership considerations than traditional infrastructure. We must look past just the service and asset to the data ownership and the level of control desired or allowed by the service owner. For example, smart cities typically rely on data to effectively serve their objectives, which brings the question of digital sovereignty. The way in which data and their condition of circulation, conservation, and interpretation can become a strategic advantage. Smart-city officials need to be aware of the influence of digital platforms, such as GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) and BATX (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi), and those platforms’ perceived monopolies. Dependence on these companies can represent a risk; thus, ownership becomes an important topic to address and resolve.

Financing

For cities looking to upgrade their infrastructure with technology, paying for these projects presents a major challenge in the implementation of these smart-city solutions on a large scale. Cities need to identify business models that provide a vehicle that makes the introduction of a smart-city solution viable and financeable. It may be necessary to phase a deployment such that revenue-generating or OPEX-reducing initiatives are implemented first, in order to help finance other initiatives. The financing type depends on the type of project, costs, ownership model, method of repayment, and risk aversion of the financial bodies.

Stakeholder Engagement And Interactions

Building a successful smart city requires collaboration between committed individuals, city governments, and private organizations. A channel for interaction between these stakeholders is important in the smart-city ecosystem to facilitate communication, engagement, and collaboration. Considering the previous pillars, stakeholder engagement is important in confirming the extent of the smart city and the ownership model and in exploring and agreeing on the vehicle for financing the initiatives.

To deliver smart-city governance that is aligned with their vision and missions, authorities need to ensure that they have an appropriate organizational structure to address this complex issue. Cities such as London and Vienna, both successful smart cities, have set up specific central entities responsible for developing strategies around their smart-city initiatives. Because all decisions are centralized, they encompass all projects around the smart city. Authorities should consider setting up or nominating an entity to oversee the governance process. This entity would define and manage the development and relations between the pillars in a comprehensive and organized manner.

Without a structured and comprehensive approach, there is a risk the city may evolve with a collection of solutions or services operating independently and inefficiently without focus or overall purpose. Smart City governance presents a framework upon which to develop the city’s aspirations comprehensively and cohesively, addressing all dimensions to realize the goals of the smart city.

The post Use Governance To Make Your City Smarter appeared first on Parsons Corporation.