Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced plans to extend the Safe Smart Cities project to every tehsil and union council of the province and install another 1,500 panic buttons at police stations and prominent public places. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network on Independence Day, the chief minister congratulated the nation and said the launch of safe city networks across all districts of Punjab on Aug 14 was an honour. “Seeing the bright faces and courageous children gives me confidence that Punjab is moving forward. We will never let any harm come to them,” she said. CM Punjab said it was encouraging to see children from far-flung areas such as Rajanpur’s Rojhan and Haroonabad serving as police communication officers. She said Punjab was leading in technology, smart policing and predictive policing. “Today, when I look at the Safe City Authority, I bow my head in gratitude to Allah,” she said, adding that an effective digital system was operating for the public through the emergency helpline 15. The chief minister acknowledged the contribution of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Safe City project, describing him as her uncle, mentor and founder of the Safe City initiative. “It would be unfair not to give Shehbaz Sharif credit for the Safe City Authority. He created the path of Safe City on which we have reached here today,” she said. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz said that, by the grace of Allah, every district of Punjab had been transformed into a safe city in the past two and a half years. “Having the entire Punjab visible on a single screen is no ordinary achievement,” she said, adding that Punjab had emerged as a national leader in technology-driven safety and security. She said AI-based systems, smart surveillance
Aug 15, 2026 · via dailytimes.com.pk
Amazon to Build US’s Largest Gas Plant to Power Data Centres Amazon has confirmed its plans to build the largest power plant in US history in Pecos County, Texas, as part of a plan to supply its data centres with a reliable supply of energy. The natural gas plant will be co-located with a large-scale data centre at a site called GW Ranch. It is expected to contain 35 turbines, capable of generating up to 7.65GW of electricity. That capacity would make GW Ranch the US's largest power plant by some distance. The Grand Coulee Dam, located on the Columbia River in the state of Washington, is the current record holder. The hydroelectric power plant is capable of generating around 6.8GW, almost a full gigawatt less than Amazon's planned site. To put that scale in context, Texas's own peak electricity demand record across its entire grid sits at under a fifth of the new capacity being requested state-wide by data centres. The rise of 'behind-the-meter' energy projects Reports indicate that the facility would be entirely disconnected from the Texas electricity grid, at least initially. This is a model that has been gaining traction across the data centre sector lately. In fact, nearly 60 behind-the-meter gas power projects since the start of 2025, totalling roughly 90 GW of combined capacity. But what is the rationale behind separating from the grid? Simply, the scale of energy demand coming from data centres right now is leading many hyperscalers to set up dedicated power plants for their infrastructure, especially given the fact that data centres require a reliable stream of uninterrupted, 24/7 energy. Amazon is also exploring a data centre powered by a natural gas plant outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Microsoft has separately announced a 2GW data centre development in Pecos, Texas, powered by
Aug 15, 2026 · via energydigital.com
HYDERABAD: The three-day Telangana Rising Global Summit 2.0 will be organised from December 7. This year’s summit, to be held under the theme “Invest Telangana”, will witness the unveiling of the Future City plan.
These and other key decisions were taken during a state Cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
The Cabinet also constituted a sub-committee to ensure smooth conduct of the summit. The panel comprises Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy.
It may be mentioned here that during last year’s summit, the government unveiled its Telangana Rising 2047 document.
The Cabinet, meanwhile, finalised the plan to distribute smart ration cards from Saturday, marking the 80th Independence Day. The move is expected to benefit 3.42 crore people. Later briefing the media, Information Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said that the Cabinet also decided to encourage farmers to cultivate seven varieties of fine paddy.
“Wide publicity will be created on these seven varieties of paddy at Panchayat Bhavans and Rythu Vedikas and those who cultivate these varieties will receive Rs 500 bonus,” he said.
Aug 15, 2026 · via newindianexpress.com
With IT professionals and others seeking steps to extend Water Metro services to Infopark Phase-2 and the proposed Smart City, demand is rife to raise the height of the Brahmapuram bridge and to dismantle a temporary bund en route, so that the ferries that now terminate their trips at the Chittetukara terminal in Kakkanad can transport passengers all the way up to the prominent IT hub. It is estimated that Infopark employs around 70,000 people. Most of them are caught in traffic snarls on Civil Line Road, Seaport Airport Road, and other stretches leading to the IT hub, while those who rely on ferries alight at the Chittetukara terminal and switch to autos and buses to reach the IT hub, collectorate, and other destinations. “The ferries would be able to operate all the way up to Infopark Phase-2, if steps are taken to relocate the Kozhichira bund located nearby towards Manakkakadavu on the Kadambrayar. This apart, a taller bridge ought to be built in place of the Brahmapuram bridge to extend Water Metro services,” said Sajan P. John, chief operating officer, Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML). Jidheesh Rajan, a representative of Prathidhwani Kochi, a welfare organisation of IT employees, sought speedy measures to extend the air-conditioned hybrid electric ferries to Infopark Phase-2 and also to Smart City. “The organisation has been consistently demanding this since it is not merely a transportation project but an urgent requirement, considering the growing traffic and mobility challenges in the region. The 70,000-odd IT professionals and others deserve an efficient and sustainable water transport option since road connectivity to Infopark is inadequate, causing frequent traffic hold-ups. Residents of the region too are affected by this. Steps must also be taken to raise the height of the Brahmapuram bridge and to clear the temporary bund, both
Aug 15, 2026 · via thehindu.com
77 DAYS TO GO: 7 WONDERS OF FUTURE CITIES COUNTS DOWN TO START OF VOTING DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 7 Wonders of Future Cities today marks 77 days until global voting begins on www.7wondersfc.com on 31 October 2026. The day, also known as World Cities Day, will be when the public can start choosing amongst the participating cities and developments, to become historically recognised as the leading representatives of the future of urban life. According to Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Chairman of the 7 Wonders of Future Cities campaign, "Public participation, global visibility and the status of our recognised brand can transform urban vision into a shared cause, and we are seeing this already with motivating engagement from participating cities and developments from all over the world." Chie Kobayashi, Global Initiatives Manager for Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama, Japan, says "We are proud to contribute our experience and vision for creating sustainable, people-focused cities of the future through the 7 Wonders of Future Cities initiative." Sabine Müller, Chairwoman of aspern Seestadt in Vienna, Austria, says: "We joined the 7 Wonders of Future cities initiative to stand alongside world-leading urban developments, to share our vision of an innovative, sustainable and liveable city for many future generations." Jeremy Fasser, Mayor of Stellenbosch, South Africa, considers that the future city vision for Adam Tas Corridor "is about creating walkable, connected, mixed-use and mixed-income neighbourhoods where homes, schools, workplaces, public spaces and opportunities are within easy reach - about building a city that connects rather than divides." Eduardo Pimentel, Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, says participating "is an opportunity to show the world a city that combines planning, innovation, sustainability and, above all, care for people." Służewiec, in Warsaw, Poland, believes that "participating in the competition will highlight the work put into
Aug 15, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
A regional hackathon backed by the European Union and Costa Rican institutions will run in October to develop prototype solutions using 5G technology for sectors including agriculture, health and tourism. The Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon has been announced by the Costa Rican Agency for Innovation and Research (PCII) alongside the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), the EU and the Foundation for the Internationalisation of Public Policies (FIAP), with support from the National Centre for High Technology (CENAT), the EU Delegation to Costa Rica announced on Friday, cited by the European External Action Service (EEAS). It is open to participants across Central America, including university students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, developers, researchers, ICT specialists, technology companies, telecoms operators and social innovators. The event is scheduled to take place from 5 to 9 October, with teams working on challenges in five areas: smart and sustainable tourism; biodiversity, the environment and climate action; smart agriculture and the bioeconomy; digital health and wellbeing; and smart cities, mobility and risk management. Testing ideas on Costa Rica’s 5G “testbed” Projects will be developed within Costa Rica’s 5G Testbed — a facility designed for testing and validating new uses of 5G networks and related tools — including stand-alone 5G networks, edge computing (processing data closer to where it is generated) and the Internet of Things, which connects devices via the internet, the EU Delegation to Costa Rica said. Participants will be offered specialist mentoring, technical support and spaces for experimentation, and projects with the “greatest potential” may progress to validation processes within the testbed. A virtual webinar to explain the hackathon and how to take part will be held on 27 August at 8am, with registration available online.
Aug 14, 2026 · via brusselstimes.com
Integrated surveillance reaches all districts Punjab CM vows Safe Smart Cities services in every UC Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday digitally inaugurated the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network, saying the project was aimed at freeing the citizens from the fear of crimes. Punjab has become the first province to establish the integrated network in all its 41 districts and two tehsils. Officials said on the occasion that joint efforts of the police, Crime Control Department (CCD) and Safe Cities Authority had resulted in an estimated 80 per cent reduction in crimes. Safe Cities Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas briefed the chief minister on the integrated smart safe cities network, saying artificial intelligence (AI) had enabled an effective province-wide surveillance system. The system includes intelligent surveillance, Emergency helpline 15, traffic management, real-time command and control, and predictive policing. It also incorporates a Virtual Women Police Station, Child Safety Centre and Blood Bank along with traffic and environment-related services. The MD said 1,500 more panic buttons would be installed across the province, with every police station to be equipped with the facility. Smart screens will also be installed at public places. AI-enabled cameras would make it possible to identify faces and detect weapons, enhancing the law-enforcement and surveillance capabilities of the network. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced plans to extend the Safe Smart Cities project to every union council of the province. She said Punjab was leading in technology, smart policing and predictive policing. The chief minister said every district of Punjab had been transformed into a safe city in the past two and a half years. "Having the entire Punjab visible on a single screen is no ordinary achievement," she said, adding that the province had emerged as a national leader in technology-driven safety and security. She said AI-based
Aug 14, 2026 · via tribune.com.pk
Dive Brief: - More than 500 bills introduced in 40 states last year contained clauses preempting county land-use authority, according to a July analysis by the National Association of Counties. - Of the measures, 77% sought to impose significant changes in county land use authority, NACo said. Housing supply and affordability were the “primary targets,” listed as motivation for 38% of the bills, the research found. - The states with the highest number of preemption bills introduced in 2025 were California with 64, Arizona with 36 and Washington with 35. Dive Insight: As counties work to address an urgent housing affordability crisis, state preemption laws are a top concern among county officials, according to NACo’s research. While states and local governments are working with and often collaborating on solutions to the housing crisis, “state legislators are increasingly using the tool of preemption to reduce local government authority in housing development,” NACo said. Of the 511 land use preemption bills introduced last year, 192 “were aimed at reducing local authority in housing decisions.” Several such state bills sought to limit counties’ ability to regulate affordable units in housing developments, or block counties from prohibiting housing development on commercial, public or religious-owned land. Others required counties to permit accessory dwelling units (or ADUs) or ease regulations concerning parking requirements. Some bills were also designed to streamline local permitting processes. The most common types of housing-related preemptive legislation introduced in state legislatures included affordable housing with 32 bills and a 13% passage rate, accessory dwelling units with 31 bills and a 32% passage rate, and building permits with 28 bills and a 43% passage rate. NACo also tracked preemptive land use legislation related to energy and economic development that encompassed “throughlines of the removal of local control that will affect the ability of
Aug 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Tech Trends: OSDP over IP Changes the Wireless Lock Equation Key Highlights - PDQ Locks appears to be first to market with OSDP over IP for wireless locksets – enabling encrypted, supervised communication between a panel and a wireless lock over existing LAN/WAN infrastructure, with no proprietary gateway required. - The approach leverages OSDP Secure Channel's AES-128 encryption and allows wireless locks to connect to the strongest available access point rather than a range-limited proprietary radio – a meaningful step forward for enterprise deployments. - The reader accepts nearly all major credentials on the market, though OSDP Output Control support varies by access control system – verifying compatibility with PDQ directly before committing to a deployment remains the practical first move. This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Security Business magazine. Don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn or our other social handles if you share it. Confession time. I recently wrote what some called a heretical article about the obsolescence of the panel in access control – and the idea has stayed with me. Consider the camera industry: the function of a camera is capturing a color image at up to 120fps in near-darkness, and that function has been refined to near perfection. The access control industry, by contrast, is still largely built on 1964 panel technology and still leaning on vulnerable protocols like 125kHz Prox and Wiegand wiring. Just a little passionate about this. Then I heard about a product announcement from PDQ Locks. If you're not familiar with PDQ, that's understandable – they have operated largely behind the scenes. They've been around since 1982, with most of their business in Original Design/Equipment Manufacturing (OEM/ODM) for access control companies, building product for other brands rather than selling under their own name. One of
Aug 14, 2026 · via securityinfowatch.com
Captain (Ret.) Kirk McKinzie is a 37-year fire service veteran and president of McKinzie SMART Technologies. Fire departments are among the most visible services a city provides — and among the least modernized. City leaders are often surprised to learn how much of fire department operations still run on periodic, paper-based equipment checks. When a pump fails or a tool is under-maintained, the gap isn't discovered until the moment it's needed most. This has real consequences for fire departments and the people they protect. A system failure or tool that isn't ready when needed can determine the difference between a family returning to their home and one that doesn't. Across the country, fire departments are also navigating long wait times and rising costs for new apparatus and replacement parts, forcing many to extend the life of aging fleets. The National Fire Protection Association’s most recent estimates found that roughly 49% of all fire department engines and pumpers in the U.S. are at least 15 years old — the age at which the organization recommends engines be moved to reserve status. Aging equipment often translates to higher maintenance costs, more downtime and lower operational reliability. When a vehicle is pulled from the line for unscheduled repairs, staffing must be reshuffled, district coverage adjusted and mutual aid called in — all of which add cost and slow response. While departments struggle with aging equipment disruptions, the demands on their fleets have intensified. Synthetic furniture and room contents, which are much more common today, burn far more quickly than rooms with natural materials. In one study, a room with natural furnishings took an average of 30 minutes to reach flashover conditions — the moment when all combustible material in a room simultaneously ignites — while synthetic furnishings reached that point in under five.
Aug 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Kazakhstan's digital future: AI and data to drive regional governance Kazakhstan has approved a new Smart City and Smart Region methodology that shifts regional governance to a unified digital model powered by AI and data, Qazinform News Agency cites the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The new methodology defines unified approaches to the digital development of cities and regions, leveraging AI, data, and advanced technologies. The framework shifts from individual digital projects to a single territorial management system. The ministry noted that artificial intelligence and data are to become part of state governance processes. A key principle is the implementation of digital projects under unified architectural and functional requirements, ensuring system compatibility, avoiding duplication, and reducing development and maintenance costs. The list of mandatory digital initiatives has also been expanded. In addition to transport, utilities, and public safety, the new requirements include: - Infrastructure for unmanned aerial systems - Price monitoring for socially important goods - Digital infrastructure on dual-use structures - Internet access monitoring in educational institutions - Digitalization of operations of maslikhats (local representative bodies) - Development of regional IT hubs and district IT centers Furthermore, the methodology also provides for the introduction of smart stops, digital museums and libraries, 3D and VR tours, and road quality monitoring systems. A dedicated section focuses on the use of AI in regional management, including the development of regional analytical centers, data lakes, and intelligent services. This will allow regions not only to respond to existing problems but also to forecast situations and make data-driven decisions. The ministry believes the new methodology will help scale successful digital solutions across regions, develop smart cities and regions, improve governance efficiency, and raise the standard of living for citizens. As written earlier, Kazakhstan is to commission the first facility of Data Center
Aug 14, 2026 · via qazinform.com
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has received the MalaysiaGBC Leadership in Sustainable Cities Award 2026 for his role in advancing sustainable urban development and Malaysia’s transition towards greener and more resilient cities. In a statement posted on Facebook, Nga said the recognition was not a personal achievement but reflected the collective efforts of the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), local authorities, industry partners and communities. “Sustainability is no longer a choice. In the face of rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity, it must become a fundamental pillar of how we build our homes, design our public spaces and manage our cities,” he said on Friday (Aug 14). Nga said his ministry was embedding sustainability across the urban ecosystem, including through the National Housing Policy 2026–2035, which promotes modern construction technologies such as the Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC). The ministry will also introduce a big data analytics tool next year to identify mismatches between housing supply and demand, to address property overhang and ensure more efficient use of land and resources. On public spaces, Nga said his ministry aims to build or upgrade 1,000 Madani Recreational Parks over the next decade, with the number expected to reach 317 by the end of this year. Through the “MY Public Space” initiative, developed with UN-Habitat, the ministry is also seeking to create greener, more inclusive and community-focused public spaces. Nga said smart traffic light systems and command centres were among the technology-driven initiatives being used to strengthen urban management and local governance. On waste management, he said Malaysia generated more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, underscoring the need for the country to accelerate its transition towards a circular economy. Under the Circular Economy Blueprint 2025–2035 and the development
Aug 14, 2026 · via thestar.com.my
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the digital Economy, John Tanui, on Thursday, received a delegation from Chinese telco Guodong Network Communication Group to explore areas of collaboration in advancing the East African country’s digital transformation agenda. Discussions focused on investment in digital infrastructure, enhancing digital connectivity, the development of smart cities and strengthening the digital economy. Tanui highlighted the government's commitment to accelerating the country's digital economic transformation, with particular focus on expanding digital infrastructure and connectivity nationwide. "Kenya is undertaking an aggressive economic transformation, and digital infrastructure is at the centre of it," he said. Tanui emphasised the need to expand mobile broadband coverage to reach underserved areas, noting that enhanced connectivity is critical to ensuring all Kenyans can participate in the digital economy. He also pointed to government plans to develop more smart cities, building on progress made at Konza Technopolis, while enhancing e-government services to make public services more efficient and convenient for citizens. "We are working on digitisation in government so that we build a digital government and a digital country, where our citizens can engage through digital infrastructure," said Tanui. The Principal Secretary added that the government is keen to leverage partnerships and investment in technology and digital infrastructure to support the country's broader economic transformation agenda. Guodong Network Communication Group Chairperson Lu Jie expressed the company's interest in strengthening partnership and cooperation with Kenya in areas of mutual interest, particularly in advancing digital infrastructure and transformation. The talks add to a busy run of China-linked engagements for Kenya's ICT ministry in recent months, including a separate meeting between Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and China's Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, on the same Digital Superhighway agenda, and Kenya's founding membership of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation. Share
Aug 14, 2026 · via itweb.africa
Higher education is at an inflection point. The 2026 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report identifies the forces most likely to reshape teaching and learning over the next decade — and the picture is complex. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, it’s changing relationships across campus. Institutions also continue to face mounting enrollment challenges. And emerging risks related to cybersecurity, policy reform and sustainability are compounding institutional strain. AI’s Influence on Teaching and Learning According to the report, AI is redefining instructional design and how faculty teach. As institutions continue to shape their policies around AI use, it’s impacting student-teacher relationships in the classroom. The report notes that AI is also changing how people decide what information to trust, leading some faculty to shift the way they monitor and assess student work. “Colleges and universities will increasingly need to help students focus on the skills underneath any tool: evaluating claims, checking evidence, explaining reasoning and verifying information,” the report states. “This requires clearer guidance on responsible AI use, as well as a shift in assessment models that value depth of understanding and thinking processes over polished output.” Click the banner below to learn how your peers are implementing artificial intelligence. Finances Remain a Top Concern Enrollment concerns persist in higher education. Combined with the added financial strain of less funding and smaller budgets, institutions are having to get creative about how they communicate the value of a postsecondary education. Recruitment strategies are changing as institutions evolve their workforce development pathways and flexible credential and dual enrollment programs to target students with diverse interests and goals. 65% The percentage of organizations prioritizing IT staff skills development to enhance resilience against IT disruptions Source: CDW, “Eliminating Digital Friction: How To Build a Frictionless Enterprise,” April 2026 Risk and Accessibility Concerns Add to Growing Pressures The
Aug 13, 2026 · via edtechmagazine.com
We’re increasingly relying on movement data to understand how cities are used. Journey patterns, popular routes and collision clusters reveal where streets and public spaces are under strain, or where design is not matching behaviour on the ground. That evidence helps surveyors make the case for targeted interventions such as new crossings, safer junction layouts or improved cycling links, and to demonstrate the impact of infrastructure investment over time. James Kavanagh MRICS, Head of Land and Resources at RICS, has experienced London’s cycling transformation, and knows exactly what’s behind it. “I’ve cycled London’s streets for decades, and what strikes me most is how profoundly the city’s cycling environment is now shaped and safeguarded by planning intelligence, infrastructure design and interoperable geospatial data,” he says. “We’re no longer relying on intuition or outdated models of how people should move through the city; we’re responding to how they move. “The granular journey data that now underpins planning, from the nearly 9m recorded Santander Cycle hires in 2025, to the detailed routing, collision mapping and junction-level risk analysis (Old Street, Elephant and Castle and Waterloo roundabouts were once notoriously dangerous), has transformed how cycling infrastructure is conceived, built and refined. “These insights are essential. They tell us why places like Waterloo Station 3 dock support more than 104,000 annual hires, and where junctions like Camberwell Green or Brixton still demand deeper design interventions. That fusion of evidence, geospatial interoperability and responsive urban design is precisely why cycling in London is safer today than 20, ten or even five years ago.” We’ve drawn on London’s Santander Cycles journey data for 2025 to highlight the busiest docking stations, routes and bikes across London. This has been combined with STATS19 road collision records for 2025, plus an analysis of the 5,000 most common start-end journey pairs,
Aug 13, 2026 · via ww3.rics.org
Shenzhen will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in November 2026, particularly given its reputation as China’s Silicon Valley and a global hub for artificial intelligence and embodied intelligence. The city will showcase its advanced industrial ecosystem in robotics, new vehicles, and the digital economy, aiming to connect markets and economies across the Asia-Pacific region. Shenzhen’s innovation model, designed to link China with Asia and the Pacific, is a key priority for the APEC Summit, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen this year under the theme Building an Asia-Pacific Community for Shared Prosperity. This theme focuses on integrating the Chinese economy regionally and globally through advanced technology. Therefore, Shenzhen’s focus during the APEC 2026 Summit will be on innovation, the digital economy, and showcasing new productive forces. The meetings and discussions at the APEC 2026 Summit will be concentrated in Shenzhen. The conference aims to highlight the role of innovation and advanced digital technologies; promote regional cooperation in artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital technologies; and strengthen industrial networks and cross-border supply chains for APEC economies in the semiconductor and green technology sectors. This explains why Shenzhen, China, was chosen to host the upcoming APEC conference. It serves as a living example, showcasing Shenzhen as a model of sustainable smart cities that rely on AI algorithms in the transportation, healthcare, and services sectors. Shenzhen is at the forefront of the regional and international AI landscape, acting as a new engine for industry by integrating digital innovation to expand markets and improve production in the Asia-Pacific region. In Shenzhen, any new idea can find the necessary components within 30 minutes, leading entrepreneurs to call this speed a Shenzhen Speed. Shenzhen is a unique global model for rapid innovation and integrated supply chains, enabling entrepreneurs to transform ideas into prototypes in just
Aug 13, 2026 · via moderndiplomacy.eu
Dive Brief: - Liability insurance coverage for commuter railroads will increase more than 24% in less than 30 days, leaving transit agencies scrambling to find new insurance policies and the extra funds to pay for them, Commuter Rail Coalition CEO KellyAnne Gallagher told Smart Cities Dive. The notice concerning the rail passenger liability cap was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 5. - A limited number of insurance brokers, mainly overseas, that provide this coverage will have to write new policies for all passenger railroads by the Sept. 4 deadline, South Shore Line President and General Manager Dave Dech told Smart Cities Dive. - If a commuter railroad or Amtrak is unable to obtain the required insurance on time, it might have to cease operating, Gallagher said in an earlier interview. Dive Insight: Federal law requires passenger rail operators to carry enough insurance to cover up to a certain amount in damages from a single accident. Under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, the liability cap is adjusted every five years, based on the consumer price index, against a $200 million limit that went into effect on Dec. 2, 1997. Gallagher gave examples of the increased initial costs to different commuter lines: $790,000 for Caltrain in the San Francisco Bay Area; $600,000 for Metrolink, which serves Southern California; and $630,000 for the North County Transit District - San Diego Railroad. “The cost of insurance for rail operators has been a longstanding strain for the industry and has become a barrier for operators looking to maintain or expand passenger operations across the U.S.,” John Durante, managing director - rail practice leader at insurance provider Marsh Risk, said in an emailed statement. “With this increase, insurance premiums may rise further, and securing competitive market pricing could become more challenging.” Dech
Aug 13, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Thursday’s Headlines Ballot measures, free transit, fast trains, Flock, cybercabs and more... 9:20 AM PDT on August 13, 2026 Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org. More from Streetsblog California The Death of California High-Speed Rail Is Greatly Exaggerated…Again A new report by the inspector general outlines some major challenges facing the mega-project, but it also points to several ways forward. August 13, 2026 Woodstock, the Estuary Water Shuttle, Remains Out of Service Everybody's favorite little boat blew two engines and is down for the count August 12, 2026 Worried about Metrolink Cuts? Blame Metrolink ‘Joint Powers Agreement’ Governance Structure Metrolink's JPA governance structure got multi-county So Cal commuter rail service up and running quickly, but was never intended to last for as long as it has August 12, 2026 Better Roads, Safe Streets Is Headed for the Ballot…Unless Fresno County Can Stop It in Court Advocates, city officials and state legislation insist transportation funding measure goes to voters; Board of Supervisors goes to court to block... August 12, 2026 Guest Post: Documenting Harassment on Public Transit 'Eyes on Board' is a new project from the San Francisco Transit Riders to track incidents August 12, 2026
Aug 13, 2026 · via cal.streetsblog.org
Kraaken: A Ship, Power Plant, Reservoir & Data Centre in One When a natural disaster strikes, repairing electricity grids can be one of the trickiest parts of relief efforts. Often, it can take days or weeks for power to be properly restored, even in the world's most developed countries. For disasters of high magnitude, like major earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis, the relief efforts in those first few days is often what matters most. A lack of power only makes those efforts more difficult. InMar Technologies and OptiFuel Systems, two companies based in the US's Carolinas, are well accustomed to extreme weather events. Just two years ago, Hurricane Helene – the deadliest and most destructive hurricane since Katrina – tore through North and South Carolina, killing more than 100 people and leaving around six million without power. These two firms, operating together under the moniker Optimal Transit, have just come up with a quite extraordinary proposal to solve to this problem. They recently published their concept for the Blue Economy VITAL 100MW Kraaken, which they describe as "a ship that can power 32,000 homes and produce clean water for 150,000 people with no fuel and no emissions". Oh, and the vessel also acts as a data centre capable of 60MW of AI compute. So, how exactly will this ship work, and how can the companies bring their futuristic vision to life? The details of the Kraaken The fundamental purpose for the Blue Economy VITAL 100MW Kraaken (henceforth just Kraaken) is to deliver power and water to shore, all while operating as a data centre. Optimal Transit's concept suggests the vessel could export a continuous stream of up to 40MW of self-produced electricity, while it could also produce around 30 million litres of fresh water daily using a process called vacuum-flash desalination.
Aug 13, 2026 · via energydigital.com
Dive Brief: - The rollout of a new tax on high-end second homes in New York City hit a snag Monday when a Staten Island judge ordered a pause on the effort after a handful of homeowners sued. The city appealed the decision soon after, staying the order until it moves through a higher court, CNN reported. - The judge sided with plaintiffs, saying the city failed to provide appropriate notice to homeowners who will be impacted by the tax and unlawfully placed burden on homeowners to prove whether or not they are subject to it. The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31. - Other states are also moving forward with taxes on high-end, non-primary residences. On July 1, Rhode Island enacted a non-owner-occupied property tax on homes valued at $1 million or more that are not the primary residences of their owners. Montana imposed a flat 1.9% tax on second homes earlier this year. Dive Insight: New York City is in the midst of an historic housing crunch, with the vacancy rate dropping to just 1.4% last year. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced the luxury secondary home tax proposal for New York City in April. It is expected to generate $500 million for the city in fiscal year 2027, according to the city comptroller. The proposed “pied-à-terre” tax is a surcharge on secondary homes, including one-, two- and three-family homes valued at $5 million or more and condos and co-ops valued at $1 million or more. The New York City comptroller estimates there are more than 13,000 such homes in the city. The city began notifying homeowners they may be subject to the tax July 23 through the mail and controversially published a searchable database of all such homes. Earlier this month, city officials announced they were
Aug 13, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com