Cityfi is greeting not only the arrival of June and LGBTQ+ Pride Month but also the addition of a new Partner to the firm! We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Wishnia has joined our team. Andrew previously served in the U.S. Department of Transportation as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Policy and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on environmental affairs and federal policy. Partner Karina Ricks interviewed Andrew to look back on all he has accomplished and forward to what he will do now.

This week, we are excited to spotlight two innovative and impactful client developments. On the curb management front, the Pittsburgh Smart Loading Zone Pilot Case Study captures valuable insights from a pilot program driven by the City of Pittsburgh and technology solutions provider Automotus. In the delivery and logistics space, our new client Pipedream, in partnership with Wendy’s, is piloting its autonomous underground system in the context of mobile food orders. Connect with Team Cityfi to learn more about these cutting-edge, cross-sector leaders, join us in welcoming Andrew, or discover how we can support you.

Transportation Decarbonization, Mobility Justice, and Magic Wands: A Conversation with Andrew Wishnia

Welcome to Cityfi’s newest Partner – Andrew Wishnia! Andrew joins Cityfi from the Biden-Harris Administration where he led climate policy in the U.S. Department of Transportation. He was a pivotal architect of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and played a critical role in crafting provisions for, and then deploying, the transformative investments provided by that generational investment. Andrew will help advance Cityfi’s practice in climate, resilience, permitting, and the decarbonization of transportation.

Karina sat down with Andrew to talk about his passion for decarbonization, his vision for the NEXT transportation authorization (no rest for the weary!), and his special super power wish. Read the excerpted conversation below or the full interview on our blog.

Karina: Andrew, we are so happy to have you here at Cityfi! You have done so much and were so central to what the Administration has accomplished so far. I would love to ask, what are you most proud of in terms of your contributions to that?

Andrew: I really haven't had time to reflect on it yet. I would start by saying it was so special to just be part of a team that transformed the country…The investments we've made in active transportation, transit and rail, electrification, natural infrastructure – those improvements are transformative…But now comes the hard work. That’s one of the reasons I'm so excited about being at Cityfi…Being able to work with the private sector, with local, State, and other governments - that is the second and necessary step to actualize the promise of both these flagship pieces of climate legislation.

Karina: What do you hope to be able to do on this side of the table to keep advancing those causes?

Andrew: …Folks need capacity…You know, a $1.2 trillion investment in our nation’s infrastructure can’t be minimized [but] if you are a small locality, or even a medium or large-sized city, it is difficult to navigate and understand all of the opportunities that are available. [B]eing able to simplify and provide navigational counsel to public and private entities is critical.

Karina: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is an amazing accomplishment, but what comes next?

Andrew: I think you're exactly right to ask the question…For us to look more strategically, we ought to begin that conversation sooner than later. In 2023 we ought to provide the country a clear direction as to what it is that we're aspiring to accomplish for transportation mobility...And we probably need to think more holistically than we have in the past to meet our shared aspirations.

Karina: Absolutely…Now that you're with Cityfi, how do you see yourself getting engaged in some of these other areas of focus that Cityfi works on: resiliency, digital systems, planning, and economic strategy?

Andrew: [Cityfi] is an opportunity to look at that convergence of energy, environment, planning, and so on. Citiyfi is leading the effort to de-silo transportation, and that’s exciting.

Karina: So, last question…If you could have one superpower or one wish to make a lasting change, what might you do with that?

Andrew: One wish? This is the worst genie! I would love to be able to be in two places at once. …we had one shot over this past ten years to do something really transformative, and we accomplished that. But it is still a fact that the most important things that you can do are inside the four corners of your house. So yeah, if I had a superpower, it would be to be in two places at once.

Karina: Andrew, I had the pleasure to work with you just briefly in the Administration. You know, you were just such an inspiration there, and you are an inspiration here. You are kind and amazing and we deeply appreciate you. We are just really eager to share you and everything that you bring to an even wider audience. We are excited to help you, and us all, advance this really, really important mission to decarbonize transportation to set our country, and frankly the world, up for sustainable success. And, we are really happy to have you here!

Pittsburgh Smart Loading Zone Pilot Case Study

By Erin Clark

The City of Pittsburgh and Automotus, with support from Cityfi, recently published the Pittsburgh Smart Loading Zone Pilot Case Study. The pilot uses Automotus’s automated curb management solutions, including automated license plate recognition technology, to monitor, collect data, collect payments, direct enforcement, and eventually enforce loading zones. The case study highlights the progress, learnings, and successes from the first nine months of the program, and demonstrates that through automated Smart Loading Zones, the city has seen a reduction in double parks and dwell time, while overall parking has increased.

Notably, this case study doesn’t just summarize results to date, it also provides insight into Pittsburgh’s process for the planning and implementation of this pilot. Specifically, it addresses how locations were selected, the cross-departmental coordination required, and community and stakeholder engagement. Cities considering piloting curb management solutions will benefit from Pittsburgh’s experience getting this pilot off the ground.

If you have questions or want to explore curb management solutions in your city, reach out!

Pipedream is Transforming Delivery as We Know It

By Karla Peralta

We are thrilled to share some news about our new client Pipedream, an innovative leader in the field of autonomous underground logistics. Pipedream is revolutionizing the delivery landscape by aiming to offer reliable delivery goods in under ten minutes, all at an affordable price point of $1. Their groundbreaking approach not only aims to enhance accessibility but also prioritizes sustainability and cost reduction.

Pipedream recently forged a partnership with the legendary fast-food giant Wendy’s. This dynamic collaboration opens up a world of exciting possibilities to explore delivery in the urban setting.

With Pipedream as our client, we are thrilled to work together to reshape the future of logistics. Stay tuned for more updates, and please reach us at info@cityfi.co if you would like to know more about this project!

Generative AI Implications for Cities

By Erin Clark and Alex Kapur

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, has been a topic of interest lately with colleagues, clients, friends, and family. In fact, the Cityfi team has really been nerding out on this topic – brainstorming, sharing articles, and chatting with technology and policy experts who are also exploring generative AI implications.

What is generative AI? There is mounting debate on the criteria qualifying the emerging forms of AI technologies. Generally, the underlying principles rely on a computerized neural network that can intake various forms of data (e.g., text, images, code), apply and adapt models to discern trends and patterns from this data, and then “generate” outputs that reflect computerized attempts to predict extrapolations on new variations of data inputs.

While generative AI can be a valuable tool, there are still a lot of questions and concerns around its use. Recently, the cities of Seattle and Boston released guidance to staff on the use of generative AI. Notably, Boston is encouraging staff to responsibly use and explore generative AI for tasks like writing a memo or job description. Boston also offers the following caveat in their guidance:

Generative AI is a tool. We are responsible for the outcomes of our tools. For example, if autocorrect unintentionally changes a word - changing the meaning of something we wrote, we are still responsible for the text. Technology enables our work, it does not excuse our judgment nor our accountability.

Cityfi regularly works with cities and entities across the country to tackle novel issues, often involving new technology, to reap the benefits while mitigating any potential risks – generative AI will be no exception. We look forward to working with past, present, and future clients to develop policies to govern and manage the use of this emerging technology. Spoiler alert – this won’t be the last time you see or hear the Cityfi team posting or talking about this topic!