ABSTRACT
The public sector can become more entrepreneurial itself; the City of Boston’s Urban Mechanics Lab is an innovation-generator for public infrastructure. Infrastructure involves many players with often distinct and sometimes conflicting interests. Buses can benefit from new technology platforms, including innovative new services with flexible routes and data availability; and buses can benefit from new physical platforms, such as those used by Bus Rapid Transit to better serve passengers and encourage use. Shared vehicles should continue to receive incentives which might also help with the implementation of autonomous vehicles. Connections will be massively facilitated by more and better data and data analytics. This could serve the public well by providing sufficient information to make choices and save time. A national infrastructure bank could augment federal and state grants, offer loan guarantees, and encourage projects that meet professional strategic and operational criteria. A national bank could operate regionally, like the Federal Reserve System, thus ensuring anchoring in regional realities.
