Making a Difference

Feb 28

Written By Cityfi

At Cityfi, we believe in the power of bold ideas, collaboration, and action to shape more sustainable, equitable, and connected futures. In this edition, we’re spotlighting transformative projects, groundbreaking solutions, and the leaders driving change across the U.S. and beyond. From rethinking urban planning’s legacy and amplifying Black leadership to preparing for the 2026 World Cup and fostering innovation in DC, this newsletter is packed with opportunities to engage, learn, and make an impact.

Cityfi Sampler

By Team Cityfi

Cityfi operates at the intersection of public, private, and nonprofit sectors, convening diverse stakeholders to drive innovation and rapidly implement transformative solutions that deliver lasting impact. We transform bold visions into reality with actionable roadmaps, cutting-edge policies, strategic organizational alignment, and smart technologies. We deliver measurable performance and tangible impact that empower cities, companies, and communities to thrive.

But you might ask, what does that really mean? What does Cityfi actually DO? Well, if actions speak louder than words, then a small sampler of our work might tell our story better than we ever could - from small but mighty local solutions to national and international initiatives:

Seattle Department of Transportation Climate Change Response Framework

In 2022, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed an Executive Order directing City departments to work together to prioritize and expand actions that equitably reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector. One of those actions was to create a climate change response framework (CCRF). Cityfi, in partnership with Sam Schwartz Engineering (now TYLin), supported the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) in developing the CCRF, serving as a decision-making tool to drive bold organizational, political, and societal changes needed to meet Seattle’s 2030 climate goals.

Cityfi conducted a landscape assessment, led stakeholder workshops, refined the City’s Climate Calculator to measure community benefits, and analyzed national and international best practices. Using technical analyses and stakeholder input, we prioritized high-impact strategies to reduce transportation emissions. The CCRF is now guiding SDOT’s implementation efforts toward a more sustainable future, including investments in planning and implementing low-pollution neighborhoods.

Bozeman, MT Micromobility Policy

Bozeman is one of Montana’s fastest growing cities. While generally car-dependent, Bozeman wanted to provide more convenient and affordable mobility choices while protecting the quality of life and surrounding landscapes that make the mountain west so special. They needed a proactive policy approach that was centered around the outcomes they wanted for their community, not prescribed to narrow solutions or reactionary after the fact.

Cityfi worked with city leaders to develop a policy toolkit that allowed future flexibility with an emphasis on outcomes and key results. The toolkit recommended management strategies that would better position the small town to attract mobility providers given market realities. It navigated the tension between street users with a management framework based on common benefits to all.

The policy framework was a template for the city to use well beyond the micromobility task. By providing a structure oriented to achieve outcomes rather than a focus on avoiding fears, the approach a template to tackle other policy needs as well.

Louisville Department of Transportation Development Services

Cityfi supported Louisville Metro Government (Metro) in developing and launching its first Department of Transportation. While Louisville had a solid transportation foundation, fragmented responsibilities, unclear accountability, and a lack of prioritization and metrics hindered efficient project delivery within the existing Public Works Department structure.

To address these challenges, Cityfi led the development of strategic recommendations focused on organizational restructuring, process improvements, and performance evaluation, to enhance operational efficiency and project execution. These efforts position Louisville’s new Department of Transportation to streamline services, improve coordination, and deliver better transportation outcomes for the community.

Westchester County, NY Project MOVER

Project MOVER, a grand prize winner of the NYSERDA Clean Transportation Prize, received a $7 million grant to expand affordable, clean micromobility in five Rivertown communities in Westchester County (outside of New York City). A partner consortium, led by EIT InnoEnergy, the project brings together Cityfi, Nelson\Nygaard, Mobility Development Partners, Shared Mobility Inc., and Drop Mobility to launch an e-bike share program, charging stations, e-bike libraries, and lease-to-own options, removing typical barriers that underserved communities face when using shared micromobility offerings.

Cityfi is providing strategic advisory and project management, ensuring equitable program design, technology deployment, and effective operations. We support solution providers with pilot implementation, troubleshooting, and engagement strategies while also managing program replication in four Hudson Valley incubator communities. Through webinars, training, and technical assistance, Cityfi is driving knowledge-sharing and accelerating micromobility adoption across the region.

Mobility Innovation and Pilot Project Policy in Washington, DC

Cityfi has played a key role in advancing mobility innovation in Washington, DC through the DC Mobility Innovation District (MID) and DDOT’s Pilot Project Policy Framework.

The DC Mobility Innovation District (MID) was established as a national testing ground for mobility solutions and policies. Cityfi has been involved from the start, providing strategic planning, program development, and advisory support. We helped organize an advisory board, guided budgeting and communications strategies, and designed the Call for Projects process, which solicits innovative mobility solutions. Cityfi also facilitated government partnerships, leading to projects like an electric demand-responsive shuttle service and an e-bike library for local workforce programs. Our team continues to support the MID’s expansion and long-term sustainability. In fact, see below for our latest call for innovations!

Separately, Cityfi worked with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to develop a Pilot Project Policy Framework and draft rulemaking to execute the policy, creating a streamlined process for evaluating, prioritizing, and committing (or not) to pilot projects. This framework helps prioritize innovation while managing risks and resources efficiently. In addition, while the core piece of the framework is a process flow for vetting and approving inbound pilot requests, the framework provides additional guidance on planning and implementation after pilots are approved and developing a Challenge-based program to develop a more outcomes driven approach to pilots. As part of the process, Cityfi conducted a market scan, identified best practices, and worked with DDOT and other government stakeholders to shape the policy and rulemaking process.

Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works Strategic Planning and and Organization

As Miami-Dade County continues to grow, its Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) faces increasing pressure to deliver projects efficiently while enhancing access, community vitality, and transparency. With new leadership and a countywide commitment to equity, economy, environment, and engagement, DTPW sought a strategic realignment to better serve its residents.

Cityfi was engaged to assess DTPW’s organizational structure and recommend improvements for efficiency, transparency, and innovation. Through landscape assessments, case studies, staff interviews, and workshops, Cityfi identified opportunities to streamline operations and enhance project delivery.

Building on this foundation, Cityfi developed DTPW’s three-year strategic plan, a clear roadmap aligned with countywide goals. Grounded in four key focus areas—Invest in Our People, Operate with Discipline, Achieve Operational Excellence, and Deliver Results—the plan establishes six priority themes guiding the department’s transformation.

To ensure effective execution, Cityfi developed a strategy framework, phased action plan, and performance review process to maintain accountability, transparency, and adaptability.

DTPW’s Strategic Plan is more than a roadmap—it’s a blueprint for innovation and operational excellence.

NW Arkansas Advanced Mobility Corridor

Northwest Arkansas is fostering a unique ecosystem with art and design, the future of mobility, outdoor recreation, and entrepreneurship at its core. This is coming together during a population boom that is expected to result in nearly 1 million residents by 2045, while tourism is also on the rise for the region.

Cityfi was engaged to explore the potential for advancing mobility strategies in Northwest Arkansas, enhancing transportation networks, and identifying opportunities to support mobility enhancements and innovation in this thriving region. With the aim of connecting communities and driving economic development, Cityfi designed near- and long-term investment opportunities to attract global innovators, foster home-grown talent, and improve local and regional transportation. Through a comprehensive landscape assessment and stakeholder engagement, we identified mobility gaps and needs, explored emerging technologies, and recommended solutions tailored to the region’s needs. The project culminated in an action agenda and management plan to guide future development and innovation.

MTC Mobility Hubs and Parking Technical Assistance Program

The Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Mobility Hubs and Parking Technical Assistance Program is intended to serve as a learning experience for participating city agencies and transit authorities on the steps and actions that work best to advance mobility hubs and parking projects, and how to overcome implementation challenges. The goal of the program is to support project sponsors in their efforts to increase the availability of shared mobility options, enhance the visibility of transit and other sustainable travel modes, and more efficiently manage and price the curb to incentivize mode shift.

The Cityfi team is leveraging its expertise in access and mobility planning, applications of Curb Data Specifications and Mobility Data Specifications, and state and federal funding obligations for both Mobility Hubs and Parking projects, to support nine cities and transit authorities (Sponsors) across the Bay Area in implementing and evaluating their mobility hubs and parking projects. More specifically, Cityfi is assisting Sponsors in identifying appropriate use cases for leveraging data specifications for data collection and project monitoring, analysis, and policy development and in navigating the Caltrans local assistance and federal funding obligation procedures.

National Collaboration for SMARTer Curb Management

The Open Mobility Foundation’s (OMF) SMART Curb Collaborative is a group of cities united in tackling challenges in curb management, reducing congestion, enhancing livability, and improving safety and equity on city streets. Each of these ten public agencies is a recipient of USDOT’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program, which provides funding to build data and technology capacity across the US.

Cityfi is working with OMF to manage the Collaborative, including engaging the cities in ongoing peer learning exchange, sharing of resources, and problem solving exercises to help them best design, implement and evaluate their demonstration pilots. In the future and at the end of these demonstration pilots and the Collaborative, the hope is that lessons learned from these projects can be used and shared to institute longer-term programs and organizational changes around how these (and other) cities manage their curb through digital infrastructure.

Baltic Mobility Collaborative

Cityfi, alongside dots., architected the Baltic Mobility Collaborative (BMC), a cross-border institutional platform between ITS Latvia, ITS Estonia, and the Transport Innovation Association of Lithuania and numerous other partners to unify cross-border mobility and reshape the mobility experience in the region. In the near-term, the BMC consortium aims to reinforce the European single market by creating a consistent mobility experience, establish cross-border transport payments, and build institutional capacity for the ITS and mobility solutions ecosystem. Fueled by various European funding programs, the BMC's built-in replication model means that ideas are tested and scaled collaboratively across the Baltics diverse urban environments with the public, private, and research sectors.

Rewriting the Map: Black Leadership in Urban Planning and Mobility

By Vicki Fanibi

This Black History Month presents an opportunity to reflect on the painful legacy of urban planning in the United States - a discipline historically shaped by exclusionary policies that disproportionately harmed communities of color. From highway construction that severed vibrant neighborhoods to systematic redlining, the built environment has long been manipulated in ways that marginalize and disenfranchise. The effects of this are felt today: Black and Brown residents are overrepresented in neighborhoods with high poverty rates, where essential resources - quality schools, full-service grocery stores, safe and clean parks, and reliable transportation - are often lacking.

In recent years, there has been a discernible shift: Black professionals are increasingly at the forefront of efforts to implement more equitable, inclusive, and community-centered strategies. Their leadership and ingenuity, while acknowledging planning’s painful origin, are redefining the narrative of urban planning and mobility. They are fostering policies that seek to repair past harms and safeguard against future injustices.

In this newsletter, we have the privilege of re-introducing Veronica Davis, a distinguished transportation practitioner whose work epitomizes this transformative wave in the profession. Her unwavering commitment to equity underscores the importance of amplifying Black expertise and lived experiences within urban policy frameworks. One year ago, I spoke with Veronica about where the profession is headed, what it means to be a Black practitioner, and how we can individually and collectively work towards a more just future. If you’ve read the interview before, I encourage you to revisit it. If this is your first time, I hope you find it insightful and inspiring.

The Innovation Want Ads

Game-Changing Tech for the 2026 World Cup!

In less than 18 months, 11 U.S. cities will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup! Transit and transportation agencies are racing to deliver a world-class mobility experience. But, challenges remain, and host city partners need ready-to-deploy solutions to ensure seamless, safe, and efficient movement for millions of fans.

ITS America convened agencies to identify key mobility challenges and is calling on INNOVATORS LIKE YOU to pitch game-changing technology solutions. Selected proposals will have the chance to present to host regions and potentially deploy before kickoff!

The clock is ticking! Let’s make transportation a winning experience for all!

Have an idea? Submit your solution using this link.
Know someone who can help? Forward this email or share this link

Demonstrations in DC - Request for Information

DC Mobility Innovation District (DC MID) launches Call for Projects!

The DC MID seeks innovative solutions and support from private-sector partners to address key mobility challenges in Washington, DC. Through this Request for Information (RFI), the DC MID aims to identify viable solutions and support needed to demonstrate cutting-edge transportation technologies, business models, and infrastructure improvements. Focus areas include first/last-mile transportation, e-mobility charging, safe streets, event congestion, and curb management.

The DC MID offers unique support, including partnership development, community insights, site host locations, government liaisons, and storytelling opportunities.

📌 Key Focus Areas:

First/Last Mile Transportation
Access to E-Mobility Charging
Safe Streets
Event Congestion
Curb Management

💡 Deadline: April 25, 2025

🔗 Learn more here :https://www.dcmid.io/projects

Have a groundbreaking mobility solution? Apply today here

Where in the World is Cityfi?

Check out where Cityfi will be in the upcoming weeks. We may be speaking at conferences, leading workshops, hosting events, and/or actively engaging in collaborative learning within the community. We would love to see you.

Open Mobility Foundation’s Mobility Mixer - Portland, OR - March 4 (5:30 - 7:00 PM)

Meet up with Partner Karina Ricks, Principal Erin Clark, and Senior Associate Karla Peralta in Portland, OR as the Open Mobility Foundation’s (OMF) Open Mobility Mixer series continues! Join OMF and the SMART Curb Collaborative for an evening of connection and conversation with professionals who work at the intersection of mobility and technology. This is a great opportunity to nerd out about curb technology, digital infrastructure, and the future of our cities! RSVP required.

Smart City Expo USA - New York City, NY - April 2 - 3

Cityfi is pleased to be a partner of Smart City Expo USA taking place April 2-3, 2025 at the Javits Center. Partners Karina Ricks and Story Bellows will be among the exciting speakers including the CEOs of the Paris 2024 Olympics and FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities. Additional speakers include the Gateway Development Commission CFO, NYC Chief Fleet Officer, NYC Chief Climate Officer, Governor Shapiro’s Executive Director of Critical Investments, Michigan’s Chief Infrastructure Officer, Massachusetts’ Director of Infrastructure, and so many top industry and government officials from across the country.

For a 20% discount on tickets, please use code SMARTCITYFI20 at Smart City Expo USA. See you in NYC in April!

CoMotion Miami - Miami, FL - April 29 - 30

As a long-time partner to CoMotion, Cityfi is pleased to join leading global mobility innovators once more in the Magic City for two days of programs, panels, workshops and demonstrations. CoMotion MIAMI is energizing convergence of leading edge technology with thought-leading agencies. We look forward to seeing you there!