Locals recognized for technology programs

Eleven local governments were recognized for their innovative use of technology in the 2000 Solutions Awards program, sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based Public Technology Inc. Awards were given in three categories based on community population. The recipients, in their respective categories, are:

Small Jurisdictions (100,000 or less)

• Winner: Gaithersburg, Md., was selected for the Gaithersburg Reporting and Database Environment project. The city implemented an information management system that includes an enterprise database, and it implemented CityNet, an Intranet network for the city.

• Honorable mention: San Carlos, Calif., and Santa Monica, Calif.

• Mid-size Jurisdictions (100,000 to 700,000)

• Winner: Portland, Ore., was chosen for its work in powering a fuel cell with anaerobic digester gas (ADG). City officials researched ADG and found that it could be used as an alternative to natural gas. To purchase ADG fuel cells, the city used an innovative lease arrangement, which, when combined with state tax credits, resulted in a negative interest rate — the city will pay back $50,000 less than what it borrowed.

• Honorable mention: Boston; Dayton, Ohio; and Hampton, Va.

• Large Jurisdictions (more than 700,000)

• Winner: Los Angeles was named for its Advanced Transit Priority System. In Los Angeles, Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) buses were delayed and fell behind schedule because of increasing traffic congestion on surface streets. The city, working in partnership with the MTA, developed an advanced transit priority system, which is a communications system that helps MTA route its buses along two demonstration corridors. In addition, a fiber optic communications link was established for MTA bus dispatchers to better monitor the bus fleet with a real-time graphic display system. Initial results indicate that the MTA reduced travel time by 15 percent to 25 percent.

• Honorable Mention: San Diego; San Jose, Calif.; and Phoenix.

• Additional information about the Solutions program is available at www.pti.org.