This past year has been remarkable for infrastructure innovation. As cities and towns across North America navigate unprecedented population growth, municipalities are reimagining how to build resilience and foster community through their assets and policy development. In this article, we highlight municipalities leading the way in innovation to better serve their residents. Explore our list of notable infrastructure advancements and their transformative impact, showcasing how new technologies and initiatives are shaping the future of municipalities.
- Housing Hub: Windsor, Ontario
What is it?
The City of Windsor is making strides in innovative infrastructure with the announcement of a new Housing Hub at 700 Wellington Avenue. This project addresses homelessness by integrating permanent supportive housing with essential social services in a single, centralized location.
This site will span seven acres, feature at least 64 one-bedroom supportive housing units, common spaces for programs and services, and room for future development. The location was chosen strategically for its proximity to the downtown core, transit access, and safety and security considerations.
Impact:
The City of Windsor’s announcement of the development of the Housing Hub and the chosen location aligns with the goals outlined in Windsor’s Housing and Homelessness Master Plan, demonstrating the importance of long-term, visionary planning for development.
The Housing Hub is a transformative initiative aimed at reducing long-term homelessness, fostering community renewal, and providing participants with the stability and resources they need to thrive. In the future, the City hopes to expand and develop affordable housing units as an offshoot of the Housing Hub. Not only does the Housing Hub provide essential services, but it also provides an opportunity for community revitalization and economic redevelopment in a historically undeveloped area. Read more about the city’s plans here.
- Graffiti Removal Drone Pilot Project: Washington State, USA
What is it?
The Washington State Department of Transportation is pioneering innovative infrastructure maintenance through its pilot program putting drones to work removing graffiti. Spearheaded by the Tacoma maintenance crew and Mike Gauger, the state agency is testing the ability of drone technology to combat graffiti on hard-to-reach areas like bridges and overpasses. The custom drone is equipped with a spray nozzle and tethered to a ground-based paint supply. The goal of the project is to enhance crew efficiency, safety, and resource allocation through the incorporation of new technologies into day-to-day operations and maintenance.
Impact:
In 2023 alone, Washington maintenance crews spent over $815,000 and around 10,300 hours of labour on graffiti removal statewide. Even so, it’s not enough to address the problem entirely. Graffiti harms state infrastructure and poses significant safety risks to both the perpetrators and maintenance crews. This pilot project can serve to reduce the crews’ reliance on specialized trucks and free them up for other critical tasks.
Washington State House Bill 1989 supports research and testing of this technology through funding resources, and the Tacoma crew is expected to provide a report on its efforts this month. In the future, the team hopes to see innovative responses to maintenance tasks continue to keep citizens and staff safe and resources allocation efficient. To learn more about the pilot project and its impact, check out this blog post.
- Continuous Sidewalk: Kitchener, Ontario
What is it?
The City of Kitchener demonstrated its commitment to innovative infrastructure this summer with the introduction of its first continuous sidewalk. This approach maintains the sidewalk at a consistent height, eliminating the dip typically found at driveways or intersections. Drivers then must navigate a gentle slope when crossing the sidewalk, naturally slowing speeds and enhancing pedestrian safety. Furthermore, the design includes tactile plates to assist people who are visually impaired.
Impact:
As part of Kitchener’s Complete Streets policy, this project showcases the transformation of Highland Road East. As the city grows, this project reinforces its commitment to inclusive infrastructure. Once dominated by fast-moving traffic, the street has been reimagined as a Complete Street, with wider walkways, dedicated cycle tracks, better transit access, and new features like a continuous sidewalk.
This emerging practice is relatively new to Ontario and is the first of its kind in the city, showcasing Kitchener’s forward-thinking approach to creating infrastructure that prioritizes pedestrian safety, accessibility and multi-use for all residents. Read more about the sidewalk here.
- Smart Work Zone System for Roadway Safety: Maine
What is it?
This year, the Maine Department of Transportation is improving community safety through the deployment of innovative infrastructure technologies. Maine’s new Smart Work Zone System uses portable sensors placed miles ahead of work zones to monitor real-time traffic conditions like vehicle speeds and volumes. Then, these insights are displayed on digital message boards, giving drivers early warnings about speed changes or stopped traffic. These messages are especially vital on high-speed interstates, like the I-295.
Impact:
Maine averages over 500 crashes and two fatalities annually in work zones, with leading causes such as distracted driving, tailgating, and failure to yield. These figures highlight the significance of innovations and new technologies that monitor and communicate with road crews to improve construction efficiency, crew safety, and new infrastructure development. This technology is allowing Maine transportation construction crews to perform daytime construction while informing and monitoring vehicles passing by.
The Smart Work Zone System works in tandem with the legislature from the state. The “Move Over Law” mandates drivers to move over for vehicles displaying green or amber lights and is a critical component of ensuring worker and motorist safety. Learn about the Smart Work Zone System here.
Key Takeaways
Local governments across North America are taking steps to further their communities’ sustainability, safety, and resilience. Windsor’s Housing Hub, Tacoma’s graffiti pilot program, Kitchener’s Complete Streets, and Maine’s Smart Work Zone are just a handful of the initiatives that local governments across North America have taken on this year. We look forward to learning about the innovation that the next year will bring!
