Report explores technology and mobility in cities.

• Position: News & Numbers

The gaps are widening between innovation in the private sector, the expressed preferences of citizens, and the visions of city planners regarding transportation investment, according to a report from the National League of Cities (NLC). The mobility environment in cities is rapidly shifting, primarily because of technology, which will affect land-use decisions and infrastructure planning. But even though half of the cities surveyed have explicit plans for new highway and infrastructure construction and maintenance, the majority are not taking into account the effect of driverless technology or private transportation network companies.

The report, City of the Future: Technology and Mobility, explores trends in mobility and technology in cities and identifies what cities can do to move seamlessly and efficiently into the future of mobility. It is part of a multi-year research project that focuses on five factors that affect cities: technology, economics, climate resilience, culture and demographics

"With the mobility environment rapidly changing, cities are central and leading the effort toward better, more seamless and equitable transportation systems," said Brooks Rainwater, director, NLC Center for City Solutions and Applied Research, said.

The report also outlines a forecast for 2020, 2030, and beyond.

In 2020, extensive demographic and workforce changes that will affect...