POR 2026-151 · Agenda item attachment · Aug 3 2026

POR 2026-151 FIRST IN COUNCIL August 3, 2026 City of Cambridge MAYOR SIDDIQUI COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR SIMMONS VICE MAYOR AZEEM WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is home to thriving commercial districts, cultural institutions, public spaces, educational institutions, and neighborhood destinations that attract residents and visitors from across the region and around the world; and WHEREAS: Visitors and residents increasingly rely upon digital technology to navigate cities, locate local businesses, access transportation information, discover cultural destinations, and obtain information regarding public services and community events; and WHEREAS: Wayfinding has consistently been identified as a desirable asset by business owners, residents, and visitors through multiple Economic Development studies, District Assessments, Commercial Area Plans, and Commercial Intercept Surveys conducted throughout Cambridge; and WHEREAS: Cambridge has demonstrated its ability to attract significant numbers of visitors through public events, festivals, arts programming, and cultural initiatives in partnership with neighborhood business associations and Business Improvement Districts; however, additional tools could better connect those visitors with local businesses, restaurants, retailers, cultural institutions, and neighborhood destinations, extending the economic benefit of these events throughout the commercial district; and WHEREAS: Many municipalities, such as Atlanta and St. Louis, have successfully implemented digital wayfinding and information kiosk networks that provide maps, directions, event information, public art, transportation resources, emergency notifications, and business directory information in a highly accessible public format; and WHEREAS: Communities have demonstrated that digital kiosk networks can improve visitor experience, support local businesses, strengthen commercial districts, and activate public spaces by making neighborhoods easier to explore and discover; and WHEREAS: Such systems provide opportunities to promote local businesses, cultural destinations, municipal services, public events, and neighborhood assets while reducing reliance on commercial search platforms that often prioritize paid advertising over local relevance; and WHEREAS: Many digital kiosk programs are structured through public-private partnerships

requiring little or no municipal capital investment while generating revenue to support maintenance, public realm improvements, and ongoing operations; and WHEREAS: Appropriate privacy protections, accessibility standards, multilingual functionality, data governance policies, and any limitations on data collection or tracking can be established through the City's procurement process and incorporated into any future Request for Proposals to ensure consistency with Cambridge's policies and values regarding privacy and surveillance technologies; and WHEREAS: The identification of appropriate kiosk locations should be informed through a public planning process involving municipal departments, neighborhood organizations, business districts, accessibility advocates, and other stakeholders to ensure installations complement the public realm and neighborhood character; and WHEREAS: Cambridge has long been recognized as a leader in innovation, technology, sustainability, and public engagement and should explore opportunities to modernize its public information infrastructure; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to explore the feasibility of establishing a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk program on public property throughout Cambridge; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to engage the Community Development Department, Law Department, Information Technology Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, Cambridge Arts Council, Office of Tourism, neighborhood Business Associations, Business Improvement Districts, accessibility advocates, and other relevant stakeholders in developing the scope, objectives, and requirements of any potential Request for Proposals related to such a program; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with findings and recommendations, including whether the City should proceed with the development and issuance of a competitive Request for Proposals for a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk network. A true copy; ATTEST:- Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk

City of Cambridge That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of establishing a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk program on public property throughout Cambridge.