From the City’s recent work in synchronizing traffic signal timing along key regional routes (e.g., Fremont Boulevard, Paseo Padre Parkway, Mowry Avenue, and Stevenson Boulevard), ongoing implementation of enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and continuous expansion of the City’s electric vehicle fleet, our focus on mobility aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80% below 1990 levels, improve traffic flow, reduce corridor travel time, calm arterial traffic speeds, provide comfortable alternative modes of transportation, and reduce traffic fatalities—all in alignment with our Mobility Action Plan, Active Transportation Plan, and Vision Zero traffic safety initiative.

The importance of public safety speaks for itself. Through our implementation of smart city technology, we aim to leverage community partnerships, sensors, and big data to support emergency services, from triage and crime monitoring to wildfire prevention.

For example, our Fremont Police Department and Fremont Fire Department partnered to deploy one of the nation’s first joint public safety Drone as First Responders (DFR) program, allowing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to arrive on-scene ahead of responding public safety personnel. Real-time situational awareness to determine the best tools, tactics, and resources for first responders’ aid in better decision-making.

Becoming a climate ready city is no small feat. We plan to achieve this goal by advancing innovative clean energy technologies included in the new Climate Ready Fremont plan that support the transition to a low carbon economy, including solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems, energy management controls, heat pump space and water heating units, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and electric maintenance equipment.

We’ve already started using the latest technologies in City infrastructure to promote clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Fremont. We’re advancing vehicle electrification by installing public charging stations (with more on the way!) and more than doubling the size of the City’s zero-emission vehicle fleet. We also have various solar and microgrid installation projects across City facilities to serve as renewable energy sources that foster community resiliency.

To achieve the level of digitalization required to be a truly smart city, there needs to be robust fiber and Wi-Fi access available to connect all our community members and businesses. An upcoming enhancement we’re rolling out to Downtown and Fremont’s other neighborhood business districts is implementation of free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet that will be available to community members and businesses. The City of Fremont was successful in securing $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2023 and another $1.5 million from the State of California to fund this project.

Wi-Fi will be available in summer 2024 beginning in Downtown/City Center, and then moving into Centerville, Irvington, Niles, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs. Additionally, we have two Comcast Lift Zones, which provide free Wi-Fi service to some of our community centers.

Of course, at the crux of all these initiatives is our community. Their input matters the most as we shape Fremont, which is why we have several initiatives in place to collect community feedback.

Utilizing our online public engagement platform MyFremont, our residents can provide feedback, share ideas, and ask questions about ongoing initiatives. Similarly, our reporting tool, The Fremont App, enables residents to report a wide range of local, non-emergency issues directly to City departments via their mobile phone or computer.

Additionally, our GIS Open Data Hub and Story Maps allow users to explore maps and datasets to learn more about and better interact with the areas around them.