USDOT Selects Columbus as Smart City Challenge Winner

Beating out six other finalists, Columbus, Ohio, will have $140 million to upgrade its transportation network with self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors

Jun 23, 2016

While the U.S. Department of Transportation hasn't officially announced the winner of its Smart City Challenge, it looks like Columbus, Ohio, has beat out the six other finalist for the $40 million in grants to implement its smart city plan. With an additional $90 million in local matching funds and $19 million in public money, the city will have a total of $140 million to upgrade its transportation network.

The USDOT Smart City Challenge will help one city define what it means to be a "Smart City" and become the country's first city to fully integrate innovative technologies including self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors into its transportation network, according to the USDOT website.

Columbus's plan for its Smart City Challenge is to tie together all its neighborhoods to connect people to jobs, training opportunities, higher education and healthcare as well as design safer streets, ensure all residents have access to quality and affordable transportation, and reduce consumption and emissions.

[VIDEO] Columbus Smart City Challenge Pitch

With the Smart City Challenge grants, Columbus plans to include:

A self-driving fixed-route transit line in Easton, Ohio
Smart corridors to improve transit service and efficiently
Expanded usage of electric and smart vehicles
Real-time information about traffic and parking conditions and transit options to minimize traffic issues associated with major events or incidents
A smart card and app that allows people to pay for bus fares, as well as ride- and car-sharing services

A total of 78 cities participated in the challenge with seven being selected as finalist: