Columbus Wins US DOT’s Smart City Challenge
The U.S. Department of Transportation wasn’t planning to announce the winner of its Smart City Challenge until June 23, but Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) revealed on June 21 that Columbus had been chosen over the six other finalists.
Ohio’s capital will receive $50 million to develop a 21st century transportation network, $40 million from DOT and $10 million from Vulcan Inc. Brown’s office also announced that the city also will benefit from $90 million in local investment that was contingent on Columbus' winning the competition that also included: Austin, Texas; Denver; Kansas City, Missouri; Pittsburgh; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco. The original field included 78 cities.
“This funding is a game changer for the city of Columbus and central Ohio,” Brown said in a statement announcing Columbus’ selection. “I’m glad the Department of Transportation recognized what so many of us already know — Columbus is a smart city that deserves to win this challenge.
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“Columbus’ skilled and diverse workforce, state-of-the-art research institutions, and strong public-private partnerships will help this project succeed,” Brown said. “I look forward to working with local leaders and community members to realize the vision of a first-of-its-kind transportation service that increases access to jobs, links neighborhoods and improves real-time information in a sustainable, safe way.”
Columbus plans to use the money to link neighborhoods and improve mobility for residents while encouraging additional growth and to provide an environment for new and existing technology companies to locate in the city.
When the seven finalists made their final presentations to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx on June 9, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the city aimed to “reconnect neighborhoods who have been left out of the success story that is Columbus.”
