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Smart City Highlights

On this page, we've compiled a handful of the milestones achieved during the Challenge, with newer items appearing at the top of the page. You can read a full range of Challenge-related blog posts and media releases in our Briefing Room.

DOT Announces Additional Advanced Transportation Technology Grants

Following on the heels of the Smart City Challenge, DOT announced in October 2016 that local communities across the country will receive nearly $65 million in grants to support advanced technology transportation projects.  The grants are being awarded through two DOT initiatives aimed at promoting the use of advanced technologies in transportation: the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) program run by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox program overseen by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Cities receiving funding to pursue smart city technology deployments include Challenge Finalists Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Portland and Denver.

Columbus wins the Smart City Challenge!

In June, DOT announced that Columbus, OH, had been selected as the winner of the Challenge. As winner, Columbus will receive up to $40 million from DOT and up to $10 million from Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc. to supplement the $90 million that the city has already raised from other private partners to carry out its plan. Using these resources, Columbus will work to reshape its transportation system to become part of a fully-integrated city that harnesses the power and potential of data, technology, and creativity to reimagine how people and goods move throughout their city.

All Seven Finalists to Benefit from Continued Collaboration with Government and Private Sector Partners

In June, DOT announced that it would collaborate with government and private sector partners to help all seven finalist cities in the Smart City Challenge – not just the challenge winner –move forward with ideas that each city developed. This collaboration would include continued support from Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc., and would focus resources from across the federal government and the private sector to support innovation in the cities of Austin, Columbus, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland, and San Francisco.

DOT Visits Finalist Cities

In May, DOT announced visits to each of the finalist cities to meet with mayors and other local leaders as they worked to complete their final proposals.

DOT Announces Seven Finalist Cities

Private Sector Partners

Throughout the Challenge, DOT continued announcing new private sector partners in addition to early participants Vulcan, Inc., and Mobileye. Notable additions included AT&T, NXP Security Technologies, DC Solar, Continental Automotive, Sidewalk Labs, and Autodesk. View a list of interested partners at www.transportation.gov/smartcity/interested-organizations/list.

Overwhelming Response by Cities across the Country

In February 2016, DOT announced that 78 cities had submitted applications.  Medium-sized cities from across the country from Reno to Rochester and Anchorage to Albuquerque represent the depth and breadth of the Challenge.

About The Challenge

DOT pledged up to $40 million (funding subject to future appropriations) to one city to help it define what it means to be a “Smart City “and become the country’s first city to fully integrate innovative technologies – self-driving cars, connected vehicles, and smart sensors – into their transportation network.

Map of seven Smart City Challenge Finalists