What Comes Next

In October 2016, DOT announced an additional $65 million in grants to support community-driven advanced technology transportation projects — including support for four of the Smart City Challenge finalists to implement ideas developed as part of their applications. In all, these advanced technology grants will fund 19 technology-driven projects in local areas to fight congestion, increase connectivity, and improve access to opportunity.

Smart Cities Challenge finalists receiving grants included:

• Pittsburgh - nearly $11 million to deploy smart traffic signal technology – proven to reduce congestion by up to forty percent – along major travel corridors.
• San Francisco - nearly $11 million to implement connected vehicle technologies to allow the signal system to detect red light-violating vehicles and adjust timing, and personal wireless devices to prioritize pedestrian travel and safety at intersections. This includes a pilot of a shared, electric, autonomous shuttle.
• Denver - $6 million to upgrade its traffic management center, build a connected vehicle network, and install automated pedestrian detection at difficult crosswalks.
• Portland - the transit agency, TriMet, will receive funds to integrate shared- use mobility options into its existing trip planning app, allowing users to plan efficient trips even without nearby transit access.

Projects supported by these grants are building on the success of the Smart City Challenge. Leveraging funding from local and private partners, these cities will bring cutting-edge technology to their communities, demonstrating in real-world settings the tools that will transform our transportation system in the next 30 years.