Columbus Wins the U.S. DOT's Smart Cities Challenge

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced Columbus, Ohio, as the winner of its Smart Cities Challenge, rounding out an exciting week for the Buckeye state and marking a meaningful step toward defining “smart” transportation in urban America.

Columbus is the fastest growing city in the Midwest. Chosen by the DOT among seven finalists, it will receive $40 million in federal seed money and a supplemental $10 million from Vulcan, Inc. With that money, $90 million more in matching funds from private and institutional partners, and add-on technology from the likes of Sidewalk Labs and Mobileye, the city plans to gradually roll out autonomous shuttles, universal transit cards, and electric-vehicle infrastructure to improve congestion, safety, and mobility, equitably.