The new initiative will fund crowdsourced mobility solutions.
Ford's third City of Tomorrow Challenge begins this month in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The initiative takes the form of "a pitch-off for community-sourced ideas" to improve mobility and congestion in the city, Timothy Seppala explains in Engadget.
Residents shouldn't expect a resurrected streetcar network in the city, but bike-sharing kiosks, more bike lanes and wider sidewalks are probably safe bets ... The Challenge [will also] accept ideas that use infrastructure and transportation data to enable "smart transportation choices."
The winning two teams will receive $100,000 to pilot their ideas, with funding provided by companies including AT&T, Dell, and Microsoft, as well as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's PlanetM mobility initiative.
The challenge's launch comes shortly after Ford announced that it would create an innovation hub at the Michigan Central Station in Detroit. The company has also launched City of Tomorrow initiatives in Miami and Pittsburgh.
FULL STORY: Ford's next 'City of Tomorrow' is Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids Mayor Proposes Garage Conversion Plan
The mayor says allowing homeowners to convert garages to dwelling units could alleviate the city’s housing shortage.
Empower LA: The LA2050 Grants Challenge
The 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge invites organizations to become outreach partners and help mobilize Angelenos to vote on how $1 million in grants will be allocated to address key local issues like homelessness, income inequality, and park access.
NHTSA Launches Investigations Into Two More Self-Driving Automakers
The federal agency is responding to reports of crashes and erratic behavior from Waymo and Zoox vehicles.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie