The U.S Department of Transportation's Smart Cities Challenge will provide funding for seven finalists to further develop proposals to develop high-tech transportation solutions.
Alissa Walker reports on the announcement of seven finalists in the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Smart Cities Challenge." The seven finalists announced over the weekend "will receive $100,000 each and work closely with the USDOT and a group of partners to streamline their proposals," according to Walker. Eventually, one city will receive up to $40 million to fund their strategy from the U.S. DOT, and an additional $10 million from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's company Vulcan. Walker's article includes more background on the competition so far, as well as next steps for the finalists.
U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the following competition finalists:
- Austin, Texas
- Columbus, Ohio
- Denver, Colorado
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Oregon
- San Francisco, California
The announcement took place at the South By Southwest Interactive festival taking place in Austin. The festival and the news about the competition attracted news about the finalists from other publications. Tim Stevens reports for CNET on the finalists. Tom Knox reports for the Columbus Business Journal on the details of the proposals that got Columbus into the final group. Austin Mayor Mayor Steve Adler also sent a press release celebrating his city's inclusion among the finalists.
Just a month ago, the U.S. DOT was spreading news about the large response to the competition, after 77 cities submitted competition proposals. The large number of submissions compelled the U.S. DOT to announce seven finalists—two more than the originally intended five finalists.
FULL STORY: These 7 American Cities Will Compete for $40 Million to Create Transportation Utopias
'Smart Cities Challenge' Attracts a Crowd
A competition with $50 million at stake, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, recently completed its submission deadline. The U.S. DOT reported shock at the level of interest in the competition.
Five Years Later, 'Smart Cities Challenge' Promise Unfulfilled
The "Smart Cities Challenge" paid Columbus, Ohio $50 million to kick start a revolution of urban technology. The revolution never arrived, according to a recent assessment by Wired writer Aarian Marshall.
Critics Pushing Back on Columbus' Vision of a 'Smart City'
Not everyone is buying in to the city of Columbus' vision for the future of transportation.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)