Ohio capital wins $40 million ‘Smart City’ competition grant

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s capital will receive a $40 million grant from the federal government to integrate innovative transportation technologies such as self-driving cars, connected vehicles, and smart sensors into the city’s transportation network.

Columbus will receive the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and another $10 million from Vulcan Inc. after beating out six other cities in the federal agency’s Smart City Challenge.

Ohio’s two U.S. senators confirmed the award Tuesday. Federal officials are expected to make the official announcement in Columbus on Thursday.

Federal officials have said the funding is to be used to implement data-driven ideas that make transportation safer, easier and more reliable.

The other finalists that competed against Columbus were San Francisco; Pittsburgh; Denver; Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and Kansas City, Missouri.