The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently started a Smart City Challenge, which has received applications from 77 cities throughout the U.S.
The contest aims to create a model city that uses technology and creativity to shape how people and goods use transportation methods in the future.
The winning city will be awarded up to $40 million from USDOT to implement measures that make transportation easier, safer and reliable. Additionally, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc., said it will award up to $10 million to the challenge's winner to support the deployment of electric cars and other carbon-emission reduction strategies. Mobileye also said it would outfit the winning city's public bus system with its Shield +TM driver-assistance safety technology.
“I issued this challenge in December, and quite frankly, we are very impressed by the response by community leaders across the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “Cities understand that in order to plan for tomorrow, they need to embrace technology and innovation. This challenge is going to do more than just help one city adopt innovative ideas. Instead, it will serve as a catalyst for widespread change in communities across America.”
The cities vary from Albuquerque to Reno to Rochester to Anchorage. It will be a challenge for officials to choose the cities that they want to include in the competition.
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