Title
To recognize the safety, environmental, mobility and prosperity outcomes achieved through the completion of the Smart City Challenge Grant Award by the City of Columbus and its many partners.
Body
WHEREAS, in 2016, USDOT awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds and $10 million in private funding from Paul G. Allen Foundation; and city, state, county and academic partners committed up to $19 million in cost-share funds, to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation system technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities and support economic vitality; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program deployed a program guided by a human-centered, replicable, collaborative and holistic approach; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Linden led the nation with the launch of the first public daily-operating self-driving shuttle in a residential area named Linden LEAP and stepped up by installing more connected vehicle safety equipment units in their personal vehicles than any other Columbus neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program connected underserved communities and expanded mobility services at the Linden Transit Center, which increased resident access to 20,000 more jobs and 3,000 more healthcare services, and distributed 15,260 protective face masks and 129,528 meals through the Linden LEAP shuttle service; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program advanced equity, mobility and access for people with disabilities and expectant mothers, including shifting 100 trips from a caregiver to someone with a cognitive impairment traveling independently, and increasing non-emergency trips to the doctor from 19% to 44% by participating expectant mothers; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program collaborated with DriveOhio and the Columbus Partnership to advance how people and goods move in the future, enabling 16,062 residents and visitors to experience automated vehicle technology through the Smart Circuit; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program advanced safety by improving emergency response times by 1.3% to 5.3% when signal pre-emption was granted; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus Electrification Program funded by the Paul G. Allen Foundation exceeded its goal of 1.8% of new electric vehicle sales with 2.34% of new car sales being EVs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.73%; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus Electrification Program accelerated the sale of 3,458 EVs and installation of 914 chargers; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus USDOT Program advanced city management principles and processes around agile, adaptable technology to forge improved project delivery capabilities for the residents of Columbus far into the future; and
WHEREAS, projects from the USDOT Smart Columbus Program portfolio will endure and continue to serve the evolving mobility needs of the community for years to come; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus inspired a regional movement around innovation and technology that benefits all; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That this Council does hereby recognize and congratulate the Smart Columbus Program Management Office team, its partners and especially the residents of Columbus on their perseverance during a pandemic to complete the USDOT Smart City Challenge as well as the local legacy, pride and enduring outcomes the program has successfully created.