Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
On December 7, 2015, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Smart City Challenge. The USDOT will make an award of up to $50 Million in federal and private funding over three years to one mid-sized city that can demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) 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.
The USDOT has issued the first of two separate solicitations to carry out the Smart City Challenge. The first solicitation will result in selection of an estimated five Smart City Challenge Finalists who will receive $100,000 in federal funding to support concept development and planning activities. Applications are due by February 4, 2016. The follow-on second solicitation, which will be released in March 2016, will invite the Smart City Challenge Finalists to apply for the $40 Million funding to support implementation of their proposed demonstration. The up to $40 Million USDOT grant award will be matched by a $10 Million private sector grant from the USDOT Electric Vehicle (EV) vendor, Vulcan, to assist in implementing the winning city’s proposal. The Smart City Challenge winner will be announced in June 2016.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to apply for the first round in the Smart City Challenge. Should Columbus be selected as a Smart City Challenge Finalist in March 2016, the City will receive $100,000 from USDOT to develop its concepts and second-round grant application to be submitted in May 2016. No local funding match is expected for the first round of funding. In its application instructions, USDOT states that a local funding match identified by a Smart City Challenge Finalist in its second round application will be viewed favorably in determining the ultimate Smart City Challenge winner. If the City is...
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