Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) , the Columbus Partnership, and the Ohio State University (OSU), or any combination of partners thereof, pertaining to the DriveOhio initiative, which seeks to advance smart mobility in Ohio by fostering cooperation and collaboration among public and private entities involved in the design, development, testing, use, and regulation of autonomous and connected technologies. The MOU will formalize the intentions of the aforesaid parties to collaborate and fund self-driving vehicle deployments in connection with the Smart City Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan).
In 2016, the City of Columbus won the Smart City Challenge, resulting in the award of up to $40 million in federal funds from USDOT and up to $10 million in private grant funding from Vulcan to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to 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.
Pursuant to aforementioned MOU, ODOT/Drive Ohio and the Columbus Partnership anticipate fully funding, operating, and maintaining a self-driving deployment, which the City will help coordinate and evaluate as part of the Smart City Challenge. OSU, subject to final approval by university leadership, anticipates providing the expertise of faculty, staff, and students to identify relevant research opportunities and to engage, where meaningful, on projects related to autonomous vehicle deployment on campus; and, where meaningful, providing the expertise of faculty, staff, and students to advise and/or engage on pro...
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