1. Columbus. The City of Columbus won a $50 million grant from the DOT to fund nine projects to further their five goals of better connection to human services, encourage sustainable transportation, improve job access, use smart logistics to reduce freight truck traffic, and provide real-time traffic information to improve commutes.
2. Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University has been testing autonomous vehicles since the 80s. They have also been leading the way in growing new start-up technologies in robotics, clean energy, and transportation. The city also uses a system of smart traffic lights that streamlined traffic and waiting time at intersections, thus decreasing emissions by 21 percent.
3. Denver. Seeking to modernize their infrastructure, improve their air quality, and reduce traffic, this city was awarded $6 million to create a connected freight system and to install pedestrian detection systems to make intersections safer. They also plan on adding 1,500 electric city vehicles and serve as a testing city for new technologies like smart lighting, EV charging, and renewable energy.
4. San Francisco. A Smart City Challenge finalist, San Francisco used its grant money to conduct research on public transportation, including reducing transit travel time and traffic accidents, and increasing emergency vehicle response time. They are also using funds to make 10% shifts toward public transportation, increased EV usage, reduced emissions and traffic accidents and reduce the share of lower-income residents’ budget toward transportation.
5. Dallas. Dallas’ West End is home to a “living lab” that serves as a testing ground for smart technology. Using private funds, the city is testing the use of technology to solve issues like limited resources, overpopulation, and aging infrastructure. The lab is taking its Smart City initiatives in phases, and has helped the city to launch smart parking, irrigation, water systems, open source data platforms, and interactive digital kiosks.
Electric Vehicle and Automotive Fleet Consultant at Mike AlbertNate Shadoin"Connected vehicle technology is rapidly advancing. It will reduce congestion and improve safety. Looking further out, self-driving vehicle technology can reduce accidents caused by human error."