The City of Columbus is in the running to receive a sizeable U.S. Department of Transportation grant to help upgrade the local transportation system.
Columbus could be awarded up $40 million in federal grant money to integrate transportation with smart technology.
As a finalist, the city received $100,000 to refine its strategies which include: driverless cars from the Easton Transit Center to area employers; a smartphone app for real-time traffic and parking information; and more electric car charging stations.
City spokeswoman Robin Davis said the proposal also addresses some of the city’s most vulnerable people.
“Some neighborhoods here in Columbus are cut off from the rest of the city," Davis said. "The Smart Cities grant would allow us to provide real, sustainable transportation to get to their jobs, their healthcare, their food sources.”
Columbus is competing with Austin, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburg, Portland and San Francisco.
The winner will be announced in June.