Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown's office today confirmed that Columbus has won a Smart City grant from the US Department of Transportation and Vulcan Inc. The $50 million grant will allow the city to become a test track for intelligent transportation systems.
Included in the city's proposal was an autonomous vehicle test fleet at Easton Town Center. It also promises to create a transit pass payment system to be used with various forms of transportation.
City officials previously told the federal government they had raised $90 million in private funds.
Columbus was one of seven finalists for the grant. Other cities in the running included San Fransisco, Austin, Portland, Pittburgh, Kansas City and Denver.