Austin Still In The Running To Win Smart City Challenge

Motivated by a desire to tackle Austin’s problems with traffic congestion, Mayor Steve Adler has submitted a proposal that could mean a total of $50 million for the city to improve its transportation options.

The Smart City Challenge is offering up to $40 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and up to $10 million from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Philanthropy to the city that will most effectively integrate innovative technologies such as self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors into its transportation network.

A total of 78 cities submitted proposals. Austin is one of the seven finalists that received $100,000 to refine its proposal. Initially, the 30-page proposal included using drones for package delivery to reduce traffic congestion and use of self-driving cars. According to the Department of Transportation, the winning city will be one with a plan that is both ambitious and detailed. The other finalists are Columbus, OH, Denver, CO, Kansas City, MO, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA.

“No city needs this more, and no city is better situated to take advantage of all the Smart City Challenge offers on mobility. You don’t get opportunities like this all the time, and we are going all out to win it,” Mayor Steve Adler said. “Simply put, mobility is a life or death issue for our city.”

Self-driving cars and other technological innovations are expected to make roads throughout the country considerably safer. Unfortunately, it will be several years before technology and regulations for self-driving vehicles are developed enough to allow them on the road. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s extremely important to contact Austin Car Accident Attorney immediately in order to preserve certain legal rights. Call us today at 512-910-2000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.