Title
Resolution Supporting the City’s Application for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) “Beyond Traffic Smart City Challenge” Grant
Body
Department: Transportation
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: NA
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Adam Fischer 373-2861
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephen Carter 333-6879
PURPOSE:
Approve the attached resolution supporting the City’s application for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) “Beyond Traffic Smart City Challenge” grant.
BACKGROUND:
The USDOT is soliciting proposals for a unique funding opportunity to further develop technologies that will support enhancements to existing and future transportation systems. The USDOT initiative is titled the “Beyond Traffic Smart City Challenge” with a vision to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies can be utilized to improve transportation safety, reduce congestion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, connect underserved communities and support economic vitality. The USDOT will award $40 million to one mid-sized city that can demonstrate a comprehensive approach to transportation challenges and integrate this approach with other smart city domains such as public safety, public service, and energy. The USDOT is seeking “BOLD” and innovative ideas to demonstrate smart city concepts that will address transportation and community challenges through advancements in ITS, connected vehicles, automated vehicles and by sharing information so that limited resources/assets can be utilized most efficiently. Initial applications from midsized cities, population from 200,000 to 850,000, are due February 4, 2016.
From the initial applicant pool, five (5) cities will be selected and awarded $100,000 each to refine their proposals. The five (5) finalists will be selected in March to further develop their proposals and one (1) City will be selected in June to receive the $40 Million grant. In addition to the $40 Million grant, DOT will partner with Vulcan Philanthropy for this competition. Vulcan is offering up to an additional $10 million of funding to the winning city to support the deployment of electric vehicles and other carbon emission reduction strategies.
The City of Greensboro’s proposal will focus on the 150 miles of fiber optic cable that was recently installed to support the new traffic signal system. It is envisioned that the City would replace all 27,000 streetlights with state of the art LED streetlights (which are up to 50% more energy efficient and provide better lighting) that can also be utilized as communication nodes to expand the communications network Citywide. A robust communication network will be needed to support advanced future transportation technologies such as enhanced emergency response, enhanced traffic signal operations and autonomous vehicle operations. The evolving autonomous vehicle market will rely on robust communication infrastructure and has the potential to significantly reduce traffic accidents and reduce traffic congestion. The expanded communications network could also support internet access in under-served areas of the City and other smart city initiative that are currently underway. Another facet of the City’s proposal is the replacement of up to 15 transit buses with all electric smart buses.
The City has collaborated with local universities and local industry on the development of the initial grant application and will collaborate in much more detail with these partners if/when the City is selected as a finalist.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This grant does not require a local match. No additional funds are needed to apply for this grant.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Department of Transportation recommends and requests that the City Council approve the attached resolution supporting the City’s “Beyond Traffic Smart City Challenge” grant application.