Kansas City loses $50 million Smart City challenge to Columbus, Ohio
Kansas City lost out to Columbus, Ohio, in a fierce competition for $50 million in federal funding for transportation innovations.
Kansas City was one of seven finalists for the Smart City Challenge, which promised $40 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and $10 million from Vulcan Inc. to develop transportation strategies for the future.
The Transportation Department has not formally announced the winner, but Columbus Business First posted that Columbus was the winner.
The other finalists were Denver; Austin, Texas; Pittsburgh; San Francisco and Portland, Ore.
Kansas City had hoped to win the funding and expand on Smart City features it has already installed, such as free Wi-Fi and interactive kiosks along the downtown streetcar route.
It hoped to provide similar digital services along a Prospect Avenue MAX rapid bus line that is being planned. Other ideas included a driverless shuttle from the airport synced with flight schedules and sensors to adjust bus schedules based on how many people were waiting.
Kansas City officials declined to comment pending the formal announcement of the winner.
Lynn Horsley: 816-226-2058, @LynnHorsley
This story was originally published June 21, 2016 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Kansas City loses $50 million Smart City challenge to Columbus, Ohio."