Denver mayor Michael Hancock will present his final pitch Thursday in front of the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary to convince him that Denver should get millions of dollars to improve its transportation system.
The mayor will have just 10 minutes in his meeting in Washington D.C.
Denver is one of seven other cities in the running to win the Smart City Challenge set up by the U.S.D.O.T.
The Department will grant the winning city $40 million, along with another $10 million from the Vulcan Foundation.
Denver’s proposal will cost $84 million and will include several projects to integrate existing transportation systems with new ones.
The plan will include a single database for people to check traffic routes and wait times, among other information.
“Am I going to take I-25? Am I going to take I-70? Should I take Colorado?” said Amber Miller, the communications director for the mayor. “What are those data sets that we need to be empowering our people with that information to make better decisions every day?”
The plan also includes adding bicycle-sharing stations and electronic kiosks throughout the city.
A part of the program will be aimed toward the more than 200,000 people living in 22 of the city’s poorest neighborhoods in West, North and Northeast Denver.
The money will also be used toward preparing the city’s transportation infrastructure to support self-driving vehicles.
The winning city is expected to be announced this summer.
The other competing cities are Austin, Columbus, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland and San Francisco.
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