San Francisco Smart City Mobility Challenge (San Francisco - United States of America)
The Smart City Challenge was launched by the U. S. Department of Transportation to all mid-population cities, focusing on the issues of future urban transportation (shared, connected, autonomous vehicles), aiming to obtain solutions to address upcoming challenges in a sustainable manner. In the city of San Francisco there will be a three-year demonstration period to complete the challenge and achieve the project’s goals.
San Francisco’s proposal focuses on a shared and connected network of electric vehicles (eventually autonomous cars) for community use, with advanced sensors to prevent road accidents. The use of a shared fleet also reduces the need for private cars and, consequently, the need for parking spaces (making more space available for pedestrian promenades, small parks, or affordable houses, for instance). San Francisco will develop the project through a Community Challenge programme where selected neighbourhoods will participate in pilot projects to foster shared mobility.
The city of San Francisco’s approach comprises a mobile app for traffic conditions, vehicle sharing (bikes, motorcycles, cars, and so on), public parking, and public shuttles. It will also be inclusive, by providing access to smartphones and free Wi-Fi to low-income residents and ensuring that the transportation prices are more affordable for them. People with disabilities would also be able to access the vehicles in the programme. Safety will be improved through the introduction of collision avoidance technology and connected vehicles. Electric vehicles (and an enhanced charging network) will have a significant impact on the air quality and they will also minimise noise pollution.
Sources:
https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/projects/2016/SF%20Smart%20City%20Challenge_Final.pdf
Improved Intelligent Transport Systems.
Official goals of the Smart City Challenge:
- Shift up to 10% of single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips to transit, shared and active modes;
- Reduce transportation emissions by 10% through electrification and demand management;
- Reduce collisions and fatalities by 10%;
- Reduce the share of lower-income residents’ household income on transportation by 10%.
City & County of San Francisco (Office of the Mayor, Mayor’s Office on Disability, Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation, and Department of Technology); Berkeley University of California; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; San Francisco Planning; SF Environment; San Francisco County Transportation Authority; Metropolitan Transportation Commission.