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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the City of Marysville $5,997,500 through the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program to expand a “smart mobility ready” fiber network along the U.S. NW 33 Innovation Corridor that connects Marysville to Dublin. The fiber network will also connect to the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty. This fiber network would allow technology companies and research facilities to complete research on autonomous and connected vehicles as part of The Ohio State University’s (OSU) Smart Mobility Initiative. The development of these vehicles would

“The NW 33 Innovation Corridor is a hub for research and development and with the help of this federal investment, it’s well-poised to become one of the leaders in autonomous vehicle research,” said Brown. “This public-private project will give businesses and research facilities the fast and modern fiber infrastructure they need to design an integrated transportation network and drive economic development in central Ohio.”

The City of Marysville, the City of Dublin, and Union County, in cooperation with OSU and Batelle, developed the successful application. Other key partners, including Honda, the Transportation Research Center (TRC), and the City of Columbus will also support and participate in the project.

This project will complement the City of Columbus’ efforts to design a fully-integrated transportation network that uses data and technology to connect communities and move people and goods more efficiently. In June 2016, Brown announced that Columbus was named winner of DOT’s Smart City Challenge. Brown led the Ohio delegation in a letter of support for Columbus’ application. As winner, Columbus secured $40 million from DOT and $10 million from Vulcan Inc. to develop this first-of-its-kind transportation network. The Ohio State University and the Columbus Partnership are also key partners in this important program.

The Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program was established under the FAST Act, a long-term transportation infrastructure bill passed in December 2015. Brown – ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs – served on the House-Senate Conference Committee which negotiated the bill.

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