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Omaha, Lincoln apply for federal Smart City Challenge

Omaha and Lincoln are among 77 applicants for a U.S. Department of Transportation program focused on technology and innovation.

It’s called the Smart City Challenge. The DOT wants cities to present ideas that use technology to make travel safer and more reliable.

Murthy Koti, Traffic Engineer with the city of Omaha, says the Smart City Challenge has three goals.

"They want to improve safety on roadways. They also want to improve carbon emissions, strategies to address the pollution, climate change, and also they want to look at mobility. Those are the three core areas where they’re looking at taking advantage of technology."

Koti says Omaha’s application contains six projects, including smart pavement, and traffic signals that connect with vehicles.

Five finalists will be chosen next month, with the winner selected in June. The Smart City Challenge winner will receive up to $40 million in funding for the projects.