A new initiative announced last week by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer aims to bridge long-standing gaps in access to transit and transportation across southeast Michigan through the development of a corridor for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).
The vision for the Detroit to Ann Arbor corridor is to create lanes that are purpose built to accelerate and enhance the full potential of CAVs and move people.
The corridor would support a mix of connected and autonomous vehicles, traditional transit vehicles, shared mobility and freight and personal vehicles. It would link key destinations and includes up to a dozen Opportunity Zones, where expanded mobility will connect individuals, small businesses and communities.
“As the anatomy of vehicles continues to shift toward autonomous driving and electrification, Michigan has an opportunity to not only drive this evolution in the production of vehicles but also in the very roads they drive on,” said Trevor Pawl, the state’s chief mobility officer. “This groundbreaking project reinforces Michigan’s current position as a global leader in mobility innovation, and it also keeps us moving forward on a path to more equitable, safe and environmentally conscious transportation in the state.”
Phase One of the project is expected to take 24 months and will include a feasibility analysis. This analysis will focus on technology testing, roadway design and exploring different financing models with an aim toward determining project viability from both a technology and business perspective. Subsequent construction and implementation would be part of future phases of the project to be determined following the initial 24-month period.
Initial project partners include Ford Motor Company, the University of Michigan with its CAV research center and Mcity Test Facility, Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), and facilities along the proposed corridor; and the American Center for Mobility (ACM), a leading testing facility.
