Michigan to Designate AV Lanes Between Detroit and Ann Arbor
Last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Michigan a grant for autonomous vehicle research. This year, it elaborates on this investment with its recently announced plan to assign dedicated lanes for AVs between Detroit and Ann Arbor.
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More about the initiative
Just last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other state officials revealed this initiative, report AP News contributors Tom Krisher and David Eggert. Whitmer expressed confidence that the project will “help increase the safety, efficiency, resilience, and operations” of Michigan roads in the near future.
The first part of the project will involve a two-year study that’s the first of its kind in the nation. The results of the study will help determine whether new lanes need to be constructed or if existing portions of the road can be used for the designated AV lanes.
If all goes as planned, the next phase of the project will be to incorporate driverless shuttles and buses. These vehicles would link the Detroit Metropolitan Airport with the University of Michigan via Interstate 94. The state’s Department of Transportation will supervise the AV-only lanes.
Project endorsement and funding
Ford is just one of the automakers and AV companies on the project’s advisory board. Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford articulated how the state has played a key role in the history of transportation and that it will continue to do so. He views the AV project as “proof” that Michiganders “don’t plan to cede that future to anyone else.”
Companies funded by Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent entity, are providing the majority of financial backing for the project. A company called Cavnue is spearheading the initial study that will launch the AV project. If this initiative proves successful in Michigan, it hopes to market the tech to other cities.
For more news on Michigan transportation projects, read up on the new mobility solutions that Ford is establishing with the help of Newlab. And get the scoop on Carnegie Mellon Unversity’s new method that promises to enhance AV safety and precision.
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Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.