The regional corridor would be an avenue for live testing and deploying autonomous, electric,...

The regional corridor would be an avenue for live testing and deploying autonomous, electric, connected and shared mobility technologies, and digital infrastructure along Michigan Avenue, Washtenaw Avenue, and Huron Street.

Photo via Arcaion/Pixabay.

The idea of establishing a Michigan Avenue testing corridor (between Ann Arbor, Mich., and Detroit) has been discussed in regional transit circles but officials haven’t released any details, according to a report by M Live.

The testing corridor appeared on an Ann Arbor City Council agenda last month but was soon removed and not discussed at the meeting, says the report. The agenda item supports Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s initiative for local and state jurisdictions to establish a regional mobility corridor.

The regional corridor would be an avenue for live testing and deploying autonomous, electric, connected and shared mobility technologies, and digital infrastructure along Michigan Avenue, Washtenaw Avenue, and Huron Street.

At this point, it’s not apparent if that means installing sensors along the roads for autonomous vehicle testing or if it would include more detailed plans. 

At the Detroit Policy Conference, Ford Motor Co. mentioned a plan to work on a Michigan Avenue Mobility Corridor. 

“We are actively working with the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan to explore this opportunity via a new Michigan Avenue Mobility Corridor,” said Mary Culler, development director for Ford’s Michigan Central Station, in a conference speech. “This corridor could attract mobility innovators from all over the world and open up new economic opportunities for communities and businesses along the route.”

The plan remains in the conceptual stages, according to Ford spokesperson Christina Twelftree. Because its still in the early stages, spokespeople for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity said they couldn’t comment.

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