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The
Connect
pilot
will
deploy
four
Ford
E-Transit
shuttles,
featuring
a mix of
passenger
seats
and
wheelchair
accessibility,
with a
safety
operator
always
present. |
|
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City
partners
with
Bedrock,
Michigan
Central,
and
others
to pilot
autonomous
shuttle
route
By
Wendell
Bryant
tellusdetroit.com
DETROIT
- The
City of
Detroit
has
announced
that it
will
collaborate
with
Bedrock,
Michigan
Central,
and the
State of
Michigan’s
Office
of
Future
Mobility
and
Electrification
(OFME)
to pilot
a
two-way
10.8-mile
autonomous
vehicle
(AV)
shuttle
route
called
The
Connect.
This
route
will run
between
Michigan
Central
and
Bedrock's
200
Walker
Street
on the
east
riverfront,
with the
Bedrock
property
being
home to
the
Pensole
Lewis
College
of
Business
and
Design
and its
newly
opened
Foot
Locker
Footwear
Creation
Studio.
The
Connect
pilot
service
is
planned
to open
to the
public
this
summer,
and it
will be
provided
at no
cost to
riders.
This
joint
project
has
received
$1.5
million
in
funding
for its
first-year
operations,
with
significant
contributions
from
critical
partners,
including
$500,000
from
Michigan
Central,
$500,000
from
Bedrock,
and
$500,000
from the
State of
Michigan’s
Office
of
Future
Mobility
and
Electrification
(OFME).
The
Connect
aims to
learn
and
refine
an
autonomous
vehicle
(AV)
transit
service
that
meets
the
diverse
needs of
the
surrounding
community.
This
shuttle
service
pilot is
an
example
of
future
transportation
innovation
taking
place in
Detroit
and the
Michigan
Central
development
area
with the
goal of
setting
a new
standard
for
sustainable,
efficient,
and
community-centric
mobility.
Led by
the City
of
Detroit,
the
Consortium
is made
up of
individuals
and
organizations
committed
to
advancing
sustainable
and
innovative
urban
mobility.
The
members
have
formalized
their
commitment
to the
cause
through
a
Collaboration
Agreement,
building
upon the
foundation
laid in
a
Memorandum
of
Understanding
(MOU)
signed
in
February
2023.
The
Consortium
aims to
create a
financially
sustainable
service
that is
publicly
accessible
and has
a
dedicated
route
for the
AV
transit
pilot.
The
project
focuses
on
equitable
and
sustainable
transit
within
the
city.
The
project
leaders
are
working
towards
ensuring
the
sustainable
expansion
of the
pilot
shuttle
service
for
years to
come,
without
replacing
the
existing
Detroit
Department
of
Transportation
(DDOT)
services.
This
initiative
aims to
enhance
the
overall
mobility
network
for the
Detroit
community
by
working
alongside
existing
transportation
options.
"The
Connect
pilot is
a
significant
step
towards
sustainable
and
efficient
mobility
in our
city.
Through
collaborative
efforts,
we not
only aim
to
provide
a
reliable
and
efficient
transportation
experience
connecting
neighborhoods,
transit
routes
and
modes,
and
economic
hubs but
also
position
Detroit
at the
forefront
of the
autonomous
vehicle
race.
This
project
is
pivotal
for
maintaining
our
city's
leadership
in the
industry,
offering
benefits
such as
job
growth
and
skills
training
with new
technology.
Our
overarching
goal is
to
deploy
the
technology
of
tomorrow
in a
manner
that
ensures
accessibility
and
invites
feedback
from all
Detroiters,
shaping
a more
connected
and
vibrant
future
for our
community,”
said Tim
Slusser,
chief of
the City
of
Detroit’s
Office
of
Mobility
Innovation.
Guided
by the
Office
of
Mobility
Innovation,
the City
of
Detroit
will
lead
community
outreach
initiatives
with
residents
before
deployment,
aiming
to share
finalized
project
details,
including
service
operations
and
pick-up
locations,
and
gather
insights
to
enhance
the
service
and
ensure a
high-quality
rider
experience.
“We are
proud to
partner
with the
City of
Detroit
and
Michigan
Central
to
enhance
accessibility
and
connectivity
in
Detroit,"
said
Kofi
Bonner,
CEO at
Bedrock.
"Investing
in
reliable,
sustainable
last-mile
transit
options
is
crucial
for
creating
a
vibrant
city
core.
Implementing
innovations
like the
Connect
pilot
further
solidifies
Detroit's
leadership
in
sustainable
mobility.”
Bedrock,
along
with
Michigan
Central,
will
partner
with the
City on
planning,
designing,
and
implementing
the
infrastructure
essential
to
facilitate
and
support
the
operations
of the
Connect
pilot.
“Michigan
Central
is
focused
on
finding
real
solutions
to the
challenges
society
faces
with the
way we
move
people
and
goods.
This
pilot is
an
opportunity
to
explore
a new
way to
think
about
public
transportation
that
works in
tandem
with the
city’s
existing
bus
system
while
expanding
access
to more
people
and
places,”
said
Carolina
Pluszczynski,
Michigan
Central’s
chief
operating
officer
and head
of
Innovation
Services.
The
project
management
and
implementation
of the
pilot is
being
led by
NEXT
Infrastructure
on
behalf
of the
Consortium.
Leveraging
a proven
track
record
navigating
complex
and
innovative
projects
to
successful
completion,
NEXT
will
manage
the
integration
of all
program
components,
facilitate
collaboration
between
the
partners,
and
execute
on pilot
objectives
to
improve
Detroit’s
urban
mobility.
“Detroit
is
stepping
boldly
into the
future
of urban
transportation,
and
we're
honored
to play
a
pivotal
role in
managing
the
Connect
pilot
program,”
said
Daniel
Hansen,
Managing
Partner
at NEXT
Infrastructure.
“We are
dedicated
to
ensuring
this
pilot
program
not only
upholds
Detroit’s
legacy
as a hub
of
automotive
innovation,
but also
serves
as a
model
for
sustainable
urban
mobility
nationwide.”
Perrone
Robotics,
Inc. has
been
selected
as the
partner
for the
Connect
pilot.
The
selection
process
considered
technological
expertise,
reliability,
and a
shared
vision
for the
future
of urban
mobility.
"Perrone
Robotics
is
thrilled
to
partner
with the
City of
Detroit,
Michigan
Central,
and
Bedrock
on this
transformative
project,”
states
Paul
Perrone,
CEO of
Perrone
Robotics.
“As we
bring
our 20+
years AV
expertise
and AV
technology
to the
storied
streets
of
Detroit,
we're
not just
deploying
shuttles;
we're
weaving
the
fabric
of the
future
into the
rich
tapestry
of a
city
renowned
for its
automotive
heritage.
This
pilot is
a
testament
to
Detroit's
resilience
and
innovation,
and
together,
we're
driving
towards
a more
sustainable,
accessible,
and
connected
urban
experience."
The
Connect
pilot
will
initially
feature
four
Ford
E-Transit
shuttles
upon
deployment.
The
all-electric
shuttles
will
have a
blend of
passenger
seats
and
wheelchair
accessibility,
with a
safety
operator
always
behind
the
wheel.
The
shuttles
will
utilize
Perrone
Robotics'
TONY AV
Kit for
autonomous
vehicle
operations
on the
10-mile
route.
Onboard
sensors
and AV
software
will
help the
shuttle
navigate
a
pre-programmed
route
while
avoiding
obstacles.
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