The City of Detroit has announced it received significant funding from the State of Michigan to support the growth and operations of the fully electric Connect AV shuttle scheduled to launch in late summer 2024.
When it begins operation, Connect shuttles will run from Corktown through downtown Detroit, down the East Jefferson Riverfront, and back. The shuttle service will be free to all members of the public.
In April, the City of Detroit, along with partners Bedrock, Michigan Central, and the State Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, announced the pilot of “Connect,” a two-way, 10-mile autonomous vehicle shuttle route.
The City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation successfully applied for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) 2024 Service Initiatives funding and has been awarded $1.67 Million. This funding will enable the City of Detroit, along with its project partners, Bedrock and Michigan Central, to increase rider capacity, reduce wait times, and extend the Connect service for an additional year with an additional fifth shuttle. Detroit City Council unanimously voted to approve the initial portion of the MDOT funding.
“The City of Detroit is thrilled to have MDOT support the Connect pilot project,” said Tim Slusser, Chief of Mobility Innovation for the City of Detroit. “This project will significantly benefit both residents and visitors by reducing wait times, expanding service areas, and providing a convenient, free, and eco-friendly transportation option around the city. The Connect pilot will be much more than just a transit service for Detroiters. The AV shuttle service will serve as a demonstrative model to assist transit agencies across the state and country on successfully incorporating the latest technologies and improving rider experience for customers.”
The funding from MDOT will be allocated to support the following:
- Increasing Service Vehicles: MDOT funding will be used to procure an additional vehicle for the service, increasing rider capacity and reducing wait times for the service to approximately 10 minutes during peak demand.
- Service Extension: The funding will extend the Connect service pilot by 12 months, ensuring additional access for Detroiters.
- Business Modeling Tool Development: A software-based tool will be created to transition the Connect pilot into a sustainable transit form. This tool will provide transit agencies with essential data on costs and operational changes associated with new EV and AV technology.
City Partners with Bedrock, Michigan Central, and State Office of Future Mobility and Electrification
In April 2024, the City of Detroit announced the pilot of a two-way 10.8-mile autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle route named the Connect. The City’s free pilot service is led in collaboration with a consortium of partners: Bedrock, Michigan Central, and the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), This service route will run between Michigan Central Station and Bedrock’s 200 Walker Street on the East Riverfront, home to the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design and the newly opened Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio.
“Connect” Service Details:
- The Connect pilot will deploy five all-electric, wheelchair-accessible Ford E-Transit shuttles in late summer 2024; the shuttles are free and open to the public to ride. These shuttles will be ADA compliant.
- The project is supported by $1.5 million in first-year initial funding: $500,000 each from Michigan Central, Bedrock, and the State of Michigan’s OFME.
- Perrone Robotics, Inc. was selected as the preferred partner for this project, leveraging its 20+ years of AV expertise and technology.
“MDOT is pleased to be partnering with the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation to advance the development of multiple new technologies while improving transit service in Detroit,” said Jean Ruestman, MDOT Office of Passenger Transportation administrator. “The ability to learn more about automation and electric transit vehicles in a single project is a great opportunity. Plus, it will improve access between two exciting areas of Detroit, which is a huge bonus. We are excited to provide funding to extend this innovative project, further supporting the enhancement of Detroit’s transit infrastructure.”
“The Connect project aligns with OFME’s efforts to enhance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem through safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation for residents across our state,” said Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer for the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. “Alongside our City of Detroit, Bedrock, and Michigan Central partners, OFME is grateful for MDOT’s support of the Connect pilot, which will help improve and enhance the rider experience.”
