Detroit-to-Ann Arbor self-driving vehicle corridor aims for national leadership

[afguy]

Local and state government officials, members of Michigan's congressional delegation, Ford Motor Co. executives and project developer Cavnue confirmed plans Thursday for a roadway that would stretch from downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor. Along the way, it would connect to such key milestones as the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and would parallel parts of Interstate 94 to Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2020/08/13/detroit-ann-arbor-self-driving-vehicle-corridor-moving-ahead/3364205001/

[Rothman]

Detroit needs another highway?  A parallel one?  Sounds like a waste of space.

[Flint1979]

That's not even the fastest way from downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor.

I-96 to M-14, US-23/M-14, M-14 is the fastest way.

[Terry Shea]

Uh, if self driving cars work and are safe then why is a special dedicated corridor for them necessary?  Whitmer loves to waste money on really stupid projects!

[BrianP]

The article just fails to explain the key point of what they are doing.  The key sentence is buried near the bottom. 

The next step toward realizing Michigan's connected and autonomous vehicle dovetails with Bill Ford's push to create Detroit's own version of Silicon Valley's Sand Hill Road: startups and tech partners burrowing into offices in a renovated station tower, traditional suppliers angling to tap the creative vibe, and developers working with the Corktown community to shape a new version of itself.

So it doesn't sound so much to be about a road.  But more about a corridor where they want autonomous vehicle companies and associated companies to gather together in Michigan.  Which that sounds smart to try and retain SE MI as a hub for automaking. If there are going to be more companies like Tesla being created then you want them in your state.  But not really news worthy from this forum's perspective.

[GaryV]

The article just fails to explain the key point of what they are doing.  The key sentence is buried near the bottom. 

The next step toward realizing Michigan's connected and autonomous vehicle dovetails with Bill Ford's push to create Detroit's own version of Silicon Valley's Sand Hill Road: startups and tech partners burrowing into offices in a renovated station tower, traditional suppliers angling to tap the creative vibe, and developers working with the Corktown community to shape a new version of itself.

So it doesn't sound so much to be about a road.  But more about a corridor where they want autonomous vehicle companies and associated companies to gather together in Michigan.  Which that sounds smart to try and retain SE MI as a hub for automaking. If there are going to be more companies like Tesla being created then you want them in your state.  But not really news worthy from this forum's perspective.

Could you read the story? (DetNews stated they were starting a paywall, but I don't know if it's implemented yet.)  Key words:  build, roadway, exact route it tbd, both public transit and shared mobility.  Plus conceptual drawings.

But the key takeaway is

A feasibility study may take up to two years.

Also this:

Cavnue, which was selected by the state following a competitive bidding process, would provide up-front financing and would then seek to recoup its investment under a revenue-sharing structure.

Sounds like tolls.

[ftballfan]

More useful would be some type of commuter rail from Ann Arbor to Detroit via the airport

[TXtoNJ]

Uh, if self driving cars work and are safe then why is a special dedicated corridor for them necessary?  Whitmer loves to waste money on really stupid projects!

It's a way to shovel money to FoMoCo and vendors. Anyone with half a brain knows that rail with PTC would do the same thing, and cheaper.

[Flint1979]

I'll pull a Fritzowl for a second.

My planned Blue Line if you've ever seen my system takes care of that.

[Terry Shea]

The article just fails to explain the key point of what they are doing.  The key sentence is buried near the bottom. 

The next step toward realizing Michigan's connected and autonomous vehicle dovetails with Bill Ford's push to create Detroit's own version of Silicon Valley's Sand Hill Road: startups and tech partners burrowing into offices in a renovated station tower, traditional suppliers angling to tap the creative vibe, and developers working with the Corktown community to shape a new version of itself.

So it doesn't sound so much to be about a road.  But more about a corridor where they want autonomous vehicle companies and associated companies to gather together in Michigan.  Which that sounds smart to try and retain SE MI as a hub for automaking. If there are going to be more companies like Tesla being created then you want them in your state.  But not really news worthy from this forum's perspective.

Could you read the story? (DetNews stated they were starting a paywall, but I don't know if it's implemented yet.)  Key words:  build, roadway, exact route it tbd, both public transit and shared mobility.  Plus conceptual drawings.

But the key takeaway is

A feasibility study may take up to two years.

Also this:

Cavnue, which was selected by the state following a competitive bidding process, would provide up-front financing and would then seek to recoup its investment under a revenue-sharing structure.

Sounds like tolls.

Or tax dollars.  Or both.