Detroit To Welcome New 2-Way, 10-Mile Autonomous Shuttle

A new 2-way, 10-mile autonomous shuttle is coming to Detroit this summer. It will connect Michigan Central to East Riverfront. According to a news release, the autonomous service is a collaboration between the City of Detroit, Bedrock, Michigan Central, and the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.

The shuttle service will start with four Ford vans that will offer a "blend of passenger seats and wheelchair accessibility." It will run from the Michigan Central campus to 200 Walker Street, which is owned by Bedrock. The Connect will use four all-electric Ford E-Transit shuttles, which will have passenger seats and wheelchair accessibilities and a safety operator behind the wheel. The shuttle will run on a pre-programmed route, with sensors and software to help avoid obstacles. An app will be available for riders to download.

Officials said the pilot shuttle service will help stakeholders learn and refine autonomous vehicle transit services "to meet the diverse needs of the surrounding community." It's part of the city's reported goal of expanding and enhancing its transit services and making them affordable for the 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," the city said in a statement.

$1.5 million in funding has been secured for the program’s first year of operation. The money comes from the state's Office of Future Mobility, Bedrock, and Michigan Central.

The Connect shuttles will undergo several months of testing, both off-road and on-road, to determine efficiency, safety, and the final route details. They should launch in late summer.

Earlier this year, the city of Detroit launched a new self-driving shuttle program. The program is for Detroit seniors and those with disabilities. The shuttle takes passengers to the store, doctor's appointments, or other destinations free of charge. According to a news release, The city gave the $2.4 million contract to create the autonomous shuttles to May Mobility, a company based in Ann Arbor.

According to the University of Michigan Center For Sustainable Systems, autonomous vehicles use technology to partially or entirely replace the human driver in navigating a vehicle from an origin to a destination while avoiding road hazards and responding to traffic conditions.

They also mentioned that autonomous vehicle research started in the 1980s when universities began working on two types of autonomous vehicles. One that required roadway infrastructure and one that did not.