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DETROIT, MI — Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Bill Ford, Mayor Mike Duggan and other members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation to announce plans to develop an autonomous vehicle corridor from Ann Arbor to Detroit. The corridor will have a dedicated lane that will travel through Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, emphasizing Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, including the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and Dearborn. 

Additional partners in the development of the corridor are the University of Michigan, City of Detroit, Michigan Department of Transportation, Ford Motor Company and Cavnue — a partner of Sidewalk Labs and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. 

“As we continue to watch the auto industry transform into the mobility industry, today’s announcement of the connected and autonomous vehicle corridor further cements Michigan as the global leader of this industry,” said Dingell. “This has long been a dream of mine -- using the best of Michigan’s technology, grit, and innovation to build a first of its kind autonomous vehicle corridor. This is essential if we are to stay on the cutting edge of technology and innovation and create jobs here at home.” 

Dingell continued, “This mobility corridor will inspire a new round of collaboration between private industry, academia and all levels of government to ensure that we realize the benefits of AV’s for all aspects of society, and most importantly to ensure that this technology and the jobs that come along with it stay here in Michigan and don’t go overseas.”

The first of its kind in the nation, the development of the corridor will be broken into two phases. Phase one is estimated to take up to 2 years and will focus on the policy and technology to ensure the corridor runs efficiently and safely. Phase one will be privately funded. Phase two will be the groundbreaking of the corridor. 

Dingell has long advocated for research and safe implementation of autonomous vehicles in the United States. She helped the founding of the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run, a world-class proving ground and validation center for AV’s, and also helped secure federal funding for the Michigan Mobility Collaborative. Dingell continues to champion legislation that would establish a framework of regulations of autonomous and connected vehicles.

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