Future Cities: Navigating the New Era of Mobility

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This report was commissioned by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Automotive Office to assess the potential impacts of CAVs and innovative mobility services on local communities in the state of Michigan. Bringing its communities up-to-date on the impacts of CAVs and innovative mobility services is important to ensure Michigan remains a leader in CAV development.  These technologies and services promise many benefits for local Michigan communities, but in many cases, new infrastructure or policies are required to maximize their societal benefits and overall effectiveness. This policy development and infrastructure deployment will often require an innovative and collaborative approach between local (city, township, county, charter township, and village) units of government, state agencies, in partnership with private organizations.

Communities that understand the potential challenges and benefits of IMS and CAVs and make wise capital investments based on that knowledge will be more attractive to both companies and residents. Communities that best adapt to these new mobility technologies and services will be best positioned to manage this investment.

This report first defines connected and automated vehicle technologies and various innovative mobility services. It also discusses the potential impacts these vehicles and mobility services will have on communities and transportation systems. The report concludes with guidelines for communities to maximize the benefits of CAVs and IMS for their residents, businesses, visitors and governmental entities which help to position Michigan as a leader.

With this knowledge, Michigan communities will be well-positioned to take advantage of various technology advancements and make sound decisions on infrastructure investments, transportation plans, and strategic master planning.