Michigan Governor Unveils Statewide Mobility Strategy

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) recently unveiled a new statewide entitled the “MI Future Mobility Plan” to addresses future mobility challenges by growing the mobility workforce, providing more accessible transportation infrastructure, and developing innovative mobility policies.

[Above photo by the Michigan DOT]

“Michigan put the world on wheels, and remaining the global leader in mobility and electrification depends on our ability to work together proactively to address future challenges,” the governor said in a statement.

Gov. Whitmer. Photo by the Michigan Governor’s Office.

“The MI Future Mobility Plan presents a unified approach and strategy to grow Michigan’s economy, invest in our workforce, and empower communities across the state through responsive policy and programming that prepares us for the future,” she added. “It includes several goals for us to work towards and brings together partners across state government to get it done. This plan will help us keep moving forward.”

Developed by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, both of which were formed in 2020 to coordinate a statewide mobility strategy, the plan is an actionable next step to address the opportunities and challenges Michigan faces in in the mobility and transportation electrification space.

“Michigan has a long heritage of success in automotive manufacturing and innovation,” noted Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer. “As the mobility industry continues to grow and evolve, we are laser-focused on leveraging our state’s talented workforce, ecosystem and available business resources to make Michigan a place where multi-modal mobility solutions are born, and companies can find long-term success and support.”

Gov. Whitmer’s mobility plan establishes several key transportation goals for Michigan

  • By 2030, deploy 100,000 electric vehicle chargers to support two million electric vehicle and improve access to H2 infrastructure.
  • Maintain at least 80 percent of electric vehicle charging off-peak to minimize impacts to the grid.
  • Reduce congestion and traffic crash rates statewide by 2026.
  • Provide residents with consistent access to mobility-as-a-service options across Michigan’s 77 transit agencies by 2025.
  • Maintain a “number one” state ranking for mobility and electrification research and development.
  • Become a “top 10” state for federal investments related to mobility and vehicle electrification.
  • Lead the nation in electric and automated vehicle friendliness through responsive policies.

This is one of several mobility initiatives launched by Gov. Whitmer’s administration in recent months.

In April, Michigan and the National Park Service announced a “first-of-its-kind” partnership to pilot test new mobility technologies in the five national parks located in the state to help increase accessibility and equity in recreational and park settings.

In addition, in September 2021, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification began work on an electrified roadway system that would allow electric-powered buses, shuttles, and personal vehicles to recharge their battery systems while driving – enabling EVs to operate continuously without stopping to recharge.

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