Michigan, Ontario to Create Cross-Border Multimodal Testbed

The Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification are joining forces with Ontario’s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network or AVIN and Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to begin a “multi-year effort” to deploy “smarter and greener” cross-border transportation technologies.

[Above photo by the Michigan DOT]

As part of the effort, the Michigan DOT and AVIN signed a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU to explore the creation and implementation of a cross-border multimodal “testbed” for advanced automotive and mobility solutions.

The MOU also commits both the Michigan DOT and AVIN to meet several goals as well:

  • Identifying the potential economic, social and environmental benefits from increased collaboration in mobility technologies between Ontario and Michigan.
  • Identifying issues and challenges for both people and goods related to specific types of border crossing – by land, air and water – and how mobility technologies could offer solutions.
  • Exploring the regulatory and policy considerations involved.
  • Developing a roadmap for implementation, including steps to establish multimodal cross-border pilots for mobility technologies.

“We are excited to partner with the AVIN team in Ontario to secure the Michigan-Ontario border as the place where cross-border innovations in transportation are born,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) in a statement.

“Through collaborations like this we can building on Michigan’s strength in automotive manufacturing while creating and environment for technology and mobility-related companies to thrive and grow,” she noted.

Paul Ajegba

“This exciting joint venture with Ontario builds on the extensive work underway to make Michigan a global leader in the development and deployment of mobility technologies that will benefit society, protect the environment and strengthen our economy,” added Paul Ajegba, Michigan DOT’s director.

“The MOU formalizes a new chapter in cooperation between two industry ecosystems combining generations of automotive heritage with word-class talent in advanced technologies,” he said.

“Advancements in transportation technology have the potential to make the way we travel and transport goods safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s minister of transportation. “By working together to explore and advance new and innovative mobility technologies, we’re taking steps to ensure Ontario and Michigan stay at the forefront of the evolving transportation industry.”

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