The Studio brings together Detroiters, civic stakeholders, startups, and industry experts to co-design high-impact, innovative solutions to address community needs in a meaningful and impactful manner. We are currently seeking teams to design and launch pilots in Detroit to address specific mobility challenges related to bridging transportation gaps, fostering safe and welcoming streets, improving access to mobility information, and access to essential resources.
In a sprawling city like Detroit, public transportation options can be limited or prohibitively far away. Meeting residents where they are helps connect the dots to create more navigable neighborhoods. Having additional options to get you from those first/last mile destinations are key.
Enhanced mobility means rethinking modes of transportation from the ground up. This means streets that are more accessible for pedestrians, people with disabilities, public transit riders, and people using micro-mobility services.
New services and existing initiatives need to be able to talk to each other—and to those using them every day. Making transportation information systems more connected and intuitive will enhance many elements of Detroiters’ lives, from the daily commute to intercommunity travel. There’s opportunity to work towards a better connected network across the city when it comes to the types of modes available, where they’re available, and the ability to access this information without a smartphone.
Even basic necessities like groceries can be out of reach without access to transportation. New mobility services are a gateway to opportunities and essential resources for employment, healthcare, education, and more. In addition to making it easier for residents to reach essential resources, there’s an opportunity to use mobility innovation as a means to bring resources to neighborhoods and to resident’s front doors.
Exact pilot locations will be determined in collaboration with selected startups during the pilot design phase. Areas where the pilots may be deployed include the following Detroit neighborhoods:
Michigan Central is a new mobility innovation district in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood. Anchored around the iconic Michigan Central Station, it is a sustainable community of new and revitalized buildings, shared spaces, a first-of-its-kind mobility testing platform, and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space. It will serve as an open platform for partnerships, drawing leading entrepreneurs, researchers, and technologists from Detroit and around the world to co-create and test new products and services on real-world streets, in real-world situations. The ecosystem will address urban transportation challenges, improve mobility access for everyone, and develop technologies to help prepare for a more connected, autonomous and electrified world ahead.
Learn more about Michigan Central