MOBILITY

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joins us on Flashpoint this episode to discuss the development of Michigan Central near Downtown Detroit, and the impact it will have on the state, its workforce and its future in mobility.

This week, we're joined at the Michigan Central Station construction site by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who discusses the impact that the development will have on the city.

This week on Flashpoint, we’re joined by executive chair at Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., who shares with us his vision for the development at the Michigan Central Station site.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments has awarded more than $2.8 million to four projects expected to improve mobility.

Tech start ups from around the world are testing their prototypes in the Motor City.

Invest360 is a pitch competition that recognizes promising emerging companies in the mobility, healthcare, and information technology sectors.

A team of researchers at the University of Michigan plans to develop a lightweight exoskeleton that could be a game changer for people with mobility disabilities.

Senior citizens can book free rides through Dec. 17 with AARP's 50+ program.

A2GO will officially kick off on Oct. 11.

General Motors plans to spend more than $71 million to build a design center in Pasadena, California.

Program aims to make booking, paying for essential trips simple.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan House is again preparing to serve as a platform for the state’s innovators and creatives to connect with the worldwide audience that attends the South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) next week. In the moment it was devastating, but even within a couple days it was clear the right decision had been made,” said Ted Velie, a co-founder of Michigan House. We were thrilled then, that SXSW found a way for us to still connect this year.”AdOver the course of the five day virtual conference, Michigan House will host three Official SXSW Panel Discussions, a virtual meet-up for entrepreneurs, a Michigan Startup Portfolio, and a Michigan House Booth on SXSW’s digital platform. AdSee the schedule below for the panels, organized by Ann Arbor SPARK’s Komal Doshi, and the Michigan-focused SXSW event. Hosted by Start Garden, Ann Arbor SPARK, Detroit Startup Week & MEDCTo attend the free event, register here.

SXSW will have a series of Michigan-focused events this year.

ANN ARBOR – Robert Hampshire, associate professor at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, has been appointed to work in the U.S. Transportation Department under the Biden administration, it was announced Thursday. He was appointed principal deputy assistant secretary for research and technology at the Transportation Department. The office, which receives an annual investment of $1 billion for transportation research and development, coordinates technology and research programs. He will oversee the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Transportation Safety Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hampshire was a research associate professor at U-M’s Michigan Institute for Data Science and Transportation Research Institute’s Human Factors group.

DETROIT – Police are looking for Arthur Hill, a 57-year-old man who went missing Saturday night. According to authorities, Hill left his home -- located near the intersection of Artesian and Cathedral streets -- between 9 p.m. and midnight. His family said he would often leave to go to the store, but he would come back. Arthur Hill Details Age 57 years old Height 5′10″ Clothing May have been wearing a black Adidas jogging suit Hair Short afro, gray and black beardPolice said Hill is in fair physical condition, but has limited mobility in one arm and suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Anyone who has seen Arthur Hill or knows his whereabouts is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-5640 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Mobility industry veteran Luke Schneider has been named as the new chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Refraction AI. Schneider has had over 25 years of experience in the mobility and transportation industries, including executive positions Zipcar, wejo, Flexcar and Silvercar. As CEO, Texas-based Schneider will work on Refraction AI’s expansion plan while cementing the startup’s involvement with contactless delivery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Refraction AI has received a four-fold increase in delivery orders from its partnering Ann Arbor eateries and has begun to scaleup its fleet of autonomous vehicle robots. In June it began using its robots to help deliver groceries through a partnership with the Produce Station.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Leverage the share economy while saving money and living with your team in Ann Arbors latest collaborative space. 4M, pronounced forum, blends coworking, co-living and healthy collaboration together in Ann Arbors Lower Burns Park neighborhood. Residents can enjoy the bonuses of the share economy while living and working in a space focused on healthy collaboration. A rendering of a workspace at the 4M campus. He doesnt anticipate all of the campus townhomes to be fully booked right away, so suites can be set aside for isolation or quarantine if needed.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Innovation Hub for Advanced Transportation has awarded $710,000 to eight early-stage mobility projects from Michigan universities. The high-tech projects will offer ways to increase the safety, sustainability and efficacy of transporting people and goods in order to meet market needs. The eight projects receiving funding this year through the MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Transportation reflect the diversity of advanced automotive technologies being developed at Michigans universities, U-M associate vice president for research-technology transfer and innovation partnerships Kelly Sexton told Michigan News. The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Transportation accelerates the development and commercialization of advanced transportation projects. The program is open to researchers at higher education institutions, hospital systems and nonprofit research organizations within Michigan.