On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer, talks about recommendations in a report from the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification. 

Among the highlights, or pillars, Pawl outlines:

Transition and grow our mobility industry and workforce.

• Invest in bus rapid transit and spend $10 million to revive the state’s mobility challenges to solve employment and equity barriers.  
• Fund a public relations campaign to enhance Michigan’s sustainability leadership.  
• Scale the Michigan Electric Vehicle (EV) Jobs Academy.  
• Create a global center of excellence for responsible artificial intelligence.  

Provide safer, greener and more accessible transportation infrastructure

• Expand Michigan’s Alternative Fuel Corridor opportunities for clean hydrogen and commission a study on hydrogen applications in commercial traffic.  
• Develop accessibility standards for EV chargers.  
• Create a state EV consumer incentive.  
• Fund a $45 million bus electrification program.  
• Expand use of sinking funds to support electric school bus deployments.  
• Support Phase Two of the MDOT work zone safety pilot program.  
• Design a clean fuels standard that works for Michigan.  

Lead the world in mobility and electrification policy and innovation

• Invest $30 million in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology development. 
• Pass legislation to preserve Michigan’s uniform, statewide automated vehicle policy.  
• Keep up the annual support for state mobility agencies’ capacity.  
• Pass legislation to create a mobility research and development talent tax credit.  
• Continue advocating to federal policymakers on important connected vehicle issues.