In June 2018, Ford announced it acquired Michigan Central Station with plans to restore it and improve mobility around it. In collaboration with Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s mobility initiative, PlanetM, Ford launched the City:One Michigan Central Station Challenge in June 2019. The goal of the challenge was to bring together government officials, city residents, and entrepreneurs to identify transportation problems and discover solutions. The challenge encouraged participants to consider access to mobility information, making mobility more affordable, and building a safe and inviting environment for all.
The challenge heard from over 2,000 Detroit residents and received more than 164 unique proposals. The Challenge’s steering committee was comprised of industry experts, partner representatives, and local stakeholders. Together, they narrowed down the impressive entries down to 12 finalists. Each of the finalists were given the opportunity to work with mentors and receive guidance on how to refine their proposal and prepare a pitch presentation. Out of the 12 finalists, three winners were selected to implement their proposal by splitting the winning $250,000.
“The quality of the proposals submitted for the City:One Challenge was simply outstanding,” said Mark de la Vergne, chief of mobility innovation for the city of Detroit. “We are truly appreciative for all the time and energy spent in understanding mobility in the area of Michigan Central Station and proposing solutions. The fact that two of the three winners are local residents demonstrates the creativity and passion that Detroiters have for mobility.”
The three selected winners included Mercy Education Project, a nonprofit charitable organization, AbleLink Smart Living Technologies, and a team project comprised of Downtown Detroit Partnership, DTE, and local artists. Mercy Education Project’s solution works to increase access to information; AbleLink’s solution helps those with cognitive disabilities, special needs, or low English proficiency navigate their way on their own; finally, the team project including Downtown Detroit Partnership, DTE, and local artists aims to improve the safety and walkability of the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Lodge Freeway.
“The City:One Challenge builds on our commitment to advance the state’s robust mobility landscape while providing greater access to transportation solutions for residents in the Corktown community and beyond,” said Amanda Roraff, managing director of PlanetM, the mobility initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “We’re excited to welcome these pilots to Michigan’s mobility ecosystem, and to learn from them to develop better mobility solutions in the future.”
The selected proposals involve kiosks that provide ample information centered around ride-sharing services, the development and use of customizable apps, and the use of artwork. For more information on the semifinalists and other submitted proposals, visit the City:One Challenge website. In addition to Ford and PlanetM, AT&T, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft all sponsored the challenge as well.
“A key goal for the City:One Challenge is to help preserve the unique fabric of the communities surrounding Michigan Central Station, even as the area sees expanded development,” said Jeff Jones, vice president, Ford City Solutions. “By reaching out to residents, businesses and community groups through this program, we can better understand the issues people face on a daily basis and support ideas that will have a direct impact on their lives.”
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