Saying that Michigan has more projects on connected mobility underway than any other state in the U.S., leaders at the Mackinac Policy Conference announced the creation of a new collaborative entity to coordinate and promote mobility research in the state.

Members of the coalition include the Detroit Regional Chamber’s MICHAuto Initiative, Business Leaders for Michigan, MEDC, the University Research Corridor, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

MDOT Director Kirk Steudle says there is a lot of rethinking that has to take place as connected vehicles take to the road, and pointed the planned opening of the “Connected Village” at the University of Michigan later this summer.   Chamber president Sandy Baruah says Michigan once put the world on wheels.  “Now is the time,” he said, “to lead the way on connected transportation.”