Peters Announces Over $9.8 Million for the University of Michigan to Deploy Connected Vehicle Technology in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced $9,859,240 in federal funding for the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to deploy Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology in Ann Arbor. C-V2X enables data sharing between vehicles, the infrastructure they operate on, and nearby road users to improve roadway safety and efficiency. The funding was provided through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation grant program, which was authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law that Peters helped enact.

“Connected vehicle technology is the future of mobility, and investments in these technologies can improve safety and mobility while ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of auto innovation,” said Senator Peters, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. “I’m proud to have helped make this funding possible, which is paving the way for Michigan to be a national template for deployment of connected vehicle technology.”  

“This project will enable us to move quickly toward a connected vehicle and infrastructure deployment in the U.S., and we are grateful to Senator Peters for his leadership on this issue. NHTSA has determined that V2X will eliminate or mitigate the severity of up to 80% of non-impaired crashes, and reduce carbon emissions,” said Jim Sayer, UMTRI director and Principal Investigator.  “We believe the widespread deployment of C-V2X will create more than 120,000 jobs developing new products, applications, services and smart infrastructure. The impact of C-V2X will be felt broadly and across economic sectors including infrastructure owner-operators, vehicle manufacturers, technology providers, and chipset designers to name a few.”

Earlier this year, Peters successfully called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve the deployment of this lifesaving technology and ensure the U.S. doesn’t fall behind other countries in its development and adoption.

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