City of Detroit: Office of Mobility Innovation, Detroit, MI (2026)

04/01/2026

Last night, Mayor Mary Sheffield delivered her first State of the City address, marking a historic moment and a clear vision for Detroit’s future rooted in a neighborhood first approach.

From the Office of Mobility Innovation perspective, the mayor’s focus on transportation stood out as a key pillar in building more connected, equitable communities.

A major announcement included the launch of “Show Your ID, Ride for Free,” allowing all K to 12 Detroit students to ride the bus at no cost starting April 1, with reinvestment into afterschool programming. The city is also expanding transit infrastructure with 45 new buses already in service, 80 more on the way, and plans to improve rider experience through new benches and upgraded shelters.

These investments reflect a broader commitment to safe, reliable, and accessible mobility that supports students, families, and neighborhoods across Detroit. While led by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), this work is part of a shared, citywide effort to move Detroit forward.

We are proud to support and collaborate on mobility solutions that help residents access opportunity and stay connected to the places that matter most.

03/31/2026

Earlier this month, at the Girls STEAM Summit at Michigan Central, Yonikka Tinsley and Naomi Okanlawon represented the Office of Mobility Innovation in a day designed to spark curiosity and confidence in 6th to 8th grade girls exploring STEAM.
Through hands on workshops, interactive exhibits, and conversations with real practitioners, students connected their interests to real world pathways. From building solar cars with DAPCEP to hearing from professionals like a traffic engineer working in the traffic management center, the experience made STEAM tangible and relevant.

With the support of volunteers, partners, and families, the summit created a welcoming and engaging environment where students could learn, explore, and begin to imagine their future.

12/12/2025

Congratulations to Yonikka Tinsley, our MI Mobility Fellow, on completing her capstone with the Office of Mobility Innovation.

Her project, Grocery Mobility Hubs: Addressing Transportation Disadvantage and Food Access Inequity in Detroit, explores how transportation barriers and food access challenges overlap in Detroit’s historically disinvested neighborhoods, and proposes a publicly governed model for grocery mobility hubs supported by coordinated, temperature-controlled delivery.

We’re also excited to share that Yonikka has officially joined our team in a permanent role as Clean Fuels Specialist.

Thank you to the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification for sponsoring the MI Mobility Fellowship and supporting emerging leaders advancing equitable, innovative mobility solutions across Michigan.

FoodAccess Detroit CleanFuels FutureMobility PublicService

12/02/2025

The 2026–2027 Scooter Permit Application is officially live!

Companies operating in Detroit are encouraged to apply through the application linked in this post.

The permit window is now open and closes January 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Please submit your materials before the deadline to be considered for the upcoming cycle.

Apply today: Link in bio

11/06/2025

Reflecting on this morning’s fireside chat at the Sustainable Urban Design Summit (SUDS):

Deputy Chief Tony G. Geara, P.E., PTOE (طوني جعارة) joined Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer at the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), for a conversation on The State of Mobility — exploring how innovation across land, air, and water is shaping Michigan’s transportation future.

Tony shared how the Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) is creating pathways for innovators to test and grow their ideas in Detroit, including the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) — an accelerated permitting process that allows pilot projects to launch quickly within a designated area, supported by interdepartmental city collaboration.

The discussion highlighted what makes a standout pilot, the importance of human-centered design, and the growing opportunities for innovators to make their mark in Detroit’s evolving mobility ecosystem.

Together, OMI and OFME are working to advance a shared vision: a connected, sustainable, and equitable mobility future for all.

11/06/2025

Reflecting on this morning’s fireside chat at the Sustainable Urban Design Summit (SUDS):

Deputy Chief Tony G. Geara, P.E., PTOE (طوني جعارة) joined Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer at the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), for a conversation on The State of Mobility — exploring how innovation across land, air, and water is shaping Michigan’s transportation future.

Tony shared how the Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) is creating pathways for innovators to test and grow their ideas in Detroit, including the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) — an accelerated permitting process that allows pilot projects to launch quickly within a designated area, supported by interdepartmental city collaboration.

The discussion highlighted what makes a standout pilot, the importance of human-centered design, and the growing opportunities for innovators to make their mark in Detroit’s evolving mobility ecosystem.

Together, OMI and OFME are working to advance a shared vision: a connected, sustainable, and equitable mobility future for all.

10/21/2025

Thanks to those who joined us for day 1 of the ITS Michigan 2025 Annual Meeting. Still one more day to go for unparalleled excitement, networking, and knowledge-sharing! Our very own Tony Geara, President of ITS Michigan, hosted the event, setting the stage for crucial discussions on the future of mobility. We’re honored to feature Deputy Mayor Melia Howard for delivering the opening welcome address, sharing Detroit’s vision for smart transportation.

Special thanks to Konnor Petz, (Senior Mobility Specialist) City of Detroit TIZ; Michael Hale, Project Manager for City of Detroit MODES and Vincent Keenan (Head of Innovation Engagement) of City of Detroit Hydrogen Initiatives for representing what we stand for and what we do!

The OMI team actively participated in sessions covering advancing multimodal integration, emerging technologies, connected vehicle applications, and the vital human element of transportation. Detroit, we thank you!

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors: AECOM, CCAT, HNTB, Connected Signals, MDOT, and the Road Commission for Oakland County, whose support makes this event possible!

10/03/2025

This week, the Office of Mobility Innovation joined the American Center for Mobility (ACM) for “Accessibli-D” ADS/ADAS safety demonstrations, advancing our autonomous shuttle pilot learnings to support Detroiters facing mobility barriers.

Simulated rain, fog, and emergency scenarios helped transform real-world road data into controlled tests that sharpen safety and reliability.

“ACM has adopted a comprehensive, data-driven approach to collecting and analyzing road and traffic data to identify critical driving scenarios that challenge the safe operation of ADS. We have used our fully instrumented AVs to collect real road data from Detroit’s shuttle deployment route to model the frequency of these scenarios as a function of location, time of day, and seasonal/weather variation. Our commitment to ADS safety is backed by Michigan Tech’s top-notch engineering support team and our combined expertise in managing complex ADS/ADAS safety testing.”

– Dr. Sushanta Das, VP R&D, ACM

Together with ACM, Michigan Tech, and partners across Detroit, we are moving toward safer, smarter, and more inclusive mobility.

08/27/2025

✨ Farewell & Thank You, Maleia! ✨

This summer, we had the honor of working with Mayoral Fellow Maleia Brown, who brought her creativity, talent, and drive to the Office of Mobility Innovation’s communications team.

Maleia played a key role in developing impactful video campaigns and messaging strategies that helped us connect with Detroiters in new and dynamic ways. From shaping content to leading the Connect AV Shuttle video series, she showed true leadership and vision in telling Detroit’s mobility story.

Here’s what Maleia had to say about her experience:

“Serving as a Mayoral Fellow in Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation has been a truly rewarding experience. From the start, I felt welcomed by a team that encouraged me to bring my creativity and skills to the table. I was grateful for the chance to creatively lead projects like the Connect AV Shuttle series, which gave me valuable leadership experience amongst other city projects. Along the way, I built strong connections with amazing people in the community and other professionals who also share a deep-rooted love and passion for the city.”

Maleia — thank you for your dedication and creativity! 💡 Detroit’s mobility future is brighter because of your contributions. We wish you the very best in what’s next! 🚀💙

06/30/2025

TODAY—The City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) Accessibili- D Project is coming to a near end and will complete its final round on Monday, June 30, 2025. After a successful 1-year trial, the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) has been reported as having:

· 5.0-star rider satisfaction rating
· 700 plus reviews,
· Repeated trips taken by ninety- six percent of users
· Average wait time of 10 minutes
· 4,000 individual roles provided during the pilot.

As a result of the near closing, OMI is partnering with the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) to make sure that all Accessibili- D riders will be provided transportation through Paratransit services until the long- term AV shuttle returns this year.

03/25/2025

🏳️‍🌈🌸 Exciting news! 🌸🏳️‍⚧️ We are proud to share that our own Kristin Shaw, LEED AP will be speaking at this year’s COLOURS Spring Business Summit - Equity in Bloom, hosted by the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce! 🌿✨

As a Transportation Decarbonization Specialist at the City of Detroit's Office of Mobility Innovation, Kristin is excited to connect with diverse professionals, support equity in business, and gain insights from inspiring leaders. This summit is all about growth, collaboration, and uplifting LGBTQ+ and ally-owned businesses!

Join Kristin and other changemakers as we bloom together in business! 🌱💡 Will we see you there?

For more info + registration: https://detroitlgbtchamber.com/calendar/ =208&cid=1394&wid=201

City of Detroit: Office of Mobility Innovation

04/01/2026

03/31/2026

12/12/2025

12/02/2025

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

10/21/2025

10/03/2025

08/27/2025

06/30/2025

03/25/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category