The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for Michigan’s 9,669-mile state highway system, comprised of all M, I, and US routes. MDOT also administers other state and federal transportation programs for aviation, intercity passenger services, rail freight, local public transit services, the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF), and others.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) works to maintain our roads, but we also work to make the roads safer with less congestion. Through our Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) program, we are adding advanced technologies and partnerships to our traditional practices – from construction to clearing crashes to plowing snow – increasing mobility, reliability and safety along the way. Some TSMO benefits include:
Efficient commutes – Optimally timed traffic lights help vehicles move more smoothly through intersections. Harmonizing traffic lights can reduce travel times by 8 to 20 percent.
Clear routes – Michigan Traffic Incident Management Effort (Mi-TIME) provides important training on quickly and safely clearing traffic incidents. So far, Mi-TIME has trained more than 5,600 responders.
Safer construction zones – Technologies to safely manage construction zones help decrease the number of work zone crashes, injuries and deaths.
Easier-to-use travel information – MDOT’s Mi Drive website provides 24/7 traffic and incident information.
Fewer wasted gallons of gas – Travelers won’t burn fuel idling in congestion, enhancing livability and sustainability.
Better, faster, cheaper, safer, and smarter – These solutions allow MDOT to more cost-effectively reduce congestion, increase safety, and provide Michigan residents with measurable benefits NOW.
Michigan leading the way – Planet M promotes innovation in transportation mobility technologies across the state.
Transportation Operations Center (TOC)
Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs) are seven-day-a-week operation centers that house dispatchers from both MDOT and Michigan State Police allowing both agencies to share resources and information in order to effectively monitor traffic and manage traffic incident responses on Metro Detroit, West Michigan, and Mid-Michigan freeways. This is achieved by monitoring traffic sensors, distress calls and video feeds from closed-circuit TV cameras, while coordinating with law enforcement agencies and other transportation officials.
MDOT’s three TOCs are focused advancing the mission on improving safety, mobility, and economy for residents and business, by ensuring safe, smooth, and efficient roads.
Freight
Freight is defined as any good, product, or raw material carried by a commercial means of transportation – including air, highway, rail, water, and pipeline. The activities involved in the management of how and where freight moves are defined as logistics. MDOT is responsible for addressing the movement of cargo by air, highway, marine, pipeline, and rail modes of transportation, including the interconnection of such modes. The functions needed to support this directive are maintained throughout department’s bureaus and regions.
Michigan’s three largest industries – manufacturing, agriculture and tourism – are highly dependent on good transportation systems. An efficient and dependable transportation system can lower costs, enhance competitiveness, and support just-in-time inventory systems for business.
MDOT Strategic Plan for Intelligent Transportation Systems
The purpose of this strategic plan is to act as a compass for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program (referred to herein as “the Program”) in supporting decisions and setting priorities moving forward in the changing ITS landscape. The plan is comprised of “SMART” goals and actions, which are carefully crafted to align with the Program’s Mission and Vision.
The Program falls under the Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) program umbrella and interrelates with several other MDOT programs and business areas. The objective of this plan is to provide clear direction and vision for the Program to support MDOT’s TSMO initiative, in turn helping MDOT achieve the Department’s overall Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Areas of Focus as defined in the MDOT 2017 Strategic Plan.
Within the strategic plan the following priority focus areas are identified.
The associated focus areas are listed below.
In addition to the above strategic plan the MDOT also has a Connected and Automated Vehicle Program Strategic Plan.
This plan is referred to as a Connected and Automated Vehicle strategic plan, encompassing the department’s initiative to support and implement emerging transportation technologies. MDOT views Connected Vehicle (CV) technology as an enabling technology for Automated Vehicles (AV), and thus sees actions supporting CV technology development and deployment as also supportive of future AV operation on state roadways. For the purposes of this document, “CAV” refers broadly to emerging transportation technologies, while “CV” refers specifically to strategies or tactical actions related to connected vehicle technology.
Michigan’s Place on the CAV Global Stage
Michigan is positioned as a key global leader in connected and automated vehicle research and technology. Michigan is a global leader in research and development activities that have allowed for a significant number of local CAV projects to be undertaken. As vehicle and transportation technologies continue to evolve, Michigan will continue to lead the way. The entire state, with the auto industry and technology partners, are transforming into the global center for mobility. Home to unrivaled automotive R & D and advanced manufacturing assets, Michigan is positioned as the global center of CAV technology. The research, design, testing and infrastructure development that is revolutionizing mobility, connecting the automobile and reshaping the world of mobility is happening within Michigan.
