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University of Michigan presents ACE 2.0 connected-vehicle plan; commissioners urge closer alignment with city needs
Summary
UMTRI described the Ann Arbor Connected Environment (ACE) 2.0 project — a nearly $13 million, three-year effort to deploy cellular V2X technology, retrofit roadside units and equip vehicles for testing — and urged stronger coordination with city operational priorities. Testing is planned to begin in fall 2025, with federal funding expended by Feb. 2027.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) briefed the Ann Arbor Transportation Commission on Dec. 18 about ongoing and planned connected-vehicle work in the city.
Debbie (UMTRI) reviewed the history of dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) and the industry shift to cellular V2X (C-V2X). She described ACE 2.0 as a roughly three-year, nearly $13,000,000 federal project to replace legacy DSRC roadside units with C-V2X infrastructure, deploy about 75 roadside units where needed, and equip approximately 100 vehicles with onboard C-V2X radios for testing and commercialization support. UMTRI plans concentrated testing beginning in fall 2025, with one-week test periods each quarter, and will conduct initial bench and MCity testing before street testing.
Debbie highlighted lessons learned: interoperability and system architecture must be defined early; cybersecurity should be addressed up front; and deployments should solve local problems rather than being technology-for-technology’s-sake. She also noted that federal timelines and industry choices (including recent FCC actions affecting the 5.9 GHz band) have altered the national landscape; UMTRI’s timeline shows federal funding for this project expended by February 2027.
Commissioners welcomed the national leadership aspect but repeatedly asked for closer alignment between UMTRI’s technical specifications and city operational needs, including ensuring RSU placement supports city projects like dedicated bus lanes and downtown safety improvements. Debbie and staff agreed to continue coordination and to return with another update in mid-2025 or the following summer.
What’s next: UMTRI will finalize procurement timelines for C-V2X devices, continue interoperability and cybersecurity planning, and coordinate with city staff to prioritize RSU locations and use cases that directly benefit Ann Arbor.
