I-94 Connected and Automated Vehicle Pilot Project

The pilot is a technology-enabled express lane on I-94 that is used for testing a combination of physical and digital infrastructure to improve roadway safety and expand the benefits of CAVs. The design and development of this pilot is a joint effort between MDOT, Cavnue and industry partners.

The pilot will allow the partners to learn, test and validate the technology deployed, with the goal of building on these insights to develop a larger first-of-its-kind connected corridor along I-94. This broader project, called the I-94 CAV corridor, will aim to improve safety, reduce congestion and emissions, and accelerate the benefits of CAVs.

Construction on the pilot was completed in May 2024. The operational phase of the pilot is expected to last approximately two years, through 2025.

The lane is open to all road users, including electric vehicles and transit vehicles. The only road users who are not able to use the express lane are semi-trucks, which continue to use the right two lanes, as they always have.

The pilot is not anticipated to have a significant impact on traffic or create additional congestion during the morning or evening rush hours. The main difference noticeable to drivers is a series of flexible posts that separate the middle and far left lanes.

No, this pilot is for testing purposes only. There is no charge to drivers who use the express lane. In the future, when CAVs are more widely adopted, there may be an optional user fee for CAV drivers who want to experience all the benefits of the CAV corridor, ensuring that the project is funded directly by those who benefit from it. The fee would be a choice made by CAV drivers using the lane; it would not be required of all vehicles.

Cavnue, a private company, is paying for the design, permitting and construction on I-94, as well as providing the pilot’s digital infrastructure.

The pilot allows MDOT, Cavnue and other industry partners to evaluate how this combination of digital and physical infrastructure can improve safety and mobility for all road users and unlock the full benefits of CAVs.

Cavnue is performing testing with industry partners, with the option to close the left lane during off-peak hours. For any lane closures, motorists are notified in advance via digital freeway signs.

During the off-peak testing periods, the express lane is closed to commuting traffic while professional drivers test several different scenarios that will help MDOT and its partners better understand the performance and effectiveness of the pilot’s physical and digital infrastructure.

The testing only involves the dedicated test vehicles. Normal road users, including the drivers of CAVs, are not impacted by the testing.

The entrance for the pilot is at Belleville Road, with the exit at Rawsonville Road.

There are signs notifying drivers of the beginning and ending of the express lane.

No, the Belleville Rest Area is still accessible by using the right lane of westbound I-94. New signs have been installed to inform users to access the rest area from the right lane.

This pilot is designed to enhance the safety and performance of CAVs, which are vehicles that (1) send and/or receive information to and from outside sources and (2) automate the driving task. Many vehicles today have different levels of connectivity and automation, and these features that make vehicles smarter are expected to advance rapidly in the future.

The pilot deploys poles that include Cavnue’s proprietary kit of radar, sensors and wireless radio equipment.

No personal data is being collected through the pilot.

For this pilot, we are using flexible delineators to separate the left lane from the middle and right lanes to minimize points where vehicles can enter and exit the left lane during testing.

Having physical separation for the lane also allows the lane to be closed during off-peak hours without closing two lanes to place barrels. This helps keep traffic flowing efficiently and reduces the impact on road users.

Flexible delineators are designed to cause minimal damage to vehicles.

Emergency vehicles can respond to an incident in the lane by driving over the flexible delineators, if needed.

Maintenance vehicles use the entrance and exit points for the lane. If they need to respond to an emergency, they can drive over the flexible delineator. No issues are expected with snow removal or salting; those processes will continue as normal.

The left lane has an adequate shoulder for disabled vehicles to use while waiting for assistance.

Maintenance activities continue as they always have on I-94, with no interruption.