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Local Transit

Beaver Island ferry travelling down the waterway.
Department of Transportation

Local Transit

Marketing and Education Budget for Implementation of New Transit Technology 


Project Number: SPR-1757

Contract Number: 2023-0726 

Status: Complete

Start Date: 11/27/2023

End Date 11/30/2025

Summary:

Michigan's public transit agencies face increasing challenges in adopting new technologies due to limited funding, staffing constraints, and varying technical capacity. The purpose of this project was to identify practical strategies to support the planning, marketing, and implementation of new transit technologies across Michigan. The research methods included a statewide survey of Michigan's transit agencies, interactive workshops with the Michigan Public Transit Association and MDOT's Transit Technology Forum, and analyses of leading technology vendors and case studies. These methods informed both a comprehensive report and an accessible Transit Technology Implementation Guidebook designed for agency use. The results show that successful technology adoption depends on both right-sized tools and strong human capacity. Agencies that invest in staff training, change management, and clear communication achieve higher adoption rates and sustained system performance. The conclusions highlight that MDOT can best support statewide modernization through centralized training, shared communications resources, and peer learning networks. Practical use of the results: The findings and Guidebook offer MDOT and local transit providers an actionable framework and ready-to-use tools for planning, funding, and implementing technology solutions that improve efficiency, service reliability, and the rider experience statewide.

Publications: