Michigan DOT selects three partners for Mobility Wallet Challenge

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) have selected proposals from Ecolane Inc., Feonix – Mobility Rising and the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) to participate in its mobility wallet pilot program Michigan Mobility Wallet Challenge. The entities have been awarded a combined $3.38 million to develop and deploy their solutions.

The Michigan Mobility Wallet Challenge is a collaborative effort between MDOT, OFME, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Michigan Poverty Task Force to increase transit service interoperability and enhance Michigan residents’ access to mobility options. When MDOT and OFME launched this effort in July 2022, it envisioned the pilot program allowing for funds to loaded or bank accounts to be connected to a single platform to create a streamlined mechanism for fare payment.

In 2022, the state unveiled the MI Future Mobility Plan to create “a stronger state economy through safer, more equitable and environmentally sound transportation.” Within the plan’s goals is an initiative to provide residents with consistent access to mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) options across the state’s 77 transit agencies by 2025. The program to develop a mobility wallet advances the state’s goal to be a national leader in transit payment systems.

“Michigan is on the forefront of innovations in developing new technologies for public transit users," said Acting State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich. “These mobility wallet solutions will help provide easy and equitable access to various transportation providers across the state.”

Keep your phone in your pocket

Ecolane Inc. was awarded $888,800 to develop and deploy a mobility wallet solution to nine transit agencies in Michigan.

The solution will use Ecolane’s X4MaaS platform that allows for all mobility modes to be integrated into a single mobile app and includes carbon footprint information for various transport options. The mobility wallet solution will integrate ZIG, a sensor technology developed by ZED Digital, which lets public transit users pay from their smart phone without removing the device from their pocket, or by using a smart card if they do not have a smart phone. X4MaaS integrates with one of the first hands-free mobile wallet solutions to be introduced in the U.S. market, an internet of things-based sensor technology that is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“We are honored to have been selected by the Michigan Department of Transportation for this opportunity to offer our mobility wallet to agencies across the state," said Spiro Gjorgjievski, president of Ecolane. "Ecolane's focus with the Mobility Wallet will be to ensure an integrated customer experience through our single mobility as a service platform X4MaaS, which unifies all mobility modes - including fixed route, ADA, paratransit, microtransit, scooters, bike rentals, and others - operated by an agency for trip planning, booking and payment while empowering riders to achieve all of that through their mobile devices."

Enhanced mobility for veterans and families in poverty

Feonix – Mobility Rising was awarded $1.5 million for to deploy a mobility wallet that will support Detroit, Grand Rapids, Jackson and surrounding areas and help veterans and families experiencing poverty gain greater access to mobility options.

The mobility wallet project launch is planned for Aug. 7, recognizing Purple Heart Day, followed by an expansion in January 2024 to fill transportation gaps for families and individuals experiencing poverty.

“Feonix is honored by the opportunity to work alongside such incredible partners and advocates in urban and rural communities to break down critical transportation barriers in accessing healthcare, employment and essential needs for Michigan veterans and individuals and families experiencing poverty,” said Valerie Lefler, executive director and CEO of Feonix – Mobility Rising. “The benefits of mobility to public health, as well as the broader economy cannot be understated.”

Development partners of the mobility wallet technology and deployment include SkedGo, MoCaFi, Metro Strategies, Menlo Innovations, Sundberg Ferar, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Uber and Token Transit.

Michigan community partners and transportation partners joining Feonix include:

• West Michigan Veterans Coalition
• Disability Advocates of Kent County
• Mobile GR-City of Grand Rapids
• HOPE Network
• Kent County Essential Needs Task Force
• Metro Detroit Council - Navy League of United States
• The Welcome Home Organization
• Michigan Works Southeast
• Region 2 Area Agency on Aging
• Western Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE)
• City of Hillsdale
• Key Opportunities
• Jackson County Military Coalition
• The Rapid
• Jackson Area Transportation Authority
• Lenawee Public Transportation Authority
• Ride Your Way
• Care on Wheels
• Superpedestrian
• Lime
• Boaz Bikes

Universal basic mobility in southeast Michigan

The RTA of Southeast Michigan was awarded $1 million to develop a mobility wallet pilot and project development approach focused on the principles of universal basic mobility. Its partners in the project include United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Detroit at Work and Downtown Detroit Partnership.

The project will include the four counties (Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne) where the RTA of Southeast Michigan is responsible for developing a regional master transit plan, coordinating regional transit projects and programs and distributing federal and state transit formula funds.

The pilot program will deliver an account-based mobility wallet that will have the capability to access multiple transportation services, including DDOT, SMART, QLine, People Mover, MoGo and at least one scooter company. In addition, the mobility wallet pilot will seek to test methods for deploying fare-capping across multiple providers and subsidy programs with a focus on equity and access for a largely cash-based transit rider population.

MDOT notes the unique element of this project is its partners have decided to take a phased human-centered design approach to this challenge due to the diversity of mobility options that are being integrated, the existing fare technology involved and the scale of the mobility equity issues for potential wallet users.

“This initiative will help transform the transit landscape in southeast Michigan by using this innovative technology to simplify the transit payment process. We hope the knowledge gained during this pilot program can be used as a blueprint that can be replicated and introduced across the state. Creating a streamlined mechanism for fare payment is a significant step toward improving the transit experience for Michiganders,” said Ben Stupka, interim general manager of the RTA.