10. The 20-year road to autonomy
What we chose: a clear timeline, building today what tomorrow's vehicles will need.
- Now: fare-free service, e-bikes, on-demand vans, the every-day schedule and the Lakeshore Link.
- About 5 years: electric vans and car-share, the first electric buses, smart signals, and one app for every mode.
- About 10 years: autonomous electric shuttle pilots on fixed loops and in van zones, with safety operators at first.
- About 15 years: most on-demand trips run by autonomous electric vehicles.
- About 20 years: a largely autonomous, all-electric, fare-free network.
What else we considered: waiting for autonomy before investing.
Why: the Hubs, charging, curb space, data and app we build now are exactly what autonomous service will need later. Autonomous shuttles are already running in real cities, including a free service in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which runs through Minnesota winters, and a free shuttle in Detroit. Winter is the hardest test for these vehicles. A near-north lakeshore city like Sheboygan could offer itself as a winter testbed, bringing research, jobs and early service.
Build now what tomorrow's vehicles will need.