Mobility challenge awards funding to innovative projects at several of Michigan’s national parks

What’s happening: Three innovative mobility projects will soon deploy at four of Michigan’s state and national parks, including Keweenaw National Historical Park, Muskallonge Lake State Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The projects were announced as part of the National Park Service Mobility Challenge, which intends to improve park safety, sustainability, and equitable access by way of new mobility technology.

How they’re doing it: The National Park Service Mobility Challenge was launched in August 2023 through a partnership forged between Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Biden-Harris Administration, and the National Park Service (NPS). The challenge solicited applications from mobility companies with innovative ways to improve access to Michigan’s national parks. These three projects represent the first round of grant funding through the challenge.

What’s planned: The Ann Arbor-based ADASTEC Corp. receives a $250,000 grant to deploy an automated, electric full-size bus to carry passengers through Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Marquette’s Superior Watershed Partnership & Land Conservancy receives $240,000 to install multi-modal electric vehicle chargers in the gateway communities to Keweenaw National Historical Park (Hancock) and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Munising and Grand Marais).

And the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives $10,000 to deploy a fleet of off-road track wheelchairs at Muskallonge Lake State Park, improving outdoor recreation access for people with disabilities.

What they’re saying: “I am incredibly excited about the progress we have made in advancing sustainable mobility within our national parks,” says Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan. “These new initiatives not only reflect Michigan’s innovative capabilities but also significantly contribute to our broader mobility ecosystem, propelling us toward a more interconnected and sustainable future.”

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