The University of Memphis has been chosen to further explore transportation challenges for Stanton, Tennessee, as the city prepares to become the destination for Ford’s Blue Oval City.
An announcement from Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) said the university, along with civil engineering professor Sabya Mishra, will receive $75,000 to “study the transportation challenges facing Ford’s future Blue Oval City employees.”
Blue Oval City is a project that was announced in 2021 by Ford Motor Company as a part of its investment in electric vehicles and sustainable manufacturing. The planned expenditure of $5.6 billion marks the largest investment in the company’s history, with the goal of creating the “next-generation electric truck” from Ford.
“The site spans six square miles and will be among the largest auto manufacturing facilities in U.S. history. It will encompass vehicle assembly, battery production, and a supplier park in a vertically integrated ecosystem,” the company said.
Ford said the project will create approximately 6,000 jobs for West Tennesseeans.
This grant comes from the National Science Foundation as a part of the Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Stage One project. Officials said the initiative provides a closer look at “efficient public transit systems” by examining things such as fixed-line buses, on-demand micro-transit, and more.
The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) said CIVIC’s purpose is to bridge the gap between “essential resources and services and community needs.”
“By addressing priorities at the local scale that are relevant across the U.S., CIVIC is laying the foundation for a broader and more fluid exchange of research and technology capabilities and civic priorities through joint partnerships involving civic partners and the research community,” NSF said. “CIVIC funds projects that pilot state-of-the-art solutions to community challenges over 12 months.”
According to the abstract for the project, researchers plan on developing a “multi-modal transit system for Blue Oval City..”
Researchers said they will improve public transportation for prospective workers by using a mix of regular-sized buses and smaller ones. They will utilize on-demand transit to ensure on-time performance.
The university said it will create models using artificial intelligence (AI) to address the “high volumes of employee trips and create service zones with optimal pick-up and drop-off locations.” They will also work to make sure this initiative “incentivizes ridership and ensures social equity.”
Cohen said the project is crucial for the future success of Blue Oval City and it’s workforce. “I congratulate the University and Dr. Mishra for being awarded this prestigious grant for such forward-thinking and innovative research. Benefiting our entire region,” Cohen said.
According to NSF, the program will begin October 1, with an estimated end date of March 31, 2025.
