The City of Long Beach is joining forces with Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, alongside Mercedes-Benz USA Urban Mobility Solutions, and Xtelligent, in an innovative public-private partnership. This collaboration is set to pioneer advanced transportation technology systems designed to revolutionize urban transportation management, enhance the quality of life, and foster environmental sustainability within Long Beach and its surrounding areas. This strategic alliance firmly positions Mercedes-Benz Long Beach at the forefront of urban innovation.
Mayor Robert Garcia emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “This public-private partnership will keep Long Beach at the forefront of emerging transportation technologies. This project will showcase our city’s skilled workforce, provide more STEM learning opportunities for students, and represents our city’s continued commitment to building a technology focused ecosystem.”
This ambitious project, spanning ten months, will concentrate on several key areas:
- Intelligent Traffic Management: Implementing and rigorously testing an intelligent intersection control system. This system is designed to dynamically adjust traffic signal timings at selected intersections, optimizing traffic flow and enhancing safety for all road users.
- Data-Driven Policy Making: Leveraging comprehensive data analysis derived from connected test vehicle fleets and the city’s existing network of physical sensors. This rich data source will provide invaluable insights to inform future transportation policies and refine traffic engineering strategies, leading to more efficient and responsive urban mobility solutions.
- STEM Education for the Community: Hosting a community youth workshop tailored for Long Beach residents and students. This workshop will focus on delivering hands-on STEM learning experiences, nurturing the next generation of innovators in the field of transportation technology.
This partnership strongly aligns with the goals of the Long Beach Accelerator Program, reinforcing the City’s dedication to collaborating with local enterprises on cutting-edge technology and initiatives that generate civic impact. Furthermore, it underscores the commitment to expanding opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for students within Long Beach, particularly those in under-resourced communities. The community-based workshop, contingent on health and safety guidelines, will play a crucial role in delivering vital STEM education to local students.
The project is also a cornerstone of Long Beach’s broader Smart City Initiative, which strategically employs data and technology to address urban challenges and improve the lives of its residents. This forward-thinking initiative aims to transform Long Beach into a more connected, efficient, and sustainable urban environment.
The collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and Xtelligent underscores Long Beach’s unwavering vision to promote environmental sustainability and digital inclusion, ensuring equitable access to digital literacy training, internet resources, technology devices, and other essential digital inclusion resources for all its citizens. Addressing transportation challenges is a core objective for Mercedes-Benz, and this unique partnership presents a significant opportunity to tackle pressing urban issues such as traffic congestion and associated emissions.
Philipp Skogstad, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to partner with Xtelligent and the City of Long Beach to research solutions to urban transportation challenges. With our test vehicle fleet, we hope to provide key data to optimize traffic signal timing and reduce congestion.”
Data protection is paramount for Mercedes-Benz, Xtelligent, and the City of Long Beach. All parties are committed to responsible data handling. Mercedes-Benz and Xtelligent will only share test vehicle data with appropriate notifications and consents, and any data shared with third parties will be anonymized and aggregated to ensure privacy. This collaborative project is a joint effort involving the City’s Technology and Innovation Department, Public Works Department, and Economic Development Department, highlighting a unified approach to urban advancement.
Michael Lim, cofounder of Xtelligent, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the project, stating, “This partnership represents the best of what a forward-thinking city, leading automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and innovative venture can uniquely enable when collaborating towards a common, worthwhile goal. We’re excited to use our collective resources to develop and demonstrate how technology can improve the liveability, vitality, and sustainability of Long Beach.”
Upon the pilot project’s completion, the team will meticulously evaluate the outcomes and explore opportunities to expand the initiative, potentially bringing these innovative solutions to a wider scale.
About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach, a vibrant city of approximately 470,000 residents, is renowned for its award-winning innovation and world-class amenities, characteristic of a major metropolitan center, while maintaining distinct and diverse neighborhoods along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach boasts iconic attractions such as the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, numerous museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, and the Port of Long Beach. The city is also home to esteemed institutions like a respected university and city college, historic ranchos, and comprehensive community resources.
For further details about the City of Long Beach, please visit longbeach.gov.
About Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America is dedicated to envisioning, designing, engineering, testing, and certifying the most desirable vehicles in North America. With six locations, they contribute to automotive advancements ranging from EV battery research to autonomous driving software, shaping the future of mobility.
Mercedes-Benz Urban Mobility Solutions at a glance
Mercedes-Benz Urban Mobility Solutions is committed to enhancing urban living by developing safe, sustainable, and efficient mobility products. Collaborating with cities and experts, they create innovative urban mobility systems for current and future generations.
About Xtelligent
Xtelligent, backed by the U.S. government, is a transportation infrastructure venture focused on revolutionizing traffic signal network control through cutting-edge decentralized control algorithms and innovative sensing and learning capabilities. They are committed to ethical and sustainable urban transportation solutions.
Further information about Mercedes-Benz is available at www.mercedes-benz.com.
