St Paul, Minnesota | April 14, 2026

The PLUM Catalyst is participating in AV Day at the Capitol, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE). The event brings together state leaders, transportation professionals, educators, and community partners to explore how automated mobility technologies are being deployed across Minnesota and what they mean for the future of transportation.

AV Day provides an opportunity to highlight real-world applications of automated vehicle technology already operating in communities today, while supporting conversations around workforce development, accessibility, and public understanding of emerging mobility systems. Events like this help strengthen collaboration between agencies, partners, and innovation leaders working to ensure these technologies are implemented thoughtfully and effectively across the state.

Tammy Meehan Russell, President & Chief Catalyst, Trisha Peterson, Community Catalyst, and Mandie Arland, Strategic Executive Assistant are attending AV Day at the Capitol on behalf of The PLUM Catalyst. During the event, the team is connecting with state leaders and partners around workforce development strategies that support the continued growth of automated mobility initiatives across Minnesota.

In addition, goMARTI’s wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle is featured outside the Capitol during the event alongside Myrna Peterson from Mobility Mania, providing attendees with an opportunity to see how automated mobility technologies are already supporting transportation access in rural communities today.

https://pavecampaign.org/events/mn-av-day/

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Conference Highlights

AV Day at the Capitol brought strong engagement from policymakers, transportation leaders, and community partners interested in the future of automated mobility across Minnesota. The PLUM team connected with lawmakers and public sector leaders throughout the day to discuss how emerging technologies are already supporting communities today and how workforce development and accessibility continue to play an important role in successful implementation.

Attendees shared excitement about automated vehicle technology and strong interest in the progress being made through initiatives like goMARTI. Several participants described how services like goMARTI could directly improve mobility options in their own communities, reinforcing the importance of continued deployment and public education efforts. The team also received thoughtful questions about future timelines for driverless operations, highlighting the growing curiosity and engagement around next-generation mobility systems.

The event created valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships and build new connections, including conversations with Minnesota Council on Disability staff and collaboration with partners from PAVE and Stantec. Overall, the strong turnout and level of participation reflected increasing statewide interest in how automated mobility can support accessible, workforce-aligned transportation solutions across Minnesota.