On Saturday, Jan. 23, service changes and improvements will take effect on more than 15 DDOT bus routes.
Customers will benefit from new schedule times, additional destinations, and the introduction of 24-hour service on three major routes: #53 Woodward, #34 Gratiot and #21 Grand River.
"These service changes come directly from our customers and employees," says Dan Dirks, DDOT director. "We received countless requests for better night service, frequent peak-hour service and more reliable schedules."
The change includes a reconfiguration of bus routes in northeast Detroit and neighboring Harper Woods. Eastland Center, for example, will be served by enhanced service on Eight Mile rather than buses from Mack and Gratiot. "Ridership patterns have shifted in this area, and we're making an effort to deploy our resources wisely," Dirks continues. "We initially proposed a separate route along Kelly and Moross. With extensive input from customers, we refined it into the expanded Eight Mile route."
Savings from this change, along with internal operating efficiencies, are enabling the service improvements. The strategy marks a new direction for DDOT: instead of committing strictly to traditional routes, the Department will develop improvements around evolving customer needs and areas of growing demand.
The following list details what riders can expect with the upcoming changes:
#16 Dexter
Add trips on Weekday Mornings
#17 Eight Mile
Extend route to start/end at Mack & Moross, with service to Eastland, on all days
New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
#18 Fenkell
New schedule on Saturday
#19 Fort
New schedule on all days to reflect end of long-term construction
#21 Grand River
Add 24-hour service on all days
#23 Hamilton
New schedule on all days for more reliable service
#25 Jefferson
New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options
#27 Joy
New schedule on all days for more reliable service
#29 Linwood
Minor schedule adjustments
#31 Mack
Route travels between Mack & Moross and Rosa Parks Transit Center; use 17 Eight Mile for service to Moross, Kelly and Eastland. New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
#32 McNichols
Extend route to start/end at Meijer Old Redford on Saturday and Sunday.New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
#34 Gratiot
Route travels between 8 Mile & Gratiot and Downtown; use 17 Eight Mile for service to Eastland
New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
Add 24-hour service on all days
#41 Schaefer
New schedule on all days for more reliable service
#45 Seven Mile
Extend route to start/end at Meijer Old Redford on all days
New schedule on all days for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
#53 Woodward
New schedule on Sunday for enhanced travel options and more reliable service
Add 24-hour service on all days
All Other Routes may feature very minor schedule changes (affecting approximately 3 percent of all trips) due to a revised schedule-building method.
