Detroit Evening Report: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan secures emergency contracts to continue paratransit services

Listen to the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan

Detroit Mayor Duggan has approved emergency contracts with four paratransit providers to ensure operations continue after Detroit City Council rejected a $49 million contract with Transdev, despite initially approving the deal.


Listen and Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report

NPR | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts


The action announced Thursday is needed to make sure 1,000 disabled riders who rely on DDOT every day can get around town. Duggan says DDOT will use its own staff to book reservations beginning next year.

“That gives us time to put a permanent plan in place,” Duggan told the Detroit Free Press. “Anyone that was concerned before, this issue has been resolved.”

The four vendors are Moe Transportation, Big Star Transit LLC, Delray United Action and Checker Cab Company.

French company Transdev has provided rides for the city’s disabled community for several years. Last month, Detroit City Council reversed their decision to approve a $49 million contract to continue that relationship for another five years.

The city says the Federal Transit Authority sent letters indicating that failure to provide the paratransit service would lead to serious federal consequences.

The emergency contracts are valid for six months and do not require City Council approval.

Other headlines for Dec. 8, 2022:

  • WNBA star Brittney Griner freed after US-Russia prisoner exchange
  • Family of Patrick Lyoya sues Grand Rapids police over fatal shooting
  • Statue of Detroit Mayor Coleman Young to replace Lewis Cass in US capitol
  • Belle Isle, Detroit Outdoors to screen Black ice climbers documentary

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

Author

  • Jerome Vaughn
    Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.