Detroit Evening Report: DDOT expanding bus service frequency on multiple routes

The Detroit Department of Transportation announced this week that it has increased the daytime frequency of bus service on multiple routes throughout the city.

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Beginning Monday, Jan. 22, DDOT expanded the frequency of the 9-Jefferson route — the first route participating in a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot project — from every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends to every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.

DDOT also plans to introduce several new BRT features by mid-2024 as part of the pilot program, including temporary bus stop islands; bus stop consolidations to a consistent 1/4-mile spacing to help speed up service; permanent boarding islands; new/improved shelters with information displays at select locations; and “Connection Corners” improvements at major transfer intersections.

Bus frequency will also be added to the 16-Dexter and 18-Fenkell routes, in addition to peak period runs being added to several other routes, including: 3 – Grand River; 13 – Conner; 15 – Chicago/Davison; 19 – Fort; 7 – Seven Mile; 27 – Joy; 60 – Evergreen; and 67 – Cadillac/Harper.

DDOT has seen an increased number of new operators in recent months, wit 30 new Transit Equipment Operators graduating earlier this month, and 115 more students in class as of Jan. 15. Mayor Mike Duggan also announced a $3 per hour raise on the starting wage and wage cap for transit equipment officers, and an additional $500 to what was a $1000 quarterly bonus for good attendance.

The pay raise, approved by Detroit City Council on Jan. 16, has increased the number of applicants even more, according to the city.

Visit detroitmi.gov/DDOT to learn more about applying to be a bus operator.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024:

• The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request to stop the redrawing of seven Michigan state House districts.
• Wayne State University’s College of Education Early Childhood Center and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center have openings in their Great Start Readiness Program, Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for 4-year-old children.
• The Detroit Youth Choir is making its way to Disney Plus. Following their 2019 appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” the Detroit Youth Choir is making its way to Disney Plus in a new documentary, “Choir.“
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is hosting a four-part Sunday film series starting with a screening of “Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun” — shedding light on the African Diasporic experience — from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28.
• The Detroit Pistons dropped another game Monday night 122-113 to the Milwaukee Bucks.
• The Detroit Red Wings are back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars Arena. 
• The Lions are aiming for the franchise’s first road playoff win since 1957 this Sunday. 

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