As announced two weeks ago, DDOT is making major cuts in bus service. The cuts are not as severe as originally proposed – most weekend service is maintained and fewer routes are eliminated.
These cuts go into effect this Saturday, Sept. 26, including:.jpg)
- #20 Grand Belt and #24 Holbrook routes will be eliminated
- Weekend service will be eliminated on #36 Oakland and #40 Russell
- Sunday service will be eliminated on #47 Tireman
- Late night and early morning service will be eliminated on a dozen routes
- Wait times will be increased on dozens of routes
They also made a few positive changes:
- #25 Jefferson will soon be available 24-hours a day
- Frequency will increase and wait times will decrease on the #14 Crosstown, #16 Dexter, #17 Eight Mile, and several other routes
While bus cuts are always hard, we are glad that they did not axe broad swaths of service, like all Sunday service or all overnight service. The service changes are instead primarily based on the service standards that DDOT approved last year.
Our biggest concern is that this not occur again next year or five years down the road. Detroit cannot handle further cuts to bus service. We need to be investing in transit! As long as bus service is funded out of the Detroit city budget, these types of cuts will be a real threat. That is why we need a dedicated funding source for transit in Detroit!