TRU works hard to make transit better in Detroit. Learn more about what we’re currently doing to improve DDOT and transit in the City of Detroit!
Double DDOT: Doubling transit in the City of Detroit
TRU’s work involving DDOT and transit in the City of Detroit is done with multiple strong coalition partners. Our work wouldn’t be possible without our allies.
All of our work within Detroit is aimed at addressing the goals outlined in the DDOT Reimagined Plan – to double transit in Detroit by 2030.
Doubling DDOT is a major goal – and will take strong commitments from the next mayor, increased budget updates, and wage parity between DDOT and SMART to achieve. And over the past few years, the City has heard us.
Engaging Mayoral Candidates & Mayor Sheffield
In 2025, Detroit elected Mayor Mary Sheffield to replace Mike Duggan after 12 years in office. Throughout the mayoral campaign, we took candidates on ride-alongs to see what being a DDOT rider is like, and hosted a mayoral candidate forum.
We’re asking the candidates what they’ll do to support transit as mayor of Detroit, taking them on ride-alongs to see what being a DDOT rider is like, and will be hosting a mayoral candidate forum on June 4th. This all resulted in major progress: Megan Owens, TRU’s Executive Director, serving as a co-chair of the Transit Improvement & Mobility Innovation committee on Mayor Sheffield transitions team, Sheffield identified transit as one of her major campaign prioritizes, and DDOT received a major budget increase of $30M in Mayor Sheffield’s first budget!
DDOT Funding
In the FY2025 budget, DDOT received a $22.7 million budget boost – an initial $20 million proposed by the mayor, and an extra $2.7 million for replacing fabric bus seats, a study on bringing paratransit operations in-house, and for driver wages and more bus shelters. And in FY2026, DDOT received another $30M in investment! Investment in DDOT is crucial for Doubling DDOT, so stay tuned for updates in February as we work to continue fighting for more DDOT service in the budget.
Detroit Transit Policy Platform
The Detroit Transit Policy Platform was a set of goals for the Mayoral Candidates to consider in 2025. TRU and the Double DDOT Coalition have developed nine ways the next mayor of Detroit can support transit:
- Double DDOT
- Support riders with disabilities
- Provide competitive, family-supportive wages
- Support transit funding on the Wayne County ballot
- Build regional and state support for transit investment
- Improve bus shelters and accessibility
- Ensure safe streets for all
- Advance transit-supportive land-use
- Provide consistent DDOT leadership
Wage Parity between DDOT and SMART
In 2023, TRU released a report highlighting the no-show bus crisis affecting Detroit at the time. DDOT and SMART were running 20-30% less service than pre-pandemic, and 5-10% of scheduled buses didn’t show up. This was largely attributed to low pay at the time – with starting pay at DDOT being $15/hour, and $19.11/hour at SMART
Thanks to the advocacy efforts of TRU, the ATU, and riders, DDOT wages were raised in early 2024 to a starting pay of $19/hour, and received another wage increase to about $25/hour in 2025! Additionally, SMART’s starting wage was raised to $27/hour. This wage parity means the agencies are no longer competing with each other, and both agencies are keeping way more drivers and mechanics. Thanks to the hard work of our members and labor allies for improving working conditions for our essential bus drivers!
What Can You Do?
Join TRU! We rely on the support and participation of everyday people to make transit better in our city. We are a grassroots advocacy group, and we build power by uniting together. Become a TRU member, come to our next volunteer meeting, and join our volunteer list to help us Double DDOT.