Exciting Regional Express Bus Service and DDOT Service Expansions!

While most of the major transit service improvements are dependent on passing the Regional Transit ballot measure this November, there are some important improvements starting now!

New regional transit service launching – Reflex! 

RTA, DDOT, and SMART have partnered up to launch a pilot project called Reflex. Starting Sept 3-5, you can travel quickly and seamlessly along Woodward or Gratiot – no need to transfer at the border! It will operate 20 hours/weekday, plus weekends (16-18 hours/day). It is a pilot service that could be the preview of greater rapid transit to come!

Learn more at www.RTAmichigan.org/Reflex.

Also, Major expansion of DDOT bus service!

DDOT Director Dan Dirks, joined by TRUs Megan Owens, Mayor Mike Duggan and St. John Hospital staff
DDOT Director Dan Dirks, joined by TRUs Megan Owens, Mayor Mike Duggan and St. John Hospital staff

As Mayor Duggan announced this afternoon (Sept 1), DDOT is making some major bus service expansions – the largest in more than a decade! After a decade of cuts, it’s so exiting that they’re adding 1,500 more trips a week for DDOT riders. This includes:

  • 24-hour service on #14 Crosstown, #16 Dexter, and #45 Seven Mile
  • Two new express bus routes –
    • #95 Ryan Express, connecting to Downtown via East Outer Drive, Ryan, Nevada, Conant, Caniff, Lumpkin, Holbrook and I-75.
    • #96 Joy Express, connecting to Downtown via Evergreen, Joy and I-96.
  • Fresh Wagon,” a new Saturday-only nonstop round-trip service to Detroit’s Eastern Market from every City Council District.

A second wave of service expansions, also detailed today, will begin in January.

As Mayor Duggan explained at the press conference, Detroit and the regional still very much need the Regional Transit Master Plan improvements to be voted on November 8 in order to better connect between Detroit and the rest of the four-county region.