The public has until April 19 to comment on proposed frequency improvements and route realignments for 9 DDOT buses to be implemented June 2025. During the meeting, public commenters showed concern about discontinuing the Route 16 Dexter bus between Greenfield Rd and Northland.
Hey Detroit! I am covering tonight’s #DDOT Virtual Community Input meeting for @detdocumenters.bsky.social @ 5PM. Follow for LIVE updates!
12:32 PM Mar 20, 2025 CDT
‼️ IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage tonight is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
Information for tonight’s meeting can be found here👇 dethttps://detroitmi.gov/events/ddot-virtual-community-input-meeting-1-16-25
We’re back #DETdocumenters! Get ready to follow along for live updates of tonight’s meeting - starts in 5 minutes!
The meeting has started in the room, but there is no audio yet for viewers online.
The agenda tonight is to review a proposal from DDOT on a set of frequency improvements and route realignments to be implemented in June 2025.
Reminder - no questions/comments not related to tonight’s agenda will not be entertained.
Proposed route changes that will be reviewed tonight:
These two routes will have frequency improvements:
Reminder - this meeting recording will be posted online at a later date for future viewing. You can make comments until April 19th on the proposal by emailing DDOTComments@detroitmi.gov or calling 313-933-1300.
PC1: Renard Monszunski - District 6; organizer with Detroit People’s Platform. McNichols route change is a good - hope a hub can be installed to make it more attractive. Concern about Dexter route to access Providence Hospital (can use Greenfield bus instead). Communication needed for this change.
PC2: Robert Pawlowski; how will these route changes impact the connection to the 610 route? Have to consider “will people know to transfer off Dexter to Greenfield?” In support of this plan overall - want to discuss alternatives with the planners.
PC3: Larry Donald Verse; member of Detroit People’s Platform, lives in District 7. Can appreciate the route changes and improvements, but on some of those routes where they are removed from certain blocks, what people are getting left out? Shouldn’t implement if it’s leaving anyone out.
PC4: Stephen Boyle; District 7. Concerned about nothern reach of Dexter bus. Was looking at a job in the suburbs and that would have been the only option (Greenfield would not have reached). Limits the area in which he can apply for jobs.
PC5: Rick Johnson; westside resident. Seeing improvements in the frequency.
PC6: Marguerite Maddox; says you must make sure you are standing at the right bus stop or the drivers will pass you by.
PC7: Jacob Graham; happy with modest frequency increases, occasional rider of the 12, in order to access Woodward. Disappointed in changes to the 12 - want it to still go to the Hargrove Transit Center. Would like to see increased use of it.
Those were all of the online comments, moving to in-person.
PC8: Brother Cunningham; driver on Grand River said they would like portable toilets at the end of the routes. Love to see changes, but it affects him as a taxi driver.
PC9: Lukas Lasecki with Transportation Riders United; impressed with what is happening on Grand River, current conditions are unpleasant. Mixed feelings on Dexter route - concerned on getting to Northland. Frequency increases to Chene and Cadillac-Harper are good. DDOT moving in the right direction.
PC10: Whitney Clarke, resident of District 5 and public transit advocate; thank you to take steps in the direction of increasing frequency as we advocate for better transit overall. Want to continue to enhance the frequency and quality of the city’s public transit.
PC11: Zander; opposed to 40 change. Use Russell to get to work and access east side. This change will make it very difficult to continue to access. East side residents use Russell to access suburbs. Doesn’t understand the benefit of this change and loss of service to Outer Drive/Van Dyke.
PC12: Belita Jackson; wants to comment about the Chene being cut off. What happens to people who take Chene on Nevada - options are to walk 1/2 mile to Six Mile or Seven Mile or walk 1 mile to Van Dyke or Conant.
PC13: Ask to increase the hours from 9pm to 11:30pm. Reached out to Mr. Kramer and asking for open lines of communication. How are they going to increase the time for Dexter? When is SMART going to join up with DDOT to increase service for Michigan and Woodward?
If you would like to submit your comment regarding these changes, you can do so by April 19 in one of the following ways:
It sounded like there were additional questions in the room for DDOT staff that were present, but it’s unclear if that is only for those in the room. Stay tuned.
At least 5 viewers online are asking in the chat for the room’s audio to be turned back on to hear the additional questions. It’s not clear if the meeting has ended or not. Online viewers are not getting responses as to whether or not the meeting is still in progress in the room.
Those who were present in the room were able to participate in an additional “public comment” that was outside of the official public hearing. Those who called in via Zoom were not able to be apart of that discussion. At 5:55pm, Kristin from DDOT Marketing confirmed the meeting had ended.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 PM. For more, follow @detdocumenters.bsky.social or visit http://detroit.documenters.org.
