Detroit DOT

[general682002]

Now its official

And someone took some pics of the XD60 during delivery!

[140 Southshore]

And someone took some pics of the XD60 during delivery!

Proof?

[MaT]

Google ddot xd60. Its the second picture

[140 Southshore]

There was a fatal stabbing on 3930 (either that or 4130) as it was operating the 16 yesterday afternoon.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/08/26/detroit-bus-stabbing-ddot-bus-fatal-stabbing--detroit/32440819/

[140 Southshore]

As of June 2015, all of the remaining RTSes have been retired, resulting in an end of an era, as RTSes have been found on the streets of Detroit since 1978.

[TheAverageJoe]

DDOT 2016 service changes

http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/deptoftransportation/pdfs/Hearing1601_preview15_1.pdf

[140 Southshore]

Effective September 5, 2015, the 25 and the 19 became separate routes in their own right again. Both routes were merged into one in September 2012.

[MetroDetroiter_WindsorVisitor]

I didn't realize there was such good American coverage on CPTDB. I've been a member here for years and reside in the Detroit area but I mostly watch the Toronto threads. Here are some of my favorite DDOT photos. Please feel free to reuse. These are all photos that I have taken over the years.

New articulated coach on Grand River at Greenfield

New articulated coach dubbed the "Biden Bus" for the Detroit Department of Transportation graphics used at a press conference.

Gillig Hybrid Electric on Grand River

I thought it a very rare catch to get this fresh rehabbed (at least paint) RTS at the very end of the RTS era in Detroit just months before they were all side lined.

3852 pulls out of the bay at Gilbert Terminal readied for a Greenfield Run during the RTS coaches last winter.

Last winter in Detroit for RTS. Gilbert Terminal

DDOT 2621 wearing DSR colors in November of 2005 at Shoemaker. She is still on the roster and not sold off in the bankruptcy.2621 was built in 1968 and will hopefully make some appearances in future parades.

Gillig Hybrid at Rosa Parks Transit Center

DDOT 3282 at Gilbert Terminal in 2005

RTS soaking up evening sun at Gilbert

Did somebody say McDonalds, er Mack bus?

New Flyer high floor at Shoemaker in June of 2002.

I miss riding the GM and MCI classics! Here is an MCI at Fairlane Mall in 2001.

A new Xcelsior returning to the garage the evening before their debut in revenue service. February 12th 2015.

Xcelsior bus on first day of revenue service! February 13th

Enjoy!, I also have SMART stuff going back to the T80-208s (my favorite) and early Gillig Phantoms, Champions, TMC, Nova, Blue Bird, etc.

[140 Southshore]

I really like to see your SMART pics. They have their own thread in the same section as this one, as you know.

[140 Southshore]

Service finally returns to Belle Isle as part of these proposed April service changes.

http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/deptoftransportation/pdfs/April2016ServiceChanges.pdf

[140 Southshore]

4166 was involved in a collision in Highland Park on Tuesday.

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/117382949-story

Meanwhile, here's how they're coping with neighborhoods that have declined within the past 30 years.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/04/06/ddot-changing-bus-routes/82486196/

[140 Southshore]

Service to Belle Isle has been restored as part of a pilot project. What is interesting though is the photo-it's an old stock photo, as, one, the stop is located on Loiter Way and not on Inselruhe Avenue and second, the sign is of the old green-and-yellow design that was phased out about 10-to-15 years ago.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/04/26/bus-belle-isle/83561466/

[140 Southshore]

I heard somewhere that the Xcelsior fleet is only being placed in service on weekdays...is this true and if so what is the reasoning for it? Perhaps it's maybe drivers deliberately choosing a D40LF just to push it closer to retirement?

[140 Southshore]

Drove past the headquarters on I-75 a week ago today and noticed that there were still a large number of RTSes parked in the lot way at the back of the office property where retired buses are parked. (I believe as late as 2011, some of the CNG Chance streetcar replicas were still parked in that lot years after their retirement)

[140 Southshore]

Engine fire on 3951 yesterday at Michigan and Wyoming. Dunno if it will end up being retired though.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DetroitTransitMemories/permalink/1126894040687229/

Meanwhile, on the good side, transit police patrols are increasing.

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/15171/detroit_dramatically_increases_transit_cop_patrols_on_buses#.V2VpfqL51Os

[140 Southshore]

The nearly seven-year-old Rosa Parks Transit Center will soon get $850,000 in much-needed improvements.

http://wearemodeshift.org/detroits-rosa-parks-transit-center-is-getting-a-facelift

Edited June 24, 2016 by mattb816789
Forgot to put in the fourth zero

[140 Southshore]

Breaking news: WXYZ has just reported a collision involving 1043 somewhere on the west side, no links yet.

[140 Southshore]

Inputs and public meetings have already been scheduled for planned service changes in September 2016 and January 2017.

Rumored so far (according to Anthony Hugger) are extensions of routes 17 8 Mile, 32 McNichols and 45 7 Mile well into Livonia (the 17 will even extend all the way to Haggerty Road) plus some changes to the 14 and the 16.

It will be interesting to see if the extended routes will keep the same service levels, if so, that will likely mean some new buses for expansion (if that happens, who will probably win it? It will most likely be either Gillig, New Flyer or Nova Bus).

[140 Southshore]

Photos from today, mainly around the Rosa Parks Transit Center area, however, this first shot of an XD40 with the People Mover passing by above it is actually at Jefferson and Beaubien.

This is actually a maintenance truck.

Managed to see an XD60 on the 34.

The last photo was actually taken from the People Mover. In fact, this was actually the first XD40 I saw on my trip today, seeing it just before I even drove into DDOT territory.

I also photographed a couple D40LFs while heading out of downtown on Fort Street but both turned out blurry. I also saw a 2010 D40LF operating a northbound 30 but I didn't photograph it.

[140 Southshore]

Direct routes to Eastern Market to launch in September.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/07/18/ddot-plans-eastern-market-service/87266582/

Also I drove by the headquarters twice within the past couple days and didn't see any RTSes. All I saw from I-75 were a few D40LFs (including one wrapped for Motor City Accident Attorneys) plus an XD60 and an XDE40.

[140 Southshore]

Other September changes as well as January changes have been revealed.

September:

• 9 Chalmers and 25 Jefferson will both be extended one block east to Jefferson and Maryland by the Grosse Pointe Park Police Station.
• 14 Crosstown will receive 24-hour service, improved frequencies and extension west to Warren and Telegraph.
• 16 Dexter will receive 24-hour service and it's weekday downtown terminus will be moved to Jefferson between Griswold and Shelby.
• 17 Eight Mile will add one earlier and one later trip each day.
• 45 Seven Mile will receive 24-hour service.
• 95 Ryan Express will be a new route offering peak-hour service running between Ryan and East Outer Drive to downtown via I-75.
• 96 Joy Express will be a new route offering peak-hour service running between Joy and Evergreen to downtown via I-96.
• 498 Reflex Woodward will be a new limited-stop route operated by DDOT connecting Troy to downtown. SMART will operate a similar route along Gratiot Avenue.
• Fresh Wagon routes will be new routes connecting six neighborhoods to Eastern Market on Saturdays.

January:

• 22 Greenfield will improve it's service span to 5:15 AM-12:45 AM.
• 25 Jefferson will receive 24-hour service and improved morning peak and midday frequencies.
• 37 Michigan will receive 24-hour service and improved peak and midday frequencies on weekdays and midday frequencies on weekends.
• 42 North End Loop will be a new route operating as a one-way clockwise loop on streets formerly served by the 49 Vernor.
• 48 Van Dyke/Lafayette will receive 24-hour service.
• 49 Vernor will be discontinued between Manchester and Woodward and the RPTC on weekday peak hours, replaced by the 42 North End Loop. Eastbound routing on Howard will be moved to Lafayette.
• 80 Villages Direct will be a new route offering peak-hour service connecting neighborhoods to downtown and midtown.
• 89 Southwest Direct will be a new route offering peak-hour service connecting neighborhoods including those formerly served by the 19 Fort to downtown and midtown.
• 92 Rosedale Express will be a new route offering peak-hour service connecting neighborhoods to downtown and midtown.
• 19 Fort will be discontinued along Bassett, replaced by the 89 Southwest Direct. Improved midday frequencies on Sundays.

[RailBus63]

Great to see DDOT growing again.  Are there any new buses coming this year to expand the fleet to provide this added service?

[140 Southshore]

1 hour ago, RailBus63 said:

Great to see DDOT growing again.  Are there any new buses coming this year to expand the fleet to provide this added service?

Haven't heard about any new bus orders yet, though I do know how future orders will likely go:

• According to a few people, the Gilligs DDOT has now have been "unreliable" and based on that, DDOT will have to buy either New Flyers or Novas...
• ...however, I heard that DDOT had awarded a multi-year contract to New Flyer, so if it's true, then that leaves only them.

EDIT: Just found out that 31 artics will arrive later this year, most likely also XD60s.

[Orion 1200]

I'm considering driving down to Detroit soon to take some bus photos, and I'm wondering if there are any routes where I'd be guaranteed to see an XD60? I've seen photos of them signed up for several different routes, but I don't know if they're on all runs on those routes or only some, or if allocations are different on weekdays than weekends. Thanks.

[MaT]

53 Woodward

34 Gratiot

21 Grand River

45 Seven Mile

37 Michigan should I think?

possibly 14 crosstown?   

 

Matt would know more

 

Also dont forget downtown, check out the Rosa Parks Transit Center. Lots of action there on multiple fronts with plenty buses around from DDOT, SMART, Transit Windsor, the DPM (Detroit People Mover), Megabus. Also Check woodward ave and check out the Q Line being built if you havent heard yet, the new streetcar line. Detroit is the place to be!