In 2008, Detroit Department of Transportation buses recorded 38.7 million riders. (The Detroit News)
I'm only "guesstimating," but I think Mayor Dave Bing will discover he's grabbed a tiger by the tail when it comes to Detroit bus riders.
Starting Monday, city officials will hold a series of public meetings on the possibility of ending Detroit Department of Transportation bus service on Sundays and Saturday nights and eliminating more than a dozen routes by the end of next month.
The mayor is trying to stave off financial ruin in Detroit, looking to reduce costs any way he can, including layoffs and pay cuts. According to Bing, without serious changes the city will be out of money by October.
The problem is bus service is the main means of transportation for thousands of Detroiters who use it to reach their jobs, for shopping, errands and medical appointments.
People like David Gabas, who relies on public transportation to get around the Metro area, including downtown Detroit.
"I'm disabled and I rely 100 percent on buses," said Gabas of Pontiac."I take them everywhere, including to agencies in Detroit for the disabled. It seems like they're trying to do more with less. I worry about it, but there's nothing I can do about it."
As far as budget and service cuts, it looks like the Detroit People Mover is off the hook ... so far.
The two biggest knocks against the DPM is that is underutilized by riders and heavily subsidized by the city, costing Detroit $5.32 for every 50-cent fare. And there's no comparing the two when it comes to annual ridership. In 2008, the DPM carried just more than 2 million riders versus 38.7 million for DDOT.
Hope flared briefly Thursday, when U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that nearly $55 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money earmarked for transit improvements was coming to Michigan.
DDOT is slated to receive almost $19 million, but the money can only be used for upgrades, maintenance and enhancements.
According to the mayor's office, the many strings attached to the money would do nothing to change the possible curtailment of Saturday and Sunday service.
Breaking it down, Saturday night is a big draw for suburbanites going to Tigers/Wings games, restaurants and the casinos. Many of those who work in those businesses arrive by bus. Take away the bus service and how will they get to work? Strand employees and how will that affect downtown businesses?
As for Sundays, Detroit is, and always has been, a churchgoing town. Church access is important every day of the week, but Sunday services are the bedrock of faith.
Threaten it at your peril.
Commuting tgreenwood@detnews.com">tgreenwood@detnews.com (313) 222-2023
Roadwork
A brief update on major road projects around Metro Detroit.
I-696: I-696 will be closed in both directions between I-75 and M-53 (Van Dyke) from 9 tonight until 5 a.m. Monday for pavement repairs. Use I-75, Eight Mile and Van Dyke as alternate routes.
M-39 (Southfield Freeway): NB M-39 will be closed from McNichols to the Lodge Freeway (M-10) from 10 tonight until 5 a.m. Monday for pavement repairs.
I-696: The two right lanes of WB I-696 will be closed from I-75 to Coolidge from 9 tonight until 5 a.m. Monday. Also, the entrance ramp from Woodward to WB I-696 will be closed.
I-96: WB I-96 will have intermittent two and three lane closures from Outer Drive to Levan Road from 9 tonight until 3 p.m. Monday for pavement repairs.
I-75: At 5 a.m. Sunday, one lane of NB I-75 will close from University Drive to Lapeer Road for repairs to bridges over Pontiac and Lapeer roads. The ramp from EB University Drive to NB I-75 will also close.
I-94: In Detroit, the left lane of WB I-94 will be closed at West Grand Blvd. from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, the left lane of EB I-94 will be shut for the same time period.
M-59: The right lane of EB M-59 will be closed from Rochester to Dequindre roads, while the right lane of WB M-59 will be closed from Ryan to Rochester roads, from 9 tonight until 5 a.m. Monday.
I-96: A single lane of EB I-96 will be closed from Vernor to West Grand Boulevard from 6 a.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday.
Metropolitan Parkway: Metro Parkway will undergo pavement repairs between Utica and Van Dyke in Sterling Heights until 5 a.m. Monday. Through traffic will be maintained, but expect slowdowns.
Orchard Lake Road: The Road Commission for Oakland County will begin to resurface Orchard Lake Road between Eight Mile and Grand River starting today or Saturday. Expect lane closures and slowdowns. This project will end in late October.
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