DPM System Plan & Downtown Mobility Study | Detroit Transportation Corporation

Study Purpose

The study examined service, station conditions, access, and potential system changes in Downtown Detroit and the surrounding neighborhoods. The study area included census tracts within one mile of People Mover stations.

Visibility

Strengthen the system’s role for residents, workers, visitors, and investors.

Downtown Connections

Improve connections to places throughout Greater Downtown.

Regional Connections

Connect the People Mover with the region’s transportation network.

Long-Term Service

Identify a sustainable path for reliable operations and investment.

Public Engagement

Conditions & Vision

Riders, technical partners, and stakeholders discussed reliability, safety, access, and the People Mover’s potential through meetings and a survey.
Improvement Concepts

Open houses and technical sessions considered stations, multimodal hubs, placemaking, new trains, reliability, and connections toward Corktown and Michigan Central.
Future Scenarios

In-person and virtual meetings, stakeholder sessions, and seven community events helped evaluate priorities and possible investment approaches.

Scenarios Considered

Baseline improvements: better access, visibility, and connections to the existing system.
System refresh: investment in priority stations and connections, including Rosa Parks Transit Center.
Expansion: possible east and west extensions, with dependable service on the existing system as a priority.

The final report documents recommendations and potential investments. Individual projects require further decisions, funding, and implementation planning.