| D-DOT ROUTES & NUMBERS (1975 & TODAY) |
| (Photo #1 courtesy of M. Koprowicz of METROBUS@msngroups.com, photo #2 from HBC-II photos) |
The Detroit Department of Transportation (D-DOT) began introducing a route numbering system to identify its bus
routes in 1975. The new DDOT route numbers first began appearing on city buses with the arrival of DDOT's first fleet of
new buses — the GMC model T6H-5307A coaches (#1001-1148) — which began arriving in June of 1975.
The original DDOT route number configuration strictly arranged all bus routes in alphabetical order. Unlike its predecessor
(the DSR), DDOT also included separate route numbers for its express bus routes. There also appeared to be an attempt
to better identify which major streets DDOT buses traveled along by increasing the use of hyphenated route names. For
example, the ambiguous Grand Belt line became better identified as #20 GRAND BLVD.-McGRAW, while those routes
like Hamilton (which operated along two major streets) became #23 HAMILTON-W. 7 MILE. However, that practice
was later abandoned after the arrival in 1989 of the computerized route signs used on the #2000-series MCI Classics.
It appeared evident though, that any attempt to make the route sign-curtains uniform across the entire DDOT bus fleet
remained a (system-wide) very low priority. Both DSR and DDOT route numbers continued to be displayed side-by-side
on DDOT coaches until the last of the former DSR buses were finally retired during the early 1990's.
The following table compares the original DDOT route names and numbers in operation in 1975 with the current listing of
DDOT bus routes in operation today. Because various routes were added and discontinued through the years, numerous
changes appear between the two listings.
routes in 1975. The new DDOT route numbers first began appearing on city buses with the arrival of DDOT's first fleet of
new buses — the GMC model T6H-5307A coaches (#1001-1148) — which began arriving in June of 1975.
The original DDOT route number configuration strictly arranged all bus routes in alphabetical order. Unlike its predecessor
(the DSR), DDOT also included separate route numbers for its express bus routes. There also appeared to be an attempt
to better identify which major streets DDOT buses traveled along by increasing the use of hyphenated route names. For
example, the ambiguous Grand Belt line became better identified as #20 GRAND BLVD.-McGRAW, while those routes
like Hamilton (which operated along two major streets) became #23 HAMILTON-W. 7 MILE. However, that practice
was later abandoned after the arrival in 1989 of the computerized route signs used on the #2000-series MCI Classics.
It appeared evident though, that any attempt to make the route sign-curtains uniform across the entire DDOT bus fleet
remained a (system-wide) very low priority. Both DSR and DDOT route numbers continued to be displayed side-by-side
on DDOT coaches until the last of the former DSR buses were finally retired during the early 1990's.
The following table compares the original DDOT route names and numbers in operation in 1975 with the current listing of
DDOT bus routes in operation today. Because various routes were added and discontinued through the years, numerous
changes appear between the two listings.
| (XXXX) = Unless otherwise noted: Route names shaded in gray below denote those routes discontinued in 2005 and 2009 |
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(For a comparison with former DSR bus routes see: D.S.R. ROUTES)
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