| DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY |
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© 2008 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 12-07-09)
| THE CITY of DETROIT'S FIRST BUS STOP SHELTER |
| (Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University photo #29975) |
Bus stop shelters.... I'm sure most of you are probably familiar with them. Currently, under the city's DDOT system,
nearly 175 bus stop shelters can be found among the approximately 6,000 bus stops erected along the 45 DDOT bus
routes within the city of Detroit. The purpose of these shelters are to provide greater protection for waiting passengers,
and—under current DDOT policies—are placed only at locations that have greater that 15 boardings per day. Although
now fairly common along city bus routes, the first of these type shelters made their appearance just over 50 years ago.
According to the July, 1955 edition of the DSR Reporter (an employee newsletter), the first bus shelter in the city was
erected on W. McNichols at Southfield Road, and put into service on Monday, May 9, 1955. The McNichols shelter
was the first of 10 passenger loading shelters to be erected by the DSR. Other shelters followed shortly afterward, at E.
Warren and Conner, Plymouth and Southfield, Seymour and Hayes, and Schaefer and Fort. The shelters cost between
$900 and $1,000 each. DSR officials at the time told The Detroit News that if the first 10 shelters prove popular others
would soon follow.
In the above photo, taken by The Detroit News on May 9, 1955, passengers can be seen boarding an inbound DSR
Second Blvd. bus from the city's first bus stop shelter — located on W. McNichols and Southfield. Note, the "Wet Paint"
signs that can still be seen taped to the shelter.
nearly 175 bus stop shelters can be found among the approximately 6,000 bus stops erected along the 45 DDOT bus
routes within the city of Detroit. The purpose of these shelters are to provide greater protection for waiting passengers,
and—under current DDOT policies—are placed only at locations that have greater that 15 boardings per day. Although
now fairly common along city bus routes, the first of these type shelters made their appearance just over 50 years ago.
According to the July, 1955 edition of the DSR Reporter (an employee newsletter), the first bus shelter in the city was
erected on W. McNichols at Southfield Road, and put into service on Monday, May 9, 1955. The McNichols shelter
was the first of 10 passenger loading shelters to be erected by the DSR. Other shelters followed shortly afterward, at E.
Warren and Conner, Plymouth and Southfield, Seymour and Hayes, and Schaefer and Fort. The shelters cost between
$900 and $1,000 each. DSR officials at the time told The Detroit News that if the first 10 shelters prove popular others
would soon follow.
In the above photo, taken by The Detroit News on May 9, 1955, passengers can be seen boarding an inbound DSR
Second Blvd. bus from the city's first bus stop shelter — located on W. McNichols and Southfield. Note, the "Wet Paint"
signs that can still be seen taped to the shelter.
Virtual Motor City Collection photo #29975, used by permission of the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University.
All rights, including those of further reproduction and/or publication, are reserved in full by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. Photographic
reproductions may be protected by U.S. copyright law (U.S. Title 17). The user is fully responsible for copyright infringement.
All rights, including those of further reproduction and/or publication, are reserved in full by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. Photographic
reproductions may be protected by U.S. copyright law (U.S. Title 17). The user is fully responsible for copyright infringement.
INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: In 1967, the DSR's bus shelter
program would serve as a pilot program for the nation. By
1968, a total of 266 DSR bus shelters had been installed
throughout the city, financed partially through a grant
received from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) during FY 1966-67. Thirty-two (32)
of the bus shelters were also equipped with heaters to keep
waiting passengers warm during the winter months. Heaters
were also installed in the downtown Cadillac Square Terminal
waiting station. One of the recently installed heated shelters
can be seen here, in this 1967 photo.
program would serve as a pilot program for the nation. By
1968, a total of 266 DSR bus shelters had been installed
throughout the city, financed partially through a grant
received from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) during FY 1966-67. Thirty-two (32)
of the bus shelters were also equipped with heaters to keep
waiting passengers warm during the winter months. Heaters
were also installed in the downtown Cadillac Square Terminal
waiting station. One of the recently installed heated shelters
can be seen here, in this 1967 photo.
(Info and photo source: 1967 DSR Annual Report – Courtesy of Stan Sycko)
(DSR coach #4087 in photo was a White Motors Company built Model 798, delivered during the Fall of 1946.)
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