D.S.R. Route #3
| BASSETT (SHUTTLE) |
The Bassett bus route was initially launched by the DSR as a shuttle service on Monday, January 7, 1946. It
operated as a feeder line to the Fort-Kercheval streetcar line, which operated along Electric Avenue—six blocks
to the north. This new shuttle service provided a second means of transportation for that "post-war" developing
residential neighborhood located in the extreme southwest extended corner of the city—which borders the
downriver cities of Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park.
The initial Bassett route traveled from Bassett at Outer Drive (the last two streets in that area before leaving the city
limits), then via Bassett, Visger, (one block north to) Ethel, then Miami, (back to) Bassett, Schaefer, and S. Fort Street
to Cornell (one block west of Schaefer). Headways averaged 12-14 minutes during peak hours and 24 minutes
during the base. Downtown bound passengers were able to connect with the Fort streetcar line at Electric—two
blocks south of Fort. However, when rail service along Fort Street was converted over to motor coaches on June 23,
1949, S. Fort became the transfer point to the new Fort Street bus line.
Effective June 19, 1951, the Bassett route was extended north via Schaefer, Oakwood, Sanders, Dix and Ferney to
Ferndale (now Vernor Hwy), with weekday peak-hour trips to the Ford Rouge facility via Dix, Miller Road and Eagle to
Wyoming. As a result, this 5.13-mile long route now provided those residents of Southwest Detroit direct bus service
to the Miller Road side of the Ford Rouge complex without the inconvenience of having to transfer.
Assigned out of the former Wyoming Terminal, the Bassett line in 1951 operated under 22-minute headways during
the A.M. peak, 15-minutes during the P.M. peak, 40 minutes during the base, with 22-minute headways after 9 P.M.
The line required three coaches during the peak, one during the base and two coaches during the evening hours.
Although weekday headways would improve somewhat by 1955, a decline in ridership would begin taking a toll on the
service.
Effective May 1, 1955, the Bassett line became one of ten bus routes where Sunday service was eliminated due to
"little demand" for the service. Meanwhile, after the demolition of the John R. Fisher temporary housing project, the
routing along Visger, Ethel and Miami streets was discontinued with through-service now being provided along
Bassett, effective October 21, 1957.
Upon the arrival of the 1960's, financial troubles would mount for the DSR, with numerous city-wide cuts in bus
service. During the mid-1960's Bassett service was cut to Monday thru Friday peak-hour operation. Effective January
2, 1968, the line was rerouted via Bassett, Schaefer, Oakwood, Fort, Miller and Eagle to Wyoming, with 15-minute A.M.
headways and 25-minutes in the P.M. The same route would also be followed after the Bassett line was
discontinued as a separate bus route on March 24, 1969 and became a peak-hour only branch service of the DSR's
#17 Fort Street line.
Today, peak-hour branch trips along the Bassett route continues on the DDOT #19 Fort line, although service via Miller
Road was discontinued by DDOT during the late-1980's.
BASSETT STREET FOOTNOTE:
Did you know??? ....Between 1943 and 1957, Bassett Street, between Visger and Miami, was closed to street
traffic because of the John R. Fisher Homes war housing project, which opened for occupancy on July 13, 1943.
The 536-unit John R. Fisher development was situated along a 38.9-acre tract in southwest Detroit, adjacent to the
City of River Rouge. The project, located at 11791 Miami, was bounded by Schaefer Highway, Marian Park, Visger
Road, and the City of River Rouge.
Built by the National Housing Administration and operated by the Detroit Housing Commission as a temporary project
exclusively for whites, the John R. Fisher Homes were later integrated after the adoption of a September 26, 1952
Detroit Housing Commission resolution to begin integrating public housing within Detroit.
operated as a feeder line to the Fort-Kercheval streetcar line, which operated along Electric Avenue—six blocks
to the north. This new shuttle service provided a second means of transportation for that "post-war" developing
residential neighborhood located in the extreme southwest extended corner of the city—which borders the
downriver cities of Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park.
The initial Bassett route traveled from Bassett at Outer Drive (the last two streets in that area before leaving the city
limits), then via Bassett, Visger, (one block north to) Ethel, then Miami, (back to) Bassett, Schaefer, and S. Fort Street
to Cornell (one block west of Schaefer). Headways averaged 12-14 minutes during peak hours and 24 minutes
during the base. Downtown bound passengers were able to connect with the Fort streetcar line at Electric—two
blocks south of Fort. However, when rail service along Fort Street was converted over to motor coaches on June 23,
1949, S. Fort became the transfer point to the new Fort Street bus line.
Effective June 19, 1951, the Bassett route was extended north via Schaefer, Oakwood, Sanders, Dix and Ferney to
Ferndale (now Vernor Hwy), with weekday peak-hour trips to the Ford Rouge facility via Dix, Miller Road and Eagle to
Wyoming. As a result, this 5.13-mile long route now provided those residents of Southwest Detroit direct bus service
to the Miller Road side of the Ford Rouge complex without the inconvenience of having to transfer.
Assigned out of the former Wyoming Terminal, the Bassett line in 1951 operated under 22-minute headways during
the A.M. peak, 15-minutes during the P.M. peak, 40 minutes during the base, with 22-minute headways after 9 P.M.
The line required three coaches during the peak, one during the base and two coaches during the evening hours.
Although weekday headways would improve somewhat by 1955, a decline in ridership would begin taking a toll on the
service.
Effective May 1, 1955, the Bassett line became one of ten bus routes where Sunday service was eliminated due to
"little demand" for the service. Meanwhile, after the demolition of the John R. Fisher temporary housing project, the
routing along Visger, Ethel and Miami streets was discontinued with through-service now being provided along
Bassett, effective October 21, 1957.
Upon the arrival of the 1960's, financial troubles would mount for the DSR, with numerous city-wide cuts in bus
service. During the mid-1960's Bassett service was cut to Monday thru Friday peak-hour operation. Effective January
2, 1968, the line was rerouted via Bassett, Schaefer, Oakwood, Fort, Miller and Eagle to Wyoming, with 15-minute A.M.
headways and 25-minutes in the P.M. The same route would also be followed after the Bassett line was
discontinued as a separate bus route on March 24, 1969 and became a peak-hour only branch service of the DSR's
#17 Fort Street line.
Today, peak-hour branch trips along the Bassett route continues on the DDOT #19 Fort line, although service via Miller
Road was discontinued by DDOT during the late-1980's.
BASSETT STREET FOOTNOTE:
Did you know??? ....Between 1943 and 1957, Bassett Street, between Visger and Miami, was closed to street
traffic because of the John R. Fisher Homes war housing project, which opened for occupancy on July 13, 1943.
The 536-unit John R. Fisher development was situated along a 38.9-acre tract in southwest Detroit, adjacent to the
City of River Rouge. The project, located at 11791 Miami, was bounded by Schaefer Highway, Marian Park, Visger
Road, and the City of River Rouge.
Built by the National Housing Administration and operated by the Detroit Housing Commission as a temporary project
exclusively for whites, the John R. Fisher Homes were later integrated after the adoption of a September 26, 1952
Detroit Housing Commission resolution to begin integrating public housing within Detroit.
Information for the above article compiled from data information supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES,
1945-1974" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine). Additional info from 1951 DSR Schedule
Analysis and Headway Reports courtesy of Tom Breeding, and 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. Bassett
route-maps and transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection. Information on the John R Fisher Homes supplied by members of
DetroitYES.com forum "Discuss Detroit" and from other online sources.
1945-1974" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine). Additional info from 1951 DSR Schedule
Analysis and Headway Reports courtesy of Tom Breeding, and 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. Bassett
route-maps and transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection. Information on the John R Fisher Homes supplied by members of
DetroitYES.com forum "Discuss Detroit" and from other online sources.
© 2009 – www.DetroitTransitHistory.info (PV 12-28-09)
| The left map displays the route of the Bassett bus line during the 1950's, while the right map shows the final route used before the line became a branch extention of the Fort Street bus line in 1969. |
Return to original version web-page: http://www.detroittransithistory.info/Routes/Bassett.html