D.S.R. Combined Routes #7 & 93
| BROADSTREET-W. CHICAGO |
When the short–lived Broadstreet–West Chicago bus line was launched by the DSR back
on June 15, 1973, it was not the first time in the city's transit history that the two bus routes
along West Chicago and Broadstreet had been combined.
EARLY D.S.R. YEARS:
Back on November 1, 1931, the West Chicago line (which began as the Plymouth line back in
January, 1925) and the Broadstreet line (which also began operations in January, 1925) were
combined by the DSR to form the Broadstreet–West Chicago line. This route operated from
Intervale and Wyoming via Wyoming, Davison, Broadstreet, Joy Road, Grand River, and West
Chicago to Coolidge (Schaefer), with peak hour trips to Chicago and St. Marys (west of Greenfield).
Effective March 23, 1933, service was cut back to Livernois and Davison but was later extended along
Chicago to Abington in 1936, to Penrod in 1937, and on May 13, 1940 to Evergreen and Joy Road.
On October 6, 1941, service was extended north of Davison, via Livernois and Lyndon to Meyers.
The Broadstreet-W. Chicago route would remain relatively unchanged until November 21, 1948,
when the route was discontinued and again operated by separated West Chicago and Broadstreet
routes.
LATER D.S.R. YEARS:
Many years later, during one of the last major route changes implemented under the DSR, the two
lines were again rejoined. Effective June 15, 1973, the DSR combined six of its bus routes. In addition
to combining Broadstreet and Chicago, the Meyers and Northlawn, and Michigan and Gratiot
lines were also combined.
The combining of the #7 Broadstreet and #93 W. Chicago routes created the new Route #7
Broadstreet-W. Chicago line. Since both lines terminated in the vicinity of Grand River and Joy
Road, no major route adjustments were needed to combine the two lines. The new route would begin
at Greenfield and Lyndon, operate across the Broadstreet line via Lyndon, Livernois, Davison,
Broadstreet and Joy, then through-routed across the West Chicago line via Yosemite, Ravenswood,
Grand River, Jeffries Freeway Service Drive, and West Chicago to Burt Road in Rouge Park.
Weekday headways averaged 30 minutes during the peak-hours and 60 minutes during the base.
There was no service offered on Sundays, with Saturday service operating only along the West
Chicago portion of the route.
Of the six routes combined back on June 15, 1973, the Broadstreet-W. Chicago line would survive
for the shortest period. Upon the formation of the city's Department of Transportation (DDOT) back
in July, 1974, the two lines were separated again during the first major route changes implemented
under DDOT. Route #7 Broadstreet returned again as a separate bus line, while the #93 West
Chicago line was combined with that portion of the #72 Oakman line north of West Chicago. As a
result the new route #93 Chicago-Davison was launched, which would begin its first day of
operations on Wednesday, September 4, 1974.
Shortly thereafter, new routes numbers were assigned to all DDOT bus routes, with the Broadstreet
line becoming Route #5 Broadstreet, and the new West Chicago service becoming Route #15
Chicago-Davison.
on June 15, 1973, it was not the first time in the city's transit history that the two bus routes
along West Chicago and Broadstreet had been combined.
EARLY D.S.R. YEARS:
Back on November 1, 1931, the West Chicago line (which began as the Plymouth line back in
January, 1925) and the Broadstreet line (which also began operations in January, 1925) were
combined by the DSR to form the Broadstreet–West Chicago line. This route operated from
Intervale and Wyoming via Wyoming, Davison, Broadstreet, Joy Road, Grand River, and West
Chicago to Coolidge (Schaefer), with peak hour trips to Chicago and St. Marys (west of Greenfield).
Effective March 23, 1933, service was cut back to Livernois and Davison but was later extended along
Chicago to Abington in 1936, to Penrod in 1937, and on May 13, 1940 to Evergreen and Joy Road.
On October 6, 1941, service was extended north of Davison, via Livernois and Lyndon to Meyers.
The Broadstreet-W. Chicago route would remain relatively unchanged until November 21, 1948,
when the route was discontinued and again operated by separated West Chicago and Broadstreet
routes.
LATER D.S.R. YEARS:
Many years later, during one of the last major route changes implemented under the DSR, the two
lines were again rejoined. Effective June 15, 1973, the DSR combined six of its bus routes. In addition
to combining Broadstreet and Chicago, the Meyers and Northlawn, and Michigan and Gratiot
lines were also combined.
The combining of the #7 Broadstreet and #93 W. Chicago routes created the new Route #7
Broadstreet-W. Chicago line. Since both lines terminated in the vicinity of Grand River and Joy
Road, no major route adjustments were needed to combine the two lines. The new route would begin
at Greenfield and Lyndon, operate across the Broadstreet line via Lyndon, Livernois, Davison,
Broadstreet and Joy, then through-routed across the West Chicago line via Yosemite, Ravenswood,
Grand River, Jeffries Freeway Service Drive, and West Chicago to Burt Road in Rouge Park.
Weekday headways averaged 30 minutes during the peak-hours and 60 minutes during the base.
There was no service offered on Sundays, with Saturday service operating only along the West
Chicago portion of the route.
Of the six routes combined back on June 15, 1973, the Broadstreet-W. Chicago line would survive
for the shortest period. Upon the formation of the city's Department of Transportation (DDOT) back
in July, 1974, the two lines were separated again during the first major route changes implemented
under DDOT. Route #7 Broadstreet returned again as a separate bus line, while the #93 West
Chicago line was combined with that portion of the #72 Oakman line north of West Chicago. As a
result the new route #93 Chicago-Davison was launched, which would begin its first day of
operations on Wednesday, September 4, 1974.
Shortly thereafter, new routes numbers were assigned to all DDOT bus routes, with the Broadstreet
line becoming Route #5 Broadstreet, and the new West Chicago service becoming Route #15
Chicago-Davison.
Information for the above article compiled from data info supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1922-1932"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 1" -- January-February 1991 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1975"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), the 1975 DDOT Service Map, and other numerous
miscellaneous sources. All transfers courtesy of the Stan Sycko transfer collection. Original 1932 DSR system map courtesy of Motor
Coach Age (March-April 1992 edition) with route recreated for web-site by site owner.
("Detroit's DSR, Part 1" -- January-February 1991 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1975"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), the 1975 DDOT Service Map, and other numerous
miscellaneous sources. All transfers courtesy of the Stan Sycko transfer collection. Original 1932 DSR system map courtesy of Motor
Coach Age (March-April 1992 edition) with route recreated for web-site by site owner.
© 2007
| The original Broadstreet-West Chicago bus route operated by the DSR in 1932. |