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 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
on October 21, 1957.
With the arrival of the 1960's, financial troubles would mound 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.
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 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
on October 21, 1957.
With the arrival of the 1960's, financial troubles would mound 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.
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D.S.R. Route #3
| BASSETT (SHUTTLE) |
| The above map displays the original route followed by the Bassett bus line after the shuttle service was extended north of Fort and Schaefer in 1951. |
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 extend-
ed corner of the city — which borders the downriver cities
of Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park.
The initial Bassett route traveled from Bassett — the last street in
that area before leaving the city limits — at Outer Drive, then via
Bassett, Visger, (one block over 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 on June 19, 1951, the Bassett Shuttle was extended
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, the 5.13–mile long route now provided those residents of
Southwest Detroit direct bus service to the Miller Road side of the
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 extend-
ed corner of the city — which borders the downriver cities
of Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park.
The initial Bassett route traveled from Bassett — the last street in
that area before leaving the city limits — at Outer Drive, then via
Bassett, Visger, (one block over 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 on June 19, 1951, the Bassett Shuttle was extended
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, the 5.13–mile long route now provided those residents of
Southwest Detroit direct bus service to the Miller Road side of the
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.
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, locat-
ed 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.
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, locat-
ed 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.
| This 1968 map shows the final route of the Bassett line before becoming a branch extension of the Fort line in 1969. |
| DSR issued "Free" Bassett transfer October 20, 1951 (Sycko Collection) |
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.
Route operated under DSR
