continued to fuel and maintain the fleet. They also charged the DSR 12¢ a mile for the use of its buses.
On January 1, 1925, the DSR's Motor Coach Division began operations, and shortly thereafter— beginning on Sunday,
February 1, 1925 — the DSR began using its own buses on the island. During the early years, service operated under a
10 minute headway, traveling primarily along Central Avenue to the east end of the island and back.
On June 26, 1938, the Belle Isle bus route became a branch extension of the East Grand Blvd. (a.k.a."Boulevard")
bus line— a former Detroit Motorbus Company bus route — which operated from E. Grand Blvd. and E. Jefferson to
W. Grand Blvd. and Second. Service remained a branch of the East Grand Boulevard route untili the Boulevard line
was combined with the Grand Belt bus line on June 22, 1950. Once again the Belle Isle line would become a separate
bus route. It then followed along a route around the island that would remain intact for nearly forty years.
During its heyday, the Belle Isle bus operated under a 30 minute headway during most hours of the day. Bus service
to the Island was provided seven days a week, operating from 6:30AM, until the last coach would leave for the island at
12:00 Midnite—every night, including Sundays. By the time DDOT took over operations in 1974 the service hours had
already been reduced. Although the headways remained at 30 minutes, the last coach now left the island at 6:30PM.
On January 1, 1925, the DSR's Motor Coach Division began operations, and shortly thereafter— beginning on Sunday,
February 1, 1925 — the DSR began using its own buses on the island. During the early years, service operated under a
10 minute headway, traveling primarily along Central Avenue to the east end of the island and back.
On June 26, 1938, the Belle Isle bus route became a branch extension of the East Grand Blvd. (a.k.a."Boulevard")
bus line— a former Detroit Motorbus Company bus route — which operated from E. Grand Blvd. and E. Jefferson to
W. Grand Blvd. and Second. Service remained a branch of the East Grand Boulevard route untili the Boulevard line
was combined with the Grand Belt bus line on June 22, 1950. Once again the Belle Isle line would become a separate
bus route. It then followed along a route around the island that would remain intact for nearly forty years.
During its heyday, the Belle Isle bus operated under a 30 minute headway during most hours of the day. Bus service
to the Island was provided seven days a week, operating from 6:30AM, until the last coach would leave for the island at
12:00 Midnite—every night, including Sundays. By the time DDOT took over operations in 1974 the service hours had
already been reduced. Although the headways remained at 30 minutes, the last coach now left the island at 6:30PM.
| Click here to return to the "BUS ROUTE HISTORY" Main Page. |
D.S.R. Route #5
| D-DOT Route #4 |
| BELLE ISLE (Detroit's Very Own Island Park, & its Bus Route) |
ABOUT BELLE ISLE:
Belle Isle is a 2½ mile-long, one-half mile wide, 983-acre island park, that's located in the middle of the Detroit River. It
sits just to the east of downtown Detroit, along the city's lower east side. To the original Chippewa and Ottawa Native
Americans, it was known as Wah-na-be-zee (Swan Island), but it became known as Ile au Cochons (Hog Island) to the
early French settlers, who used it to house pigs and chickens to protect them from coyotes on the mainland. Ownership
of the island changed hands over the years after the arrival of the French, but was eventually purchased by Barnabus
Campau (son of Joseph Campau) in 1817 for $5,000. In 1845, Campau renamed the island "Belle Isle." It's believed
he named it in honor of Isabelle Cass, daughter of Michigan territorial governor, and later U.S. Senator, Lewis Cass.
In 1879, the City of Detroit purchased the island from the descendants of Barnabus Campau for nearly $200,000, as
part of a "Beautify Detroit" initiative begun in 1876. Local planners wanted the island to complement the construction of
a proposed 11.3-mile peripheral boulevard, originally intended to run through open country circling the edge of the city.
In 1884, construction of that "Grand Boulevard" would begin, which would run from Belle Isle to West Jefferson. The
name of the city's newly acquired island was 'officially' changed to "Belle Isle Park" (french for "beautiful island") by a
Common Council ordinance on August 29, 1881.
During the 1880's, the island was designed into a park by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same designer who designed
Central Park in New York City. It was during the period between 1884 and 1908 when the island saw the development
of most of its roads, bridges, lakes, shelters, and plantings. Belle Isle would soon become Detroit's first major city park.
The island opened to the public in 1884.
In 1889, a wooden bridge was constructed which connected the island to the city's mainland. The first bridge, however,
was accidentally destroyed by a fire on April 27, 1915, and was replaced the next year by a temporary bridge built just
to the west. A new, 2,193 foot long, concrete and steel arch designed bridge — located at the foot of E. Grand Blvd.—
was constructed at a cost of $2,635,000. The nearly one-half mile long bridge opened on September 1, 1923. Known
originally as the Belle Isle Bridge, it was renamed the "Douglas MacArthur Bridge" in 1942, in honor of U.S. Army
General Douglas MacArthur.
Originally, streetcar service to the island had been planned by city officials, with 2,159 feet of double streetcar track built
into the pavement along the east side of the newly constructed bridge. The city also built a Roman motif style streetcar
waiting station near the entrance to the bridge. However, the streetcars were never implemented, and the unused rails
built into the bridge remained exposed until eventually paved-over during the early 1950's. The streetcar loading station
instead became known as the Belle Isle Coach Station.
BELLE ISLE FACTOID:
Did you know that the western portion of Belle Isle was actually man-made?
Originally, Belle Isle included 768 acres of land, but in 1920 material was added to the west end of the island, increasing
its size to nearly 985 acres. The material used came from the construction of new streetcar lines built by the City under
its former Municipal Operation — the short-lived predecessor to the DSR. The excess material taken from the streets
to form the track base was hauled away by truck, and by horse and wagon, and used to enlarge the island. The James
Scott Memorial Fountain, which was completed in 1925, sits upon this man-made land base area.
Belle Isle is a 2½ mile-long, one-half mile wide, 983-acre island park, that's located in the middle of the Detroit River. It
sits just to the east of downtown Detroit, along the city's lower east side. To the original Chippewa and Ottawa Native
Americans, it was known as Wah-na-be-zee (Swan Island), but it became known as Ile au Cochons (Hog Island) to the
early French settlers, who used it to house pigs and chickens to protect them from coyotes on the mainland. Ownership
of the island changed hands over the years after the arrival of the French, but was eventually purchased by Barnabus
Campau (son of Joseph Campau) in 1817 for $5,000. In 1845, Campau renamed the island "Belle Isle." It's believed
he named it in honor of Isabelle Cass, daughter of Michigan territorial governor, and later U.S. Senator, Lewis Cass.
In 1879, the City of Detroit purchased the island from the descendants of Barnabus Campau for nearly $200,000, as
part of a "Beautify Detroit" initiative begun in 1876. Local planners wanted the island to complement the construction of
a proposed 11.3-mile peripheral boulevard, originally intended to run through open country circling the edge of the city.
In 1884, construction of that "Grand Boulevard" would begin, which would run from Belle Isle to West Jefferson. The
name of the city's newly acquired island was 'officially' changed to "Belle Isle Park" (french for "beautiful island") by a
Common Council ordinance on August 29, 1881.
During the 1880's, the island was designed into a park by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same designer who designed
Central Park in New York City. It was during the period between 1884 and 1908 when the island saw the development
of most of its roads, bridges, lakes, shelters, and plantings. Belle Isle would soon become Detroit's first major city park.
The island opened to the public in 1884.
In 1889, a wooden bridge was constructed which connected the island to the city's mainland. The first bridge, however,
was accidentally destroyed by a fire on April 27, 1915, and was replaced the next year by a temporary bridge built just
to the west. A new, 2,193 foot long, concrete and steel arch designed bridge — located at the foot of E. Grand Blvd.—
was constructed at a cost of $2,635,000. The nearly one-half mile long bridge opened on September 1, 1923. Known
originally as the Belle Isle Bridge, it was renamed the "Douglas MacArthur Bridge" in 1942, in honor of U.S. Army
General Douglas MacArthur.
Originally, streetcar service to the island had been planned by city officials, with 2,159 feet of double streetcar track built
into the pavement along the east side of the newly constructed bridge. The city also built a Roman motif style streetcar
waiting station near the entrance to the bridge. However, the streetcars were never implemented, and the unused rails
built into the bridge remained exposed until eventually paved-over during the early 1950's. The streetcar loading station
instead became known as the Belle Isle Coach Station.
BELLE ISLE FACTOID:
Did you know that the western portion of Belle Isle was actually man-made?
Originally, Belle Isle included 768 acres of land, but in 1920 material was added to the west end of the island, increasing
its size to nearly 985 acres. The material used came from the construction of new streetcar lines built by the City under
its former Municipal Operation — the short-lived predecessor to the DSR. The excess material taken from the streets
to form the track base was hauled away by truck, and by horse and wagon, and used to enlarge the island. The James
Scott Memorial Fountain, which was completed in 1925, sits upon this man-made land base area.
Although the streetcar service planned for Belle Isle
never materialized, bus service across the bridge to
the Belle Isle Casino began as far back as the early
1900's. In 1909, the Detroit Department of Parks
and Boulevards began providing bus service to the
island. Although the service was primarily for the park
employees, the public also utilized the service. Ticket
prices were 1¢ each, or sold in books of fifty.
For the most part, a small fleet of eight, 32-passenger
"open-sided" Packard coaches were used to operate
the service. However, two additional, 65–passenger,
Packard semi-trailers were available for busy days.
On June 11, 1924, the city–owned Department of
Street Railways (DSR) took over the operation of
the Parks and Boulevards' buses — extending the
service to the east end of the island. Although DSR
employees operated the buses, the city's Parks and
Boulevards Department furnished the garage, and
never materialized, bus service across the bridge to
the Belle Isle Casino began as far back as the early
1900's. In 1909, the Detroit Department of Parks
and Boulevards began providing bus service to the
island. Although the service was primarily for the park
employees, the public also utilized the service. Ticket
prices were 1¢ each, or sold in books of fifty.
For the most part, a small fleet of eight, 32-passenger
"open-sided" Packard coaches were used to operate
the service. However, two additional, 65–passenger,
Packard semi-trailers were available for busy days.
On June 11, 1924, the city–owned Department of
Street Railways (DSR) took over the operation of
the Parks and Boulevards' buses — extending the
service to the east end of the island. Although DSR
employees operated the buses, the city's Parks and
Boulevards Department furnished the garage, and
| A small fleet of these 32-passenger "open-sided" Packard buses were used by the City of Detroit's Department of Parks and Boulevards when it provided bus service on Belle Isle between 1909 and 1924. The Belle Isle bus line is by far the oldest motor bus route in the city. (Schramm Collection photo courtesy of S. Sycko) |
Bus service to the island was actually discontinued for a short period in 1988, when DDOT officials announced in June of
1988 that it planned to overhaul its bus system. One of the major changes proposed included operating the Belle Isle
bus line only from April 1 through Labor Day. On Tuesday, September 6, 1988 — the day following Labor Day — senior
citizens, who used the bus route to get to a senior center in the park's casino, along with employees who worked at the
park, were caught by surprise when they discovered the bus service was discontinued. By Thursday, angry City Council
members demanded that the route be reinstated. On Friday, September 9, 1988, bus service was restored to the island
after DDOT officials decided that there was a need for the service after all.
Shortly thereafter, in 1989, DDOT combined its Route #4 Belle Isle with its Route #12 Conant, and service to Belle
Isle became a branch extension of the Conant bus line. After thirty-eight years of operation as a separate bus route,
service to the Island would once again be provided as an extension of another bus route. Conant service across the
island operated only on weekdays — from around 8:30AM to 5:30PM. Although trips during peak hours would continue
around the island, most trips would short-turn at the Belle Isle Casino. A few route adjustments — including coaches
remaining along Riverbank Drive (instead of Central) to the bridge— were also made under DDOT. During recent years,
service headways had increased to 40 minutes during peak hours, and up to an hour during off-peak hours.
ON A SAD NOTE: Without much fanfare, the city's current transit provider (D-DOT) has eliminated bus service to Belle Isle
after ninety-eight years of bus service to the island. Effective on, April 21, 2007, the portion of the #12 Conant route,
which traveled to Belle Isle, was discontinued. Nearly 100 years of bus service to the island had come to an end.
1988 that it planned to overhaul its bus system. One of the major changes proposed included operating the Belle Isle
bus line only from April 1 through Labor Day. On Tuesday, September 6, 1988 — the day following Labor Day — senior
citizens, who used the bus route to get to a senior center in the park's casino, along with employees who worked at the
park, were caught by surprise when they discovered the bus service was discontinued. By Thursday, angry City Council
members demanded that the route be reinstated. On Friday, September 9, 1988, bus service was restored to the island
after DDOT officials decided that there was a need for the service after all.
Shortly thereafter, in 1989, DDOT combined its Route #4 Belle Isle with its Route #12 Conant, and service to Belle
Isle became a branch extension of the Conant bus line. After thirty-eight years of operation as a separate bus route,
service to the Island would once again be provided as an extension of another bus route. Conant service across the
island operated only on weekdays — from around 8:30AM to 5:30PM. Although trips during peak hours would continue
around the island, most trips would short-turn at the Belle Isle Casino. A few route adjustments — including coaches
remaining along Riverbank Drive (instead of Central) to the bridge— were also made under DDOT. During recent years,
service headways had increased to 40 minutes during peak hours, and up to an hour during off-peak hours.
ON A SAD NOTE: Without much fanfare, the city's current transit provider (D-DOT) has eliminated bus service to Belle Isle
after ninety-eight years of bus service to the island. Effective on, April 21, 2007, the portion of the #12 Conant route,
which traveled to Belle Isle, was discontinued. Nearly 100 years of bus service to the island had come to an end.
| ||||||||
© 2007 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 05-14-07)
| (D. Cole photo, from Great Lakes Aerial Photos) |
FOR RELATED TOPIC SEE: THE OLD BELLE ISLE COACH STATION
| Information for the above article compiled from information obtained through numerous online "Belle Isle History" related web-sites, including articles posted at www.detroit1701.org, City of Detroit (Recreation Dept.), and Friends Of Belle Isle at www.fobi.org. Belle Isle aerial photo taken by Don Coles form Great Lakes Aerial Photos at www.aerialpics.com. Belle Isle bus line info courtesy of various Jack E. Schramm publications, including Motor Coach Age magazine articles "Detroit's DSR, Parts 1-3" and Images of Rail "Detroit's Street Railways" by Ken Schramm; and local Detroit newspaper articles. |
BELLE ISLE BUS SERVICE:
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