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.
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.
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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
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
| The above is a typical Broadstreet-W. Chicago "free" coach transfer issued by the DSR back in 1942. (Transfers courtesy of the S. Sycko collection) |
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.
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.
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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.
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.
| The above map shows the Broadstreet–W. Chicago bus route in 1932 — the year after the two lines were combined by the DSR. Although the Broadstreet protion was cut back to Livernois and Davison in 1933, the service along West Chicago would be extended further west. (Source: 1932 DSR System Map – MCA) |