D-DOT Route #93
| GRATIOT-MICHIGAN |
In 1992, DDOT management announced that the following eight bus routes; Baker, Gratiot,
Jefferson, Joy Rd., Michigan, Oakland, Vernor and Woodward, would no longer terminate
downtown, but would now be combined to form four new routes. These lines were to provide
DDOT passengers with non-stop "through–routing" service in-and-out of the downtown area.
Effective Saturday, September 5, 1992, DDOT routes #34 Gratiot and #37 Michigan were
combined and through-routed out of downtown. This new combined service would be known
as Route #93 GRATIOT-MICHIGAN. This would mark the third time that these two routes
were combined. The first time was under the DSR in November, 1950, when PCC streetcars
operated along both lines, and then again in June, 1973, when both routes were combined
under the DSR, and continued a few years under DDOT as route #34 Michigan-Gratiot.
The new Gratiot-Michigan line operated from Ford Rouge (Miller Road) Gate #2 on the west
end, to the Eastland Shopping Center on the east, although some Gratiot service terminated
and looped downtown.
But despite the numerous problems encountered during the mid-seventies after combining
service on these same two bus lines, DDOT management was determined to implement this
on an even larger scale. Consequently, numerous service delays were encountered with the
operation of these new lines being assigned to two separate terminals. Unpredictable coach
and manpower shortages, compounded with a lack of communication between the terminal
locations, resulted in numerous sporadic gaps within the service.
However, this combined routing arrangement didn't last long. The service was discontinued,
for the most part, after DDOT and SMART joined forces in a cooperative (albeit short–lived)
route swapping project. Effective on Saturday, June 25, 1994, SMART took over operation
Jefferson, Joy Rd., Michigan, Oakland, Vernor and Woodward, would no longer terminate
downtown, but would now be combined to form four new routes. These lines were to provide
DDOT passengers with non-stop "through–routing" service in-and-out of the downtown area.
Effective Saturday, September 5, 1992, DDOT routes #34 Gratiot and #37 Michigan were
combined and through-routed out of downtown. This new combined service would be known
as Route #93 GRATIOT-MICHIGAN. This would mark the third time that these two routes
were combined. The first time was under the DSR in November, 1950, when PCC streetcars
operated along both lines, and then again in June, 1973, when both routes were combined
under the DSR, and continued a few years under DDOT as route #34 Michigan-Gratiot.
The new Gratiot-Michigan line operated from Ford Rouge (Miller Road) Gate #2 on the west
end, to the Eastland Shopping Center on the east, although some Gratiot service terminated
and looped downtown.
But despite the numerous problems encountered during the mid-seventies after combining
service on these same two bus lines, DDOT management was determined to implement this
on an even larger scale. Consequently, numerous service delays were encountered with the
operation of these new lines being assigned to two separate terminals. Unpredictable coach
and manpower shortages, compounded with a lack of communication between the terminal
locations, resulted in numerous sporadic gaps within the service.
However, this combined routing arrangement didn't last long. The service was discontinued,
for the most part, after DDOT and SMART joined forces in a cooperative (albeit short–lived)
route swapping project. Effective on Saturday, June 25, 1994, SMART took over operation
| The above route map displays DDOT Route #93 Gratiot-Michigan during its nearly two years of operation. |
of DDOT's Michigan and Jefferson routes. As
a result, the combined #93 Gratiot–Michigan
and #97 Woodward–Jefferson routes were
separated.
The cooperative agreement between DDOT and
SMART was canceled after just nine months,
after SMART began campaigning to institute a
suburban transit tax to only support suburban
bus service. Effective Saturday, April 1, 1995,
DDOT took back the operation of its #25 E.
Jefferson and #37 Michigan routes, while
SMART resumed operation of its routes along
Fort Street and John R., which had been
operated by DDOT during the route swapping
project. After the termination of the agreement
with SMART, the two line were never rejoined
and have since remained separate.
a result, the combined #93 Gratiot–Michigan
and #97 Woodward–Jefferson routes were
separated.
The cooperative agreement between DDOT and
SMART was canceled after just nine months,
after SMART began campaigning to institute a
suburban transit tax to only support suburban
bus service. Effective Saturday, April 1, 1995,
DDOT took back the operation of its #25 E.
Jefferson and #37 Michigan routes, while
SMART resumed operation of its routes along
Fort Street and John R., which had been
operated by DDOT during the route swapping
project. After the termination of the agreement
with SMART, the two line were never rejoined
and have since remained separate.
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| © 2007 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 8-25-07) |
| (January 1, 1994 Gratiot–Michigan D-DOT Transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko Transfer Collection) |
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Route operated under D-DOT