D.S.R. Route #65
| MIDDLEBELT |
The former route #65 Middlebelt was a little known DSR suburban bus route
that operated from the Livonia Mall (Seven Mile and Middlebelt Roads) in the
city of Livonia, to the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport in Romulus
Township. The line began operations on November 9, 1964, after the former
West Warren Shuttle route was extended northward along Middlebelt to the
Livonia Mall.
The West Warren Shuttle originally began on October 21, 1959, operating from the
Pierson Loop (Warren and Pierson), via Warren and Middlebelt Road, to the recently
opened Wonderland Mall (Middlebelt and Plymouth Roads), which opened in August
of 1959. But shortly after the Livonia Mall (located at Middlebelt and Seven Mile Road)
opened its doors on October 29, 1964, the DSR extended its West Warren Shuttle
line through the Wonderland Mall, northward to the Livonia Mall, effective Monday,
November 9, 1964. On that same day, the West Warren Shuttle line was renamed
the "Middlebelt" line.
Originally, the Middlebelt line operated from the Pierson Loop (in the city of Detroit),
then via Warren and Middlebelt Roads to the Livonia Mall. However, all service within
the city of Detroit was discontinued effective on July 27, 1965, after the route was cut
back from the Pierson Loop, and now turned at Warren and Middlebelt Road in Nankin
Township (now Westland). From that day onward, the Middlebelt line would operate
exclusively within the suburbs.
A few years later, the route was extended southward along Middlebelt Road to Detroit
Metropolitan Airport, effective Monday, June 26, 1967. The route now serviced the
cities of Livonia, Westland, Garden City, Inkster and Romulus Township. Connections
back to Detroit could be made by transferring to the Grand River, Second, Fenkell,
Schoolcraft, Joy Road and Crosstown bus routes—all of which operated at least to
Middlebelt during that time. Headways on the line called for 30-minute service between
5:30am and 10:00pm, Monday thru Friday, and 8:00am and 10:00pm on Saturdays,
with every other southbound coach scheduled to Metro Airport.
that operated from the Livonia Mall (Seven Mile and Middlebelt Roads) in the
city of Livonia, to the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport in Romulus
Township. The line began operations on November 9, 1964, after the former
West Warren Shuttle route was extended northward along Middlebelt to the
Livonia Mall.
The West Warren Shuttle originally began on October 21, 1959, operating from the
Pierson Loop (Warren and Pierson), via Warren and Middlebelt Road, to the recently
opened Wonderland Mall (Middlebelt and Plymouth Roads), which opened in August
of 1959. But shortly after the Livonia Mall (located at Middlebelt and Seven Mile Road)
opened its doors on October 29, 1964, the DSR extended its West Warren Shuttle
line through the Wonderland Mall, northward to the Livonia Mall, effective Monday,
November 9, 1964. On that same day, the West Warren Shuttle line was renamed
the "Middlebelt" line.
Originally, the Middlebelt line operated from the Pierson Loop (in the city of Detroit),
then via Warren and Middlebelt Roads to the Livonia Mall. However, all service within
the city of Detroit was discontinued effective on July 27, 1965, after the route was cut
back from the Pierson Loop, and now turned at Warren and Middlebelt Road in Nankin
Township (now Westland). From that day onward, the Middlebelt line would operate
exclusively within the suburbs.
A few years later, the route was extended southward along Middlebelt Road to Detroit
Metropolitan Airport, effective Monday, June 26, 1967. The route now serviced the
cities of Livonia, Westland, Garden City, Inkster and Romulus Township. Connections
back to Detroit could be made by transferring to the Grand River, Second, Fenkell,
Schoolcraft, Joy Road and Crosstown bus routes—all of which operated at least to
Middlebelt during that time. Headways on the line called for 30-minute service between
5:30am and 10:00pm, Monday thru Friday, and 8:00am and 10:00pm on Saturdays,
with every other southbound coach scheduled to Metro Airport.
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But unfortunately, the Middlebelt route never really attracted much traffic and was eventually
discontinued on July 27, 1970, during DSR service cutbacks. The route was later restarted by
SEMTA on October 1, 1973, through a "purchase–of–service" agreement with the suburban
Metropolitan Transit bus company, which was later acquired by SEMTA in January of 1974.
The Middlebelt route later became the SEMTA/SMART route #285 Middlebelt, which was
replaced in November of 2006 by the current #280 Middlebelt-South.
Information for the above article compiled from numerous sources, including "Detroit's DSR, Part 3" — May–June 1993 edition
of Motor Coach Age (MCA) magazine by Jack E. Schramm. Additional information acquired from miscellaneous DSR Service Maps
in the author's possession. Middlebelt schedule, route map, and copy of Middlebelt 1969 transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko
collection.
discontinued on July 27, 1970, during DSR service cutbacks. The route was later restarted by
SEMTA on October 1, 1973, through a "purchase–of–service" agreement with the suburban
Metropolitan Transit bus company, which was later acquired by SEMTA in January of 1974.
The Middlebelt route later became the SEMTA/SMART route #285 Middlebelt, which was
replaced in November of 2006 by the current #280 Middlebelt-South.
Information for the above article compiled from numerous sources, including "Detroit's DSR, Part 3" — May–June 1993 edition
of Motor Coach Age (MCA) magazine by Jack E. Schramm. Additional information acquired from miscellaneous DSR Service Maps
in the author's possession. Middlebelt schedule, route map, and copy of Middlebelt 1969 transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko
collection.