D.S.R. Route #97
| D-DOT Route #52 |
| WOODROW WILSON |
|
| - Source: Detroit Street Railway Car and Bus Routes - 1941 |
By early 1938, the DSR's campaign of converting over to an all–bus operation was still in its
very beginning stages, with the Myrtle line becoming the DSR's first full–time rail line to be
abandoned on October 11, 1937. Meanwhile, on Monday, February 14, 1938 — the same
day its second streetcar line, Van Dyke, was converted to buses — the DSR introduced two
new downtown-bound bus routes. One was the east-side Vernor route, while the other was
the Woodrow Wilson bus route, which, for the most part, paralleled the Hamilton streetcar
line. This new Woodrow Wilson line provided service into downtown, all the way to the foot
of Woodward Avenue at Atwater Street, near the Windsor Ferry and Bob-Lo boat docks.
The northern portion of the route began at Six Mile and 12th (present–day Rosa Parks Blvd.)
and traveled via Twelfth, Webb and Woodrow Wilson. After turning via Seward, Third and Col-
burn, the southern portion operated via Second, along with Peterboro, Park, and Woodward
Avenue to the River. But with traffic congestion increasing in the city, a number of streets
became one-way. When Second Avenue became a one-way northbound street on October 13,
1939, Cass Avenue was then used south of Baltimore instead of Second, while Cass, Temple
and Second to Seward was used northbound. Beginning on Monday, November 2, 1942, the
Woodrow Wilson downtown service to the Riverfront was cut back, and the Old City Hall, at
Woodward and Fort Street, became the route's new downtown terminus.
By June 1950, evening service after 7:00PM and all day on Sundays had been discontinued.
During those hours, that portion of the line north of Oakman Boulevard was serviced by the
Fourteenth Street bus line. But effective June 19, 1951, the rerouted Linwood line began
providing that service up until the mid–seventies. Also on June 19th, service into downtown
was discontinued, and the line now operated along Grand Boulevard to John R., two blocks
south to Baltimore.
very beginning stages, with the Myrtle line becoming the DSR's first full–time rail line to be
abandoned on October 11, 1937. Meanwhile, on Monday, February 14, 1938 — the same
day its second streetcar line, Van Dyke, was converted to buses — the DSR introduced two
new downtown-bound bus routes. One was the east-side Vernor route, while the other was
the Woodrow Wilson bus route, which, for the most part, paralleled the Hamilton streetcar
line. This new Woodrow Wilson line provided service into downtown, all the way to the foot
of Woodward Avenue at Atwater Street, near the Windsor Ferry and Bob-Lo boat docks.
The northern portion of the route began at Six Mile and 12th (present–day Rosa Parks Blvd.)
and traveled via Twelfth, Webb and Woodrow Wilson. After turning via Seward, Third and Col-
burn, the southern portion operated via Second, along with Peterboro, Park, and Woodward
Avenue to the River. But with traffic congestion increasing in the city, a number of streets
became one-way. When Second Avenue became a one-way northbound street on October 13,
1939, Cass Avenue was then used south of Baltimore instead of Second, while Cass, Temple
and Second to Seward was used northbound. Beginning on Monday, November 2, 1942, the
Woodrow Wilson downtown service to the Riverfront was cut back, and the Old City Hall, at
Woodward and Fort Street, became the route's new downtown terminus.
By June 1950, evening service after 7:00PM and all day on Sundays had been discontinued.
During those hours, that portion of the line north of Oakman Boulevard was serviced by the
Fourteenth Street bus line. But effective June 19, 1951, the rerouted Linwood line began
providing that service up until the mid–seventies. Also on June 19th, service into downtown
was discontinued, and the line now operated along Grand Boulevard to John R., two blocks
south to Baltimore.
During the route's early years, headways on the Woodrow
Wilson line were as frequent as 2½ minutes during peak
hours and six minutes during the base. But it should also
be noted, that prior to the post-WW–II years, the entire DSR
bus fleet consisted primarily of the 27-passenger small–size
Ford Transit buses, and the frequent headways were more
of a necessity. However, by the time DDOT had taken over
operations in 1974, headways had increased to 20 minutes
during peak hours and 30 minutes during off peak hours.
Except for a few changes through the years –– including the
one-way street changes along 12th and 14th streets during
the early fifties — the route north of Seward had remained
basically unchanged since the mid–fifties, including the use
of a private-right-of-way turn into Inverness and McNichols.
However, under the DDOT years, a number of adjustments
south of Grand Boulevard were made. In December of 1973,
the route was extended further along John R. and Brush to
Mack (Medical Center area), with minor changes following.
But a major route adjustment south of the Boulevard would
occur during the mid-nineties. Effective June 25, 1994, two
years before launching the #3 Medical Center Shuttle (also
known as, Cultural Attractions Trolley), Woodrow Wilson
service was extended to include the New Center, University
and Cultural Center districts. The route now provided direct
service to Henry Ford Hospital via the Lodge Service Dr. and
Grand Blvd., and to Wayne State University, and the various
Wilson line were as frequent as 2½ minutes during peak
hours and six minutes during the base. But it should also
be noted, that prior to the post-WW–II years, the entire DSR
bus fleet consisted primarily of the 27-passenger small–size
Ford Transit buses, and the frequent headways were more
of a necessity. However, by the time DDOT had taken over
operations in 1974, headways had increased to 20 minutes
during peak hours and 30 minutes during off peak hours.
Except for a few changes through the years –– including the
one-way street changes along 12th and 14th streets during
the early fifties — the route north of Seward had remained
basically unchanged since the mid–fifties, including the use
of a private-right-of-way turn into Inverness and McNichols.
However, under the DDOT years, a number of adjustments
south of Grand Boulevard were made. In December of 1973,
the route was extended further along John R. and Brush to
Mack (Medical Center area), with minor changes following.
But a major route adjustment south of the Boulevard would
occur during the mid-nineties. Effective June 25, 1994, two
years before launching the #3 Medical Center Shuttle (also
known as, Cultural Attractions Trolley), Woodrow Wilson
service was extended to include the New Center, University
and Cultural Center districts. The route now provided direct
service to Henry Ford Hospital via the Lodge Service Dr. and
Grand Blvd., and to Wayne State University, and the various
| Since July 1956, the route assigned to the DSR #97 Woodrow Wilson line basically remained unchanged throughout most of the remaining DSR years. |
museums and medical district hospitals. The new reroute would now travel via Cass, Warren,
Woodward, Hancock and St. Antoine, to Mack and John R. However, by the launching of the
#3 Medical Center Shuttle in June of 1996, the line had again been cut back to just south
of Grand Boulevard.
One of the last service reductions to the Woodrow Wilson line occurred back in September
2002, when base hour service between 9:00AM and 2:00PM was discontinued, resulting in
service now being limited to only peak service hours.
However, beginning on April 19, 2003, a different look was in store for the Woodrow Wilson
line. On that day, DDOT's fleet of Chance CNG "trolley–replica" buses began to be assigned
full–time to the line. This was after it was decided that these bus-trolleys should be assigned
full–time to light service routes. But the change was short-lived, as they were later replaced
by regular line-haul coaches when the #4000–series "bus-trolleys" were put out of service in
June of 2004.
By December of 2004, according to DDOT survey studies, ridership totals for the line were
as low as nine passengers per hour, low enough to convince DDOT officials to cancel service.
Service ended on Route #52 WOODROW WILSON, after sixty–seven years of service, on
Friday, April 22, 2005.
Woodward, Hancock and St. Antoine, to Mack and John R. However, by the launching of the
#3 Medical Center Shuttle in June of 1996, the line had again been cut back to just south
of Grand Boulevard.
One of the last service reductions to the Woodrow Wilson line occurred back in September
2002, when base hour service between 9:00AM and 2:00PM was discontinued, resulting in
service now being limited to only peak service hours.
However, beginning on April 19, 2003, a different look was in store for the Woodrow Wilson
line. On that day, DDOT's fleet of Chance CNG "trolley–replica" buses began to be assigned
full–time to the line. This was after it was decided that these bus-trolleys should be assigned
full–time to light service routes. But the change was short-lived, as they were later replaced
by regular line-haul coaches when the #4000–series "bus-trolleys" were put out of service in
June of 2004.
By December of 2004, according to DDOT survey studies, ridership totals for the line were
as low as nine passengers per hour, low enough to convince DDOT officials to cancel service.
Service ended on Route #52 WOODROW WILSON, after sixty–seven years of service, on
Friday, April 22, 2005.
| The route map for DDOT Route #52 Woodrow Wilson during its final days of operation. |
| Click here to return to the "BUS ROUTE HISTORY" Main Page. |
(December 26, 1991 Woodward Wilson
D-DOT Transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko Transfer Collection)
D-DOT Transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko Transfer Collection)
| This map shows the south-end route the Woodrow Wilson line traveled through the Cultural and Medical Center areas, from 1994 thru 1996. |
WOODROW WILSON STREET FACTOID:
Did you know??? .....That before being named after the 28th U.S. President, the street we now know
today as Woodrow Wilson was known by two separate names. The portion north of Webb Street was
known as Oakman Boulevard, while south of Webb it was ironically known as Wilson Street.
During the late 1920's, many streets within the city were renamed. Prior to the name changing, what we
know today as Oakman Boulevard was originally Ford Highway east of Twelfth Street, and Metzger
Street between Twelfth and Hamilton Avenue. Meanwhile, the former Oakman and Wilson streets were
renamed during the late 1920's in honor of U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921).
Did you know??? .....That before being named after the 28th U.S. President, the street we now know
today as Woodrow Wilson was known by two separate names. The portion north of Webb Street was
known as Oakman Boulevard, while south of Webb it was ironically known as Wilson Street.
During the late 1920's, many streets within the city were renamed. Prior to the name changing, what we
know today as Oakman Boulevard was originally Ford Highway east of Twelfth Street, and Metzger
Street between Twelfth and Hamilton Avenue. Meanwhile, the former Oakman and Wilson streets were
renamed during the late 1920's in honor of U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921).
| © 2006 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 11-22-09) |
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