D.S.R. Route #97
| D-DOT Route #52 |
| WOODROW WILSON |
|
| - Source: Detroit Street Railway Car and Bus Routes - 1941 |
In early 1938, the DSR's campaign to convert the system over to an all-bus operation was in
its very beginning stages, as the Myrtle line became the DSR's first full-time streetcar line
to be abandoned on October 11, 1937. But effective 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 its 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 12th and Webb to Woodrow Wilson. After turning via Seward and Third, the
southern portion primarily used Second, along with Peterboro, Park, Adams, and Woodward
Ave. to the River. As motor traffic congestion increased within the city, a number of streets
became one-way. After Second Avenue became a one-way northbound street on October 13,
1939, Cass was then used, south of Baltimore, instead of Second Ave. Then, beginning on
November 2, 1942, downtown service to the River was cut back to the old Detroit City Hall at
Woodward and Fort Street.
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.
its very beginning stages, as the Myrtle line became the DSR's first full-time streetcar line
to be abandoned on October 11, 1937. But effective 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 its 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 12th and Webb to Woodrow Wilson. After turning via Seward and Third, the
southern portion primarily used Second, along with Peterboro, Park, Adams, and Woodward
Ave. to the River. As motor traffic congestion increased within the city, a number of streets
became one-way. After Second Avenue became a one-way northbound street on October 13,
1939, Cass was then used, south of Baltimore, instead of Second Ave. Then, beginning on
November 2, 1942, downtown service to the River was cut back to the old Detroit City Hall at
Woodward and Fort Street.
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-WWII 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.
After few minor 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
mostly unchanged since the mid-fifties, including the use of
the 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 1973, service was
extended further along John R. to as far south as Mack and
the Medical Center area.
Other major changes south of the Boulevard also occurred
under DDOT around the early nineties. During the years
between the cancellation of Route #53 Three Center Mini
and the launching of the #3 Medical Center Shuttle route,
service was extended to include the New Center, University
and Cultural Center districts. The line 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-WWII 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.
After few minor 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
mostly unchanged since the mid-fifties, including the use of
the 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 1973, service was
extended further along John R. to as far south as Mack and
the Medical Center area.
Other major changes south of the Boulevard also occurred
under DDOT around the early nineties. During the years
between the cancellation of Route #53 Three Center Mini
and the launching of the #3 Medical Center Shuttle route,
service was extended to include the New Center, University
and Cultural Center districts. The line 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 route would now travel via Cass, Warren,
Woodward, Hancock and St. Antoine, to Mack and John R. However, by the late 1990's, the
service 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 buses when the #4000 series "bus-trolleys" were put out of service in
June 2004.
By December 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 late 1990's, the
service 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 buses when the #4000 series "bus-trolleys" were put out of service in
June 2004.
By December 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. |
| (Transfer courtesy of the Stan Sycko Transfer Collection) |
© 2006 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 8-25-07)
