Detroit is set to add approximately 100 new bus shelters and 120 new benches by 2027. This latest phase of installations was promoted this week by city leaders, who detailed the continued efforts to enhance the city's bus stops. The planned additions contribute to a broader project aimed at upgrading roughly 400 bus stops throughout the city.
Already, more than 100 new shelters and nearly 80 new benches have been installed as part of this initiative. Robert Cramer, executive director of transit, noted during a news conference on Monday, Sept. 28, that the new shelters are equipped with solar lights and USB charging ports. These features are intended to improve the overall customer experience for riders.
The investment in these new facilities is substantial, with the average cost for a new shelter estimated at about $50,000 and a new bench at approximately $15,000, according to Cramer. Funding for these improvements comes from a combination of federal, state, and city general fund dollars.
These upgrades are a core component of the Detroit Department of Transportation's (DDOT) 'DDOT Reimagined' plan, which seeks to improve the city’s public transit system. As funding permits, DDOT aims for 75% of passenger boardings to occur at sheltered stops. Data indicates a clear benefit to having shelters; recent figures show that the average sheltered bus stop records 44 boardings per day, significantly higher than the 7 daily boardings at stops without shelters.
The need for more shelters and seating has been a recognized issue. An analysis conducted last year by a transit advocate, using city data, found that seating was available at only about 5% of stops. While DDOT stated at the time that this figure was misleading because more than a quarter of all bus boardings happen at sheltered stops, the city acknowledged the low percentage of stops with basic amenities like shelters or seating. Cramer expressed hope that the current installation program could become a model for expanding amenities to even more bus stops in the future.
Transit advocates have welcomed the commitment to these improvements. Michael Cunningham, a DDOT ambassador who identifies as having invisible disabilities, recounted the challenges of waiting for the bus more than a decade ago, citing broken benches and shelters. He described it as "a bad situation over a decade ago," where he often had to sit on the ground or lean on structures. While applauding the new seating and shelters, Cunningham suggested there remains room for further enhancements.
Joel Batterman, campaigns manager for Transportation Riders United, a public transit advocacy nonprofit, emphasized the impact on riders. He stated that the provision of shelters and benches is "really about dignity for bus riders." Batterman underscored the importance of riders having a place to sit and protection from the elements while waiting for the bus, alongside accessible paths for people with disabilities to safely board and alight. He also noted that while ideal wait times are 15 minutes or less, amenities are crucial for comfort when longer waits occur.
Bus frequencies vary across routes and times of day, ranging from less than 10 minutes to over an hour, as stated by Cramer. These wait times and frequency considerations are incorporated into the bus stop scoring system used to determine which stops are most suitable for a shelter or bench installation. A city-provided map indicates that the new shelters and benches are being, or will be, installed across Detroit. A pilot project along E. Jefferson saw the addition of several new shelters, specifically targeting high-volume stops to enhance rider experience, timeliness, and safety.
