D-DOT Will Expand Hiring, Move To 24-Hour Service In Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Good news for those who rely on public transportation in Detroit. D-DOT says it plans to expand to a 24-hour bus service throughout the city.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan made the announcement Thursday saying the expansion includes hiring 80 new drivers.

"We are announcing the largest expansion of D-DOT service in more than 20 years. We are going to add 1,500 trips a week for the people of Detroit," pledged Duggan.

Duggan says that includes nine individual bus routes throughout the city operating around-the-clock, by January of next year.

"There are so many people in this town who work late night shifts," says Duggan, "whether it's at a hospital, whether it's at a bar or restaurant, whether it's at a nursing home and they get off a midnight or 2 a.m. and they have no means to get home and their paying $25 for a cab ride -- for somebody who is making $8 an hour -- $25 for a cab ride is a lot of money."

The route expansion began in January and the mayor hopes to add even more buses to city streets next spring.

Duggan says cutting service was "one of the worst things" because it prevented people from getting to jobs. He adds the expansion aims to significantly reduce wait times.

At an expected cost of $8 million -- the funds will come from money set aside from Detroit's plan of adjustment following bankruptcy.

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