Detroit People Mover

Detroit People Mover
A Detroit People Mover train approachingMillender Center station
Overview
Owner	Detroit Transportation Corporation
Locale	Downtown Detroit
Transit type	Automated people mover
Number of stations	13
Daily ridership	2,700 (weekdays, Q1 2024)
Annual ridership	656,500 (2023)
Chief executive	Robert Cramer, General Manager
Headquarters	500 Griswold Street,Suite 2900, Detroit
Website	thepeoplemover.com
Operation
Began operation	July 31, 1987
Operator(s)	Detroit Transportation Corporation
Character	Elevated
Rolling stock	UTDC ICTS Mark I
Number of vehicles	11
Technical
System length	2.94 mi (4.73 km)
No. of tracks	1
Track gauge	4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge
Electrification	Third rail,linear induction motor
Top speed	56 mph (90 km/h)
System map Detroit People Mover highlighted in blue toNew Center Grand Circus Park Broadway Campus Martius Cadillac Center Times Square Greektown Rosa Parks T.C. Bricktown Michigan Avenue Renaissance Center Fort/Cass Millender Center Huntington Place M-10 Lodge Freeway West Riverfront Congress Street Financial District All stations are accessible

TheDetroit People Mover(DPM) is a 2.94-mile (4.73 km)elevatedautomated people moversystem inDetroit,Michigan, United States.The system operates in a one-way loop on a single track encirclingdowntown Detroit,usingIntermediate Capacity Transit Systemlinear induction motortechnology developed by theUrban Transportation Development Corporation.In 2023, the system had a ridership of 656,500, or about 2,700 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

The People Mover is supplemented by theQLinestreetcar, which connects the system with Midtown, New Center, and theDetroit Amtrak station.The system also connects toDDOTandSMARTbus routes as part of a comprehensive network oftransportation in metropolitan Detroit.

History

Background

In 1964 the creation of the federalUrban Mass Transportation Administration(UMTA) allowed stronger investment into cities' declining transit systems. By the late 1960s there was gaining momentum for exploring new forms of transit to improve the quality of urban life, and UMTA's scope was expanded for development of such systems. In the early 1970s twoautomated guideway transit(AGT) demonstrators were sponsored; a "group rapid transit"concept, theVought Airtrans,atDallas Fort Worth International Airport;and a "personal rapid transit"concept,Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit,at theUniversity of West Virginia.Additionally, four companies would receive grants to develop automated systems to be demonstrated atTranspo '72.Whilethese AGT systemsended up being popular with zoos, airports, and abroad, they failed to attract popularity among municipalities and planning organizations.

Planning

In the early 1970s pressure was mounting for a high-capacityrapid transitnetwork for Detroit. In early 1972Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority(SEMTA) and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) commenced a study of such a network. During the study, it became apparent that automated people movers were useful in complimenting transit services, recommending systems forDowntown,Medical Center&Wayne State,Fairlane Town Center,Southfield,andMetro Airport.The study, released in 1974, would ultimately see realization as theQLine.

In 1975, following the failure to produce any large-scale development from the AGT program and increased pressure to show results, UMTA created the Downtown People Mover Program (DPM) and sponsored a nationwide competition that offered federal funds to cover much of the cost of planning and construction of such a system. UMTA reviewed thirty-five full proposals. From these, they selected proposals from Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Paul. In addition, UMTA decided they would approve proposals from Baltimore, Detroit, and Miami to develop People Mover systems if they could do so with existing grant commitments. Of the seven cities with UMTA approval for their People Mover proposals, only Detroit andMiamipersevered to build and operate systems.

The Ford Motor Company was involved in one of the designs of the People Mover and had hired AlScott Service Company to design and build a room size working model of the system. This model was used for Ford's proposals in their attempt to build the system.Ford previously developed theACT,a rubber-tired monorail, which was exhibited at Transpo '72; a production version of the system ran at Fairlane Town Center in nearbyDearbornfrom 1976 to 1988.

The People Mover was intended to be the downtown distributor for a proposed city and metro-wide light rail transit system for Detroit in the early 1980s; however, funding was scaled back.PresidentGerald Fordhad promised $600 million in federal funds. Plans included a subway line alongWoodward Avenuethat would turn into a street level train at McNichols and eventually go all the way toPontiac,with additional rail lines running alongGratiotand a commuter line between Detroit andPort Huron.Inability of local leaders to come to an agreement led to the $600 million commitment being withdrawn by theReagan administration,though plans for the People Mover still moved forward.At the time of planning, the system was projected to have a ridership of 67,700 daily.

During construction, the system was initially owned by theSoutheastern Michigan Transportation Authority(SEMTA).It was acquired by the Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) on October 4, 1985. DTC was incorporated in 1985 as a Michigan Public Body Corporate for the purpose of acquiring, owning, constructing, furnishing, equipping, completing, operating, improving, enlarging, and/or disposing of the Central Automated Transit Systems (CATS). DTC was created by the City of Detroit, Michigan pursuant to Act 7 of Public Acts of 1967 and is a component unit of the City of Detroit and accounts its activity as per proprietary funds.

Opening

Detroit People Mover cars in original livery, 2003

The Downtown People Mover opened on July 31, 1987.A ceremony was held theFinancial District station,with appearances by MayorColeman Youngand People Mover supporterMax Fisher.After opening speeches and awards, Young and Fisher cut a five-foot-long cake shaped like a People Mover car, and boarded the inaugural run. The trainbroke through a green ribbonaccompanied by the simultaneousrelease of 10,000 balloons,also shaped like a People Mover car. Ablock partywas hosted below on Larned Street, and the service was open to the public by 1:30pm.That weekend trains were usually packed, with passengers waiting around 20 minutes to board at some stations. Transit officials controlled crowds, encouraging only taking one round-trip to let others ride. The system carried an estimated 2,000 passengers per hour on Friday and Saturday. Rides were free for the first week, with a $0.50 fare going into effect on August 8.

In the first year, an average of 11,000 riders used the People Mover each day; the one-day record was 54,648.Originally, the People Mover System was operated and maintained by UTDC on a month-to-month basis; DTC took over operations and maintenance on November 18, 1988.

Service disruptions from construction

In October 1998, the implosion of theJ. L. Hudson Department Storedamaged part of the nearby track and forced the system to shut down. The system ran limited service until the track was completely repaired in late 1999.

In 2000, theDavid Whitney Buildingclosed,cutting off access to theGrand Circus Parkstation. The station later reopened, though it lacked elevator access until the station was renovated with the building's reopening in 2015.

During construction ofCompuware World Headquarters,theCadillac Centerstation was temporarily closed as part of the parking structure was built around it. The station remained largely untouched and unmodified, although the entrance was slightly expanded, and a walkway to the garage was added.

In 2002, the originalRenaissance Centerstation was closed and demolished. This was part of a multi-year renovation of theRenaissance Center,in which concrete berms in front of the complex were removed to make it more inviting to the rest of downtown. The system ran limited service due to the gap in the track during construction, leading to a drop in ridership, before the new station and track opened on September 3, 2004.The original station'stile artworkwas destroyed in the demolition, though its creator,George Woodman,designed a replacement work for the new station.

Grand Circus Park station

The Grand Circus Park station closed for renovations on August 16, 2014, as part of renovation work in the David Whitney Building.A new station lobby was added with a direct entrance to the building, and an elevator was added to provide step-free access. Trains continued to operate in a one-way loop, bypassing Grand Circus Park, for most of the station's closure, though the line was briefly split into two segments (with transfers atMillender Center) while part of the track was closed. The Grand Circus Park station officially reopened on June 13, 2015.A connectingQLinestation was added shortly thereafter, opening with the system in May 2017.

Changes in direction

Sign informing riders of the switch to clockwise service in 2008

The system originally ran counter-clockwise. It changed directions to run clockwise in August 2008, following a short closure to replace sections of the track. This change in direction was intended to reduce the time needed to connect between more popular destinations. The switch to clockwise also reduced the time required to complete the loop, as the route, run clockwise, has one short, relatively steep uphill climb, and then coasts downhill for most of the route, allowing trains to use gravity to accelerate.

In late December 2019, the People Mover tested counter-clockwise operation. The system began running counter-clockwise on weekends in February 2020, and then switched back to counter-clockwise full-time on March 1.

COVID-19 shutdown and reopening

The People Mover shut down on March 30, 2020, due to reduced ridership amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.

After a planned 2021 reopening was postponed,the system resumed limited service on May 20, 2022, running six days a week, stopping at six of the 13 stations (Michigan Avenue,Huntington Place,West Riverfront,Millender Center,Greektown,Grand Circus Park).BroadwayandFinancial Districtreopened thirteen days later on June 2,followed byRenaissance CenterandFort/Casson September 14,Bricktownon November 21,Cadillac Center on May 23, 2023, and Times Square on June 26, 2023.

To attract riders, fares were initially waived from reopening day through August,and later extended through October 2022.

System upgrades and free service pilot

In October 2023, DTC announced that its administrative headquarters would move from the Buhl Building to the nearbyGuardian Building.

In December 2023, DTC's board of directors approved a one-year pilot program to eliminate fares on the People Mover, supported by a large donation from a corporate sponsor. The program commenced on January 2, 2024, and is scheduled to continue for the entire year.Priority Waste, a waste management company based in nearbyClinton Township,was announced as the presenting sponsor in March 2024.Following a June 2024 evaluation of the program, in which it was found to have increased system ridership, the Board approved an extension through 2025.

Also in December 2023, DTC announced plans to acquire railcars and other surplus equipment from theToronto Transit Commission,following the decommissioning of theScarborough RT,a similar system, the prior July.

Fares

People Mover token

The People Mover is currently free to ride, with fares waived for the entirety of 2024 as part of a sponsored pilot program.

When fares are charged, the regular fare is $0.75 per trip, paid atturnstileswith quarters, or with tokens dispensed by machines in the stations.Children aged five and under ride for free with a paying adult.Monthly and annual passes are available for $10 and $100 respectively; they can be purchased from the People Mover's website or the agency's administrative offices. Discounted tokens and passes are available for seniors and disabled riders.

The fare was originally $0.50, before being raised to the current rate in November 2011.

Cost-effectiveness and use

In 2006, it was reported that the People Mover cost $8.3 million annually in city and state subsidies to run,and the system has drawn criticism for its cost-effectiveness.In every year between 1997 and 2006, the cost per passenger mile exceeded $3, and was $4.28 in 2009,compared with Detroit bus routes that operated at $0.82(for comparison, theNew York City Subwayoperates at $0.30 per passenger mile).Edward Glaeser,in his 2011 book,Triumph of the City,referring to high cost of maintenance, calls the Mover "perhaps the most absurd public transit project in the country".

TheMackinac Center for Public Policyreported that according to a 2004 survey, fewer than 30% of the riders were Detroit residents and that Saturday ridership (likely out-of-town residents) dwarfed that of weekday usage.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the People Mover generated about $1 million to $1.5 million in revenue annually from fares, conventions, and advertising space. In 2019, about 50% to 60% of riders were office workers in the downtown area, while others included weekend social riders, area residents, tourists, and convention-goers.

Expansion proposals

There have been proposals to extend the People Mover northward to theNew Centerand neighborhoods not within walking distance of the city's downtown. A proposal was put forward by Marsden Burger, former manager of the People Mover, to double the length of the route by extending the People Mover alongWoodward Avenueto West Grand Boulevard and into the New Center area.New stops would have included theAmtrak station,Wayne State University,theDetroit Medical Center,andHenry Ford Hospital.The plan was proposed at a tentative cost of $150–200 million, and would have been paid for by a combination of public and private financing.

Much of the proposed route to the New Center was ultimately adopted by theQLinestreetcar, which opened in 2017.

Rolling stock

Car interior

The People Mover's fleet consists of twelve automatedIntermediate Capacity Transit SystemMark I cars, built by theUrban Transportation Development CorporationinKingston, Ontario.The model is also used on theSkyTrainin Vancouver, and was previously operated on theScarborough RTin Toronto before its shutdown in 2023. They operate in two-car trains.

The trains originally bore a white livery with green and yellow stripes. Beginning in the early 2000s, the cars began to be wrapped with advertisements; by the 2010s, every car was adorned with an ad wrap.

As of 2023, DTC is planning to acquire the Scarborough RT'sS seriesrailcars from the Toronto Transit Commission, potentially replacing the People Mover's entire existing fleet.

Operations and maintenance

The People Mover's operations center, garage, and maintenance facilities are located at theTimes Squarestation.Cars enter the garage via asiding,which branches off from the main line to a second platform at Times Square. This siding allows the system to be used in a two-way bypass manner when part of the circular track is closed. Maintenance equipment is lifted up to track level by crane, but not stored with the DPM cars.

Former DTC offices,Buhl Building

Governance

The People Mover is owned and operated by theDetroit Transportation Corporation(DTC), a public body corporate funded primarily by, but independent of, theDetroit city government.

The agency is currently headquartered on the 29th floor of theGuardian Building,near theFinancial District station.It is governed by a six-member Board of Directors, which appoints an executive General Manager to oversee day-to-day operations.The Board consists of four officers from the Mayor of Detroit's cabinet, the president of theDetroit City Council,and the chair of the board of directors ofSMART.

Transit Police and security

Transit Police patrol vehicle

The People Mover is patrolled by its own dedicated police agency, theDetroit Transit Police,which operates as a division of DTC, independent of theDetroit Police Department.

From 2014 to 2024, the Transit Police were the primary law enforcement agency servingDDOT,providing police services on the agency's buses and at its transit centers.This contracted arrangement began in March 2014 in response to rising crime on buses, and a shortage of Detroit Police Department officers amid theDetroit bankruptcy.The Detroit Police took over DDOT police duties on July 1, 2024, with a newly formed division dedicated to transit operations.

The Transit Police also provided police services on theQLINEfrom the system's opening in 2017 until February 1, 2024, when those services were also transferred to the Detroit Police.

From 2022 to 2024, regular security patrols on the People Mover were conducted by private security guards, as the Transit Police were primarily dedicated to DDOT and the QLINE. DTC initially hired Detroit-based City Shield Security Services for the People Mover, before switching toSecuritasin April 2023.

Ridership

The system was designed to move up to 15 million riders a year. In 2008 it served approximately 2 million riders. This meant the system averaged about 7,500 people per day, about 2.5 percent of its daily peak capacity of 288,000.In 2006, the Mover filled less than 10 percent of its seats.

Among the busiest periods was the five days around the 2006Super Bowl XL,when 215,910 patrons used the service.In addition to major downtown concerts and sporting events, other high ridership times include the week of the annualNorth American International Auto Showin January and theYoumaconanime convention at the end of October, ever since the convention expanded in 2012 to useHuntington Placein addition to the Renaissance Center. The system had 92,384 riders during the 2014 extended con weekend.

Year	Calendar year ridership (Jan 1 – Dec 31)	Fiscal year ridership (Jul 1 – Jun 30)
2001	2,369,915	2,104,832
2002	1,837,807	2,186,526
2003	1,017,243	1,267,927
2004	953,753	922,644
2005	1,792,924	1,339,646
2006	2,368,361	2,307,909
2007	2,320,433	2,307,774
2008	2,059,714	2,315,395
2009	2,161,436	1,941,501
2010	2,216,800	2,181,440
2011	2,285,358	2,408,131
2012	2,085,487	2,046,444
2013	2,207,333	2,118,301
2014	2,357,520	2,140,066
2015	2,413,414	2,442,031
2016	2,165,352	2,286,383
2017	2,095,415	2,212,662
2018	1,915,173	1,952,505
2019	1,605,283	—
Source:

Incidents

1990 derailment

In 1990, a train derailed atCadillac Centerafter a manhole cover fell onto the track.

2015 derailment

On January 22, 2015, at approximately 10:10 PM, one of the cars jumped a rail, hitting the platform atTimes Square.No injuries were reported, and the system was shut down for 17 hours for an investigation. According to a DTC press release, a bracket beneath the train dislodged and caught underneath the rear car, causing the train to disengage from the track. A door was dislodged upon impact.

2016 accident

On May 15, 2016, 53-year-old Michael Whyte fell onto the track between the cars of a stopped train at Times Square. The train then departed automatically as normal, dragging Whyte along the track to his death. Following the incident,bollardswere added to the system's platforms, preventing passengers from falling into the space between the cars.Whyte's family filed a lawsuit, alleging negligence on the part of DTC.Whyte's death is, to date, the only fatal accident in the People Mover's history.

Stations

Bilingual platform signage at Financial District station

The network has 13 stations. As the system runs in a one-way loop with a single track, each station only has one side platform, except for Times Square, which has a siding leading to the system's garage and anisland platform.

Station	Location
Broadway	BroadwayStreet and John R Street
Grand Circus Park	Park Street &Woodward Avenue(attached toDavid Whitney Building)
Times Square	Grand River Avenue& Times Square
Michigan Avenue	Michigan Avenue& Cass Avenue
Fort/Cass	Fort Street& Cass Avenue
Huntington Place	Cass Street & Congress Street (insideHuntington Place)
West Riverfront	3rd Street & Jefferson Avenue
Financial District	Larned Street & Shelby Street (attached to150 West Jefferson)
Millender Center	Randolph & Jefferson Avenue (insideMilender Center)
Renaissance Center	Renaissance Center
Bricktown	Beaubien Street & East Fort Street
Greektown	Beaubien Street between Monroe & East Lafayette Street
Cadillac Center	Gratiot Avenue& Library Street (attached toOne Campus Martiusparking garage)

Public art

Originally, the 13 stations were not planned to have any distinctive features. However, in 1984, after construction had recently begun, Irene Walt assembled a volunteer committee to persuade the project agency to include artwork in each station. Called the Downtown Detroit People Mover Art Commission (later known asArt in the Stations),they raised $2 million to finance the project. As a result, there are 18 new original pieces of art spread throughout the stations, plus a piece from 1903 that had previously been in storage, on permanent loan from theDetroit Institute of Arts.

The commission's efforts and art installation were documented in a 30-minute film,Art in the Stations,bySue Marxand Pamela Conn, who had recently won an Academy Award for the short documentaryYoung at Heart.Art in the Stationspremiered at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1989. In 2004, acoffee table bookby Walt, also titledArt in the Stations,was published, with photographs byBalthazar Koraband information on all the station artwork and the artists who created them.

Art was completed with the system opening in 1987 unless otherwise noted:

• Grand Circus Park
  • Catching Up(Artist:J. Seward Johnson Jr– bronze statue)
• Times Square
  • In Honor of W. Hawkins Ferry(Artist:Tom Phardel/Pewabic Pottery– glazed tile)
  • Untitled (1993)(Artist: Anat Shiftan / Pewabic Pottery – tile mural)
• Michigan Avenue
  • Voyage(Artist: Allie McGhee – tile mural)
  • On the Move(Artist: Kirk Newman – cast bronze shape on tile)
• Fort/Cass
  • Untitled(Artist: Farley Tobin – tile mural)
  • Progression II (1993)(Artist: Sandra jo Osip – bronze sculpture)
• Huntington Place
  • Calvacade of Cars (1988)(Artist: Larry Ebel/Linda Cianciolo Scarlett – mural)
• West Riverfront
  • Voyage(Artist:Gerome Kamrowski– venetian glass mosaic)
• Financial District
  • 'D' for Detroit(Artist:Joyce Kozloff– hand painted ceramic mural)
• Millender Center
  • Detroit New Morning(Artist:Alvin D. LovingJr. - painted glazed tiles)
• Renaissance Center
  • Dreamers and Voyagers Come to Detroit(Artist:George Woodman– ceramic tile mural; destroyed with original station's demolition in 2002)
  • Siberian Ram (1993)(Artist:Marshall Fredericks– cast bronze sculpture)
  • Path Games (2004)(Artist: George Woodman – ceramic tile mural)
• Bricktown
  • Beaubien Passage(Artist:Glen Michaels– bas relief on porcelain panels)
• Greektown
  • Neon for the Greektown Station(Artist:Stephen Antonakos– free form neon light display)
• Cadillac Center
  • In Honour of Mary Chase Stratton(Artist:Diana Kulisek Pancioli/Pewabic Pottery – tile mural interspersed with bronze plaque byCarlo Romanelli1903)
• Broadway
  • The Blue Nile(Artist:Charles McGee– painted mural panels)
  • Untitled(Artist:Jun Kaneko– tile)

City Walls murals

In 2024, the exterior walls of five People Mover stations were adorned with large paintedmurals,as part of the Detroit City Walls public art program.

• Michigan Avenue
  • A Peaceful Place(Artist: Kenyada Kelsaw – acrylic latex paint on Polytab cloth)
• Fort/Cass
  • Slice of Life in Detroit: Homage to the Working Class(Artist: Nicole Macdonald – spray paint)
• West Riverfront
  • Detroit Moves People(Artist: Nick Pizaña)
• Bricktown
  • Detroit Music Love(Artist: Anthony Lee – enamel and spray paint)
• Broadway
  • Welcome to Date Night in Paradise(Artist: Charles Martin Miller – latex paint on Polytab cloth)

See also

• Art on the Move
• List of rapid transit systems
• List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership
• Metromover
• Transportation in metropolitan Detroit

External links

Template:Attached KML/Detroit People Mover

KML is not from Wikidata

• Official website
• YouTube.com: On-Ride Video of the Detroit People Mover
• National Transit Database profile of the Detroit People Mover