Detroit Transit Agency Requests $20M Budget Increase

The Detroit Department of Transportation wants to boost ridership by hiring more drivers, buying new buses, and enhancing station infrastructure.

1 minute read

March 19, 2025, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Green Detroit Department of Transportation bus on city street.

Kyah117, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

The Detroit Department of Transportation wants to hire more bus drivers, replace aging buses, and add more bus shelters throughout the city — if city officials approve a proposed $20 million increase in the department’s budget, reports Dana Afana for Detroit Free Press.

“In their 2025-26 budget presentation to the city council, DDOT officials said they expect to hire at least 63 more drivers and replace 45 buses.” The agency hopes to exceed pre-pandemic ridership levels.

According to Afana, “Several Detroit City Council members expressed particular support for planned shelter improvements — which would include solar lighting, USB charging ports, improved access and benches — and called on DDOT to focus attention in districts with fewer shelters than others.” Plans also include accessible shelters with benches and new station designs that streamline boarding.

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 in Detroit Free Press

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A rendering of the basketball court, a green court under a blue sky.

MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court

The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.

15 minutes ago - Gothamist

A crowd of people bathed in pink light in front of a stage.

Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds

A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.

1 hour ago - Block Club Chicago

Metra train pulling into station.

Metra may invest $9.1 billion in regional rail

The agency released a draft of a study examining potential ways to offer more frequent train service.

2 hours ago - Mass Transit