TRANSIT GUIDE: DTW AIRPORT
|
When most of us in Metro Detroit think about how to get to or from DTW (Detroit Metropolitan Airport), we usually consider driving ourselves, begging for a ride from friends or family or taking an Uber.
But did you know this but you can take public transit to & from the airport? We may not have a rail system connecting DTW to nearby cities, but there are several bus options available. Plus, you’ll save money by not storing your car there at $10 a day or paying $40 or more for a ride-hailing service. Visiting Detroit for business or pleasure? You can reach Detroit, Ann Arbor, Brighton and East Lansing using public transit from DTW. Continue Reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: fast regional bus system
|
In January of 2018 SMART Bus began an all day regional bus service on three of Metro Detroit’s main avenues: Gratiot, Woodward and Michigan. To differentiate them from their normal bus service, they branded them with big white letters: FAST (Frequent, Affordable, Safe, Transit). Why a regional service? Metro Detroit has two bus providers, SMART and DDOT. Aside from some AM/PM commuter routes into Detroit and connections to major transfer points in the suburbs, SMART mainly stays outside of Detroit and DDOT mainly stays inside of Detroit’s borders. This means that riders have to transfer between systems at the city limits. FAST runs all day long, 7 days a week, making limited stops which is ideal for people who need to travel between rush hours and in the evenings!
Continue reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: SMART BUS
|
SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) has been around since 1967 but has existed in its present form since 1989. Follow the link for the history of the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967 (Public Act 204) and formation on SMART.
The following is one continuous page of every SMART bus route complete with maps, descriptions and links to each time table. Click on the Route Name to view the official SMART map and click on the scheduled direction to download the actual time table. Info on SMART’s Dial-A-Ride and Shuttle service can be found at the bottom of the page. Continue Reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: 50 PLACES TO RIDE DDOT
|
“The 24-hour routes in Detroit connect residents to the surrounding neighborhoods, restaurants, breweries, bars, theaters, stores, and sporting events,” says local transit advocate David Gifford. “No need to drag your car from place to place, pay for parking, worry about parking tickets, getting towed, or paying for costly ride hailing services. Transit also provides the opportunity to integrate into the fabric of Detroit rather than driving through it.”
Continue reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: QLINE DETROIT
|
QLINE Detroit is operated by M-1 Rail and began service in 2017. It runs daily between downtown Detroit and Grand Boulevard along a 6.6 mile loop. The following is a guide to the many destinations along Woodward within walking distance of each station.
The QLINE is currently free to ride so hop on board and explore over 100 destinations to eat, drink, shop and learn. Continue reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: DETROIT BREWERIES
|
Detroit has twelve 24-hr bus routes and and you can use most of them to reach the city’s most popular breweries. Use www.transitapp.com to plan your trip & check schedules. SMART & DDOT DART passes cost $2 per person which grants you up to 4 hours of unlimited bus rides. For $5 you can purchase a 24 hour pass! No cash? No problem. Use the DART mobile app! Want to buy passes in advance? Buy passes in person at a SMART or DDOT transit center or buy online & keep them in your wallet or purse. QLINE Detroit is now part of the DART network which means you can ride the buses or streetcar with one pass.
Continue reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: DETROIT CULTURAL CENTER
|
The Cultural Center is located in the area of Woodward Ave. and Warren Ave. just 2 miles from downtown Detroit. It consists of the Detroit Public Library (1921), Detroit Institute of Arts (1927), Detroit Historical Museum (1951), College for Creative Studies (1958), Michigan Science Center (1978), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (1985), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (2006) and Hellenic Museum (2009). The area is also home to Wayne State University, several Mid-Century buildings designed by Minoru Yamasaki, East Ferry Ave Historic District and the Scarab Club.
Continue reading |
TRANSIT GUIDE: DETROIT HOTELS
|
Did you know that you can reach dozens of hotels in Detroit & Metro Detroit by using public transit? When planning a trip to Detroit you may be tempted to pay to rent a car at the airport then drive to downtown. Once you’ve reached your hotel you may have to pay to park your car nearby and then pay to park everyplace else you visit. Why not save some money and ride public transit instead? The cost is just $2 per person for 4-hours or $5 per person for a 24-hr pass.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: METRO DETROIT TRANSIT SYSTEMS
|
This is a comprehensive overview of all of the transit systems in Detroit and Metro Detroit, how much they cost and where they operate.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: CASS CORRIDOR
|
Detroit's Cass Corridor starts at Michigan Ave and runs to W. Grand Blvd. It runs through District Detroit, where the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons play, through historic Chinatown, past storied music venues, Jack White's Third Man Records, Wayne State University, the Cultural Center, New Center and the Fisher Building. This corridor is served by route #16-Dexter 24-hours a day.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: CORKTOWN, DETROIT
|
Although the last streetcar left Michigan Ave in 1956 and the last passenger train departed Michigan Central Station in 1988, the buses have never stopped running through Corktown. There are several bus routes that connect Corktown to Downtown Detroit, Dearborn, DTW Airport and other parts of Detroit. Why ride the bus? Due to the high costs of infrastructure, we may never see a streetcar on Michigan Ave again. Buses are a great option rather than paying for an Uber or paying for parking.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: MOVIE THEATERS
|
The following is a comprehensive list of Metro Detroit movie theaters and the closest transit routes to reach them. You’ll notice that many have bus stops nearby and a few do not. Lack of nearby bus transit can make it difficult for people to attend or work at movie theaters if they are unable to drive. Of course there’s Uber or Lyft but not everyone can afford ride hailing services. Some theaters are located in Flex zones. Flex is like Uber but much cheaper because it is operated by SMART and operates in designated zones. Besides, movies are already expensive as it is!
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: FERNDALE, MI
|
Fabulous Ferndale Michigan is just north of downtown Detroit. This LGBTQ+ friendly city is full of shopping, restaurants and nightlife. It is just a short ride north of Detroit on the FAST Woodward bus.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: PET POLICIES
|
Can you bring a dog on the bus? For most providers, the answer is no unless they are a registered service animal. The following is a comprehensive guide to Metro Detroit transit providers and their pet policies.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: WYANDOTTE, MI
|
As of late, there has been a parking problem in Downtown Wyandotte, and it's only going to get worse and more difficult with pending development. Although the last streetcars ran in 1932 and the last passenger train departed from the Oak Street Depot in 1959, buses have never stopped serving Wyandotte. Buses run along Fort Street, Biddle, Eureka and Ford to connect with many areas of the city of Wyandotte, including the downtown district, all day and evening all year long.
Continue reading... |
TRANSIT GUIDE: DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
|
Headed downtown Detroit for a game or concert? Your first impulse might be to jump in your vehicle and drive downtown. Now you’ll have to find a place to park using Detroit’s parking app or Parkwhiz but parking can be quite expensive and you may still have to walk quite a ways. You could take Uber or Lyft but that could cost you a lot of money depending on how far you are traveling. What if you could get dropped off near an entrance for just $2 per person or for free?
Continue reading... |
*Disclaimer: Transit Guide: Detroit is a purely informational website designed to streamline all SE Michigan transit providers onto one easy to navigate site. You'll find links to each transit provider website, maps, schedules, routes, fares as well as destinations accessible by transit. We are not a transit provider. We are not affiliated with any of the transit providers on this site. Our desire is to increase the use of public transit by making it easier to understand and navigate.
