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Residents urge larger DDOT investment, cite driver pay and service gaps
Summary
Public commenters at a Detroit City Council public comment session pressed the council to increase funding for the Detroit Department of Transportation to improve service, pay drivers competitively and add shelters and stop infrastructure.
Detroit residents during public comment on the city budget urged City Council to increase funding for the Detroit Department of Transportation to support higher wages for drivers, retain staff and expand transit infrastructure.
The case for a bigger investment came from riders and transit advocates who said current pay and service levels are insufficient. "If the department is saying that we don't need this much extra money, I've never heard of a government department turning down extra funding from the taxpayers," said Renard Munchunsky, a member of Detroit People's Platform, Transit Justice Team and a daily bus rider. Munchunsky said the city risks losing trained drivers to neighboring agencies and private employers.
Why it matters: commenters framed transit funding as central to equitable access across Detroit neighborhoods. Many noted that recent federal funds and city surpluses create an opportunity to make sustained investments rather than incremental increases.
Details and debate: Munchunsky argued the department is being treated as "a Detroit training academy for CDL drivers rather than a public service for our bus riders," and urged the council to address wage disparity to stop drivers leaving for SMART and private carriers.
Chris Gilmer Hill, a lifelong Detroit resident in the Second City Council District, also called for funding that prioritizes transit infrastructure citywide, not only downtown. He said improved rapid bus service, useful stops and related infrastructure could revitalize corridors and produce broader neighborhood benefits.
Rachella Stewart, a Detroit resident in District 7, supported the "double DDOT" push and said she was disappointed the department was not receiving an additional $16,000,000 she described as needed. Steven Hollering, another caller, acknowledged the increase in DDOT funding and urged that money be used to pay drivers more and for shelters and related needs.
No formal council action was taken during the public-comment-only meeting. Council members present listened and Council member Mary Waters later noted continued efforts to secure federal support on other agenda items but did not announce a vote or directive on DDOT funding at this session.
Looking ahead: Commenters asked the council to treat transit funding as a long-term strategic priority tied to wages, recruitment and stop/shelter infrastructure, rather than one-off or incremental increases.
