Detroit People Mover seeks riders, revenue and vehicle overhaul in 2026 budget hearing

Detroit Transportation Corporation officials told the Detroit City Council on an item in the department budget hearing that the Detroit People Mover is pursuing higher ridership, new revenue streams and a multi‑year vehicle overhaul funded in part by a $6,000,000 one‑time allocation and state grants.

The presentation was delivered by Robert Kramer, chief executive officer of Detroit Transportation Corporation, who said the system recorded about 1,075,000 rides in calendar year 2024 and that the agency aims to return to roughly 2,000,000 annual rides by growing awareness and connections across downtown transit. "We just finished our first full year of the 0 fare program," Kramer said, noting the board extended the zero‑fare policy through calendar year 2025.

Why it matters: Council members pressed DTC on whether the People Mover can better connect with regional services and visitors, and on the technical and financial risks of updating aging equipment. The agency’s plans — including a fleet retrofit using decommissioned Scarborough (Toronto) vehicles and three state‑funded planning projects — would affect downtown mobility, tourism access and operating budgets.

Key facts and proposals

- Ridership and fare policy: Kramer reported about 1,075,000 rides in 2024, a year that included roughly three months of system closure for track replacement. The People Mover’s zero‑fare program, in place for more than a year, was credited with a large portion of recent ridership growth; DTC’s onboard surveys show about 90% satisfaction among current riders.

- Fleet enhancement and timeline: DTC is acquiring vehicles and parts from the decommissioned Scarborough line in Toronto. Kramer said 16 railcars and multiple semi‑trailers of parts have been moved to a shop in Pennsylvania for assessment and retrofit. He described a safety…