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DDOT reports ridership gains and bus shortages easing as council approves fleet and maintenance contracts
Summary
DDOT briefed the committee on service shortfalls over summer, rising ridership (+9%), new buses entering service, and paratransit growth; the panel approved multiple contracts including remanufactured transmission services and fleet camera spare parts to restore reliability.
The Detroit Department of Transportation told the Public Health & Safety Committee that service gaps from a summer fleet shortage are narrowing as new buses arrive and repairs continue, while ridership is trending up.
Director Kramer said June–September revenue miles were at or below 90% because of vehicles out of service, but 15 new 2025-model buses were already on the road with additional deliveries. "We will have those buses plus fixing the other ones... to meet pullout and really get back to some really reliable service," Kramer said.
Kramer reported a roughly 9% year-over-year ridership increase and a 15% rise in paratransit trips—about 4,500 more monthly trips—creating budgeting and operational implications. He said DDOT is training drivers (about 108 TEOs in training) and plans service recuts in January to better align pullouts with demand.
The committee moved several items related to preserving and improving service. A motion to approve contract 8.18 (Williams: remanufactured transmission parts and repair services) passed with no objections and was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve. Contract 7.2 for fleet cameras and spare parts (vendor SAN) was similarly approved and sent to formal with recommendation to approve; Kramer said the system is near end of life and a replacement plan is anticipated by year's end.
Other approved items included emergency demolition contracts and an increase in city HVAC services (8.11). The committee held or asked for recirculation of a few items pending funding-source clarification.
What happens next: The committee is sending the transmission, fleet-camera and other procurement items to new business or formal action for final approvals; DDOT plans further updates after additional buses enter service and the January service recut.
