Detroit City Council D-DOT Budget Hearing: March 16, 2026

On March 16, 2026, the Detroit City Council held a budget hearing for the Detroit Department of Transportation (D-DOT). Director Robert Kramer presented the FY 2027 budget and provided updates on service improvements, fleet modernization, safety initiatives, and youth programs, including a new year-round fare-free bus program for K-12 students. Council members discussed bus reliability, shelter placement, fare-free pilot proposals, safety for drivers, and the need for long-term transit transformation. Public comment was taken and will continue at a public hearing on March 30, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Megan Owens (Transportation advocate): Thanked the council for attention to D-DOT, noting progress is slow, and urged doubling the D-DOT budget to achieve adequate service and fully implement D-DOT Reimagined.
• Donald Stuckey: Stated that any state dollars received for D-DOT should be in addition to, not a replacement of, city dollars, expressing concern that state funds were being used to replace some city funding.
• Joel Batterman: Emphasized the importance of D-DOT investments for Detroiters' opportunities and quality of life, specifically asking for increased frequency on routes like the hourly Linwood bus, as proposed in D-DOT Reimagined.
• Caller ending in 169: Praised council for helping people and said "fix D-Dot."
• Betty Varner (President, Soda Elsewhere Black Association): Asked the council to allocate funds to cover the $1,500 application fee required for a land use hearing when Black clubs want to install playground equipment on vacant lots, and for investment in neglected neighborhood corridors.
• Caller (IPhone): Suggested using smaller, cheaper vans or short school buses for low-ridership night routes instead of million-dollar full-size buses.
• Cassie Pettler (Resident, District 4, Detroit Disability Power): Called for fully funding D-DOT Reimagined by 2030, including borderless paratransit and 15% coverage of bus stops with shelters and benches. Recommended the website isthemetroaccessible.com for tracking stop amenities.
• Renard Monchinski: Praised the proposed budget and the conversation about fares and driver security, saying the budget reflects the mayor's goals for reliability and frequency and is the result of years of advocacy.
• Samson S M: Described lack of shelters on the Six Mile, Conant, and Van Dyke bus routes, urged council to provide shelters, and complained about slow weekend service.
• William M. Davis: Called for expanding the People Mover with low-cost parking, moving D-DOT toward green energy, and providing free bus rides for all city of Detroit retirees.
• Rochella Stewart: Supported funding D-DOT Reimagined by 2030 and urged council to pass at least a $30 million budget for DDOT to create an efficient, replicable transit system.
• Caller (Cunningham): Called for doubling D-DOT, borderless paratransit, and free bus fares, arguing sponsors can be found just as for the People Mover and QLine. Also referenced a whistleblower article on Facebook.

Discussion Items

• Consent Calendar: Routine approvals and unanimous actions were taken without recorded opposition.
• FY 2027 Budget Presentation: Director Kramer presented D-DOT's FY 2027 budget aligned with Mayor Sheffield's "Rise Higher" vision, with a focus on youth and seniors. The budget includes a year-round fare-free bus program for K-12 students, Accessibility 2.0 for seniors and individuals with disabilities, and increased funding for paratransit. The general fund subsidy for D-DOT is $84.2 million (down from $97 million in FY 2026 due to increased state Act 51 funding). Total subsidy including DTC (People Mover) is $118 million. The budget also adds five new FTEs, including a Public Health Liaison, while reducing some driver positions due to lower turnover in training classes.
• Fleet & Service Updates: Director Kramer reported that D-DOT provides 50,000 rides daily. A 10% service increase last year failed because of vehicle availability. The new union contract (ratified November 2025) has increased active drivers by about 50 (to a net positive after decades of decline). Bus availability fluctuated—dipped to 80% of 45 New Flyers back up, now projected to increase. Summer 2025 saw July/August dips; recovery to near 100% in Nov/Dec 2025 followed by a Jan/Feb 2026 drop, now recovering again. By April 2026, the Coolidge Terminal (165M project) will reopen. 60 shelters and 25 benches installed; 100 more shelters and 175 more benches are funded and in process. Cloth seats are being replaced with vinyl on all new and recent buses; remaining 80 older buses (model years 2014-2015) still need replacement. Two federal grants for low-emission buses cover all 80 eligible replacements for FY 2027-2028.
• Youth Programs & Free Fares: The FY 2027 budget includes funding for a year-round free bus program for K-12 students. D-DOT launched "Ride Free for Three" (providing three monthly passes to new employees of enrolled Detroit businesses; over 100 passes provided so far). Councilmember Johnson noted that the response to Cody High School students' requests was positive. Councilmember Mitchell (apparently through a question) moved to include a pilot for free fares for D-DOT in the closing resolution—passed without objection on the floor. Director Kramer said D-DOT will study the costs and implications of a fare-free pilot or fuller implementation (noting that in Houston the cost of induced ridership made free fares very expensive—$300M in capital alone).
• Safety & Security: A new onboard camera system (with higher resolution, more cameras, and real-time remote access for DPD) will be fully deployed by first quarter FY 2027. A safe driver incentive program ($500/quarter for no preventable crashes) started with a 18% reduction in preventable accidents so far (preliminary data, two months). D-DOT works with DPD transit unit on security. For paratransit, an AI voice assistant ("Alex") now handles over 50% of calls (booking, cancelling, confirming trips) to reduce wait times. On questions about driver protection, Director Kramer reported that vapor barriers were added during COVID, but they are not full cabs; policy prohibits operators from carrying weapons. He committed to circle back on whether mace or similar could ever be allowed.
• Shelters & Benches: Councilmember McCampbell noted only four shelters in District 7; three on Grand River, one west of Southfield Freeway. Director Kramer explained the prescribed selection process (based on boarding data, title VI equity, state historic review, and federal environmental approvals—taking 18 months). Cost is $50,000+ per site. There is no budget currently to expand beyond the 100 funded shelters; benches are more flexible. Councilmember McCampbell made a motion to add a conversation about additional shelters and benches in a future session—passed without objection.
• Accessibility 2.0: The FY 2027 budget includes $1 million for launching Accessibility 2.0, a grant-funded successor to the first autonomous shuttle pilot. It expands coverage, includes veterans and survivors of gun violence, and aims to become a permanent DDOT service. Phase 2 will add autonomous vehicles, contingent on an MDOT grant.
• Real-Time Information & Customer Service: D-DOT is upgrading its real-time data feed (working with a partner also used by PeopleMover and SMART) to improve accuracy, enable detour alerts, and enhance customer service. This is prioritized based on feedback from students and seniors. QR codes and informational posters will be placed at key stops linking to the improved Detroit app.
• Connections & Regional Transit: Councilmember Waters asked about connections between D-DOT and SMART for commuting to jobs in the suburbs. Director Kramer noted that about half of Detroit residents work outside the city and half of city jobs are held by non-residents, making regional connections critical. The upcoming regional transit millage (if approved) would generate about $7-8 million for Detroit—significant but modest relative to D-DOT's budget. Discussions on its use are ongoing.
• OMI & EV Charging: Ryan Michael (acting chief, Office of Mobility Innovation) reported that the city has three new DC fast chargers (one often broken) and 11 level-two chargers, with 21 more sites planned citywide covering all seven council districts. OMI plans a 30% increase in scooter availability in 2026, aiming for 100-200 scooters per district. Councilmember Benson noted all four DC fast charger ports were recently down; he requested a plan to ensure reliability through revenue from the mandated 39-cent/kWh charge and proactive maintenance.
• Future Vision & "System of Choice": Council President Tate asked Director Kramer what it would take to make D-DOT a system people choose to use, not just a necessity. Director Kramer discussed layering services (microtransit, express buses, improved frequency), aligning land use and transit, and stressed the need for reliability and real-time information. Councilmember Young proposed a set of reforms using AI, autonomous vehicles, and trackless trams, citing projected cost savings (operating cost per bus hour from $170 to $140, fleet downtime from 18-22% to 8-10%, on-time performance from 72% to 90%) and major ridership growth (40-120%) and economic benefits. He committed to sharing the proposal with Director Kramer.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Passed (Unanimous): To include a pilot for free fares for D-DOT as part of the closing resolution. Councilmember Mitchell's motion was adopted without objection.
• Motion Passed (Unanimous): To add a conversation about additional bus shelters and benches in a future session. Councilmember McCampbell's motion was adopted without objection.
• Directives to D-DOT: Council member Mitchell requested but did not receive immediate cost estimate for a free fare pilot; D-DOT will study and report back. Councilmember Benson asked for a plan to ensure reliability of EV charging infrastructure; OMI will respond. Councilmember Young submitted a written reform proposal for AI and automation; it will be reviewed.
• Next Steps: The public hearing on all budget items (including D-DOT) will occur on March 30, 2026. Budget hearings reconvene March 18 at 10:00 AM with the Detroit Institute of Arts, Department of Appeals and Hearings, BSEED, and CREO. Council will issue a status update on Council-sponsored changes to the current FY 2026 budget (asked by Councilmember Corley).