DDOT unveils plan to change bus service in Detroit

Critics say Detroit Department of Transportation leave Detroit bus system with road blocks

DETROIT – In a public hearing Wednesday night, the Detroit Department of Transportation unveiled a plan to change bussing in the city of Detroit.

By April 28, riders will be advised to check the schedule because the time period between buses for all routes will either increase or decrease wait times.

DDOT also is introducing the 415 Plan which calls for buses to run every 15 minutes on what the department calls the four busiest bus routes in the city.

The changes come amid growing frustration with the bus system. Riders expressed their frustrations at the public meeting on Wednesday.

The goal is to improve reliability by getting more buses on the streets.

"Obviously, when you make these changes, what we try to do is the best for the public interest," said DDOT CEO Ron Freeland. "Some people are going to be happy. Some people who lose service are going to be less happy."

Not everyone is pleased, true.

"It's horrible and it's really ruining people's lives, and causing true hardship," said Paggy Fedewa, of Transportation Riders united.

Fedewa is with the non profit TRU which is dedicated to improving transportation in Detroit. She believes the new plan comes with road blocks.

"Even if the buses come perfectly on time, we're working at such a low level of service, it's still going to be difficult for people to get around town," she said.