Detroit's new $160 million bus terminal is taking shape
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The city is building a new west-side headquarters to replace the old Coolidge Terminal, which suffered fire damage in 2011 and was demolished last year.
Why it matters: Officials believe completion of the new $160 million Coolidge Terminal will improve operations, modernize the work environment and help address residents' long-standing complaints about the Detroit Department of Transportation's inconsistent service, while also aiding in retaining bus drivers.
State of play: Construction is underway and the 200,000-square-foot complex is starting to take shape near I-96 and Schaefer Highway.
- It consists of three buildings: a fleet maintenance building, a bus storage facility and an operations building with locker rooms, training space and radio dispatch.
Catch up quick: After the fire, operations were squeezed into the east side's Shoemaker Terminal and the Gilbert Terminal, west of Midtown, the Free Press reports.
- The Gilbert Terminal will be shut down after the Coolidge project is finished and Shoemaker will continue as DDOT's east-side base.
What they're saying: "Sufficient space and numerous amenities should create a work environment where employees can be their best," DDOT interim director G. Michael Staley said in a statement.
The other side: "A lot of this is trying to make up for 20 years of cost cutting," Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, a local advocacy group, told the Free Press.
- "Post bankruptcy, they really slashed DDOT to the bone. There were issues of just getting the right parts. The idea that they are finally investing in something … it's simple but foundational."
The big picture: DDOT also opened the new Jason Hargrove Transit Center near 8 Mile and Woodward this year.
- It has 11 bays for DDOT and SMART buses, an indoor lobby, public restrooms and a separate lounge and restroom area for drivers.
- Altogether, DDOT has nearly 40 routes serving more than 1 million riders a month.
Follow the money: The Coolidge Terminal's $160 million price tag includes $10 million for demolition and energy efficient components throughout. The funding sources:
- $102.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration
- $31.5 million in city funding
- $25.6 from the Michigan Department of Transportation
What's next: The project is expected to be finished at the end of next year, per the Freep.