Public hearings scheduled for proposed Detroit-Metro Airport bus route

DETROIT — The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan announced it will hold two public hearings on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and Wednesday, Jan. 10 to discuss its proposed Detroit to Airport Express Service pilot.

The proposed pilot express bus route would connect Downtown Detroit to Detroit Metro Airport and is in partnership with Michigan Flyer. The RTA secured federal grant dollars in 2022 through the Federal Highway Administration’s Carbon Reduction Program, which was administered by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and will be distributed through the Federal Transit Administration. The $2.5 million grant award will be used to fund at least one year of service.

“We are excited about the proposed Detroit to Airport Express Service pilot and the benefits it will provide our community,” Ben Stupka, executive director of the RTA, said in a press release. “These public hearings are opportunities for us to connect with stakeholders and get input from community members about this service. This pilot will allow us to gauge the impact of a new direct way for people to travel back and forth to DTW from Downtown Detroit, and it's important for as many people as possible to share their input about what’s to come.”

The proposed route would cost up to $15 for a one-way standard fare. It would offer daily service 365 days a year, with route times between 3:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. Pick-up and drop-off locations in downtown Detroit have yet to be determined. Departures from the airport would be located at the McNamara Terminal and the Evans Terminal. The launch date is estimated to be spring of 2024.

Both hearings will include a presentation from the RTA staff and a dedicated time for public comment. An in-person meeting will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, in the SEMCOG offices, located at 1001 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. A virtual meeting will take place from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The link can be found at www.semcog.org.