This is Detroit, Michigan.
Serving a population of 1.8 million people, a streetcar and people mover connects this
US city, servicing 24 stations across Wayne County.
Consisting of 2 lines and just over 6 miles of track, the system travels around Detroit,
with automated and operator driven trains circulating throughout the downtown area.
But how did the system grow from its original stations to the network it is today?
My name’s Zach, and this is the Evolution of the Network.
Detroit’s modern transit network began to form in January 1974, when the Southeastern
Michigan Transportation Authority, or SEMTA, began subsidizing the Grand Trunk Railway’s
commuter rail operations.
Named the Silver Streak, the train ran three round trips per day, originated in downtown
Detroit, and running north to Pontiac making nine intermediate stops.
One year later in January 1975, SEMTA began subsidizing commuter rail operations between
Detroit and Jackson, however this service was operated by Amtrak, and will not be included
in this video.
Silver Streak service was modified seven years later in July 1981, with the closure of the
Pleasant Ridge stop due to low ridership.
However only two years later in October 1983, all operations on the Silver Streak were discontinued,
with ridership on the line declining due to a downtown recession.
Rail transit in Detroit resumed four years later in July 1987, with the opening of the
Detroit people mover in the downtown business district.
Running in a counter-clockwise loop, the fully automated line served 12 stations, running
frequently throughout the week.
An infill station opened on the line one year later in November 1988, with trains now also
stopping at Cobo Center.
Due to a failed building demolition in October 1998, People Mover service was suspended due
to damage to the guideway.
Limited service resumed three months later in January 1999, with trains now operating
on two lines.
The Red line ran between Times Square and Millender, while the Green line ran between
Greektown and Cobo Center.
Each line ran back and forth with a single vehicle on the one-track line, with passengers
travelling between the ends of the line having to transfer.
In August of that year, Greektown and Times Square stations were closed to accommodate
construction, with the Green and Red lines being cut back as a result.
Full counter-clockwise service on the People Mover resumed three months later in November
1999, over a year after the initial closure, including the reopening of Times Square Station.
Greektown station was reopened two months later in January 2000, with construction of
an adjoining casino having been completed.
Grand Circus Park station finally reopened the following year in April 2001, restoring
service to all original stations on the line.
Further construction on the line began in September 2002, with the closing of Renaissance
Center station.
Trains were revised to once again operate in both directions on a reduced frequency,
running between Bricktown and Millender Center stations.
Construction lasted for just over two years, with the counter-clockwise looping resuming
in September 2004.
Renaissance Center station reopened two months later that November, providing access into
the newly renovated complex.
Service on the line stabilized for the next couple of years, until the line was changed
to run clockwise in August 2008.
This change helped to speed up service on the route, and reduced travel time between
popular destinations.
A second rail transit line was opened in Detroit in May 2017, with streetcar service beginning
on the QLine.
Running along Woodward Avenue, the line connected Grand Blvd with Congress St, including an
interchange with the People Mover at Grand Circus.
On the People mover, Cobo Center was renamed to Convention Center in late 2019, following
the renaming of Cobo Center for a sponsor.
Three years later in May 2022, two additional stations were renamed, with Joe Louis Arena
becoming West Riverfront, and Convention Center being renamed once again to Huntington Place.
This brings us to the Detroit People Mover and Q Line maps that we know today.
That was the evolution of Detroit’s People Mover and Streetcar, giving us the 2 lines
that we know today.
If you haven’t already, be sure to watch our Evolution of the Network videos on other
American cities, which you can access by clicking the button in the top right corner.
Don’t forget to leave a like if you enjoyed this video, and comment down below to join
in the discussion.
My name’s Zach, and I’ll be Vanishing Underground, until the next one.