Step aside personal automobile: there are new ways to get around Wayne State University. Starting this fall semester, WayneRides has teamed up with DDOT, SMART, The Q-LINE, and MoGo to offer free DART transit passes for all Wayne State students, faculty and staff. Wayne State has subsidized three 4-hour DART passes per day for each participant, effectively providing free transportation to and from campus.
TRU and other transit advocates have long been pushing WSU to invest in free public transportation for its students, making this a big victory for all. With Wayne State being both a vibrant campus and a commuter school, all WSU students can take advantage of the new initiative.
More options to get around campus
Students who live on or around campus can catch the Q-LINE to their next class, while a commuter might take a DDOT or SMART bus into the city. With the all-in-one DART Pass, students now have a wide range of times and options for getting around Detroit. Plus, imagine all the saved time, money, and effort typically spent on parking!
“I have always enjoyed using the Q-LINE to get from campus to music venues and restaurants downtown. Now that I can ride for free, that takes the stress away from buying a ticket to ride every time I go on it!”
WSU Social Work Student Kristen Prasiloski
DDOT Executive Director of Transit Mikel Oglesby says he is “thrilled to be able to help Wayne State students get around the city”.
The new transportation partnership is a part of WSU’s larger placemaking efforts to create a “24/7 campus”. By subsidizing transportation, university officials hope to develop Wayne State into more of a cultural hub, complete with the variety of mobility services offered at other major Michigan universities.
Unfortunately, with the Q-LINE currently down and DDOT cutting bus service, the Wayne State program may better serve current riders more than attract new ones.
However, with the help of incoming federal relief money, we hope our transit agencies can bounce back and provide new WSU students and faculty a great rider experience.