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Facts and Talking Points Opposing DDOT Service Cuts

Mayor Bing Threatens Huge Cuts to DDOT Buses, Eliminating Sunday Service
 
DDOT logoAs you’ve probably seen in the news in the last few days, Detroit  Mayor Dave Bing has proposed major cuts to DDOT bus service, including:

  • Eliminating Sunday bus service
  • Eliminating bus service Saturdays after 6pm
  • Eliminating routes 76-Hayes Limited and 78-Imperial Limited
  • Reduce service on the following routes, causing longer wait times and more overcrowding: the No. 9 Chalmers, No. 12 Conant, No. 19 Fort, No. 20 Grand Belt, No. 36 Oakland, No. 37 Michigan, No. 39 Puritan, No. 40 Russell, No. 43 Schoolcraft, No. 46 Southfield, No. 47 Tireman, No. 49 Vernor, and No. 53 Wyoming. 


TRU logoWhile we all recognize that the City’s budget has major problems, we need to convince the Mayor and the City Council that they can’t afford to cut bus service!  These cuts would mean:

  • Thousands of Detroiters would lose jobs that require them to work Saturday nights or Sundays;
  • Tens of thousands of Detroiters would struggle to be able to attend church, do basic shopping, or other important activities;crowded bus cartoon from Toronto
  • Longer and more crowded commutes to work, school, and other travel;
  • Both DDOT and SMART would receive less state funding;
  • Light rail funding could be threatened through this message to federal funders that Detroit is not committed to supporting transit;
  • More people wasting thousands of dollars to buy and maintain clunker cars; and
  • Fewer options for millions of residents, workers, students, and visitors to the region.

Read more in the Detroit News, Metro Times, and the Detroit Free Press.

Take Action to Prevent DDOT Cuts!

Don’t despair yet – the proposed DDOT cuts are not final!

With your help, we can still convince Mayor Bing and the City Council to preserve Detroit’s vital bus service!

1)  Call Mayor Bing today at 313-224-3400!  Tell him you oppose these bus cuts!DDOT bus in front of the FOX

2)  Come to a DDOT hearing next week on the bus cuts and voice your opposition there too! 

DDOT has arranged 8 hearings next week throughout the city.  We really want to pack the first one, but you can attend any of these that work for you:

  • WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, 5901 Conner Avenue, Detroit
    • Monday, August 24, 2009 from 10am to 12noon and again from 6-8pm
  • ROSA PARKS TRANSIT CENTER, 360 Michigan Avenue (at Cass), Detroit

    • Tuesday, August 25, 2009 from 10am to 12noon and again from 6-8pm
  • NEIGHBORHOOD CITY HALL (Southwest District), 7400 W. Vernor, Detroit

    • Wednesday, August 26, 2009 from 10am to 12noon and again from 6-8pm
  • NORTHWEST ACTIVITIES CENTER, 18100 Meyers, Detroit
    • Thursday, August 27, 2009 from 10am to 12noon and again from 6-8pm


3)  Join us for a big rally, protest, and press conference Tuesday at 9:15am at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.  We’re partnering with ATU Local 26 – the DDOT bus drivers union – to draw attention to the real impact of these threatened cuts.

4)  Help us spread the word.  Print out some flyers and hand them out on your bus, in your office, or anywhere else.  Or even better, join us for a few hours this week to distribute flyers.

5)  Vote on the Detroit News poll about these cuts.  No, it won’t prevent the cuts, but it certainly couldn’t hurt!

With your help, we can convince the Mayor how vitally important bus service is and prevent these cuts.  Please help now!