Detroit People Mover
The Detroit People Mover is a elevated automated people mover system in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The system operates in a one-way loop on a single track encircling downtown Detroit, using Intermediate Capacity Transit System linear induction motor technology developed by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation. In, the system had a ridership of, or about per weekday as of.
The People Mover is supplemented by the QLINE streetcar, which connects downtown with Midtown, New Center, and the Detroit Amtrak station. The system also connects to local buses operated by DDOT and SMART, and the D2A2 and DAX commuter buses, as part of a comprehensive network of transportation in metropolitan Detroit.
History
Background
In 1964 the creation of the federal Urban Mass Transportation Administration allowed stronger investment into cities' declining transit systems. By the late 1960s there was gaining momentum for exploring new forms of transit to improve the quality of urban life, and UMTA's scope was expanded for development of such systems. In the early 1970s two automated guideway transit demonstrators were sponsored; a "group rapid transit" concept, the Vought Airtrans, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport; and a "personal rapid transit" concept, Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit, at the West Virginia University. Additionally, four companies would receive grants to develop automated systems to be demonstrated at Transpo '72. While these AGT systems ended up being popular with zoos, airports, and abroad, they failed to attract popularity among municipalities and planning organizations.Planning
In the early 1970s pressure was mounting for a high-capacity rapid transit network for Detroit. In early 1972 Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments commenced a study of such a network. During the study, it became apparent that automated people movers were useful in complimenting transit services, recommending systems for Downtown, Medical Center & Wayne State, Fairlane Town Center, Southfield, and Metro Airport. The study, released in 1974, would ultimately see realization as the QLine.In 1975, following the failure to produce any large-scale development from the AGT program and increased pressure to show results, UMTA created the Downtown People Mover Program and sponsored a nationwide competition that offered federal funds to cover much of the cost of planning and construction of such a system. UMTA reviewed thirty-five full proposals. From these, they selected proposals from Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Paul. In addition, UMTA decided they would approve proposals from Baltimore, Detroit, and Miami to develop People Mover systems if they could do so with existing grant commitments. Of the seven cities with UMTA approval for their People Mover proposals, only Detroit and Miami persevered to build and operate systems.
The Ford Motor Company was involved in one of the designs of the People Mover and had hired AlScott Service Company to design and build a room size working model of the system. This model was used for Ford's proposals in their attempt to build the system. Ford previously developed the ACT, a rubber-tired monorail, which was exhibited at Transpo '72; a production version of the system ran at Fairlane Town Center in nearby Dearborn from 1976 to 1988.
The People Mover was intended to be the downtown distributor for a proposed city and metro-wide light rail transit system for Detroit in the early 1980s; however, funding was scaled back. President Gerald Ford had promised $600 million in federal funds. Plans included a subway line along Woodward Avenue that would turn into a street level train at McNichols and eventually go all the way to Pontiac, with additional rail lines running along Gratiot and a commuter line between Detroit and Port Huron. Inability of local leaders to come to an agreement led to the $600 million commitment being withdrawn by the Reagan administration, though plans for the People Mover still moved forward. At the time of planning, the system was projected to have a ridership of 67,700 daily.
During construction, the system was initially owned by the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority. It was acquired by the Detroit Transportation Corporation on October 4, 1985. DTC was incorporated in 1985 as a Michigan Public Body Corporate for the purpose of acquiring, owning, constructing, furnishing, equipping, completing, operating, improving, enlarging, and/or disposing of the Central Automated Transit Systems. DTC was created by the City of Detroit, Michigan pursuant to Act 7 of Public Acts of 1967 and is a component unit of the City of Detroit and accounts its activity as per proprietary funds.
Opening
The Downtown People Mover opened on July 31, 1987. A ceremony was held the Financial District station, with appearances by Mayor Coleman Young and People Mover supporter Max Fisher. After opening speeches and awards, Young and Fisher cut a five-foot-long cake shaped like a People Mover car, and boarded the inaugural run. The train broke through a green ribbon accompanied by the simultaneous release of 10,000 balloons, also shaped like a People Mover car. A block party was hosted below on Larned Street, and the service was open to the public by 1:30pm. That weekend trains were usually packed, with passengers waiting around 20 minutes to board at some stations. Transit officials controlled crowds, encouraging only taking one round-trip to let others ride. The system carried an estimated 2,000 passengers per hour on Friday and Saturday. Rides were free for the first week, with a $0.50 fare going into effect on August 8.In the first year, an average of 11,000 riders used the People Mover each day; the one-day record was 54,648. Originally, the People Mover System was operated and maintained by UTDC on a month-to-month basis; DTC took over operations and maintenance on November 18, 1988.
Service disruptions from construction
On October 24, 1998, the implosion of the J. L. Hudson Department Store damaged part of the nearby People Mover track and forced the system to shut down. Limited service resumed on January 23, 1999 with the system split into two lines: a "red line" running between Times Square & Millender Center, and a "green line" between Greektown and Cobo Center. Both lines were shortened by one stop in August of that year. In November 1999, the loop was restored, and Times Square station reopened.However, Grand Circus Park and Greektown remained closed to accommodate construction of Greektown Casino and the closure of the David Whitney Building. Greektown station reopened in January 2000, following the casino's completion. In April 2001, Grand Circus Park reopened, restoring service to whole system.
During construction of Compuware World Headquarters, the Cadillac Center station was temporarily closed as part of the parking structure was built around it. The station remained largely untouched and unmodified, although the entrance was slightly expanded, and a walkway to the garage was added.
In 2002, the original Renaissance Center station was closed and demolished. This was part of a multi-year renovation of the Renaissance Center, in which concrete berms in front of the complex were removed to make it more inviting to the rest of downtown. The system ran limited service due to the gap in the track during construction, leading to a drop in ridership, before the new station and track opened on September 3, 2004. The original station's tile artwork was destroyed in the demolition, though its creator, George Woodman, designed a replacement work for the new station.
The Grand Circus Park station closed for renovations on August 16, 2014, as part of renovation work in the David Whitney Building. A new station lobby was added with a direct entrance to the building, and an elevator was added to provide step-free access. Trains continued to operate in a one-way loop, bypassing Grand Circus Park, for most of the station's closure, though the line was briefly split into two segments while part of the track was closed. The Grand Circus Park station officially reopened on June 13, 2015. A connecting QLine station was added shortly thereafter, opening with the system in May 2017.
Changes in direction
The system originally ran counter-clockwise. It changed directions to run clockwise in August 2008, following a short closure to replace sections of the track. This change in direction was intended to reduce the time needed to connect between more popular destinations. The switch to clockwise also reduced the time required to complete the loop, as the route, run clockwise, has one short, relatively steep uphill climb, and then coasts downhill for most of the route, allowing trains to use gravity to accelerate.In late December 2019, the People Mover tested counter-clockwise operation. The system began running counter-clockwise on weekends in February 2020, and then returned to counter-clockwise operation full-time on March 1.
COVID-19 shutdown and reopening
The People Mover shut down on March 30, 2020, due to reduced ridership amid the COVID-19 pandemic.After a planned 2021 reopening was postponed, the system resumed limited service on May 20, 2022, running six days a week, stopping at only six of the 13 stations. Broadway and Financial District reopened thirteen days later on June 2, followed by Renaissance Center and Fort/Cass on September 14, Bricktown on November 21, Cadillac Center on May 23, 2023, and Times Square on June 26, 2023.
To attract riders, fares were initially waived from reopening day through August, and later extended through October 2022.
In October 2023, DTC announced that its administrative headquarters would move from the Buhl Building to the nearby Guardian Building.
System upgrades and free service pilot
In December 2023, DTC's board of directors approved a one-year pilot program to eliminate fares on the People Mover, supported by a large donation from a corporate sponsor. The program commenced on January 2, 2024, and following an evaluation of the program, in which it was found to have increased system ridership, it was extended through the end of 2025. Priority Waste, a waste management company based in nearby Clinton Township, was announced as the presenting sponsor in March 2024.Also in December 2023, DTC announced plans to acquire railcars and other surplus equipment from the Toronto Transit Commission, following the decommissioning of the Scarborough RT, a similar system, the prior July.
The system's communication infrastructure was upgraded in early 2024, in preparation for expected large crowds during the 2024 NFL draft. Realtime tracking was added, and each station received upgraded public address and video surveillance systems, plus new passenger information displays and interactive kiosks. Color-changing lights were installed on guideway support columns along Larned Street and Grand Circus Park, and five stations received large exterior murals as part of the Detroit City Walls public art program.
West Riverfront station was renamed Water Square on July 23, 2025. Also in July 2025, station announcements were re-recorded, voiced by Lloyd Jackson Sr. of WJR, in partnership with Cumulus Media.