Detroit’s New Bus Terminal Supports a Million Monthly Riders and More

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) opened a new $160 million bus terminal to serve as its westside base of operations. The 200,000-square-foot, three-building Coolidge Terminal replaces the original terminal that was damaged by fire and moves westside operations from the aging Gilbert Terminal.

The new terminal will help DDOT maintain buses more efficiently, provides employee amenities, and supports reliable service for Detroit’s million monthly riders. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said, “Our DDOT drivers and mechanics are critical to making sure our residents can get to work, to school, their doctor’s appointment or to store, and absolutely essential to our city’s economy. They deserve to have a first-class facility to support them and now they do.”

The terminal includes a climate-controlled bus storage building with space for up to 120 buses, a maintenance building for routine repairs and maintenance, and an administration building with employee amenities including an indoor-outdoor lounge, kitchen, exercise room, lockers and showers.

Funding for the project includes $102.5 million from FTA, $31.5 million from the City of Detroit, and $25.6 million from Michigan DOT. The investment does more than keep Detroiters moving; it supports growth as every dollar invested in transit returns $5 to the economy.