Detroit People’s Platform (DPP) organizes on behalf of essential bus riders, individuals and families that use Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus service as their primary and sole means of transportation.
Transit Justice is the result of achieving equity in public transportation for essential riders. Transit Justice considers the collective challenges of the poor, working-class, majority Black neighborhoods, youth, parents, individuals with disabilities, and senior citizens.
Currently, the Transit Justice Team is organizing essential bus riders to participate in our rider-centered comprehensive operational analysis referred to as DDOT Reimagined: advocacy for increased bus frequency, reliability, and expanded weekend and weeknight service in majority Black, POC, and low-income neighborhoods. This is tied to our current campaign to fund and implement the Low-Income Fare Program: a fare discount program expanded to individuals that are returning citizens, experiencing homelessness, veteran, and individuals experiencing low to no income.
Equally important, the Transit Justice Team is monitoring the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal investments in DDOT with the expansion and construction of shelters and seating at bus stops across the city installed with equity considerations and compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Due to the operator shortage, which is connected to low pay, low morale, increased hours, and other occupational hazards — essential bus riders in Detroit are experiencing missed scheduled service, no-show buses, and late-arrivals impacting one’s ability to maintain attendance at work, medical appointment cancellations and penalties, and increased truancy in school-age children jeopardizing families utilizing social-safety net programs.
Detroit People’s Platform call to action is for public officials to consider the voice and needs of operators and support increased investment into operations-funding. Increased investment in this important public asset will result in benefits for public transit operators, advancement of DDOT Reimagined with dedicated funding with a timeline, and implementation of the Low-Income Fare Program.
“Detroit People’s Platform (DPP) is new to the Third Sector New England (TSNE) FSO network. Already, we appreciate the technical assistance and support from the TSNE team. TSNE strengthens the capacity of DPP to deliver on the critical human resource and fiscal needs of our team which in turn supports DPP’s critical work on racial equity for majority Black Detroit,” said Linda Campbell, Director.
You can learn more through accessing the following resources:
Transit Justice Toolkit: Mapping the Road to Transit Justice in Detroit: Action Report, Activist Toolkit & Vision for Change
On Social Media:
- Facebook: Transit Talks (group)
- Instagram: @transittalks