DPM Champion Interview, ft. Megan Owens
July DPM Champion: Megan Owens, Executive Director, Transportation Riders United; Advocate for Great Cities and Universal Opportunity Through Improved Public Transit
Your Detroit Story
“Tell us a little about who you are and what first inspired you to invest your energy in Detroit’s community.”
A: I’m proud to have spent two decades educating, advocating, and mobilizing for more and better public transit, because everyone should be able to get where they need to go, regardless of whether they drive.
I initially got involved in transit advocacy because of the environmental benefits: fewer cars, less pollution, and less sprawl. Over time, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how great transit helps build and support vibrant, walkable communities and brings diverse people together.
Transportation in Downtown: Then & Now
“In your experience, how has transportation in Downtown Detroit evolved over the years, and what role do you see the People Mover playing in that change?”
A: So many people forget that Detroit was built around public transit. Early autoworkers saved their fancy new automobiles for Sunday drives and rode the streetcar almost anywhere they needed to go. Most of Detroit’s great neighborhoods and suburbs grew up around streetcar lines.
While transit today isn’t as prevalent or frequent as those old streetcars, convenient, frequent transit is one of the keys to helping Detroit thrive again. The People Mover plays an important role in that future by making downtown easier to navigate, connecting people to work, events, the riverfront, conventions, and other transit options in a way that reminds us how valuable public transit can be.
Favorite Spot Along the People Mover
“Which station or nearby spot along the People Mover route do you love most, and what makes it special to you?”
A: One of my favorite People Mover memories is from when my daughter was in preschool at the downtown YMCA. She would beg me to go for a ride on the “up-high train” so we could look out over the Detroit River, especially as it curved around the convention center.
The ride, followed by “the tunnel” inside the building, was always her favorite, and it still makes me smile today.
Hopes & Dreams for Detroit
“When you think about Detroit’s future, what’s one message or aspiration you’d share with the community?”
A: I want Detroit to have something for everyone, because Detroit has never been just one thing. Detroit at its best has a wide variety of neighborhoods, festivals, housing, and transportation options.
Let’s celebrate that breadth and the many different pieces that, together, make Detroit great.
Fun Finale: Ride with Anyone
“If you could ride the Detroit People Mover with anyone—past or present—who would it be, and why?”
A: I’d love to take my dad on the People Mover. Back in the 1980s, he used to take the train from Ann Arbor to work in downtown Detroit, and he took me to Tigers games during the amazing 1984 season.
He passed away years ago, and I bet he’d be wowed to see downtown today.
Connect with Megan & Detroit Transit
Instagram: @detroittransit
Facebook: Megan on Facebook | Detroit Transit on Facebook
LinkedIn: Megan on LinkedIn | Detroit Transit on LinkedIn
