Detroit People Mover System Plan and Downtown Mobility Study

The Detroit People Mover (DPM) System Plan and Downtown Mobility Study is an opportunity to shape the future of how people move around Downtown Detroit and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Downtown Detroit is changing, with new investment transforming the area into a vibrant neighborhood where people live, work, and visit for its parks, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and special events. This shift has led to increased ridership on the Detroit People Mover.

Through this study, DPM will be reimagining its role in helping people travel to and around Greater Downtown Detroit, aiming to enhance Downtown access for all. The study will result in actionable strategies to improve DPM and other transit services in the short- and long-term. These will include strategies that improve the existing system, rethink its current configuration, and explore opportunities for expansion.

Help Shape the Future of the DPM

Phase 3 Engagement is here! Join us in June for community meetings and help shape the future of DPM. Meetings will cover key improvement plans and sustainable funding pathways. Your feedback is essential to guiding the final recommendations and defining what comes next for downtown mobility. Share your voice and vision.

Upcoming Community Meetings

In-Person Meeting

Monday, June 8, 2026

5:30 - 7:00 pm

Register for Virtual Meeting

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

5:30 - 7:00 pm

The District Detroit Opportunity Center

2277 Woodward Ave.,

Suite 160, Detroit, MI 48201

Get Directions

Virtual Community Meeting

Study Highlights

Draft Goals:

The study will identify ways in which the Detroit People Mover will be:

RECOGNIZED as a vital asset for residents, workers, visitors, and investors in the downtown.

CONNECTED to key places and spaces within the Greater Downtown.

INTEGRATED seamlessly into the transit and mobility network serving Detroit and the region.

SUSTAINED with the public support and funding needed to maintain an accessible, reliable, safe, and efficient service for the long term.

Improvement Concept Categories

Improvement Concepts that will be explored through the planning process will be grouped into four categories:

Existing Conditions Assessment

The Existing Conditions Assessment for the Detroit People Mover provides a detailed analysis of the current system, its performance, and the opportunities and challenges it faces within the broader transportation network. The full report can be accessed in the Project Documents section below. The Existing Conditions Assessment looks beyond Detroit’s traditional Central Business District (CBD) to explore patterns in a broader swath of the city, and to consider the role that the People Mover plays in improving mobility across this area. For the purposes of data aggregation, the study area includes all census tracts that fall within a 1-mile radius of a People Mover station This study area includes two zones: (1) The Downtown Core, which includes the census tracts in which the People Mover currently operates, and (2) the Greater Downtown, which includes all census tracts that are fully or partially within a 1-mile radius of existing People Mover stations, excluding those in the Downtown Core.

Project Updates

The study includes three phases of engagement, shown in the graphic below. This engagement approach is designed to provide regular opportunities for updates and feedback, allowing the project team to incorporate feedback throughout the planning process.

Phase 2 Engagement Update

Phase 2 focused on identifying community values and stakeholder priorities regarding improvement concepts for: enhancing the system, reconfiguring the system, identifying future expansion opportunities, and strengthening downtown mobility. Feedback emphasized a need to focus on residents, support visitors, and strive for accessibility and long-term sustainability. Participants advocated for a system could play a larger role in supporting everyday travel, major events, and long-term downtown growth.