DETROIT, MI — A new west-side base of operations will help the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) maintain buses more efficiently, support more reliable service, and prepare the transit system for future growth. DDOT has opened its new $160 million Coolidge Terminal, replacing a nearly century-old facility that was damaged by fire in 2011.
While riders will not board a bus at the new terminal, what happens inside the three-building complex will directly support their daily trips. The facility gives DDOT a modern place to store, maintain, and dispatch buses while serving as the department’s new citywide control center.
For Detroiters who depend on DDOT to reach work, school, medical appointments, stores, and other destinations, the investment is designed to strengthen the operations behind safe and reliable bus service.
The 200,000-square-foot complex includes separate buildings for bus storage, maintenance, and administrative operations.
A 121,192-square-foot, climate-controlled storage building can house as many as 120 buses overnight or while they are out of service. Keeping buses protected from Detroit’s heat, cold, and severe weather can help DDOT safeguard its fleet and prepare vehicles for service. The storage building also includes areas where buses can be washed regularly, helping prevent maintenance issues.
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| SITECH Michigan |
| SITECH Michigan |
| SITECH Michigan |
| SITECH Michigan |
A new 54,293-square-foot maintenance building gives DDOT mechanics a modern space to perform routine maintenance and repairs. That work is essential to keeping buses safe, addressing problems, and returning vehicles to service.
The site also includes a new citywide DDOT control center, giving the department updated technology and a central location to oversee daily bus operations.
The new terminal also represents a significant improvement for the drivers, mechanics, and other employees responsible for operating Detroit’s bus system. The 16,922-square-foot administration building includes offices, an exercise room, a kitchen, and indoor-outdoor lounge, as well as lockers and showers. Those amenities offer employees a more modern and comfortable workplace before, during, and after their shifts.
The climate-controlled storage building and updated maintenance spaces also give employees better conditions for inspecting, repairing, and preparing buses throughout the year.
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| AIS Construction Equipment |
| AIS Construction Equipment |
| AIS Construction Equipment |
| AIS Construction Equipment |
DDOT has now moved its west-side operations from the aging Gilbert Terminal to Coolidge. The Gilbert facility is expected to be demolished. DDOT’s east-side operations will continue at the Shoemaker Terminal near I-94 and Connor Street.
The new complex was designed with prepared areas that will allow all three buildings to expand. That gives DDOT room to add capacity as the city’s fleet and transit needs evolve.
Funding for the project included:
- $102.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration
- $31.5 million from the City of Detroit
- $25.6 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation
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| Continental Equipment Corp (CEC) |
| Continental Equipment Corp (CEC) |
The $160 million total includes approximately $10 million for demolition of the former terminal.
