Detroit’s Public Transit Triumphs During Record-Breaking NFL Draft Week

Last week, Detroit was packed with activity as the NFL Draft attracted huge numbers of visitors, significantly boosting the use of the city’s public transit systems. The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan reported extraordinary ridership on the D2A2 bus line connecting Detroit and Ann Arbor, leading to the introduction of additional late-night services to meet the overwhelming demand. This surge in transit use highlighted the critical role of efficient public transportation in managing large-scale events in the city. The D2A2 route saw almost 3,000 riders over the three-day draft period, nearly half the total ridership of the previous month. This spike was only previously rivaled by the influx of visitors during major concert events featuring stars like Beyonce and Taylor Swift. In addition, the newly launched Detroit Air Express bus, connecting Detroit to the Metro Airport, also experienced about 1,000 riders, indicating a robust start for the service launched in March. Detroit’s People Mover recorded its busiest April since pre-bankruptcy days, with 69,211 riders throughout the draft weekend. In preparation, the Detroit Transportation Corporation implemented new information screens and enlisted the help of 20 volunteers to assist passengers. The busiest periods were during the evening hours, especially after the...