DETROIT ~ Detroit officials dedicated a new $160 million Department of Transportation operations and maintenance complex Wednesday, saying the investment will improve bus reliability, support transit workers, and strengthen service for the roughly 1 million monthly DDOT riders.
“This is an investment in our riders, because we know that when buses are well-maintained, when drivers are better cared for, it shows up in better service to our residents,” Mayor Mary Sheffield said during the dedication ceremony. “Improving bus service in Detroit is something that we will continue to work hard every single day to improve. And with this beautiful new facility, we are taking one big step forward in the right direction.”
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July 9, 2026 ~ Detroit officials dedicated a new $160 million DDOT Operations and Maintenance Complex designed to improve bus reliability and support the city’s transit system. Mayor Mary Sheffield, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and other leaders discussed the facility’s role in strengthening public transportation in Detroit.
(CONTINUED) The new Coolidge Maintenance and Operations Center replaces a facility that was destroyed by fire in 2011 and later decommissioned in 2023. City officials said the project includes a modern maintenance building, climate-controlled bus storage, administrative offices, a citywide transit control center, and employee amenities including lounges, fitness facilities, and showers. More than 400 DDOT employees will be based at the complex.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, praised the project and emphasized the importance of reliable public transportation as many residents face rising transportation costs, including higher auto insurance expenses. She said many families depend on transit to reach jobs, health care appointments, and other essential destinations, making continued investment in the system increasingly important.
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(CONTINUED) The facility was funded through a partnership involving the Federal Transit Administration, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Detroit Building Authority, and local, state, and federal officials. Sheffield noted that the city has also increased wages for drivers and mechanics, purchased 80 new buses, and invested in bus shelters and benches as part of a broader effort to improve DDOT service.
