New Detroit Transit Director Talks Future of City's Transportation System
Key Ideas
- Robert Cramer, the new executive director of Detroit's transit system, emphasizes the importance of safe and reliable service for the city's residents.
- Concerns exist within the Detroit Department of Transit regarding the potential risk to federal grant funding for alternative energy buses under the Trump administration.
- Despite uncertainties, Detroit is set to receive 45 new battery electric hybrid buses this summer, with orders locked in and unaffected by federal policy changes.
- Cramer expresses the city's interest in exploring new technologies like hydrogen buses regardless of the fate of federal grants, highlighting the commitment to seeking alternative funding opportunities.
Robert Cramer has recently taken over as the executive director of Detroit's transit system, succeeding Michael Staley. Drawing from his experience as the general manager for the People Mover, Cramer emphasizes the common goal of providing safe and reliable transportation services to the public. At the Transit Riders United's State of Transit event, he highlighted the similarities in the core needs of different transit systems. The Detroit Department of Transit is apprehensive about the future of federal grant funding for alternative energy buses, with scheduled plans to procure electric and hydrogen buses. Despite potential risks, Cramer remains optimistic and reiterates the city's interest in exploring innovative technologies. Detroit is moving forward with the acquisition of 45 new battery electric hybrid buses, securing orders that will not be impacted by changes in federal policies. Cramer emphasizes the city's resilience in seeking out various funding sources to support the implementation of new transit technologies, reflecting a positive outlook on the future of Detroit's transportation system.