Detroit public transit resume fare collection on March 15
Beginning March 15, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and SMART will resume fare collection and increase rider capacity following extensive safety modifications to protect drivers and passengers, almost a year since the city suspended payments in the wake of the pandemic.
Last March, both transit agencies suspended fare collection to limit exposure between coach operators and riders in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Immediately thereafter, DDOT and SMART started implementing safety measures to protect coach operators and riders.
In late 2020, DDOT began installing permanent state-of-the-art barriers next to the driver’s seat to separate and reduce air exchange between drivers and passengers.
Riders are required to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose, per a federal mask mandate for transit systems that went into effect last month; masks will also be required at bus stops and in any transportation building.
There are four regional pass options available to riders. The Dart pass offers unlimited rides on DDOT and SMART buses, as well as the QLine streetcar:
- 4-hour Dart pass – $2
- 24-hour Dart pass – $5
- 7-day Dart pass – $22
- 31-day Dart pass – $70
For those who only take DDOT buses, options include:
- 7-Day DDOT pass – $17
- 31-Day DDOT pass – $50
- DDOT Student ID Card – $2 (only available to students in grades 9-12 without a student ID)
