Detroit made buses free for students, but getting to and from school is still hard

May 18, 2026

Detroit recently launched a free bus pilot program for students, yet many high schoolers face significant transportation challenges getting to and from school. An analysis found that over 40% of Detroit public high schools are poorly served by city buses, with schedules misaligned by 30 minutes or more, compounded by buses that are only on-time about 70% of the time. Students like tenth-grader Jessica Horton must wait extended periods at bus stops, sometimes missing connections or unable to board overcrowded buses, which research shows negatively impacts school attendance.

Who is affected

Detroit high school students, particularly those attending Detroit Public Schools Community District schools
Jessica Horton (10th grader) and Aaron West (9th grader) at Southeastern High School
Students at Cody High School
Over 40% of high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District
Families of students who cannot leave work to provide transportation
Students at two Detroit high schools involved in a recent yellow bus pilot program

What action is being taken

The city is operating a pilot program making bus rides free for students (launched in April)
The Detroit Department of Transportation is improving its bus-tracking system
Robert Cramer and the transit department are working on potential schedule adjustments and considering assigning additional or larger buses to student-heavy routes

Why it matters

Students without reliable transportation are less likely to attend school consistently, and chronic absenteeism disrupts learning. Research and a recent pilot program with yellow bus service demonstrated that better transit options improve attendance rates at Detroit neighborhood schools. The transportation challenges disproportionately affect students who must rely on public transit because their families cannot provide rides, creating barriers to educational access and success.

What's next

Robert Cramer hopes to have schedule improvements and adjustments in place by the time school starts next year. Potential changes include tweaking schedules and assigning additional or larger buses to routes frequently used by students.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com