Tired of wondering where the bus is? DDOT has a solution

April 22, 2026

The Detroit City Council has approved a $1. 2 million three-year contract with San Francisco-based Swiftly, Inc. to implement a new vehicle tracking system for the Detroit Department of Transportation.

Who is affected

Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus riders (1,037,728 riders in March according to city data)
High school students, specifically those at Cody High School
District 6 Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero (who personally experienced app inaccuracies)
Detroit City Council Member Mary Waters
DDOT Director Robert Cramer and DDOT officials
Swiftly, Inc. (the vendor receiving the contract)

What action is being taken

DDOT officials are encouraging users to download and use the Detroit Transit App
DDOT has funding carved out for an upcoming pilot on Jefferson Avenue featuring interactive tablet-sized screens at bus stops

Why it matters

This tracking system matters because it addresses a critical trust and reliability issue in Detroit's public transportation system. When riders cannot depend on accurate arrival information, they cannot effectively plan their daily activities or rely on public transit as a viable transportation option. The inaccuracy has severely impacted ridership confidence, particularly among high school students who depend on buses for school attendance. Improving prediction accuracy by over 30 percent will help restore public trust, reduce frustration from extended wait times, and make public transportation a more dependable option for Detroit's transit-dependent population.

What's next

The Swiftly software is expected to roll out for DDOT in 30 days or less
A pilot program on Jefferson Avenue will feature interactive tablet-sized screens at bus stops

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com