Transit Unplugged

Detroit Transit: Robert Cramer on the People Mover, Fare-Free Service, and Urban Mobility


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When most people think of Detroit, they think cars. But behind the Motor City moniker is a layered, multi-agency public transit system—and Robert Cramer is helping connect the dots.

 

As Executive Director of Transit for the City of Detroit, Cramer leads both DDOT and Detroit Transportation Corporation, operator of the iconic elevated People Mover. In this episode, Paul Comfort joins Robert for a ride downtown and a deep dive into Detroit’s evolving mobility story.

 

You'll hear how:

 

  • The People Mover went fare-free—and what happened next
  • Detroit is coordinating between suburban, city, and regional agencies
  • Transit plays a role in the city's ongoing revitalization
  • Cramer’s planning background shaped his vision for service, connectivity, and rider experience
  • Plus: the story behind Detroit’s international connections with Canada, sports district access, and what it takes to lead transit in the heart of America’s car capital.

 

 

Credits:

 

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo

 

Creator, Host, + Producer: Paul Comfort

Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Producer + Newsletter Editor: Chris O'Keeffe

Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin

 

Special thanks to:


Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye

Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova

 

Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

 

Subscribe to the Transit Unplugged Newsletter: transitunplugged.com/subscribe-to-the-transit-unplugged-newsletter

 

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Transit UnpluggedBy Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo

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