Detroit splits its transit between two bus agencies — DDOT in the city, SMART in the suburbs — that share a fare system, plus two free rail loops downtown. There’s no fare gate to fight and no rail line to the airport, but a $2 bus ride gets you almost anywhere in the region.
The basics
DDOT runs 48 bus routes across the city of Detroit, radiating out from the Rosa Parks Transit Center downtown. Cross into the suburbs and you’re on SMART buses instead — including FAST, SMART’s limited-stop, higher-frequency service along three major corridors (Gratiot, Woodward, and Michigan Avenues), and Connector, an on-demand curb-to-curb service in a few zones.
Downtown and Midtown add two rail options, both completely free: the QLINE streetcar runs 3.3 miles up Woodward Avenue, and the Detroit People Mover loops around downtown on an elevated track with 13 stations.
How to pay
There are no fare gates anywhere in the system — you pay as you board.
- On DDOT or SMART buses, tap to pay with the Token Transit app, or drop exact change in the farebox (drivers can’t make change).
- On SMART fixed routes, the Transit app also works, through a free partner program called Transit Royale.
- The QLINE and the Detroit People Mover are both free — just walk on, no payment needed at all.
DDOT recently switched its mobile ticketing from an app called Passport to Token Transit — if you see old references to Passport online, that’s outdated.
Fares
| Fare | Reduced | |
|---|---|---|
| DDOT or SMART single ride | $2.00 | $0.50 |
| SMART Connector (flex/curb-to-curb) | $4.00 | $1.00 |
| 4-hour DART pass (DDOT + SMART) | $2.00 | $0.50 |
| 24-hour DART pass | $5.00 | $2.00 |
| 7-day DART pass | $22.00 | $10.00 |
| 31-day DART pass | $70.00 | $29.00 |
The $0.50 reduced fare covers seniors (65+), people with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders on both DDOT and SMART. On DDOT, students ages 5–18 with a valid school ID also pay the $0.50 reduced fare, and kids under 44 inches tall ride free with a paying adult. On SMART, it’s simpler: K-12 and college students ride fixed-route buses completely free with a valid student ID.
The best deal is the 4-hour DART pass — it’s the same $2.00 as a single ride, but buying it through Token Transit or at a fare machine gets you unlimited transfers between DDOT and SMART for the next 4 hours, so there’s no extra charge for crossing from the city into the suburbs (or back).
Getting from the airport
Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) has no rail link — your transit option is a bus.
- SMART’s FAST Route 261 runs between Downtown Detroit and both DTW terminals (Evans and McNamara) via Michigan Avenue, also serving Corktown, Dearborn, and Inkster along the way. It’s SMART’s high-frequency, limited-stop service — buses come every 15–20 minutes at peak times, running 7 days a week, including late nights and weekends.
- Cost: the standard $2.00 SMART fare.
- A slower local alternative, SMART Route 125, also serves both terminals.
- If you’d rather skip transfers, Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) is a private shuttle (not covered by DDOT/SMART fares) running downtown from both terminals, 3:30am–11pm daily, for $6 booked in advance or $8 at the door.
Look for the “Public Transit” signage inside the Evans and McNamara terminals to find the bus stop, and double-check your terminal before boarding.
Apps to download
- Token Transit — buy DDOT fares and DART regional passes from your phone.
- Transit — real-time arrivals and trip planning; also handles SMART fare payment through the free Transit Royale partnership.
- Google Maps or Apple Maps — fine for planning trips across DDOT, SMART, and the QLINE.
When it runs
DDOT and SMART both run daily, including weekends, though the exact frequency depends on the route. FAST corridors are SMART’s most frequent service, running every 15–20 minutes at peak and operating 7 days a week, including late nights and weekends.
The QLINE runs every 15 minutes, Monday–Saturday 8am–midnight and Sunday 8am–9pm.
The Detroit People Mover runs Monday–Friday 6:30am–midnight, Saturday 10am–midnight, and Sunday 10am–10pm. One quirk: its Huntington Place Station closes at 10pm nightly — after that, use the Financial District Station instead.
Accessibility
All SMART fixed-route buses carry space for two wheelchairs and are equipped with bike racks. Riders who can’t use fixed-route service can apply for dedicated paratransit:
- DDOT Paratransit serves Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park residents with disabilities for $2.50 per trip. Book by phone at (313) 774-5555.
- SMART’s ADA Paratransit is a curb-to-curb service across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Monroe counties for $3.00 per trip, for riders certified as unable to use fixed-route buses. Personal care attendants ride free.
Etiquette & local quirks
- The 4-hour DART pass means you don’t need to pay again just because you’ve crossed from DDOT’s city routes onto a SMART suburban bus, or the other way around.
- The QLINE and People Mover are both free, so they’re the easy, no-fare way to hop around downtown and Midtown without worrying about fare at all.
- Bring exact change if you’re paying cash on a bus — drivers don’t carry any.
Good to know
- DDOT switched its mobile payment app from Passport to Token Transit — if a website or old post mentions Passport, it’s out of date.
- DDOT and SMART honor each other’s DART regional passes, but each agency’s reduced-fare ID and application process is separate — apply through whichever agency you’ll ride more.