Detroit People Mover to receive $10 million for fleet upgrade

Michigan has allocated $10 million to modernize the Detroit People Mover fleet, marking the largest single grant in the first round of funding from the Michigan Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund (IPAF).

The investment is designated to facilitate a four-phase process—evaluation, refurbishment, integration, and certification—for 12 refurbished railcars imported from Toronto. These vehicles, previously used by the Toronto Transit Commission, are intended to replace nine aging cars currently in the Detroit fleet.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) expects the upgrade to improve service reliability, increase trip frequency, and reduce maintenance downtime. The People Mover, which serves as a vital component of Detroit’s downtown transit network, carries approximately 1.25 million passengers annually.