Stranded at the stop: Metro Detroit's bus driver shortage crisis (ft. Megan Owens, TRU)

Today we focus on one topic - Metro Detroit's bus driver shortage.

It's at crisis levels, with some of the worst on-time performance in the country between Detroit's Department of Transportation and SMART.

The issue? A lack of bus drivers, leaving thousands of people stranded or late regularly.

Since the pandemic, it's been very hard to attract and keep bus drivers, and service hasn't been the same since 2019.

This shortage is due in large part, according to a new report from Transportation Riders United, low pay. Nearby cities like Ann Arbor pay almost $30 an hour to start, while in Detroit it's $15 and SMART it's just over $16 for a training wage.

Not to mention other jobs with the same qualifications in the private sector that pay more.

We talk about what could be done about it, and how TRU wants Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Oakland County Exec Dave Coulter, Wayne County Exec Warren Evans, and Macomb County Exec Mark Hackel to get involved.

Transportation Riders United: https://www.detroittransit.org/

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