John D. Dingell Transit Center

John D. Dingell Transit Center
Dearborn, MI
John D. Dingell Transit Center; Dearborn, MI
	The John D. Dingell Transit Center, one week after opening in Dearborn, Michigan
General information
Location	21201 Michigan Avenue; Dearborn, Michigan; United States
Coordinates	42°18′25″N 83°14′05″W / 42.30694°N 83.23472°W
Owned by	City of Dearborn
Line(s)	MDOT Michigan Line
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	SMART FAST Michigan; SMART 140, 160, 200, 210, 250
Construction
Parking	Yes; free
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: DER
History
Opened	July 23, 1978
Rebuilt	October 1, 1979 (original station building); December 9, 2014 (current station building)
Passengers
FY 2023	61,448 (Amtrak)
Services
Former services
Location
Location

The John D. Dingell Transit Center, also known as the Dearborn Transit Center, is an intermodal transit station in Dearborn, Michigan. It is served by Amtrak's Wolverine line as well as Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) buses. The station is named after former U.S. Representative John Dingell.^[2]

Description

The station is located at 21201 Michigan Avenue (US Highway 12). The red brick and glass-faced structure includes a two-story waiting hall, which includes an elevated glass-enclosed pedestrian bridge which allows access to the south platform.^[3] There is also a small retail space within the station.

History

The station was established in 1978 with the goal of Detroit's western suburban residents' access to passenger trains.^[4] A station with a temporary structure opened July 30, 1978. A permanent station building opened on October 1, 1979, replacing the temporary structure. The station was built on property deeded to the city by the Ford Motor Company. The construction cost $348,000, which was split between Amtrak and the state of Michigan.^[5] It was of an Amtrak standard station design.

On 19 August 2011, it was announced that the Federal Railroad Administration had released $28.2 million in funds from the ARRA economic stimulus package for the construction of a new intermodal station to replace the current building; the new facility would serve both intercity and commuter rail and include a new entrance to The Henry Ford museum complex adjacent to it.^[6]

The new 16,000-square-foot station was officially opened for service on 10 December 2014,^[7] and consolidates the old station and the Greenfield Village station.^[8]

A group called Pockets of Perception, made up of ten students of Dearborn senior high schools, created a 18-foot (5.5 m) by 20-foot (6.1 m) mosaic, titled "Transformations," on display in the station's lobby.^[9]

Connections

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation; Routes 140, 160, 200, 210, 250, and FAST 261.^[10] SMART's on-demand Flex service also serves the station and the surrounding area.