Photo from Belle Isle Conservancy
After about a five-year hiatus, the Detroit Department of Transportation, working in conjunction with the state Department of Natural Resources, has resumed bus service to Belle Isle, which was designated as a state park in 2014.
"The DNR and DDOT have been working together for months to introduce bus service to Belle Isle Park," Ron Olson of the DNR said in a statement. "As attendance at the park increased to more than 3.5 million visitors last year, it became increasingly important to provide additional transportation options to the island. It has been a pleasure to work with DDOT on providing this bus service."
The DNR operates the island park under a contract with the city.
“We are glad to provide access for residents to such a unique destination,” says Scharron Rambus with DDOT. “Belle Isle has been a place where special memories have been made and we are honored to continue that tradition.”
The bus service may not only be an added convenience, but it may symbolize a reversal of what had long become a steady decline of services.
For $1.50, customers can now board the #12 Conant bus route Monday – Friday from 5:50 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Riders will not have to pay any additional park-entry fee.
Service to Belle Isle will run roughly every 50 minutes, the city says.
The route begins at the State Fair in Detroit and runs down Conant, through Hamtramck down to Mt. Elliot to E. Grand Blvd. and Jefferson and over the Belle Isle bridge. There are two stops on the island.
