John D. Dingell Transit Center

This article is about the Amtrak train station in Dearborn, Michigan. For the former train station in Chicago, see Dearborn Station.

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]

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
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 (1978-07-23)
Rebuilt	October 1, 1979 (1979-10-01) (original station building) December 9, 2014 (2014-12-09) (current station building)
Passengers
FY 2024	62,013[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Ann Arbor toward Chicago Wolverine Detroit toward Pontiac
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Ann Arbor toward Chicago Lake Cities 1980–2004 Detroit toward Pontiac Ypsilanti toward Jackson Michigan Executive Detroit (Michigan Central) Terminus
Location

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

Old Amtrak building

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 August 19, 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 (1,500 m²) 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-by-20-foot (5.5 m × 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.

See also

Other stations that recently^[when?] were demolished and replaced with a newer building.

• Schenectady station
• Rochester station
• Buffalo–Exchange Street station
• Niagara Falls station (New York)
• Anaheim station
• Bloomington-Normal station
• Tacoma station/Tacoma Dome station