Grand Circus Park station
| Company type | Transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 31, 1987 (People Mover platform) |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
Area served | Detroit metropolitan area |
| Products | Transit services (Detroit People Mover, QLine, bus connections) |
Grand Circus Park station operates as a central transit interchange in downtown Detroit, Michigan, accommodating both the Detroit People Mover and the QLine. Named for its proximity to the Grand Circus Park, this station also serves as the terminus for the D2A2 commuter bus route to Ann Arbor and provides connections to the SMART FAST Michigan and Woodward express bus services.
The station's history begins on September 20, 1976, with the introduction of the Detroit Citizens' Railway, later renamed the Detroit Downtown Trolley, a heritage streetcar line that operated until 2003. The People Mover platform was inaugurated on July 31, 1987, while streetcar service recommenced with the launch of the QLine on May 12, 2017.
Detroit People Mover
Situated within the first two floors of a building adjoining the historic David Whitney Building, at Park Street and Woodward Avenue near Washington Boulevard in the Grand Circus Park Historic District, the People Mover station offers convenient access to notable Detroit landmarks. These include Comerica Park, the Fox Theatre, The Fillmore Detroit, headquarters of Little Caesars, Little Caesars Arena, and the Hockeytown Cafe.
Between 1999 and 2015, entry was restricted to an outdoor staircase due to the closure of the David Whitney Building. However, from August 2014 through June 2015, a new station lobby and elevator were constructed during the building’s renovation, reinstating full accessibility.
Public art
Displayed on the platform is Catching Up, a bronze sculpture crafted by John Seward Johnson II depicting a man engrossed in reading a newspaper while awaiting his train. The newspaper shown is the May 21, 1987 edition of The Detroit News, highlighting headlines about the Chrysler-American Motors merger alongside advertisements from now-defunct Detroit retailers such as Crowley's and Farmer Jack. The choice of The Detroit News over the Detroit Free Press was decided by coin toss; notably, the folded Free Press appears on the briefcase held by the figure.
The QLine operates two side platforms at street level along Woodward Avenue, positioned north of Park Avenue and Witherell Street. The QLine segment of this station is sponsored by General Motors’s Chevrolet division.
Heritage trolley
This station served as the northern endpoint for the Detroit Downtown Trolley, featuring a double-track boarding area just south of the trolley carhouse near Park Avenue. The eastern section of Washington Boulevard was transformed into a pedestrian mall, and later on, an exit-only staircase from the Detroit People Mover was added adjacent to the trolley stop.
Service for the Detroit Downtown Trolley was abruptly discontinued in June 2003. Subsequently, in February 2004, the carhouse was demolished, sculptures within the pedestrian mall were removed that same year, and by 2005 vehicular traffic had fully replaced what had been a pedestrian-only zone.
See also
- Overview of rapid transit networks
- List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership
- Metromover
- Streetcars in North America
- Transportation in metropolitan Detroit