Wayne State University students and employees can now take advantage of free transportation options throughout campus, thanks to partnerships with  DDOT, SMART, the QLine and MoGo.

The university will subsidize four-hour Dart and annual MoGo passes for all enrolled students, as well as full- and part-time employees, allowing them to ride DDOT and SMART buses, the QLine streetcar, and MoGo bikes at no cost. To participate, users will need to download the Dart app and enter an eligibility code, or sign up using their Wayne State email address on a customized MoGo webpage. Riders will have access to three, 4-hour Dart passes per day. To request a Dart eligibility code and sign up for a free annual MoGo pass, visit go.wayne.edu/waynerides or the Parking and Transportation website.

By investing now, the university hopes to help ease pandemic-induced financial stress on students and employees. Navigating campus — including destinations in Midtown and downtown Detroit — involves the movement of approximately 30,000 students and employees, who are vying for one of 12,000 parking spaces scattered across eight structures and 26 surface lots on a daily basis. After arriving on campus, pedestrians rely on various modes of transportation including walking, scooters and cycling. To reach farther points, a number of other options are available.

In recent years, metro Detroit has seen major advances in mobility with the introduction of the QLine, MoGo and SMART FAST limited-stop bus routes. In 2019, DDOT and SMART launched a unified payment system, Dart, which represented another major step forward. Dart passes can be used interchangeably on DDOT and SMART buses and the QLine streetcar.

WSU has been an active contributor and partner in expanding mobility options for the campus community through partnerships with Zipcar, MoGo and the QLine. These partnerships are part of the university’s ongoing efforts to create a 24/7 campus. They also support Wayne State’s Student Success Initiative by offering an affordable way to access campus, as well as neighborhoods, services and jobs across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.

“The university is excited to partner with DDOT, SMART, the QLine and MoGo to make these systems free to ride for Warriors,” said Ned Staebler, Wayne State’s vice president for economic development. “We hope our investment makes it easier for students and employees to access all that our campus and neighborhood have to offer, and encourages other institutions and large employers in Southeast Michigan to do the same.”

WSU began its partnership with DDOT in 2014 and expanded with SMART in 2019 — an association that has provided transportation options and savings for users. WSU has also offered students and employees discounts through its association with MoGo, which launched in 2017. Currently, the bike-share program has 75 stations throughout the city of Detroit and southern Oakland County, including Ferndale, Royal Oak, Oak Park, Berkley and Huntington Woods.

“Since starting at Wayne State four years ago, I've been commuting to campus via bus or bike most days,” said Patrick Cooper-McCann, assistant professor of Urban Studies and Planning. “Not only is it better for the planet, I also get some exercise every day and I save a lot of money. Instead of navigating traffic, I get to read, think, catch up on email, or chat with friends on the bus. Transit use also contributes to a more vibrant campus and neighborhood environment. Making transit free will be especially impactful for the many Wayne State community members who don't own a car, but I hope it encourages everyone to give transit a try, whether that means taking a bus to campus or using MoGo to grab lunch or meet up with friends.”  

Wayne State is the first university and large employer to partner with Dart providers to offer free transit to its students and employees.

“As an alumnus of Wayne State, I recall the need of navigating the city to get to class and a reliance on public transportation,” said Hakim Berry, chief operating officer for the City of Detroit. “This is a transformational move that will definitely benefit the students with all modes of transportation — not only the bus system, but the QLine and MoGo. What a great way to get to and around campus!”

To learn more about transportation options on campus, and view suggested routes to popular campus locations like the Mike Ilitch School of Business and the School of Medicine, visit go.wayne.edu/waynerides.