Mayor names Robert Cramer city’s new Executive Director of Transit effective January 6

Cramer has led recent progress at Detroit People Mover as General Manager
Will replace Michael Staley, who announced last week his plans to leave
Cramer to resign as DPM’s GM, will serve on board that oversees People Mover
Will focus heavily on increasing DDOT’s service level and schedule reliability

Current Detroit People Mover General Manager Robert Cramer has been named Detroit’s new Executive Director of Transit, Mayor Mike Duggan announced today. Cramer will replace G. Michael Staley, who announced last week that he would be leaving his post. Staley will remain in his role until January 5th and Cramer will assume the role starting January 6.

Cramer, who has served as General Manager for the past two years, will resign his post at the People Mover, where he has overseen significant service and infrastructure improvements and operational successes. He will remain heavily involved with the People Mover as a member of the Detroit Transportation Corporation Board, which runs the transit system.

In his two and a half years as GM of the People Mover, Cramer has overseen significant successes and progress, including:

Implemented the first Free Fare program in People Mover history, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Priority Waste. The first year of the program in 2024 resulted in an 80% increase in annual ridership, the largest percentage gain of any public transit agency in the country, according to the American Public Transit Association.

Completed $10 million in upgrades to People Mover system to offer an improved rider experience, including station technology and rail replacement.

Purchased replacement rail cars, equipment and parts from the Toronto Transit Commission to upgrade the People Mover fleet, which will be added to the system in 2026.

Carried more than 70,000 passengers during the NFL Draft, the most for any sporting event since Detroit hosted Super Bowl XL in 2006.

“Robert has done tremendous things at the People Mover in a short period of time and has the system operating the best it has in decades,” said Mayor Duggan. “He has shown himself to be an outstanding leader and will do a great job taking DDOT to its next level with increased service levels and better schedule reliability in 2025.”

Prior to coming to the People Mover, Cramer served as Deputy General Manager and then acting General Manager of SMART from 2014-2022, where he guided the regional transit agency through the challenges of the Covid pandemic. He also implemented the popular Frequent Affordable Safe Transit (FAST) regional rapid transit routes on Woodward, Gratiot and Michigan Avenues - including enhanced bus stop amenities, limited stops and high frequency.

“DDOT’s dedicated staff provide essential service for Detroiters every day, connecting neighborhoods and opportunity.” Said Cramer, “I’m honored to lead the team to continue the progress made and be part of a first-class transit system.”

Mayor Duggan said his goal is to have DDOT back to pre-pandemic service levels in 2025 and to continue to expand service. Cramer will be aided in that goal with deliveries of 84 new buses over the next two years, which represents nearly 30% of the DDOT fleet. The new coaches will be mostly hybrid fuel, but DDOT also will be receiving four additional electric buses in 2025 and its first four hydrogen fuel cell buses in 2026.

DDOT’s new $160 million Coolidge Terminal, now under construction, also is expected to be completed in 2026 and will serve as a new west side base of operations for DDOT.