Another executive is leaving Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration two weeks after the mayor announced his planning director is departing.
Michael Staley, Detroit Department of Transportation’s interim director, is leaving the post at the end of the year, after two years with the department. He plans to return to a consulting business he was involved in before joining DDOT, according to Duggan spokesman John Roach.
Staley took the interim role after Mike Oglesby resigned last year. Staley was brought on to fix Detroit’s broken paratransit system, which was plagued by customer complaints over unprofessional drivers, delayed pickups and incorrect drop-offs.
G. Michael Staley, Program Manager for Paratransit speaks at a press conference to provide an update on the paratransit program at DDOT Administrative Building in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
Controversy ensued when Detroit City Council was expected to renew a contract with Transdev, which handled much of the oversight, including scheduling, customer complaints and reservations. But riders were unhappy with the company, later persuading Council to vote down the contract. As a result, Duggan flexed his authority to implement an emergency contract to continue services until Staley restructured the system.
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Paratransit services were later brought in house, where Staley was responsible for boosting on-time performance and improving customer satisfaction. On-time performance improved to 97% and paratransit usage increased by 25%, according to the city. On-demand paratransit service is expected to launch in January 2025.
“It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Detroit,” Staley said in a news release. “I am excited to see the changes that will take place at DDOT over the next 12 months. DDOT will become the public transportation system that our customers expect and deserve.”
Staley also helped boost ridership to more than 250,000 passengers per week, boosted the number of buses in daily service by 20%, added 150 bus drivers, secured $30 million in federal money to buy 21 hybrid coaches and Detroit’s first hydrogen-fueled coaches, and opened the new Jason Hargrove Transit Center at the State Fairgrounds.
Mayor Mike Duggan gets on the bus to the State Fairgrounds’ new transit center, the Jason Hargrove Transit Center, which opened in May.
Duggan expects to name a replacement before Christmas.
“DDOT is providing better service to its customers today thanks to Michael’s efforts, particularly our most vulnerable residents who rely on our improved paratransit service,” Duggan said in a news release. “Work still needs to be done to get our bus service to where it needs to be, and Michael has gotten us moving in the right direction. I wish him the very best in his next chapter.”
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DDOT interim director out, Duggan to name new head by Christmas