Between 1971 and 1975, four privately owned bus companies were acquired by the publicly owned Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), which in 1989 was reorganized as SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation). This page lists SEMTA and SMART routes which can trace their histories back to the predecessor operators. Some routes were eventually discontinued by SEMTA or SMART. Other routes were restructured going into the 21st Century, and are identified using the more recent numbers and names. And since its formation SEMTA or SMART added some new bus routes, which are not listed if introduced by SMART after 1989.
In the early 1970's, SEMTA inherited a bus system which was primarily focused on transporting people in and out of downtown Detroit. Those routes generally would not carry local passengers within the city limits. Nearly all of the cross suburban bus routes were created by SEMTA, later SMART.
Most expanded service was introduced by SEMTA during the 1970's, when the political climate and energy issues favored the expansion of public transportation. But during the early 1980's, the changing political climate with Reagan as president resulted in major service cutbacks.
SEMTA introduced the three digit route numbers in 1975. Discontinued SEMTA and SMART routes are indicated with parentheses.
After some Detroit United Railway interurban railway lines were discontinued, the Detroit Department of Street Railways (DSR) continued some streetcar service a while longer, a short distance beyond the Detroit city limits.
Prior to the formation of SEMTA, route numbers were used only by Lake Shore Coach Lines (LSCL), and by Intertown Suburban Lines, later Metropolitan Transit (MT). Intertown Suburban Lines introduced route numbers for its routes after 1955. Great Lakes Transit (GLT) did not use route numbers.
In addition there was route 315, formerly route 350, acquired by SEMTA from Short Way Lines in 1976. And Route 510 originally had some runs also operated by Brooks Lines, which had acquired Warren Coach Service around 1960, and additional runs operated by Indian Trails. But by 1983, all runs were operated by SEMTA.
In 2018, SMART introduced the FAST (Frequent Affordable Safe Transit) bus service along the Michigan and Woodward and Gratiot corridors, to and from downtown Detroit. And the traditional main local routes were discontinued within the city, except during rush hours.
Route Route First Buses DUR DSR Last Former Notes
Number Name Bus Intro- Rail Cars Private SEMTA
Co. duced Disc. Disc. Co./No. Number
(110) West Jefferson jitney 1918 1928 1931 GLT now 125
(120) Fort jitney 1921 1932 none MT 17 now 135
125 Fort-Eureka jitney 1918 1928 1931 GLT 110
(130) Fort-Kennebec ISL 1950's new bus MT 17 disc.
(135) Southshore Express jitney 1921 1932 none MT 17 120 disc. 2011
140 Southshore 1970's new bus 185
(145) Carlyle DCC 1936 new bus MT 12 185 disc. 2011
(150) Allen-Wick Renne 1920's new bus MT 19 disc. 2011
(160) Goddard ISL 1950's new bus MT 19 disc. 2011
160 Downriver 5/20/02 new bus
(165) Northline-Ecorse 1976 new bus disc. 1981
(180) Veteran's Hospital 1970's new bus disc.
(190) Taylor Flyer ISL 1950's new bus MT 19 140 disc. 2011
200 Michigan Avenue Renne 1922 1929 none MT 1
(210) Van Born DCC 1930's new bus MT 10 295 disc.
(215) Van Born DCC 1930's new bus MT 11 295 disc.
(245) Cherry Hill ISL 1947 new bus MT 4 240 disc. 2011
250 Ford Road ISL 1947 new bus MT 2
255 Ford Road Exp. 3/ 5/79 new bus 835
(265) Warren Road ISL 1955 new bus MT 3 260 disc. 2011
280 Middlebelt South 10/ 1/73 new bus 285
(298) Dearborn Locals Rayworth 1920's new bus MT 20's disc.
(305) Grand River Ltd. PMC 1920's 1926 1931 GLT 300 disc. 2011
(315) Grand R.-Livonia DN&M 1920's new bus Short Way 350 disc. 2006
(385) Orchard Lake 10/ 1/73 new bus 285 disc. 2011
(410) Woodw.-Southfield 1970's new bus disc.
415 Greenfield 1980 new bus 425
(420) Woodw.-Greenfield 1970's new bus disc.
420 Southfield 1970's new bus 415
(425) Northl.-Oakland M. 9/ /80 new bus disc. 1983
430 Main Street B&B 1920's new bus GLT
(435) Crooks Road GLG 1940's new bus GLT disc. 1995
(440) Woodward-Maple GLG 1940's new bus GLT disc.
445 Woodward Ltd. 4/28/72 new bus
450 Woodward-Pontiac various 1922 1931 1947 GLT
(455) Woodw.-Pont. Ltd. 1970's new bus disc.
460 Woodward-Somerset GLT 1970 new bus GLT
(470) Berkley-Southf. Berkley 1926 new bus GLT disc. 1995
(473) Berkley-Lahser GLT 1960's new bus GLT disc.
(478) Berkley-Greenf. GLG 1940's new bus GLT disc.
(479) Royal Oak-Berkley 1970's new bus disc.
(480) Northl.-Orchard M. 1970's new bus disc.
(481) Northl.-Sutton Pl. 1980 new bus disc.
(482) Northl.-Travelers 1980 new bus disc.
(483) Woodward-11 Mile GLT 1960's new bus GLT disc.
(484) Northl.-Farmingt. 1980 new bus disc.
(485) Woodward-10 Mile GLT 1960's new bus GLT disc.
(486) Woodward-13 Mile GLT 1960's new bus GLT disc.
(487) Northl.-Orchard R. 1980 new bus disc.
(488) Northl.-13 Mile 1980 new bus disc.
(490) Hilton-Campbell Martin 1929 new bus Martin disc.
495 John R ROBB&R 1920's new bus Martin
(499) Hilton-Rochester 1970's new bus disc. 1995
(500) Mound Road 1970's new bus disc.
510 Van Dyke Warren 1944 new bus Brooks
515 Van Dyke-Dodge P. 6/10/76 new bus
530 Schoenherr 10/ 1/73 new bus 703
(535) Eastland-Macomb M. 1970's new bus disc.
550 Garfield 9/ 8/87 new bus
560 Gratiot Wolv. 1922 1930 1932 GLT
580 Harper Avenue GLG 1950 new bus GLT
610 Kercheval-Harper 1970's new bus
615 Kercheval-Jeff. GPB 1923 new bus LSCL 2
620 Charlevoix LSCL 1933 new bus LSCL 3
(625) Charlevoix-Jeff. 1980 new bus disc.
(630) E. Jeff.-Grosse P GPB 1924 1928 none LSCL 1 disc.
635 E. Jefferson Exp. 1980 new bus
(700) Chippewa Valley 1980 new bus disc.
710 9 Mile GLG 1944 new bus GLT
(715) 9 Mile-10 Mile 1980 new bus disc.
740 12 Mile 10/ 1/73 new bus
752 North Hill Farms jitney 1920's 1931 none PTC 750
753 Baldwin Rd. various 1920's new bus PTC 750
(775) Wyandotte Wyand. 1931 new bus disc.
(800) Ann Arbor P&R 1970's new bus disc.
(801) Troy P&R 1970's new bus disc.
(802) Rochester P&R 1970's new bus disc. 1980
805 Grand River P&R 10/30/78 new bus 820
(806) Macomb P&R 1970's new bus disc.
(808) Oak Park P&R 4/15/74 new bus disc.
(809) Michigan Ave. P&R 4/15/74 new bus disc. 1983
(810) Livonia P&R 2/20/78 new bus disc. 2006
(815) Western Wayne P&R 11/ 5/79 new bus disc. 1983
830 Downriver P&R 10/30/78 new bus
(840) Ryan-Dequindre P&R 9/ 2/80 new bus disc. 1983
(842) Rochester P&R 9/ 2/80 new bus disc. 1983
(845) Rochester-Troy P&R 10/22/79 new bus disc.
(850) Birmingham P&R 4/26/76 new bus disc. 1983
851 Farmington H. P&R 6/10/76 new bus
(860) Clinton Twp. P&R 10/22/79 new bus 870 disc. 1983
(875) Van Dyke P&R 3/ 5/79 new bus disc. 1983
(990) Port Huron 1923 new bus Greyhound disc. 1983
Route Route First Buses DUR DSR Last Former Notes
Number Name Bus Intro- Rail Cars Private SEMTA
Co. duced Disc. Disc. Co./No. Number
Along Grand River Blvd., the local bus service which originally replaced the interurban railway service in 1926 was operated by Detroit United Railway subsidiary People's Motor Coach Co. But later in 1926, the Detroit Department of Street Railways began operating the buses, until streetcar service was restored in 1928. When the streetcar extension was discontinued in 1931, People's Motor Coach Co. successor Eastern Michigan Motorbuses operated the replacement bus service. At various times since then, bus service to Farmington was provided by the Detroit Department of Street Railways, later Detroit Department of Transportation.
Some SMART predecessor routes were originally introduced by various smaller bus companies.
B&B - B&B Bus Co.
Berkley - Berkley Motorbus Co.
DCC - Dearborn Coach Co.
DN&M - Detroit Northville & Milford Coach Co.
GLG - Great Lakes Greyhound Lines
GPB - Grosse Pointe Bus Co.
ISL - Intertown Suburban Lines
LSCL - Lake Shore Coach Lines
Martin - Martin Lines
PMC - People's Motor Coach Co.
PTC - Pontiac Transit Corp.
Rayworth - Rayworth's Bus Line
Renne - Renne Motor Transit Co.
ROBB&R - Royal Oak Big Beaver & Rochester Bus Co.
Warren - Warren Coach Service
White - White Star Motorbus Co.
Wolv. - Wolverine Transit Co.
Wyand. - Wyandotte Loop Bus Co.