RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Announces New Transportation Hub in Detroit with New Rail & Bus Station, Supporting Tourism and Growing Michigan’s Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2025

Governor Whitmer Announces New Transportation Hub in Detroit with New Rail & Bus Station, Supporting Tourism and Growing Michigan’s Economy

New hub builds on efforts to revitalize Detroit and its surrounding neighborhoods by connecting the city to other parts of Michigan, the U.S., and Canada by bus and rail travel

DETROIT, Mich. - Today, Governor Whitmer announced a new transportation hub that will be built in Detroit thanks to a partnership between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the City of Detroit, and Michigan Central. Together, they are investing an initial $40 million towards the new transportation hub that will be located within the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District, featuring a new passenger rail and intercity bus transit station.

“Downtown Detroit is open for business and on the move as one of the best places to live, work, and pioneer cutting-edge ideas,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today’s MOU will help us build a new transit hub, including a new rail and bus station, to connect communities, grow our regional economy, and make downtown Detroit more vibrant. It builds on the historic investment in transit that we just made in the balanced, bipartisan budget I signed earlier this month. Let’s keep getting it done for Detroit.”

Designed to bring robust transportation infrastructure to the city, this hub will:

Serve as a new gateway, expanding access to the city and state with a direct connection between the Detroit-Ann Arbor Innovation Corridor and Detroit Metro Airport;

Support economic opportunities with a proposed extension of a Chicago-Detroit Amtrak Wolverine train to Windsor and Toronto; and

Position Detroit as a leader in the region’s transit future, cementing Michigan as a destination for talent, investment, and innovation.

"As Detroit's innovation ecosystem grows at an unprecedented rate, our transit infrastructure must evolve alongside it by linking entrepreneurs and companies to emerging innovation zones and the opportunities they unlock," said Josh Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central. "This is just another step in positioning Michigan Central as the hub that not only connects people to possibility but drives regional growth."

Michigan Central Transportation Hub

MDOT currently owns and operates the aging Howard Street bus station that serves Greyhound, Indian Trails, Baron's Bus, and the Amtrak station in the New Center neighborhood. Each of these facilities has passed its useful life span, are in need of major renovations and do not offer the amenities and functionality expected by modern travelers. 

This proposed transportation hub at the Michigan Central Innovation District will provide the district and its passengers with a more vibrant and accessible location, complete with modern amenities.  

"This is a positive step to further develop Michigan Central into a true transportation hub and innovation ecosystem," said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich, P.E. "We look forward to working with partners Michigan Central, the City of Detroit and others to make this a reality."

MDOT, the City of Detroit, and Michigan Central signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin preliminary assessments. Partners will utilize a $10 million grant awarded to MDOT through the Federal Transit Administration RAISE and an additional $30 million in state funds.

This partnership comes as investment in southwest Detroit and Corktown continues to accelerate. Between Michigan Central and its 30-acre tech and cultural hub that includes more than 240 startups and 2,000 members, Ford Motor Co., Detroit City FC’s soccer stadium, and more, Detroit’s momentum is building.   

While this work is still in the early stages, MDOT and Michigan Central are laying the foundation for a transit hub that connects people to jobs, education and opportunities.

"For decades, Michigan Central Station was the gateway to Detroit, and we are excited to begin the work of re-establishing train service at a new multi-modal transit facility in the shadow of the station," said Chief of Infrastructure for the City of Detroit, Sam Krassenstein. "Detroiters deserve a first-class facility for bus and train service and this agreement puts us on a path to make it happen."

Decisions about final project designs, funding, public engagement opportunities and project timelines will be developed and shared as the process moves forward.  

About Michigan Central

Michigan Central is a 30-acre technology and cultural hub in Detroit, where leaders, thinkers, communities and creators come together to accelerate bold ideas and technologies that shape our future. By providing access to world-class infrastructure, tools and resources, Michigan Central inspires innovators and community members to collaborate on real, ground-breaking solutions to global problems. Since opening in April 2023, Michigan Central has grown into a diverse ecosystem of nearly 250 companies and startups working at the intersection of mobility, technology and society. Learn more at michigancentral.com.

###