QLINE

ANNUAL
REPORT
2023
QLINE ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Letter from M-1 President Lisa Nuszkowski | 2

Ridership on the Rise | 4

Who Rides the QLINE | 5

Why Ride the QLINE | 7

Partnerships | 8

Performance | 9

The Team | 10

Thank You | 11

QLINE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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A Letter From M-1 RAIL

President Lisa Nuszkowski

At its core, the QLINE has always been a public-private investment in the future of transit for
Detroit’s Greater Downtown and beyond. Through construction, the streetcar’s initial startup, a
once-in-a-generation pandemic, and now our reemergence over the last two years, we have had
the unwavering support of our board and donors. With more than $150 million in philanthropic
and private contributions and thousands of hours of pro-bono time, their commitment to this
project has helped the QLINE overcome unprecedented obstacles. We are also thankful for the
state legislature and Governor Whitmer’s support in helping to strengthen QLINE’s long-term
financial future, with $5 million annually in operational funding approved late last year.

I’m proud to report that these investments are paying off and helping establish the QLINE as
the streetcar system we all hoped and envisioned it could be: a transit option that connects
residents, workers, and students to world-class healthcare, jobs, and education on a reliable
system that is accessible to people of all walks of life.

Today, we are delivering on that promise, with faster service than ever, thanks to the expertise
and commitment of our local management and operations team. More importantly, we are
well-positioned to continue improving toward our goal of 15 minutes or less service for all
QLINE riders.

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Improved service is one reason the QLINE’s ridership However, we are most proud of the work we’ve done to
continues to grow, outpacing the national average for riders integrate the QLINE into the regular travel routines of so many
returning to transit, post-pandemic. Our continued focus Detroiters. From the transit-dependent to the choice-rider,
on building stronger connections with the businesses, insti- the QLINE is utilized most for daily commutes from home to
tutions, and people along the corridor is also critical to our work, to essential healthcare and errands, and as a mode that
success. In September 2022, we wrapped the streetcar in connects with other forms of transportation throughout the
partnership with the DIA, encouraging Detroiters to “Gogh to city and region to help move people reliably and efficiently,
the DIA” to support the landmark Van Gogh exhibit. We will wherever they need to go.
soon launch additional programming and community events
aboard the streetcar to help continue the momentum. This report provides a snapshot of our progress and a closer
look at our riders, their experiences, and why they take the
In February, M-1 RAIL partnered with Wayne State Universi- QLINE. It includes facts and figures from our rider intercept
ty’s Parking and Transportation Department to launch a pilot and online surveys and provides a clear picture of what I see
park-and-ride program. This summer, we’ve expanded the every day aboard the QLINE. I encourage all of you, whether
program to include all weekends and weeknights featuring you’re a first-time rider or a regular, to see for yourself, the
some of Detroit’s most prominent events and concerts to service and experience we provide on the QLINE.
help facilitate a better flow of traffic downtown and deliver an
affordable, convenient option for event-goers. Thank you!

QLINE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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Ridership on the Rise

2,629 The QLINE averaged over 2,600 riders daily over

the first eight months of 2023.

MONTHLY AVERAGE RIDERSHIP 2022 VS. 2023

The QLINE’s ridership continues its steady growth since restart in Fall 2021. Ridership is up 75% in 2023 compared to 2022.

120,000

2023 MONTHLY RIDERSHIP

100,000 104,807
105,732
2022 MONTHLY RIDERSHIP

80,000 87,794
82,137 81,632
71,696
60,000 64,282 64,673
60,349
54,276 54,666 55,483
49,330
40,000
40,386
33,387
20,000
17,708

0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

POST PANDEMIC: RIDERS RETURN TO THE QLINE AT A HIGHER RATE

THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR TRANSIT
The QLINE’s ridership is outpacing national trends for return to transit post-COVID-19 despite the fact that under 50% of
downtown workers have returned to offices in Detroit.

QLINE
AVERAGE,
2023

NATIONAL
AVERAGE,
2023

0 20 40 60 80 100

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Who Rides the QLINE

A Day in the Life of the QLINE Why I Ride the QLINE

Riders
share their
stories,
where they
are going,
why they
ride, and CLICK TO WATCH CLICK TO WATCH
what they
love about
the QLINE.

For more rider experiences, visit us on Instagram @qlinedetroit or Youtube @qlinedetroit

To learn more about our riders and why they use the QLINE, M-1 RAIL conducted a rider intercept survey abroad the streetcar in
late May, covering several days of morning and evening commutes, lunchtime, afternoon, and one special event. An additional 800
riders were surveyed online to gather more information about our riders and their experiences on the QLINE.

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DEMOGRAPHICS

RAC E / R ESI DEN CY

E TH N I C I T Y

75% identify as people of color 68% of QLINE riders are Detroiters

I N CO M E MU LTI -MODA L/
OTHER MODES

live in households
that earn less than
$25K annually

live in households
that earn less than
$50K annually
1 IN 6 QLINE riders use a mobility
device or stroller

73%
report using other
modes of transit in
addition to QLINE

AGE HOW OFTEN DO

YOU R I DE? 12%
2% First-time-rider
14% UNDER 18 YRS
65+ YRS 7%
Less than
18% 1 day/month 28%
18-25 YRS
6-7 days/
20% 4% week
55-64 YRS 1-3 days/
month
18%
28% 26-34 YRS
35-54 YRS 16% 32%
1-2 days/ 3-5 days/
week week

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Why Ride the QLINE

The QLINE is utilized for various purposes, including access to jobs, education, healthcare,
recreation, and daily errands.

CONVENIENCE
85%
Among riders, 85%
would ride more often
or much more often if
the most frequent word riders associate with the route was extended
riding the QLINE

PUR P OS E F O R T R I P

66% 42% 35% 23% 7%

of trips start or of trips are of trips involve of trips involve of trips are
end at home work-related access to recreation dining or school or
or entertainment shopping college-related

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Partnerships

Park and Ride

Beginning in February, the QLINE partnered with Wayne State University’s Parking and Transportation Department to launch a
pilot park-and-ride program on weekends and special event nights. QLINE riders park for $5 daily at Wayne State Parking Lot 12,
located at 6050 Woodward, next to the QLINE Amsterdam station, and ride for free to access destinations, concerts, games, and
other events. M-1 RAIL is pleased to announce that park and ride will be available this fall for Detroit Lions games for the first time.

QLINE Wraps
Encourage
You to “Gogh
to the DIA”
The QLINE’s street-
cars featured Portrait
of Postman Roulin
and Bank of the
Oise at Auvers, two
works from the DIA’s
permanent collection
to help promote the
DIA’s landmark exhibit
throughout the fall of
2022.

QLINE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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Performance

QLINE performance continues to improve Satisfaction with the QLINE has

never been higher.
100

80
66% 71%
60

40

20

0
2022 2023

Streetcars are arriving in 15 minutes or less on of QLINE riders report being “very
71% of trips in 2023, up from 66% in 2022. satisfied” or “satisfied” with the trip.

Thanks to the ability to tow cars Among riders, 85% would ride more
directly, vehicle blockages are down often or much more often if the route
from daily to one every five days. was extended.

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The Team

Matt Cullen Lisa Nuszkowski Rachel Schmuhl Mark Jones

CEO President General Manager Operations Manager

Lyle Dungy Stacey Babcock Brian West Stevie Sketlon

Chief Safety Officer Safety Manager Fleet Manager MOW Manager

Marcus Stewart Dasia Mack Sommer Woods Dan Lijana

Training Manager RTA & Technical External Relations Communications Officer
Program Manager

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Thank You
We thank our board, partners, and supporters for their contributions to the QLINE and for helping us deliver faster and
more consistent service than ever before. We appreciate our riders and will continue to work every day to make QLINE the
most convenient and comfortable mode of transit in Greater Downtown Detroit.

Chairman Roger S. Penske

PENSKE CORPORATION

Vice Chairman Dan Gilbert Treasurer Darrell Burks

QUICKEN LOANS PWC (RETIRED)

CEO Matthew P. Cullen Secretary Dave Blaszkiewicz

JACK ENTERTAINMENT INVEST DETROIT

Jared Fleisher Susan Mosey

JMF STRATEGIES, LLC MIDTOWN DETROIT, INC.

George W. Jackson, Jr. Faye Nelson

VENTRA, LLC W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION

Kevin Johnson Rip Rapson

DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH CORPORATION THE KRESGE FOUNDATION

Eric Larson Robert Riney

DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP HENRY FORD HEALTH

Mike McLauchlan
OLYMPIA DEVELOPMENT

OUR SPONSORS

QLINE ANNUAL REPORT 2023