Photo: Andrew Mullin ~ WJR
DETROIT, July 23, 2025 ~ City officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the renaming of the former Joe Louis Arena Station to Water Square Station, marking a new phase in Detroit’s downtown redevelopment and the resurgence of the Detroit People Mover.
Robert Kramer, executive director of transit for the city, said the system has seen more than 1 million riders in the past year, thanks to a fare-free program and infrastructure upgrades. “We’ve evolved from a place people pass through to one where people live, work, play, and stay,” Kramer said.
A highlight of the event was the announcement that WJR’s Lloyd Jackson, longtime 760 WJR reporter and co-host of “‘JR Morning,” is now the official voice of the People Mover. Jackson’s voice will be featured in all on-board and station announcements, adding a familiar and local presence to the rider experience.
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(CONTINUED) “We are right now seeing more than a hundred thousand riders a month. I never thought I would see that,” said Mayor Mike Duggan, reflecting on the People Mover’s remarkable turnaround. Once considered for shutdown, the system has become a symbol of Detroit’s resilience and reinvention. “We are making a major long-term investment in the People Mover,” Duggan added, pointing to recent infrastructure upgrades and the fare-free initiative.
The Sterling Group, led by founder Gary Torgow, contributed $500,000 to upgrade the station. The group’s nearby developments, including Water Square Residences and the upcoming JW Marriott hotel, are helping reshape the West Riverfront.
As the new station name was unveiled, officials emphasized that Detroit’s transit system is not just moving people, it’s moving the city forward, with Jackson’s voice leading the way.
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