City expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility at TCF Center        to Detroiters age 60 and older

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands at TCF Center

Any Detroit resident who is 60 or older now can be vaccinated at the TCF Center as the City of Detroit today announced expansion of its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility list. The announcement is the latest move by the City of Detroit to reach its most vulnerable populations and lifts the guidelines that Detroiters 60 or older needed to have underlying medical conditions.

The announcement also modifies the expansion of the Good Neighbor program announced by Mayor Mike Duggan yesterday. That program now allows area residents age 55 or older (from the city or suburbs) to be vaccinated at TCF Center if they schedule an appointment with a Detroiter age 60 or older and drive that individual to the appointment at the TCF Center.

The City provides $2 rides to the TCF Center for Detroit residents without their own transportation.  That program includes wheelchair accessible vehicles for individuals with physical disabilities.

Scheduling Appointments

Eligible residents can call (313) 230-0505 between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday to make an appointment and arrange for transportation. Vaccinations will be administered by appointment only.

Eligible Detroit senior citizens can get COVID-19 vaccinations during Senior Saturdays at two additional locations

The City of Detroit is expanding its delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible Detroiters — seniors ages 60 and older with chronic health conditions, and those ages 65 and older — with the addition of two new Senior Saturday locations starting this weekend.

February 27, March 6, 13 & 20 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• New: Grace Community Church at 21001 Moross Road
• New: Kemeny Recreation Center at 2260 S. Fort Street

February 27 & March 6 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Fellowship Chapel at 7707 W. Outer Drive
• Second Ebenezer Church at 14601 Dequindre

Up to 500 doses of the vaccine will be available at each of the four locations. The added locations will double the City’s Senior Saturday outreach to 2,000 doses each weekend.  Eligible residents should call (313) 230-0505 to schedule an appointment.

DDOT, SMART to resume fare collection March 15, additional safety measures implemented to protect drivers and operators

Beginning March 15, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and SMART will resume fare collection and increase rider capacity following extensive safety modifications to protect drivers and passengers while on buses.

Riders will see the resumption of front-door boarding, barriers separating drivers and riders, hand sanitizing machines and visual social distancing cues. DDOT drivers were among the first frontline essential workers in Detroit to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Last March, both transit agencies suspended fare collection to limit exposure between operators and riders in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2020, DDOT began installing permanent state-of-the-art barriers next to the driver’s seat to separate and reduce air exchange between drivers and passengers. SMART is in the process of replacing the temporary shields installed and upgrading to the permanent barriers.

Riders are required to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose, per a federal mask mandate for transit systems that went into effect last month; masks will also be required at bus stops and in any transportation building.

Riders must remain six feet from the driver at all times, and are encouraged to use provided hand sanitizer as they board the coach prior to paying their fare.

Both agencies will also adopt a consistent, maximum occupancy on the buses of 20 passengers for standard buses and 26 passengers on an articulated bus.  This number is based on scientific analysis led by the City of Detroit Health Department. Pass sales will begin Feb. 25 in all locations.

For questions, comments or concerns, DDOT customers may call (313) 933-1300, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. To reach the SMART Customer Care Center, call 866-962-5515, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.