Eric D. Lawrence

Detroit Free Press

If you regularly ride the Detroit People Mover, you'll need to make other plans in June.

The system will shut down for more than two weeks "to replace a rail switch and special section of track along the guideway," according to a news release.

The shutdown will commence after the People Mover stops operating for the night at 2 a.m. June 12. It will be closed from June 12-26, resuming operations at 6:30 a.m. June 27.

People Mover spokeswoman Ericka Alexander said the section of track to be replaced is past the Michigan Station and about 180 feet in length. Authorities have previously described the guideway as "part of the overall track system."

"A standard activity among rail systems, rail replacement is necessary as a result of accumulated wear on the track. The Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) has performed this project once prior in 2008, when 2,800 feet of track was replaced along six curves," the release said, referencing the organization which operates the elevated 2.9-mile light rail system that loops through downtown Detroit.

Alexander notes that rail switches allow trains to move in left or right directions on a track. The expected cost of the project is $300,000.

In May 2015, People Mover hours were adjusted for a weeks' worth of rail maintenance. Alexander said at the time that the maintenance involved the guideway and that crews would "be completing rail profiling, which provides a quieter and smoother ride experience."

The DTC has scheduled two public meetings to provide information about the upcoming project and take public comments:

10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, DTC Administrative Office – Buhl Building, 535 Griswold, Suite 400, Detroit

6-7:30 p.m. May 11, Rosa Parks Transit Center, 1310 Cass Ave., Detroit

For special accommodations requests at the meetings, call (313) 224-2160 at least 48 hours in advance and call 7-1-1 for those who are hearing impaired.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.