Duluth Transit Authority

Duluth Transit Authority

Duluth Transit Authority bus in downtown Duluth
Founded	1969
Headquarters	2402 W. Michigan Street
Service area	Twin Ports region of Minnesota and Wisconsin
Service type	Bus
Routes	14
Website	duluthtransit.com

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is the public transit operator in the Twin Ports region of Minnesota and Wisconsin. DTA operates 15 bus routes throughout the region, serving Duluth, Minnesota; Superior, Wisconsin, and their surrounding suburbs. DTA was founded in 1969 by an act of the Minnesota Legislature, and as of 2024, provides over 2.1 million passenger trips per year. ^[1] In 2009, the DTA was named Transit System of the Year by the Minnesota Public Transit Association. ^[2]

DTA operates 14 bus routes in the Twin Ports region. Two "GO Line" routes provide frequent, limited-stop service on key corridors, and a shuttle service operates during summers to connect tourist destinations on the Duluth waterfront.

Routes

DTA redesigned its bus network in 2023 under the "Better Bus Blueprint" initiative. Planning began in 2017, and a final draft of the network was unveiled in 2021. Under the Better Bus Blueprint, DTA reallocated resources from its previous network of 33 routes to 14 new routes, with more frequent service on weekdays and expanded weekend service. ^{[3] [4]} Implementation of the plan was delayed due to issues in retaining bus drivers, compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[5]

Route	Terminals		Via	Notes
101 Blue Line	Spirit Valley Grand Ave & 59th Ave W	University of Minnesota Duluth Kirby Plaza	Downtown Duluth Duluth Transportation Center	Go Line routes 101 and 102 operate every 15 minutes with limited stops. Uses Gillig BRT Plus rolling stock
102 Green Line	Downtown Duluth Duluth Transportation Center	Hermantown Walmart, Miller Trunk Hwy & Loberg Ave	Duluth Heights Miller Hill Mall
1		DTA Garage	Lincoln Park Superior St	Operates irregular schedule. Passengers who are not DTA Employees must exit before entering DTA Garage.
103	New Duluth Commonwealth Ave & McCuen St	University of Minnesota Duluth Kirby Plaza	Lakeside E Superior St & N 60th Ave E	Express service via I-35 between 6th Ave West and Central Ave
104	Downtown Duluth Duluth Transportation Center		E 4th St	30 minute frequencies
105			E 9th St	30 minute frequencies
106			College of St. Scholastica
107		Duluth Heights Miller Hill Mall	Lake Superior College
108		Duluth International Airport	Duluth Heights Miller Hill Mall
109		Proctor N 2nd Ave & 5th St	Oneota	Express service via I-35
110		Superior, Wisconsin Walmart, Tower Ave & N 37th St	Rice’s Point, Duluth Garfield Ave John A. Blatnik Bridge	30 minute frequency
111	Superior, Wisconsin Tower Ave & Broadway St	Itasca, Wisconsin US-53 & 50th Ave E	University of Wisconsin–Superior
112	Hermantown Miller Trunk Hwy & Burning Tree Rd	Woodland Woodland Park & Ride	College of St. Scholastica, University of Minnesota Duluth
113	Downtown Duluth Duluth Transportation Center	Park Point Park Point Recreation Area		Terminus at Park Point beach during summer months
114		Central Hillside Skyline Blvd & 8th Ave W
Port Town Trolley		Downtown Duluth Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center	SS William A. Irvin, Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, Great Lakes Aquarium	Operates seasonally from the first Sunday in June to Labor Day

Duluth Transportation Center

Main article: Duluth Transportation Center

Duluth Transportation Center in 2023

Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) is the downtown hub for the Duluth transit system.

The DTC was built in February 2016, ^[6] replacing an existing parking ramp. The building was designed by LHB Corporation and constructed by Mortenson Construction. ^[7]

The DTC has eight docks for boarding buses, with space for layovers. Skyways to nearby buildings were replaced during construction, improving pedestrian access. ^[7]

Incidents

On September 10, 2021, a 36-year-old bus driver fatally struck a 64-year-old pedestrian near the Miller Hill Mall. She was charged with criminal vehicular homicide; prosecutors alleged she was distracted when she struck the pedestrian. ^{[8] [9]}

Ridership

Duluth Transit Authority is the Minnesota's third-largest transit system by ridership, after the Metro Transit and University of Minnesota Campus Shuttle systems in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. ^{[10] [11]}

	Fixed route ridership [12]	Change over previous year
2005	2,684,804	—
2006	2,692,931	00.3%
2007	2,854,467	06.0%
2008	3,219,758	012.8%
2009	3,173,484	01.44%
2010	3,171,087	00.0%
2011	3,264,479	02.95%
2012	3,261,494	00.0%
2013	3,195,020	02.04%
2014	3,100,305	02.96%
2015	3,051,665	01.57%
2016	2,804,354	08.1%
2017	2,786,702	00.63%
2018	2,760,475	00.94%
2019	2,645,307	04.17%
2020	1,794,627	032.16%
2021	1,461,418	018.57%
2022	1,874,795	028.29%
2023	2,134,071	013.83%

STRIDE

The DTA operates an ADA paratransit service under the brand name STRIDE (Special Transit RIDE) for passengers with disabilities.

STRIDE does not have any fixed routes, it is a point-to-point service that must be scheduled in advance. It is only available to passengers eligible under the ADA.

STRIDE fares are double the standard fixed-route fare. Charging $1.50 during off peak times and $3.00 on peak.

STRIDE utilizes shorter buses equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifts.

See also

• List of bus transit systems in the United States

References

1. "2023 Annual Agency Profile - Duluth Transit Authority (NTD ID 50025)" (PDF). National Transit Database. Federal Transit Administration. 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
2. "DTA lands award as state's best transit system". Duluth News Tribune . September 24, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
3. "Duluth Transit Authority eyes better service, mainline buses every 15 minutes". Duluth News Tribune. July 11, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
4. "DTA System Map" (PDF). Duluth Transit Authority. January 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
5. Nelson, Shelley (August 4, 2023). "Duluth Transit Authority offers more service, but to fewer Superior neighborhoods". Superior Telegram. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
6. "Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) Grand Opening Scheduled for Thursday, February 4th". Duluth Transit. Duluth Transit Authority. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
7. Heilig, Jim. "DTA awards Build/Design Contract for Multimodal Center" (PDF). Duluth Transit. Duluth Transit Authority. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
8. Hanger, Dan (December 2, 2021). "DTA Driver Charged In Death Of Pedestrian At Miller Hill Mall". KQDS-TV . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
9. Olsen, Tom (July 11, 2022). "Duluth bus driver placed on probation after fatal crash". Duluth News Tribune . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
10. "2009 Transit System Performance Evaluation". Metropolitan Council. 2009. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
11. Jeremy Mattson (June 2008). "Effects of Rising Gas Prices on Bus Ridership for Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems" (PDF). Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University. p. 7. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
12. "National Transit Database" . Retrieved April 24, 2024.

External links

• Official website