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Duluth Transit Authority

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Duluth Transit Authority
Duluth Transit Authority bus in downtown Duluth
Founded1969
Headquarters2402 W. Michigan Street
Service areaTwin Ports region of Minnesota and Wisconsin
Service typeBus
Routes14
Websiteduluthtransit.com Edit this at Wikidata

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

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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 frequently with limited stops
102 Green Line Downtown Duluth

Duluth Transportation Center

Hermantown

Walmart, Miller Trunk Hwy & Loberg Ave

Duluth Heights

Miller Hill Mall

103 New Duluth

Commonwealth Ave & McCuen St

University of Minnesota Duluth

Kirby Plaza

Lakeside

E Superior St & N 60th Ave E

104 Downtown Duluth

Duluth Transportation Center

E 4th St
105 E 9th St
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

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

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

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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]

Ridership

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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.[8][9]

Fixed route ridership[10] Change over previous year
2005 2,684,804
2006 2,692,931 Increase0.3%
2007 2,854,467 Increase6.0%
2008 3,219,758 Increase12.8%
2009 3,173,484 Decrease1.44%
2010 3,171,087 Decrease0.0%
2011 3,264,479 Increase2.95%
2012 3,261,494 Decrease0.0%
2013 3,195,020 Decrease2.04%
2014 3,100,305 Decrease2.96%
2015 3,051,665 Decrease1.57%
2016 2,804,354 Decrease8.1%
2017 2,786,702 Decrease0.63%
2018 2,760,475 Decrease0.94%
2019 2,645,307 Decrease4.17%
2020 1,794,627 Decrease32.16%
2021 1,461,418 Decrease18.57%
2022 1,874,795 Increase28.29%
2023 2,134,071 Increase13.83%

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b Heilig, Jim. "DTA awards Build/Design Contract for Multimodal Center" (PDF). Duluth Transit. Duluth Transit Authority. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "2009 Transit System Performance Evaluation". Metropolitan Council. 2009. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "National Transit Database". Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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