BY COUNCILOR KEENAN:

AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO TRANSPORTATION ON DULUTH TRANSIT AUTHORITY BUSES; AUTHORIZING DRIVERS TO REFUSE TO TRANSPORT DISORDERLY PERSONS; AMENDING SECTION 34-7 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE, 1959, AS AMENDED.

The City of Duluth does ordain:

Section 1 That Section 34-7 of the Duluth City Code, 1959, as amended, be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 34-7. Prohibited conduct on Duluth Transit Authority buses.

1. No person shall, while a passenger on any vehicle seating 12 or more persons that is operated by the Duluth Transit Authority as a public conveyance, do any of the following acts:
   1. Smoke or possess any lighted or smoldering pipe, cigar or cigarette;
   2. Consume any beverage, food or alcohol;
   3. Intentionally deface damage, write upon or soil any part of such vehicle;
   4. Spit, urinate or defecate in or upon any part of such vehicle;
   5. Throw, deposit or place any paper, bottles, cans or any other garbage or solid waste in or upon any such vehicle;
   6. Throw any object of any kind within such vehicle or out any door or window of such vehicle;
   7. Play any radio, cassette or tape player, record player, or similar electronic sound amplification device unless it is played through an earphone so that it is totally inaudible to all other persons;
   8. Bring any pet or animal on to such vehicle other than a service animal accompanying a disabled person or an animal in a cage or held exclusively on the lap of the rider with a leash;
   9. Stand or remain in front of any white line marked on the forward end of the floor of any such vehicle after being asked to step back by the driver;
   10. Enter a bus through the rear door unless authorized to do so by the driver or other transit authority employee;
   11. Possess any high explosives or carry any corrosive acid or flammable liquid not in a sealed container;
   12. Intentionally interfere with the bus driver's operation of the vehicle
2. The bus driver or other transit authority employee may refuse to transport or order off the vehicle any person violating the provisions of this Section or Section 34‑6, or any person who has violated the provisions of this Section or Section 34‑6 while riding a Duluth transit authority bus in the previous 12 month period;
3. No person shall refuse to depart from a transit authority bus when ordered to do so by the bus driver or other transit authority employee;
4. No person shall enter a transit authority bus when ordered not to do so by the bus driver or other transit authority employee;
5. Any person aggrieved by being refused Duluth transit authority bus transportation pursuant to this Section may request a hearing before the executive director, or if none, the chief administrative officer of the Duluth transit authority. The request for hearing must be made in writing and must state the reasons the person requesting the hearing believes the service refusal was improper. At the hearing both the appellant and Duluth transit authority employees may present evidence and argument, examine and cross‑examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at their option. After hearing all evidence and arguments, the executive director shall affirm or reverse the refusal of service and may grant any relief or impose any conditions on ridership deemed to be reasonable and appropriate.

Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days from and after its passage and publication. (Effective Date: June 23, 1996)

Councilor Keenan moved passage of the ordinance and the same was adopted upon the following vote:
Yeas: Councilors Bohlmann, Hales, Hardesty, Hogg, Keenan, Rapaich, Talarico, Wheeler and President Prettner - 9

Nays: None - 0

Passed May 13, 1996

Approved May 13, 1996
GARY L. DOTY, Mayor

ATTEST:
JEFFERY J. COX, City Clerk

Google added the Duluth Transit Authority to its "Transit Trip Planner" feature last December, as part of its "work-in-progress" initiative to provide this service to riders of public transit in cities across the country. Last December, Duluth was only one of nine cities online with Google’s Transit Trip Planner. Now there are 19 U.S. cities onboard with Google Transit: Burbank, CA; Orange County; CA, Humboldt, CA; San Diego, CA; Thousand Oaks, CA; and San Francisco/Oakland (Bay Area), CA; Duluth, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Reno, NV; Tampa, FL; Honolulu, HA; Portland, OR; Eugene, OR; Pittsburg, PA; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX; Hampton Roads, VA; and Seattle, WA.

Google Labs launched its Transit Trip Planner in early 2006 with Eugene OR and continued to operate the service in test "beta-mode," until recently. Many more public transit systems in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia are expected to get on board Google Transit in the future.

Google engineers worked with DTA staff last year to obtain GPS data along with routing and scheduling information necessary for integration into Google’s trip planning service.

Google Transit Trip Planner can be accessed on Google’s website or at www.duluthtransit.com.

How to use Google Transit Trip Planner (DTA riders)

DTA riders will find this Google feature very helpful in planning bus trips. The Google Transit Trip Planner asks for:

• The address you wish to depart from
• Your final destination
• Your desired arrival and/or departure time(s)

Several trip options will also be listed. Google Transit Trip Planner, however, will work only if you live inside the city limits of Duluth, Superior or Proctor.

The Google Transit Trip Planner displays a map of the Twin Ports and displays the requested DTA trip from start to finish. The map can be viewed in either a graphic or satellite mode.

The Transit Trip Planner gives riders detailed information about the trip, such as:

• What bus to take
• Where to catch the bus
• How long it will take to walk to the bus stop
• Where to transfer and which bus to transfer to, if needed
• How long the bus ride will take
• Cost of the bus ride (Google only uses peak hour fares)
• Comparable cost of driving car from start to finish

How Google Transit Trip Planner Began

Google has a policy known as "20 percent time." Google engineers all have "20 percent time" in which they're free to pursue projects they're passionate about. So a few Google engineers from San Francisco, New York, and Zurich - all of whom regularly use public transportation - decided that being able to easily plan local transit trips without having to go to multiple websites, would be a useful product. So they devoted their "20 percent time" to building Google Transit Trip Planner. As the project developed, their small team quickly grew as more and more "twenty-percenters" got on board the Google Transit project.

According to DTA Marketing Director Tom Elwell, "The Twin Ports is fortunate to be included on Google Transit Planning service. We're the smallest market on board with Google Transit and the cost of the service is free. It's a great public service! Thanks to Google, planning trips on the DTA is easy - especially for new riders and those who haven't been on a bus in a while and are wondering if the DTA will work for them today."

The DTA was selected for the Management Innovation Award by the Minnesota Public Transit Association for its successful U-PASS Program with UMD (University of Minnesota, Duluth), College of St. Scholastica (CSS), Lake Superior College (LSC) and UWS (University of Wisconsin, Superior).

The DTA’s U-PASS Program was launched during the 2000-2001 school year as a partnership between the UMD and the DTA. The DTA wanted to expand its college student ridership and UMD wanted to alleviate traffic congestion and lessen the demand for parking on campus. With campus parking space exhausted – many lost to campus construction – and facing the probability of constructing parking ramps – UMD and DTA initiated the establishment of the U-PASS Program, which offered students, faculty and staff unlimited free rides on the DTA anytime, anywhere in the DTA service area, with their college I.D.

Prior to the implementation of the U-PASS Program in 2000, the DTA transported just 26,000 UMD riders to campus – less than 1% of DTA annual ridership. During the 2006-2007 school year the DTA provided over 360,000 rides to UMD students, faculty and staff – nearly 14 times higher in just seven years. UMD enrollment has also increased substantially since the inception of the U-PASS Program and DTA played a major role in this expansion by transporting students from off-campus locations.

The DTA added CSS and LSC to its U-PASS Program in 2001 and U-PASS ridership at these participating colleges has increased every year since the program began. In 2006, the DTA provided a total of 443,000 U-PASS rides, which represented nearly 17% of the annual ridership.

UWS joined the U-PASS Program in August of 2007 and ridership is growing rapidly there in just the last couple of months.

According to the award judges: "While U-PASS type programs operate on many college campuses around the country, what makes the DTA program truly innovative it that the participating colleges contract with the DTA for the cost of the service, allowing students, faculty and staff to ride anytime, anywhere without charge with their college ID."

In addition, the DTA and UMD collaborated on the construction of the Kirby Plaza campus transit hub, which opened in the fall of 2004, to serve UMD riders and area residents.

Route 20 ~ Cirrus – Airpark – United Healthcare Commuter Service

The DTA will introduce a new weekday Route 20 on Monday, December 3rd that will provide hourly commuter service between downtown Duluth, United Healthcare, Airpark and Cirrus Design with four early morning trips and six afternoon trips. Route 20 buses will depart the Downtown Transit Center at 5:05 a.m., 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. with six afternoon return trips from the Airpark and United Healthcare; and two afternoon return trips from Cirrus Design. This service was designed to accommodate shift hours at Cirrus Design, Airpark and United Healthcare.

Route 20 will operate between downtown Duluth and Cirrus Design via Sixth Avenue East, Central Entrance, Arlington Avenue, Rice Lake Road, Airpark Blvd., Haines Road, Arrowhead Rd., Hwy. 53 and Airport Road. (See attached route map.)

Route 20 will also provide weekday service to Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center, Arrowhead Juvenile Center on Arlington Avenue as well as the Regional 911 Communications Center.

DTA to add early morning trips from New Duluth & Woodland

To accommodate the 5:04 a.m. trip from downtown to Cirrus on Route 20

Additional early morning service to downtown Duluth will also be introduced on Monday, December 3rd from Gary/New Duluth and Woodland to connect with the Route 20 bus departing the Downtown Transit Center at 5:05 a.m. The new early morning trip to downtown on Route 2 will depart New Duluth at 4:29 a.m. and the new early morning trip on Route 13 will depart the Woodland Park & Ride on Calvary Road at 4:25 a.m.

DTA to revise service on Route 18

The DTA will revise service on Route 18, which was introduced last September to serve the growing college housing market along Rice Lake Road. Beginning Monday, December 3rd, Route #18 will provide direct service to and from the College of St. Scholastica. In addition, United Healthcare, which is currently served by Route 18, will be served by Route 20. Route 18 service will be provided from September through May during fall and spring semesters; but will not operate during summer months, semester breaks or when UMD is not in session.

Route 18 ~ UMD/CSS via Rice Lake Road & Arrowhead Road (Seasonal)

Route 18 will provide hourly service from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays between Highland Village, Campus Park Housing, Boulder Ridge Apartments, College of St. Scholastica (CSS) and UMD. Route 18 also provides service to Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center and Arrowhead Juvenile Center on Rice Lake Road.

Route 18 provides timely transfer connections to Mall buses at Central Entrance & Pecan

Route 18 provides timely transfer connections from UMD, CSS, Campus Park Housing and Boulder Ridge Apartments to buses traveling to the Miller Hill Mall area at Central Entrance and Pecan Avenue. UMD and CSS students have long requested direct service to the Mall area and Route 18 provides a reasonable option with a 4-6 minute wait for connecting service.

DTA provides FREE service to Thanksgiving Dinner at DECC

DTA drivers and staff will be volunteering their holiday time to assist in the shuttling dinner guests in Duluth and Superior to the 18th annual free Thanksgiving Day Dinner held at the DECC. All DTA shuttle services to and from the DECC are free and open to the public.

MAINLINE DULUTH SERVICE: The DTA will be providing fixed route service in Duluth along Grand Avenue and Superior Street from 57th Avenue West to 24th Avenue East from 10:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. This bus will board passengers at all bus stops along the route.

SPECIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE: In addition, the DTA will be providing direct shuttle services at selective locations in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin, including: CHUM Drop-in Center; Domiano; YWCA; Harbor View; Morgan Park Manor, Solid Rock Mission (6th Street and Weeks); Clifford Lund (914 Tower Avenue); Royalton Manor (1900 New York Avenue); Peter Rich Center (1201 N. 8th Street); and center-city bus stop at 14th and Tower. (Schedules will be posted at these locations.)

According to DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen, "There was an overwhelming response to help with the annual Thanksgiving shuttle again this year as more drivers signed-up to volunteer than were actually needed."

Go To the DTA Fare and Pass Information Page for purchasing information.

After recording its highest Bike & Bus ridership since the program was instituted in 1994, the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) has begun removing bike racks from its buses for the winter months. All bike racks will be removed by the end of the week.

In its 13th year of operation, the DTA’s Bike & Bus service transported 16,050 bicycles during its eight month season – an all-time record! This is an increase of 23% over last year’s record Bike & Bus ridership.

Due to the unseasonably warm weather this November, bike racks had remained on DTA buses past the end of Daylight Savings Time – a date the DTA normally removes the racks from buses for the season. Bike racks will be re-installed next spring at the start of Daylight Savings Time or when weather permits.

The DTA introduced the Bike & Bus Program in the spring of 1994 in an effort to improve passenger services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports. All DTA buses are equipped with bike racks. No additional fares are charged for transporting bicycles on DTA buses beyond the regular passenger fare.

DTA bike racks, which are located on the front of the bus, can transport up to two or three bicycles at a time, depending on the type of bus. Cyclists are fully responsible for loading and unloading their bikes on a "first come first serve" basis. Transporting bicycles does not inconvenience DTA riders in transit, as it takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike onto the DTA bike rack.

The DTA's innovative Bike & Bus Program has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, and the Scenic North Shore Drive from anywhere within the DTA's service area. The Bike & Bus Program also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.

PRESIDENT’S ONE STOP – located at 3802 East Second Street in the Allouez neighborhood is now selling 31-Day Adult and 31-Day Teen Passes.

In addition to the President’s One Stop, DTA pass outlets in Superior include:

• COMMUNITY BANK @ 1214 Tower Avenue
• COMMUNITY BANK @ 3701 Tower Avenue
• LITTLE STORE @ 2104 Tower Avenue
• SUPERIOR PUBLIC LIBRARY – DTA Fare Vending Machine

31-Day Passes provide unlimited travel on DTA buses, anywhere, anytime throughout the Twin Ports for 31 consecutive days. They are also transferable. 31-Day Adult Passes sell for $35; and 31-Day Teen Passes sell for $30.

DTA drivers and staff volunteers solicited prizes from local businesses and presented the Salvation Army with a check on December 10th. Toys and Christmas gifts will be purchased by the Salvation Army and distributed to children of needy families in the Twin Ports in time for Christmas.

PHOTO CAPTION: Major Lavonne Fones of the Duluth Salvation Army receives check from DTA drivers Ruth Christie and Bob Moerke.

The DTA will curtail regular route and STRIDE services early on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, with service ending for the day at 7:15p.m. (last busses departing downtown at 7:15p.m.)

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

The DTA will run regularly scheduled bus service on New Year's Eve, Monday, December 31st, 2007.

Regular route and STRIDE services will resume on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2007

Through the use of satellite tracking and GPS-based technology, WebWatch allows riders to access real-time bus schedule information for their stop and monitor their bus on a map as it makes its way along the route. WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at a selected stop based on the actual time the bus passes GPS points along its route.

WebWatch users select the bus route they need, indicate the direction of travel and choose their stop; and WebWatch provides a real-time estimate for the next three arrival times at that stop.

WebWatch real-time schedule and live bus tracking maps are updated every minute.

WebWatch allows riders to see exactly when their bus will arrive at their stop while still at home, work-site, school and other web-friendly environments, and plan their schedule accordingly. Wait-time at bus stops can be reduced and trip planning improved.

WebWatch can be accessed from desktop and laptop computers along with web-enabled mobile communication devices.

When initializing WebWatch, riders are prompted to download free SVG Adobe software to get started. Please note that WebWatch requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and above or Netscape 7.0 and above. WebWatch’s “real-time” schedule feature, however, will work with any Internet browser; but its live bus tracking map feature will only work on Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers.

The Duluth Transit Authority is the first transit system in Minnesota and third in the nation to provide WebWatch real-time schedule / live bus tracking feature on its web-site. Long Beach Transit of Long Beach, California and Chicago’s Suburban PACE transit have also implemented WebWatch bus tracking services.

DTA riders can sign up for e-mail notifications at www.duluthtransit.com.

Last year, DTA buses transported an all-time record 16,050 bikes during the seven-month Bike & Bus season. That was a 23 percent increase over the previous year; and with rising gas prices the DTA expects the service to grown even more use this year.

All DTA buses are equipped with front-end bike racks with a capacity to carry two or three bicycles – depending on the model of bus.

No additional passenger fare is required when transporting bicycles.

The DTA introduced Bike & Bus in the spring 1994 in an effort to expand customer services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports. Since then, the Bike & Bus feature has become increasingly popular.

DTA BIKE RACKS ARE EASY TO USE: DTA bike racks, which are located on the front of the bus, can transport up to two bicycles at a time. Cyclists are fully responsible for loading and unloading their bikes on a "first come first serve" basis. Transporting bicycles rarely inconveniences DTA riders in transit, as it takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike onto the bike rack. No additional fares are charged for transporting bicycles on DTA buses beyond the regular passenger fare.

Bike & Bus has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists can now easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, the Scenic North Shore Drive, the Osaugie Bike Trail in Superior, Wisconsin, from anywhere within the DTA service area. Bike & Bus also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.

For more information about the Bike & Bus service, call 722-SAVE or visit the DTA’s website at www.duluthtransit.com.

The Homegrown Trolley shuttle will operate along Superior Street between Third Avenue West and Fitger’s serving Superior Street venue locations every 15 minutes between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.

The Homegrown Trolley Shuttle, which is free to the public, will provide service to the following Homegrown Music Festival venues in downtown Duluth: Brewhouse, Baja Billy’s and Red Star Lounge in Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Carmody Irish Pub, Teatro Zuccone, Orpheum, Pizza Luce, Dubh Linn’s Pub, and RT Quinlan’s Saloon.

Homegrown Trolley schedules will be available at downtown venues and on the Trolley.

Homegrown organizers encourage Festival attendees to take advantage of the convenient shuttle services between venues in downtown Duluth.

Last year, Trolley shuttles transported nearly 500 festival attendees during the Homegrown 2007 weekend.

First quarter 2008 ridership figures reported to the DTA Board of Directors showed a 12.4% increase of 85,000 rides over the first quarter of 2007.

January 2008 ridership of 240,790 passengers was up 4.8% over January 2007. February 2008 ridership of 264,924 passengers was up 21% over February 2007. March 2008 ridership of 263,637 passengers was up 11.9% over March of 2007.

U-Pass ridership for the first quarter of 2008 at UMD, College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College and UWS has also increased 25% with 13,041 rides over the first quarter of 2007. UMD ridership for February totaled 55,506 and was the highest monthly total ever at UMD. March ridership at UMD totaled 42,116 – which was the highest March ridership ever at UMD. U-Pass ridership at UWS was inaugurated in August, 2006 and totaled 2,092 rides during March.

Total DTA ridership for 2007 was 2,692,931 and this upward trend in ridership is expected to continue due to high gas prices.

STRIDE (Special Transit RIDE) ridership has also increased by 10.7% during the first quarter of 2008.

The additional passenger revenue generated from increased ridership has been offset by the increase in the price of diesel fuel. The average March price of diesel fuel was $3.53, which is $1.15 more per gallon than March 2007. The DTA purchases an average of 40,000 gallons of bio-diesel fuel per month.

• DTA to provide FREE fares to Bike & Bus riders on Friday, May 16 – Bike to Work Day.
• DTA buses are limited to two or three bicycles per bus on their external bike racks, depending on the model of bus. Newer buses are equipped with bike racks with the capacity for three bikes. In addition, bicycles are allowed onto buses at the driver’s discretion whenever external bike racks are in use and space available on the bus.
• Passengers are responsible for loading and unloading bicycles.
• Bike racks are available at both DTA Park & Ride lots: Piedmont Park & Ride, at the corner of Piedmont Ave. and Haines Road; and Woodland Park & Ride on Calvary Road.

DTA Bike & Bus Facts

• DTA buses transported a record 16,050 bikes in 2007.
• Bike & Bus service is available during the seven-month Daylight Savings Time season or when weather permits.
• All buses are equipped with front-end bike racks.
• No additional fare is charged for transporting bicycles beyond the passenger fare.
• Bike rack capacity is two bikes per bus. Bikes are allowed onto buses whenever external bike racks are in use and at the discretion of the bus operator.
• Riders are responsible for loading and unloading their bikes.
• Bike racks are easy to use and it usually takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike.
• The DTA introduced the Bike & Bus Program in the spring of 1994 in an effort to improve passenger services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports.
• Bike & Bus has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists can now easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, the Scenic North Shore Drive, the Osaugie Bike Trail in Superior, Wisconsin, from anywhere within the DTA service area.
• Bike & Bus also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.
• For more information about the Bike & Bus service at www.duluthtransit.com.

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is again offering teen bus riders in the Twin Ports unlimited rides and "fun perks" all summer long for just $45 with a "deep discounted" Summer Teen Pass.

In addition to unlimited rides on the DTA in June, July and August, youth riders 18 and under get "fun perks" at Carnival Thrillz in Canal Park, Incline Station Bowling Center, Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, Omnimax Theatre, Duluth Huskies Baseball and Burger King restaurants.

Summer Teen Passes go on sale on May 15 at DTA Pass Outlets listed below.

Youth riders get these "FUN PERKS" when presenting their Summer Teen Pass:

• One FREE game of bowling every day at the Incline Station Bowling Center
• $5 discount on unlimited-ride day pass wrist bands at Canal Parks’ Carnival Thrillz
• $5 admission at the Great Lakes Aquarium - $8 discount!
• $1 off general admission at Lake Superior Zoo.
• $1 discount on admission to Huskies baseball games.
• Free popcorn with admission at the Omnimax Theatre.
• $1 discount on any regularly priced Whopper, Double or Triple Whopper Combo Meals at all Duluth Burger King locations

Summer Teen Passes, which offer unlimited rides anytime on all DTA buses and the Port Town Trolley, are also transferable and can be used by qualifying family members or friends when not used by its primary recipient.

Summer Teen Passes are sold for $45 - a $90 value.

(31-Day Teen Passes normally sell for $30.)

Summer Teen Passes will be on sale after MAY 15 at these locations: Downtown Transit Center, all Twin Ports Little Stores, University Super America, Lakeside Super America, Plaza Super America, Fourth Street Food-N-Fuel, Morgan Park Super America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, DTA Operations Center, Community Bank locations in Superior, WI

Summer Teen Pass Program was established in 1999 through collaboration with the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force.

SUMMER TEEN PASS HISTORY:

DTA and Northland Foundation’s Youth Rider Transportation Task Force

In 1998, the DTA and the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force collaborated to encourage the use of public transportation by area youth. As a result of this partnership, the DTA reduced summer fares, developed a youth rider guide, and assisted in a “youth rider logo” contest with Lincoln Park School art students.

The Youth Rider Initiative was set in motion by the Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force in May of 1998 in response to the national movement, America’s Promise, chaired by retired General Colin Powell. This Promise is a call to all American businesses, congregations, schools, youth-serving organizations, service clubs, civic leaders, parents and others to commit more time, energy and funding to the fundamental resources needed by all children and youth. Initially, 135 youth and adults from various sectors of Duluth met at a local summit in February, 1998 to identify what programs and opportunities were currently available to the young people in this community so they could access these fundamental resources. It was determined that transportation, access to facilities, changes in attitude regarding volunteerism, and improved public relations were key areas that needed attention in order to make these resources more easily accessible. As a result, the Duluth Alliance with Youth was formed, along with four task forces to address these issues.

The Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force brought together students and representatives from the DTA, Voyageur Bus Company, ISD 709 Transportation Department, community education, Duluth Parks & Recreation Department, youth-serving organizations, and the Metropolitan Interstate Committee to focus on youth issues and concerns of public transportation in the Duluth area.

Surveys: In 1999, transportation surveys were administered to over 1,000 students, grades 5 through 12, from 14 Duluth schools, and to more than 300 parents. ARDC’s Metropolitan Interstate Committee analyzed the survey results, with results indicating that many of our young people do have transportation needs that could be met by public transportation. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed were involved in extra-curricular activities and about half indicated they often have difficulty with transportation to and from these activities. Other comments supported the need to make the image of public transportation more “kid-friendly”. With that in mind, 55 Lincoln Park School eighth graders submitted logo designs. The winning design, entitled “Youth Rider” is used by the DTA for youth-related marketing efforts and has been made available for use by task force member organizations.

Trolley serves downtown & Canal Park hotels – restaurants - shops & attractions

The Trolley operates along Superior Street between Fitger’s and Sixth Avenue West, along Canal Park Drive, and along the Bayfront. The Trolley stops at downtown bus stops along Superior Street including: Fitger's, Sheraton Hotel, Fond Du Luth Casino, the Holiday Center and Radisson Hotel. The Trolley also serves the Depot Heritage / Arts Center & Railroad Museum, Bayfront Park, Great Lakes Aquarium, Vista Fleet Excursion Dock, S/S William A. Irvin, Duluth 10/Omnimax Theaters, the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, Maritime Visitor Center/Aerial Lift Bridge and other locations along Canal Park Drive.

Unlimited-Ride Trolley Day Passes – Sold on Trolley for $3

Trolley passengers can get unlimited rides with a Trolley Day Pass. Day Passes are available for $3 on the Trolley and Downtown Transit Center.

Trolley fare is 50 cents for everyone - Children three and under free.

The DTA will resume normal levels of regular route and STRIDE services on Saturday, July 5th

Blatnik Bridge Southbound Lane Closure – DTA Route #16 buses to use Bong Bridge

Due to the construction on the Blatnik Bridge’s southbound driving lane from Duluth to Superior, the DTA will detour its Route #16 buses onto the Bong Bridge en-route to Superior.

DTA DETOUR ROUTING: Route #16 buses will depart downtown Duluth via Superior Street then detour to the freeway at the entrance of Mesaba Avenue, and continue on the freeway to the Bong Bridge, Belknap Street, Banks Avenue, Winter Street, Tower Avenue to 14th Street and regular route. Buses from Superior to Duluth will not be affected by the southbound lane closure and will run regular routing.

North End Superior – Weekday Peak Hour Service: Weekday DTA service from Superior’s North End to Tower Avenue & 14th Street will be provided every ½ hour during the peak hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Transfers to Itasca, Billings Park, or South Superior will be made on Tower Avenue.

North End Superior – Weekday Off-Peak & Weekend Service: North End residents wishing to travel to Itasca or transfer to Billings Park and South Superior buses during off-peak and weekends will have to find alternate ways to downtown Superior.

Garfield Avenue and Goodwill Industries: DTA service will be provided during the southbound lane closure to Garfield Avenue and Goodwill Industries – departing the Holiday Center bus stop at 7:02 a.m., 8:02 a.m. and 12 noon. DTA service from Goodwill Industries to downtown Duluth will not be affected by the southbound lane closure and will run as scheduled. Passengers on Garfield Avenue and Goodwill Industries wishing to travel to Superior are advised to travel to downtown Duluth and transfer to a Route #16 Duluth-Superior bus.

Bridge Northbound Lane Closure – DTA Route #16 buses to use Bong Bridge

Due to the construction on the Blatnik Bridge’s northbound driving lane from Superior to Duluth, the DTA will detour its Route 16 buses onto the Bong Bridge en-route to Duluth.

DTA DETOUR ROUTING: Route #16 buses arriving at 14th and Tower Avenue from Itasca will continue on Tower Avenue and detour via Winter Street, Banks Avenue, Belknap Street, Bong Bridge, freeway, Mesaba Avenue exit to Superior Street, Superior Street and regular route. Buses from Duluth to Superior will not be affected by the northbound lane closure and will run regular routing.

North End Superior: Passengers traveling to Duluth will have to board the bus coming from Duluth and bound for downtown Superior/Itasca. Passengers can get a timely connection by transferring on Tower Avenue to the Duluth bound bus.

Garfield Avenue and Goodwill Industries: Service from Goodwill Industries and Garfield Avenue to downtown Duluth will depart from Goodwill Industries at 12:15 p.m., 3:34 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. With these exceptions, passengers wishing to travel to downtown Duluth are advised to take a Route #16 bus en-route to Superior and transfer on Tower Avenue to the Route #16 Duluth-Superior bus traveling to Duluth.

DTA route & schedule information: 722-SAVE or www.duluthtransit.com

The Duluth Transit Authority will not accept tokens as a valid fare beginning January 1, 2009.

The DTA currently values small tokens at 50 cents and large tokens at 35 cents; and accepts single or multiple tokens towards fare payment.

When fares were increased in 2005 and a new electronic fare collection system introduced, the DTA discontinued sales of tokens and notified the pubic that tokens will eventually be phased out.

The DTA presently accepts tokens towards fare payment or in combination with cash.

The DTA will not redeem tokens for cash. However, the cash value of tokens can be transferred to a fare card at the DTA Operations Center at 2402 W. Michigan Street during weekday business hours.

The Port Town Trolley fare is 50 cents. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available on the Trolley for $3. DTA passes and stored value fare cards are also be honored on the Trolleys with children under the age of three riding free of charge.

For route and schedule information visit www.duluthtransit.com or call 722-SAVE!

The DTA invites the public to visit the Downtown Transit Center during the month of July to visit the historic transportation exhibit and to learn more about public transportation in the Twin Ports today. The Transit Center is staffed with an information specialist during weekday business hours to provide route and schedule information.

The Duluth Transit Authority will provide special Evening Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and the Head of the Lakes Fair, beginning Tuesday, July 22 and continuing through Saturday, July 26.

Special Evening Bus Service

The special evening service to the Head of the Lakes Fair will depart downtown Duluth hourly at the Holiday Center from 6:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., with service along the #17 South Superior route. Return trips from the Fair will run hourly from 6:40 p.m. with the last return trip to downtown Superior and downtown Duluth leaving the Fairgrounds at 10:45 p.m. (See schedule below.)

DTA routing to the Fairgrounds will run as follows: West from the Holiday Center in Duluth along Superior Street to I-35 Freeway, Blatnik Bridge, Hammond Avenue, Broadway, and Tower Avenue to the South Superior Fairgrounds. Return routing to downtown Duluth will be in reverse.

Regular route Daytime Service to Head of the Lakes Fair on Route #17

Daytime bus service to the Head of the Lakes Fair is available on the DTA's regular #17 Route weekday service. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses from Duluth make timely transfer connections in downtown Superior with Route #17 Billings Park-South Superior buses from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Route #17 South Superior buses from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses can be boarded in downtown Duluth at the Holiday Center Bus Stop.

Regular route Sunday Service to Head of the Lakes Fair on Route #17

Route #16 Sunday service between Duluth and Superior and Route #17 service in the city of Superior will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last route #17 Billings Park/South Superior bus departs the Fairgrounds on Tower Avenue at 5:20 p.m. and makes transfer connections in downtown Superior at 14th & Tower with the Duluth-Superior route #16 bus at 5:53 p.m.

DTA "Head of the Lakes" Evening Service Schedule

Tuesday, July 22 – Saturday, July 26

Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds

Departs Holiday Center in Downtown Duluth

6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.

Departs Downtown Superior (14th & Tower) for Fairgrounds:

6:28 p.m. – 7:28 p.m. – 8:28 p.m. – 9:28 p.m. – 10:28 p.m.

Departs Fairgrounds for Downtown Superior & Downtown Duluth:

6:40 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.

For more information call the DTA at 722-SAVE

The DTA will accept VISA / MasterCard credit / check card payments for the amount of purchase only.

In addition, DTA passes, stored value cards and fare tickets can now be ordered through the mail (2402 W. Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55806) or fax (722-4428) with VISA and MasterCard credit cards, when accompanied by the DTA’s online fare order form, which is available on the DTA’s web-site: http://www.duluthtransit.com/riderguide/pdf/dta_fare_order_form.pdf

VISA / MasterCard credit / check cards will only be accepted at the Downtown Transit Center information booth and the Operations Center sales window. DTA fare vending units at the Downtown Transit Center, Miller Hill Mall Bus Stop and Superior Public Library do not accept credit cards

Since Harbor Drive will be closed to all traffic behind the DECC, the Trolley will run along Railroad Street instead of Harbor Drive and will not provide direct service to the Great Lakes Aquarium, the Vista Fleet Dock or the S/S William A. Irvin on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

The Trolley will continue to provide service every half hour in downtown Duluth and Canal Park this weekend.

The Port Town Trolley fare is 50 cents and $3 Trolley Day Passes are available on the Trolley.

The Trolley will resume regular routing on Monday, August 4th.

DTA riders in Superior can purchase their passes at the Little Store located at 2104 Tower Avenue, the President’s One Stop in East Superior, or the fare vending machine in the Superior Public Library.

For additional DTA information call 722-SAVE

PARK STATE BANKS are now selling unlimited-ride 31-Day Transit and 31-Day Teen Passes at the following locations:

• Lincoln Park @ 2630 W. Superior Street
• Morgan Park @ 1106 88th Avenue West

Park State Bank joins these established DTA pass outlets: Downtown Transit Center, University Super-America, Lakeside Super-America, Plaza Super-America, Morgan Park Super-America, Fourth Super-America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, President’s One-Stop in Superior’s East End, DTA Operations Center in Lincoln Park, and all Twin Ports Little Store locations.

The new policy allows guardians to keep children in the stroller while on the bus, if they chose. Guardians are advised to keep the child secured in the stroller seat and to hang on to the stroller while the bus in motion.

The new policy encourages children in strollers to be stowed in the wheelchair tie-down section on the bus or along the front seats, where the aisle is wider. Strollers stowed in wheelchair section are not required to be tied down; but must be secured by the guardian. DTA drivers will assist riders with strollers in folding up the seats in the wheelchair tie-down section upon request.

When the wheelchair section and front seats are occupied on the bus, riders with children in strollers can stow them in the aisle as long as they are not blocking passengers boarding or getting off the bus. If the bus is crowded, the stroller can be folded up and child placed on its guardian’s lap until a wheelchair slot or front seat is available.

Riders boarding buses with children in strollers can request that the ramp or lift be deployed for safe and easy boarding.

Stroller Policy Guidlines

• Stroller Size – Only strollers less than 32" wide will be allowed on the bus. Multiple-seated strollers wider than 32" will be required to be folded-up prior to boarding.
• Bus Capacity – Children in strollers will be permitted on DTA buses provided they do not impede the safety of other passengers or the bus operator.
• Wheelchair passengers have a priority for the use of the wheelchair section on the bus. A passenger with a stroller occupying that space may be asked to move.

Former DTA Stroller Policy: Prior to this change, it was the policy of the DTA to allow strollers on the bus as long as they were folded up and kept out of the aisles. Children in strollers were to be removed from the stroller and held on the lap of the guardian with the stroller folded up and held out of the aisle.

This Emergency Mainline Service Schedule will operate between Lakeside and New Duluth; and will be implemented only when weather conditions and the forecast prevent DTA buses from safely operating its full fixed route level of service.

Emergency Mainline Service buses will operate on a half hour schedule between New Duluth at McCuen and Commonwealth, along Grand Avenue, West Third Street and Superior Street to downtown Duluth and 61st A.E. in Lakeside.

In the event that weekday service is canceled prior to the beginning of the service day, the first Emergency Mainline Service bus will depart Commonwealth Avenue & McCuen Street at 5 a.m. and Lakeside at 61st A.E. & Superior Street at 5:15 a.m. If Emergency Mainline Services are implemented on the weekend, service will begin on the mainline at the normally scheduled times.

During past winters, the DTA has suspended services due to snow and ice storms and generally has terminated all services when city wide weather closings are made. Now when weather closings are made, the DTA will consider operating buses along the mainline corridor where the terrain remains relatively flat. When weather conditions become too severe to safely operate buses along Superior Street and Grand Avenue, the DTA will also suspend the emergency service schedule along the mainline routes.

September ridership at University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD), College of St. Scholastica (CSS), Lake Superior College (LSC) and University of Wisconsin, Superior (UWS) has increased 72% with 99,392 rides compared to September of 2007.

September ridership at LSC and CSS was up 76% with 13,780 rides at LSC and 6,888 rides at CSS. LSC and CSS joined the U-Pass Program in 2001. UWS joined the U-Pass Program in August of 2007 and September ridership there was up 30.7% with 2,831 rides.

Participating colleges and universities provide annual subsidies to the DTA, which enable students, faculty and staff at UMD, LSC, CSS and UWS to ride the DTA with without paying a fare. Students, faculty and staff must be currently enrolled or employed to qualify for the U-Pass Program.

DTA ridership for the first nine months of 2008 totaled 2,357,699 and is on pace to top the 3 million rider mark this year.

DTA ridership in 2007 increased by 6% with 2,843,240 rides and this upward trend in ridership is expected to continue due to high gas prices and inflation.

Bike & Bus ridership on the DTA has once again topped its all-time record. In its 14th year of operation, the Bike & Bus service transported 20,107 bicycles during its eight month season – up 25 percent over last year’s record Bike & Bus ridership.

Due to the unseasonably warm weather this November, bike racks had remained on DTA buses past the end of Daylight Savings Time – a date the DTA normally removes the racks from buses for the season. Bike racks will be re-installed next spring at the start of Daylight Savings Time.

DTA bike racks, which are located on the front of the bus, can transport up to two or three bicycles at a time, depending on the type of bus. Cyclists are fully responsible for loading and unloading their bikes on a "first come first serve" basis. Transporting bicycles does not inconvenience DTA riders in transit, as it takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike onto the DTA bike rack

The DTA's innovative Bike & Bus Program has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, and the Scenic North Shore Drive from anywhere within the DTA's service area. The Bike & Bus Program also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.

MAINLINE DULUTH SERVICE: The DTA will be providing fixed route service in Duluth along Grand Avenue and Superior Street from 57th Avenue West to 24th Avenue East from 10:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. This bus will board passengers at all bus stops along the route.

SPECIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE: In addition, the DTA will be providing direct shuttle services at selective locations in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin, including: CHUM Drop-in Center; Domiano; YWCA; Morgan Park Manor, Solid Rock Mission (6th Street & Weeks); Clifford Lund (914 Tower Avenue); Royalton Manor (1900 New York Avenue); Peter Rich Center (1201 N. 8th Street); and center-city bus stop at 14th & Tower. (Schedules will be posted at these locations.)

Paying a fare with an EZ-Card is simple. Riders just need to "touch" the target on the fare-box with their EZ-Card to validate a ride. EZ-Cards kept in wallets or plastic holders will also validate rides when "touched" to the farebox target.

EZ-Cards are rechargeable for continued use. DTA riders can easily recharge their EZ-Cards with a 31-Day Pass or stored monetary values in $5 increments up to $50 at the Downtown Transit Center, the DTA Operations Center, located at 2402 W. Michigan Street or fare vending machines at the Downtown Transit Center, Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop and the Superior Public Library.

Normally, the DTA charges $2 for a "proximity-sensitive" EZ-Card; but is waving the fee during the month of December to promote the fare card medium and speed up passenger boardings.

EZ-Cards are made of durable plastic and have a three year life. EZ-Cards also provide improved security! Whenever an EZ-Card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced with the value remaining on the card at the time it was reported - providing the serial number on the EZ-Card was recorded by the user.

The DTA is now transporting record numbers of riders and faster boarding of passengers will surely help buses maintain their schedules. EZ-Cards also make great Holiday gifts.

DTA drivers and staff volunteers solicited prizes from local businesses and presented the Salvation Army with a check on December 10th. Toys and Christmas gifts will be purchased by the Salvation Army and distributed to children of needy families in the Twin Ports in time for Christmas.

Envoy Alan Carlson of the Duluth Salvation Army receives donation check from DTA employees Clint Johnson, Bob Moerke and Janine Taylor.

Whenever iPhone users in the Twin Ports ask for directions on Google Maps, DTA route and schedule information is at their fingertips. In addition, for those who regularly use public transportation, the program automatically accesses transit information by default.

This is a huge free upgrade for the DTA and all transit agencies who have shared their schedule data with Google. This, along with the other transit-supporting versions of Google Maps for mobile for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian Series 60, makes it easy for riders to obtain route and schedule information with their iPhone and other mobile devices.

It is expected that the new iPhone feature will be welcomed service for regular and casual DTA riders. "Just about everybody has a cell phone these days and DTA information is at their fingertips, not only from their home computer or laptop, but in their pocket or purse," says DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen.

Other DTA web-site technology features

The DTA web-site features other technological services like Google’s Transit Trip Planner, WebWatch bus tracking feature and email notification subscription service.

Google Transit’s Trip Planning Feature

Since December of 2006, the DTA’s web-site has featured Google Transit’s Trip Planning Feature. This feature has been very helpful I planning bus trips for many DTA riders – young and old.

When Google Transit’s launched its official “Trip Planning Feature” on October 3, 2007, Duluth was one of only 19 U.S. cities on board at that time. Today Google Transit’s Trip Planning services are available in 89 U.S. cities, 5 Canadian cities and 15 cities in Europe, Australia and Asia.

WebWatch Satellite-based Bus Tracking Feature

The DTA web-site also include other technological features like the interactive WebWatch bus tracking service, where riders can access real-time DTA schedule information for their stop and monitor their bus on a map as it makes its way along the route.

WebWatch can be accessed from desktop, laptop computers, iPhones, Blackberry and other web-enabled mobile communication devices.

Email Notification Subscription Service

DTA riders can sign up for email notifications to keep informed on service-related issues that could affect their bus rides. Email notifications are sent to subscribers for major service updates as soon as the information becomes available.

Through a collaborative effort with Midwest Communications, shoppers will be able to ride the Trolley – the "George Bailey Express" without charge.

Two Port Town Trolleys will operate service every 15 minutes along Superior Street between Fitger’s and Sixth Avenue West, along Railroad Street and Canal Park Drive. The Trolley will stop at all downtown bus stops along Superior Street including: Fitger's, Greysolon Plaza, Fond Du Luth Casino, the Holiday Center and Radisson Hotel. The Trolley will also serve the Depot, the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace and other locations along Canal Park Drive.

The Duluth Transit Authority will suspend all Twin Ports bus services, including STRIDE on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25.

The DTA will curtail regular route and STRIDE services early on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, with service ending for the day at 7:15 p.m. (last buses departing downtown Duluth at 7:15 p.m.)

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Friday, December 26.

The DTA will run regularly scheduled bus service on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31.

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Friday, January 2.

Winter Emergency Mainline Services will operate between Lakeside and New Duluth; and will be implemented only when weather conditions and the forecast prevent DTA buses from safely operating its full fixed route level of service.

Weekday Emergency West Mainline buses will operate half hour service along the West Mainline between New Duluth at McCuen and Commonwealth, along Grand Avenue, West Third Street and Superior Street to downtown Duluth with the first bus departing McCuen and Commonwealth at 5 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for New Duluth at 11:10 p.m.

Weekday Emergency East Mainline buses will operate half hour service along the East Mainline between 61st A.E. and downtown Duluth with the first bus departing 61st A.E. at 5:15 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for Lakeside at 10:40 p.m.

Saturday Emergency West Mainline buses will operate hourly service along the West Mainline with the first bus departing McCuen and Commonwealth at 7:50 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for New Duluth at 7:10 p.m.

Saturday Emergency East Mainline buses will operate on an hourly schedule along the East Mainline with the first bus departing 61st A.E. at 7:45 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for Lakeside at 6:40 p.m.

Sunday Emergency West Mainline buses will operate on an hourly schedule along the West Mainline with the first bus departing McCuen and Commonwealth at 8 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for New Duluth at 6:40 p.m.

Sunday Emergency East Mainline buses will operate on an hourly schedule along the East Mainline with the first bus departing 61st A.E. at 7:48 a.m. and the last bus leaving downtown for Lakeside at 6:40 p.m.

During past winters, the DTA has suspended services due to snow and ice storms and generally has terminated all services when city wide weather closings are made. Now when weather closings are made, the DTA will consider operating buses along the mainline corridor where the terrain remains relatively flat. When weather conditions become too severe to safely operate buses along Superior Street and Grand Avenue, however, the DTA will also suspend the Emergency Service Schedule along the mainline routes.

Emergency Winter Weather Passenger Pocket Schedules Now Available from DTA drivers and the Downtown Transit Center. The DTA has yet to implement the Winter Emergency Mainline service; but advises passengers to obtain a pocket schedule for future use. The Emergency Mainline Service schedule is also available online.

Status of DTA service: During severe winter weather, the DTA is encouraging the public to check the DTA web-site, call the DTA at 722-SAVE or listen to KDAL radio for information on DTA services.

Prior to 2002, approximately 9.65% of the passengers carried were secondary school students that were transported under the terms of a contract with ISD 709. Following the cancellation of the contract by the School Board, the DTA reduced its peak hour fleet from 62 to 45 buses, and personnel from 98 employees to 86.

In 2000, the DTA established a new U-Pass program with UMD, which was later expanded to all area colleges. While transit use is up by all segments of the general population, bus travel by college students participating in the U-Pass program has shown the most consistent gains.

U-Pass ridership for 2008 at UMD, College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College and UWS increased by 36% over 2007 with 693,291 rides. U-Pass ridership for September 2008 of nearly 100,000 rides was the highest monthly total since the program began in 2000 with an increase of 72 percent over September 2007.

DTA Bike & Bus ridership for 2008 also surpassed the previous year’s total. In its 14th year of operation, the Bike & Bus service transported 20,107 bicycles during its eight month season – up 25 percent over last year.

STRIDE (Special Transit RIDE) ridership for 2008 also increased by 3% with 24,519 rides.

DTA ridership gains for 2008 parallels the national trend. More Americans today are using public transportation due to volatile gas prices and inflation. Even though fuel prices have subsided since last fall, DTA ridership continues to grow.

"We're very pleased with these numbers" says DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen. "We picked up a lot of new riders during the surge in fuel prices and they are continuing to ride. We are especially pleased with the success of the U-Pass program and all the benefits that this has brought to the colleges and to the community."

The Duluth Transit Authority is proposing to revise services and adjust schedules to accommodate growing ridership demands and in preparation for major road construction that will begin this spring in the Miller Hill Mall area. Most DTA schedules will be affected in some way by these revisions. All schedules will be revised and reprinted; except for route 18. Riders are advised to obtain new pocket schedules, which will be available at the Downtown Transit Center and area schedule outlets prior to this service change.

Proposed service changes at the Miller Hill Mall

Due to major road construction scheduled to begin in the Miller Hill Mall area this spring, the DTA is proposing to revise the way it serves the Miller Hill Mall area. All buses arriving at the Mall will terminate at the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop, with the exception of a few early morning and late night buses. The DTA will introduce a Mall Area Shuttle for service beyond the Miller Hill Mall. Walmart and the Airport will be served by Route 5 buses; except on Sundays when they will be served from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop.

Mall Area Shuttle service in the Miller Hill Mall area

The Mall Area Shuttle will provide service every half an hour between the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop, Penney’s (New Stop), Village Mall, K-Mart, Target, Burning Tree Plaza and Super One. Transferring to and from Mall Area Shuttle bus will be timely. The Mall Area Shuttle will be waiting at the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop when buses arrive from and depart to downtown. The Mall Area Shuttle will operate every half an hour from 8:50 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. during weekdays; 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 10:25 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. on Sundays. DTA riders will be able to ride the Mall Area Shuttle with a valid transfer or the Mall Area Short Hop (MASH) fare of 25 cents.

Saturday service added to West-to-the-Mall Route 5 schedule

Saturday service will be added to Route 5 between the Zoo at 71 A.W., Miller Hill Mall Bus Stop, Walmart and the Airport.

Sunday service to Walmart from Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop introduced

Hourly Sunday service to Walmart will be provided from the Mall’s Bus Stop, Walmart and the Airport on an hourly basis from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday service times to Walmart will be posted on the Mall Area Shuttle schedule.

Sunday service to Airport from Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop

Hourly Sunday service to the Airport will be provided from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop on an hourly basis from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday service times to the Airport will be posted on the Mall Area Shuttle schedule.

Service to Stone Ridge Shopping Center expanded

All Route 10 and 10H buses will be routed through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center, with the exception of five late night trips. This will greatly expand DTA service running through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center as service to Home Depot / Olive Garden will be eliminated due to low ridership.

West Mainline service expanded during weekdays

West Mainline service will be expanded to provide 15 minute service during weekdays between 59th A.W. & Grand Avenue and downtown Duluth.

West Mainline Route 1 service will be interlined with Route #10 buses during midday hours for direct service to the Mall on weekdays

West Mainline Route 1 buses will be interlined during midday hours with Route 10 and 10H buses during weekdays. Route 1 riders going to the Miller Hill Mall will not have to transfer in downtown Duluth, as Route 1 buses will continue on as a Route 10 or 10H bus upon arriving downtown. Route 1 operates between 71 A.W. and downtown Duluth.

Other proposed DTA route and schedule changes

ROUTE 1 Zoo – Midday service on West Mainline will be expanded on weekdays; Schedule times adjusted for midday and evening service.

Additional midday service on Route 1 will be provided along the West Mainline between the Zoo at 71st A.W. and downtown during weekdays. This will increase service along the West Mainline from three buses an hour to four buses an hour and will ease ridership demands along the busiest corridor in the DTA service area. Most schedule times will be adjusted.

Route 1: Zoo (Weekdays)

• New service added from downtown to the Zoo. The new times will be 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 3:45 p.m.
• New service added from the Zoo to downtown. The new times will be 8:27 a.m., 9:27 a.m., 10:27 a.m., 11:27 a.m., 12:27 p.m., 1:27 p.m., 2:27 p.m., 3:27 p.m., 4:27 p.m., 4:57 p.m. and 5:57 p.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., and 2:45 p.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 1:20 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., and 2:15 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 3:20 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 3:10 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 4:37 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes earlier at 4:35 p.m.
• Bus currently departing the Zoo at 7:43 a.m. will leave fourteen (14) minutes later at 7:57a.m.
• Bus currently departing the Zoo at 9:09 a.m. will leave eighteen (18) minutes later and continue to downtown at 9:27 a.m.
• Bus currently departing the Zoo at 3:22 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 3:27 p.m.
• Bus currently departing the Zoo at 5:17 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 5:27 p.m.

Route 2 New Duluth – Minor Schedule Changes

Weekday Route 2 schedule times for one morning and several afternoon trips adjusted.

Saturday Service: Schedule times adjusted 4-10 minutes earlier.

Sunday Service: No Proposed Changes

Route 2: New Duluth (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing New Duluth at 4:58 p.m. will leave four (4) minutes later at 5:02 p.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 4:15 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 4:20 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 5:40 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 5:50 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 9:00 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 8:55 a.m.

Route 2: New Duluth (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 6:50 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 8:50 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 5:50 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.
• Buses currently departing New Duluth at 6:50 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 8:50 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6:35 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. will leave four minutes earlier at 6:46 a.m., 7:46 a.m., 8:46 a.m., 9:46 a.m., 10:46 a.m., 11:46 a.m., 12:46 p.m., 1:46 p.m., 2:46 p.m., 3:46 p.m., 4:46 p.m., 5:36 p.m., 6:31 p.m. and 7:31 p.m.

Route 2F Fond du Lac – Schedule adjustments

Several trips will depart 5-10 minutes earlier than currently scheduled.

Route 2F: Fond du Lac (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing downtown at 6:55 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 6:50 a.m.
• Bus currently departing Fond du Lac at 7:39 a.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 7:29 a.m.

Route 3 Proctor – Minor schedule adjustments

Two afternoon trips (4:32 p.m. and 5:27 p.m.) will depart Proctor 5 and 10 minutes earlier than currently scheduled. One afternoon trip (3:10 p.m.) will depart downtown 10 minutes later and one evening trip (6:45 p.m.) will depart downtown 5 minutes earlier.

Saturday Service: Schedule times adjusted 3-10 minutes earlier.

Sunday Service: No Proposed Changes

Route 3: Proctor (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing downtown at 3:10 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 3:20 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 6:45 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 6:40 p.m.
• Bus currently departing Proctor at 4:32 p.m. will leave eight (8) minutes earlier at 4:24 p.m.
• Bus currently departing Proctor at 5:27 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 5:22 p.m.

Route 3: Proctor (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 8:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier. The new times will be 8:20 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.
• Buses currently departing Proctor at 7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:22 p.m., 3:22 p.m., 4:22 p.m., 5:22 p.m., 6:22 p.m. and 7:12 p.m. will leave three (3) minutes earlier. The new times will be 7:17 a.m., 8:17 a.m., 9:17 a.m., 10:17 a.m., 11:17 a.m., 12:17 p.m., 1:17 p.m., 2:19 p.m., 3:19 p.m., 4:19 p.m., 5:19 p.m., 6:19 p.m. and 7:09 p.m.

Route 4 Ramsey Raleigh – Weekday schedule times adjusted

Morning and afternoon times will be scheduled 3 to 10 minutes earlier. Afternoon trip (4:32 p.m.) from Ramsey Raleigh will be discontinued.

Saturday Service: Schedule times to be adjusted 10 minutes earlier. Morning trip dropped.

Route 4: Ramsey Raleigh (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing downtown at 7:20 a.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 7:10 a.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 7:40 a.m., and 8:10 a.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 4:20 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 4:10 p.m.
• Bus currently departing Ramsey Raleigh to downtown at 7:52 a.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 7:42 a.m.
• Bus currently departing Ramsey Raleigh to downtown at 8:15 a.m. will leave three (3) minutes earlier at 8:12 a.m.
• Bus currently leaving Ramsey Raleigh to downtown at 6:22 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later. The new time will be 6:27 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving Ramsey Raleigh to downtown at 4:32 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 4: Ramsey Raleigh (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 10:35 a.m., 12:35 a.m., 2:35 p.m. and 4:35 p.m.

Route 5 West-to-the-Mall – Major schedules adjustments to better serve Lake Superior College students

Schedule times will be adjusted 22 minutes earlier, which will give Lake Superior College students more time to get to class and more time to catch the bus after class.

Saturday Service: New Service Added Saturday service will be added on Route 5. Saturday schedule times will vary slightly from weekday times, as Route 5 buses will not serve Lake Superior College on Saturdays.

Route 5: West to the Mall (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing the Zoo for LSC/Mall Area/Airport at 7:27 a.m., 8:27 a.m., 9:27 a.m., 10:27 a.m., 11:27 a.m., 12:27 p.m., 1:27 p.m., 2:27 p.m., 3:27 p.m., 4:27 p.m. and 5:27 p.m. will leave twenty-two (22) minutes earlier. The new times will be 7:05 a.m., 8:05 a.m., 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:05 p.m., 4:05 p.m., and 5:05 p.m.
• Buses currently departing the Airport Mall area to the Zoo at 8:23 a.m., 9:23 a.m., 10:23 a.m., 11:23 a.m., 12:23 p.m., 1:23 p.m., 2:23 p.m., 3:23 p.m., 4:23 p.m., 5:23 p.m. and 6:23 p.m. will leave twenty-two (22) minutes earlier. The new times will be 8:01 a.m., 9:01 a.m., 10:01 a.m., 11:01 a.m., 12:01 p.m., 1:01 p.m., 2:01 p.m., 3:01 p.m., 4:01 p.m., 5:01 p.m. and 6:01 p.m.
• Buses will arrive at Lake Superior College at 29 minutes after the hour. This allows more time for students to get to classes,
• Buses will depart Lake Superior College for West Duluth at 26 minutes after the hour. This allows students more time between class end times to catch the bus.
• Once Route 5 buses arrive at the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop, passengers wishing to travel to K-Mart, Target, or Super-One will have to transfer to the Mall Shuttle Bus. Route 5 routing from the Mall Bus Stop to Wal-Mart will run via Highway 53, Haines Road, Mall Drive to Wal-Mart and then continue on its current routing to the Airport.

Route 5: West to the Mall (Saturday)

• New hourly service added. Saturday service does not include Lake Superior College.
• Buses will be scheduled to depart the Zoo to Mall Area/Walmart/Airport at 9:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m. and 3:50 p.m.
• Buses will be scheduled to depart the Airport for the Zoo at 10:46 a.m., 11:46 a.m., 12:46 p.m., 1:46 p.m., 2:46 p.m., 3:46 p.m. and 4:46 p.m.

Route 6 East Mainline / UMD – Major schedule adjustment

Weekday Route 6 boarding times at UMD will be scheduled 2-27 minutes earlier. Route 6 buses will be interlined with West Mainline Routes 1, 2 and 3, which will improve service for UMD riders living along the West Mainline to 71st A.W.

Saturday Service: Major Schedule Adjustment

Route 6: East Mainline UMD (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 8:37 p.m. and 9:37 p.m. will leave twenty-two (22) minutes earlier at 8:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 9:39 a.m. will leave eighteen (18) minutes earlier at 9:21a.m.
• Buses currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 10:08 a.m., 10:38 a.m., 11:08 a.m., 11:38 a.m., 12:08 p.m., 12:38 p.m., 1:08 p.m., 1:38 p.m., 2:08 p.m. and 2:38 p.m. will leave seventeen (17) minutes earlier at 9:51 a.m., 10:21 a.m., 10:51 a.m., 11:21 a.m., 11:51 a.m., 12:21 p.m., 12:51 p.m., 1:21 p.m., 1:51 p.m. and 2:21 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 2:48 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes earlier at 2:46 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 3:08 p.m. will leave thirteen (13) minutes later at 3:21 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 3:33 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes earlier at 3:31 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 4:18 p.m. will leave seven (7) minutes earlier at 4:11p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 4:28 p.m. will leave twelve (12) minutes earlier at 4:16 p.m.
• Buses currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 4:50 p.m., 5:51 p.m. and 7:51 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes earlier at 4:48 p.m., 5:49 p.m. and 7:49 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 5:21 p.m. will leave three (3) minutes earlier at 5:18 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 8:00 p.m. will leave twenty-seven (27) minutes earlier at 7:33 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 9:00 p.m. will leave twenty-five (25) minutes earlier at 8:35 p.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD Kirby Center to downtown at 10:00 p.m. will leave twenty-three (23) minutes earlier at 9:37 p.m.

Route 6: East Mainline UMD (Saturday)

• Most trips departing downtown will be scheduled 20 minutes earlier. Morning trip from downtown (8:05 a.m.) will be discontinued.
• Buses currently leaving downtown at 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:05 p.m., 4:05 p.m., 5:05 p.m., 6:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. will leave twenty (20) minutes earlier at 8:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

Route 7 East Mainline / Lakeside – Midday times to be scheduled 5-10 minutes earlier

Weekday schedule times during midday hours will be scheduled 5-10 minutes earlier. This adjustment will space out the service along East Superior Street and provide better transfer connections at 24th A.E. for Lakeside residents wishing to transfer to Route 6 buses for service to UMD.

Saturday Service: All schedule times slightly adjusted.

Sunday Service: No Proposed Changes

Route 7: East Mainline Lakeside (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 4:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 3:10 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 3:05 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
• Bus currently departing Lakeside at 8:46 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 8:41 a.m.
• Buses currently departing Lakeside at 9:46 a.m., 10:46 a.m., 11:46 a.m., 12:46 p.m., 1:58 p.m. and 2:58 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes earlier at 9:31 a.m., 10:31 a.m., 11:31 a.m., 12:31 p.m., 1:43 p.m. and 2:43 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving Lakeside at 3:5 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 3:58 p.m.

Route 7: East Mainline Lakeside (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:05 p.m., 4:05 p.m., 5:05 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 7:00 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 7:05 p.m.
• Bus departing Lakeside at 7:30 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 7:45 p.m.

Route 8 Fitger’s – DTA discontinues route

Due to weak ridership, Route 8 between downtown and Fitger’s will be discontinued.

Route 9 Piedmont – Several routing adjustments made

Weekday Route 9 buses departing downtown at 8:20 a.m. will provide service to Lake Superior College; but will not serve upper Piedmont on this trip. Route 9 buses departing downtown Duluth at 5:25 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. will be routed along Morris Thomas and Haines.

Afternoon service to LSC from downtown adjusted 19 minutes earlier than currently scheduled.

Route 9: Piedmont (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing downtown at 8:20 a.m. will terminate its trip at Lake Superior College and will not travel to upper Piedmont.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 5:25 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. will run the Morris Thomas loop.
• Seasonal LSC service departing downtown at 2:44 p.m. and 3:44 p.m. will leave nineteen (19) minutes earlier at 2:25 p.m. and 3:25 p.m.

Route 9M Piedmont / Mall – Routing / Schedule adjustments

Weekend Route 9M buses will provide service to and from the Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop. Service beyond the Mall Bus Stop will be provided on the Mall Area Shuttle. Route 9M morning trip from downtown (7:45 a.m.) will be discontinued on Saturday.

Route 9M: Piedmont Mall (Saturday).

• Buses currently departing mall door #8 at 9:20a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:18 a.m., 12:18 p, .m.1:18 p.m., 2:18 p.m., 3:18 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 9:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 11:08 a.m., 12:08 p.m., 1:08 p.m., 2:08 p.m., 3:08 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 5:10 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 7:45 a.m. will be discontinued

Route 10 Duluth Heights / Mall –Downtown departure times between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to be scheduled 10 minutes later.

Downtown departure times between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the week will be scheduled 10 minutes later for route 10 and 10H buses. All Route 10 and 10H buses will be routed through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center, with the exception of five late night trips. Service to Home Depot / Olive Garden will be discontinued due to low ridership. Minor downtown routing changes for midday trips will be made to accommodate service to the Third Avenue East Bus Stop. All Route 10 and 10H buses will terminate and depart from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop.

Saturday Service: No Proposed Changes

Sunday Service: No Proposed Changes

Route 10: Duluth Heights (Weekdays)

• All route 10 & 10H buses will arrive at and depart from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop.
• Stone Ridge Mall area will be serviced in both directions. Service to the Home Depot side will be discontinued.
• With the exception of the early morning trips leaving downtown at 6:46 a.m., 7:15 a.m. and 7:40 a.m., plus the late night trips at 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:10 p.m. and 11:10 p.m.
• Route 10 buses from the Mall scheduled to arrive downtown at 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:10 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. will have a minor route change once it arrives at Lake Avenue and Second Street. The bus will run via Second Street, Third A.E. and Superior Street.
• Buses currently departing downtown at 8:15 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later. The new times will be at 8:25 a.m., 8:55 a.m., 9:25 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 12:55 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 1:55 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 2:55 p.m. 3:25 p.m., 3:55 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:25 p.m., 5:55 p.m., 6:25 p.m. and 6:55 p.m.

Route 11 East 8th / UMD– Schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 11 buses departing UMD at 5:50 p.m. and downtown Duluth at 6:10 p.m. will depart 5 minutes later than currently scheduled.

Route 11: East 8th UMD (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:10 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:40 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later. The new times will be 9:20 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 1:50 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 6:10p will leave five (5) minutes later at 6:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing UMD at 8:50 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:20 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later. The new times will be 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving UMD Kirby at 5:50 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 5:55 p.m.

Weekend Route 11K East 8th / UMD / Kenwood – Schedule adjustments

Route 11K buses will depart Kirby 19-25 minutes later than currently scheduled on weekends. Route 11K buses departing downtown at 9:35 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. on Sundays will leave 22-25 minutes later than currently scheduled. Route 11K buses will serve the College of St. Scholastica on both inbound and outbound trips.

Route 11K: East 8th UMD Kenwood (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing UMD Kirby at 8:04 a.m., 9:04 a.m., 10:04 a.m., 11:04 a.m., 12:04 p.m., 1:04 p.m., 12:04 p.m., 1:04 p.m., 2:01 p.m., 3:01 p.m., 4:01 p.m., 5:01 p.m. and 6:01 p.m. will leave nineteen to twenty-two (19-22) minutes later at 8:23 a.m., 9:23 a.m., 10:23 a.m., 11:23 a.m., 12:23 p.m., 1:23 p.m., 12:23 p.m., 1:23 p.m., 2:23 p.m., 3:23 p.m., 4:23 p.m., 5:23 p.m. and 6:23 p.m.
• Bus departing UMD Kirby at 6:57 p.m. will be scheduled five (5) minutes later at 7:02 p.m.

Route 11K: East 8th UMD Kenwood (Sunday)

• Service to the College of St. Scholastica will be provided in both directions.
• Buses currently leaving UMD Kirby at 10:04 a.m., 11:04 a.m., 12:04 p.m., 1:04 p.m., 12:04 p.m., 1:04 p.m., 2:01 p.m., 3:01 p.m., 4:01 p.m., 5:01 p.m. and 6:01 p.m. will leave twenty-two to twenty-five (22-25) minutes later. The new times will be 10:26 a.m., 11:26 a.m., 12:26 p.m., 1:26 p.m., 12:26 p.m., 1:26 p.m., 2:26 p.m., 3:26 p.m., 4:26 p.m. and 5:26 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving UMD Kirby at 6:01 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 6:11 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving downtown at 9:35 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. will leave twenty (20) minutes later at 9:55 a.m. and 10:55 a.m.

Route 12 Kenwood / UMD – Schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 12 buses departing UMD at 6:22 a.m. and 6:51 a.m. will be scheduled earlier at 6:07 a.m. and 6:46 a.m.; and the Route 12 bus departing downtown at 6 a.m. will be scheduled 15 minutes earlier at 5:45 a.m. Route 12 trips currently departing downtown at 6:07 p.m. and departing UMD at 9:26 a.m., 2:55 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 12: Kenwood UMD (Weekdays)

• Bus currently departing downtown at 6:00a will leave fifteen (15) minutes earlier at 5:45 a.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD at 6:22 a.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes earlier at 6:07 a.m.
• Bus currently departing UMD at 6:51 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 6:46 a.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 6:07 p.m. will be discontinued.
• Buses departing UMD at 9:26 a.m., 2:55 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 13 East 4th / UMD / Woodland – No weekday changes

Weekend Route 13W East 4th / Woodland – Schedule/route adjustments

All 13W trips on Saturday will be routed into UMD campus. All downtown schedule times have been adjusted ten (10) minutes earlier to accommodate the route extension to UMD. Saturday Service: Schedule / routing adjustments – includes direct service to and from UMD.

Sunday Service: No Proposed Changes

Route 13W: East 4th Woodland (Saturday)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes earlier at 9:35 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 1:35 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., 4:35 p.m., 5:35 p.m. and 6:35 p.m.
• 13W buses will also provide direct service to and from UMD’s Kirby Center on Saturdays.

Route 13U East 4th / UMD – No Proposed Changes

Route 14 West 4th Street / Eklund / Mall – Morning trips added to and from Mall – Schedule Adjustments

A weekday trip on Route 14 will be added from downtown to the Mall at 8:15 a.m.; and from the Mall to downtown at 8:45 a.m. All Route 14 buses will terminate and depart from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop. Route 14 trips from downtown at 5:42 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. will be discontinued. Route 14 trip from downtown currently scheduled at 5:15 p.m. will be scheduled 5 minutes later.

Saturday Service: No Schedule Adjustments

Route 14: West 4th Eklund / Mall (Weekdays)

• All route 14 buses will arrive at and depart from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop.
• Add an 8:15 a.m. trip from downtown and an 8:45 a.m. from the Mall.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 5:15 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 5:20 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 4:07 p.m. will leave eight (8) minutes later at 4:15 p.m.
• The current 5:42 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 14: West 4th Eklund Mall (Saturday)

• Route 14 buses arrive and depart at Mall Bus Stop.
• Buses currently leaving downtown at 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. will leave forty (40) minutes later at 10:05 a.m., 12:05 a.m., 2:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving Mall Bus Stop at 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
• New trip to leave mall at 10:45 a.m. added.
• Bus currently leaving mall door #8 at 6:20 p.m. will be discontinued
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 5:15 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 14P West 4th – Eklund – Mall -Piedmont – Schedule Adjustments

Weekday Route 14P schedule times from downtown will be adjusted 8-10 minutes later than currently scheduled.

Route 14P: West 4th Eklund / Mall (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 9:10 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 1:10 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
• Bus currently departing downtown at 4:07 p.m. will leave eight (8) minutes later at 4:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing Piedmont & Haines to downtown at 9:58 a.m., 11:58 a.m., 1:58 p.m. and 3:58 p.m. will leave ten (10) minutes later at 10:08 a.m., 12:08 p.m., 2:28 p.m. and 4:08 p.m.

Route 15 Park Point – Midday schedule adjustments

Route 15 boarding times from downtown between 9:25 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. will be scheduled 15 minutes earlier. Route 15 boarding times to downtown between 9:44 a.m. and 3:44 p.m. will be scheduled 12 minutes earlier.

Saturday Service: Major Schedule Adjustment

Route 15: Park Point (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 9:25 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 2:25 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes earlier at 9:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 1:10 p.m., 2:10 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
• Buses currently departing the end of Park Point to downtown at 9:44 a.m., 10:44 a.m., 11:44 a.m., 12:44 p.m., 1:44 p.m., 2:44 p.m. and 3:44 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes earlier at 9:29 a.m., 10:29 a.m., 11:29 a.m., 12:29 p.m., 1:29 p.m., 2:29 p.m. and 3:29 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 4:25 p.m. will leave five (5) minutes earlier at 4:20 p.m.

Route 15: Park Point (Saturday)

• Buses currently leaving downtown at 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. will leave twenty (20) minutes earlier at 11:25 a.m., 1:25 p.m., 3:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving Park Point at 12:07 p.m., 2:07 p.m., 4:07 p.m. and 6:07 p.m. will leave eighteen (18) minutes earlier at 11:49 a.m., 1:49 p.m., 3:49 p.m. and 5:49 p.m.
• New trip to Park Point added at 6:15 p.m. and return at 6:34 p.m.

Route 15C Park Point / Canal Park – DTA eliminates Route 15C service in Canal Park except last three evening trips – Schedule adjustments

The DTA will drop all Canal Park trips with the exception of three evening trips. Schedule times for these evening trips will be revised. Route 15C buses will depart downtown for Canal Park at 7:20 p.m., 7:58 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Route 15C buses will depart Canal Park for downtown at 7:24 p.m., 8:04 p.m. and 9:04 p.m.

Route 15C: Canal Park (Weekdays)

• Drop all trips except the 7:20 p.m., 8:23 p.m. and 9:23 p.m. These times will be changed to 7:20 p.m., 7:58 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving Canal Park at 8:27 p.m. and 9:27 p.m. will leave twenty-three (23) minutes earlier at 8:04 p.m. and 9:04 p.m.

Route 16 Duluth-Superior – No weekday changes

Weekend Service: Schedule time changes

Route 16: Duluth-Superior (Saturday)

• Buses currently leaving downtown at 7:35 a.m., 8:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 1:35 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., 4:35 p.m., 5:35 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 7:50 a.m., 8:50 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 5:50 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving Itasca at 6:25 a.m., 7:25 a.m., 8:25 a.m., 9:25 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. will leave twenty-four (24) minutes later at 6:49 a.m., 7:49 a.m., 8:49 a.m., 9:49 a.m., 10:49 a.m., 11:49 a.m., 12:49 p.m., 1:49 p.m., 2:49 p.m., 3:49 p.m., 4:49 p.m. and 5:49 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving Itasca at 6:25 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 6:40 p.m.

Route 16: Duluth-Superior (Sunday)

• Buses currently leaving downtown at 10:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 1:35 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., 4:35 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:50 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving downtown at 6:35 p.m. will leave nine (9) minutes later at 6:44 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving Itasca at 10:25 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. will leave twenty-four (24) minutes later at 6:49 a.m., 7:49 a.m., 8:49 a.m., 9:49 a.m., 10:49 a.m., 11:49 a.m., 12:49 p.m., 1:49 p.m., 2:49 p.m., 3:49 p.m., 4:49 p.m. and 5:49 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving Itasca at 6:25 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 6:40 p.m.

Route 17 Billings Park/South Superior – Afternoon schedule change

Route 17 Billings Park and South Superior service after 3 p.m. will be scheduled 2 minutes later. This will improve transfer connections with Route 16 Duluth-Superior service at 14th Street and Tower Avenue.

Weekend Service: Schedule Changes

Route 17: Billings Park – South Superior (Weekdays)

Billings Park:

• Buses currently departing downtown Superior at 3:13 p.m., 3:43 p.m., 4:13 p.m., 4:43 p.m., 5:13 p.m., 5:43 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes later at 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing Billings Park for downtown Superior at 3:22 p.m., 3:52 p.m., 4:22 p.m., 4:52 p.m., 5:22 p.m., 5:52 p.m. and 6:22 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes later at 3:24 p.m., 3:54 p.m., 4:24 p.m., 4:54 p.m., 5:24 p.m., 5:54 p.m. and 6:24 p.m.

South Superior:

• Buses currently departing downtown Superior at 3:13 p.m., 3:43 p.m., 4:13 p.m., 4:43 p.m., 5:13 p.m., 5:43 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes later at 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
• Buses currently departing Billings Park for downtown Superior at 3:25 p.m., 3:55 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:25 p.m., 5:55 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. will leave two (2) minutes later at 3:27 p.m., 3:57 p.m., 4:27 p.m., 4:57 p.m., 5:27 p.m., 5:57 p.m. and 6:27 p.m.

Billings Park /South Superior (Saturday)

• Buses currently leaving downtown Superior at 7:57 a.m., 8:57 a.m., 9:57 a.m., 10:57 a.m., 11:57 a.m., 12:57 p.m., 1:57 p.m., 2:57 p.m., 3:57 p.m., 4:57 p.m. and 5:57 p.m. will leave eighteen (18) minutes later at 8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving South Superior at 8:20 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 1:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. will leave twenty (20) minutes later at 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:40 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 5:40 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. • Buses currently leaving Superior Wal-Mart at 12:26 p.m., 2:26 p.m. and 4:26 p.m. will leave fifteen (15) minutes later at 12:41 p.m., 2:41 p.m. and 4:41 p.m.

Billings Park /South Superior (Sunday)

• Buses currently leaving downtown Superior at 9:57 a.m., 10:57 a.m., 11:57 a.m., 12:57 p.m., 1:57 p.m., 2:57 p.m., 3:57 p.m. and 4:57 p.m. will leave eighteen (18) minutes later at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
• Buses currently leaving South Superior at 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 3:20 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. will leave twenty (20) minutes later at 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 3:40 p.m., 4:40 p.m. and 5:40 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving South Superior at 1:30 p.m. will leave sixteen (16) minutes later at 1:46 p.m.
• Bus currently leaving Superior Wal-Mart at 12:26 p.m. will leave seventeen (17) minutes later at 12:43 p.m.

Route 18 UMD/CSS via Rice Lake & Arrowhead – No changes

Route 20 Cirrus / Airpark / UHC – Morning schedule adjustment

Route 20 buses currently departing downtown at 5:05 a.m., 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. will be scheduled five minutes later.

Route 20: Cirrus – Airpark – United HealthCare (Weekdays)

• Buses currently departing downtown at 5:05 a.m., 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. will leave five (5) minutes later at 5:10 a.m., 6:10 a.m., 7:10 a.m. and 8:10 a.m.

Route 20X Hermantown Park & Ride Commuter Express – New Service

The DTA is proposing the establishment of a new Hermantown Park & Ride at the Lakes 10 parking lot with weekday “commuter express service” to and from downtown Duluth. Route 20X express buses will travel non-stop between the Park & Ride and downtown with a stop at St. Mary’s Hospital. Route 20X buses will depart the Park & Ride at 5:46 a.m., 6:46 a.m., 7:46 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. and will be scheduled to arrive at St. Mary’s Hospital 12 minutes later and downtown at 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. Route 20X afternoon return trips from downtown will depart the Downtown Transit Center at 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 515 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Route 20X express buses will be scheduled to arrive at the Hermantown Park & Ride 19 minutes later.

Route 20X: Park & Ride Express (Weekdays)

• New commuter express service will be established between the new DTA Park & Ride located at Lakes Ten parking lot on Stebner Road and downtown Duluth.
• Proposed morning express service will depart the Park & Ride at 5:46 a.m., 6:46 a.m., 7:46 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. Express bus will be scheduled to arrive in downtown Duluth at 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 9:05 a.m.
• Afternoon express service will be scheduled to depart downtown at 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. – arriving at the Park & Ride at 4:34 p.m., 5:04 p.m., 5:34 p.m. and 6:04 p.m.

The DTA is seeking comments from bus riders, potential developers and the general public.

The establishment of a Multi-modal Transportation Terminal in downtown Duluth has been studied by the Metropolitan Interstate Council and DTA consultants in the past and is currently part of the DTA’s future visioning effort. The goal of this visioning effort is to improve bus operations in downtown Duluth and multi-modal connectivity between downtown Duluth and Canal Park / Waterfront; create economic development opportunities and better multi-modal options for pedestrians, bike riders and future rail services; and to identify potential site locations for a downtown transportation terminal.

For more information, contact DTA Director of Administration, Jim Heilig at 218-623-4316 or jheilig@duluthtransit.com

Last year, DTA buses transported an all-time record 20,107 bikes over its 7-month season. That was a 25 percent increase over the previous year.

All DTA buses are equipped with front-end bike racks with a capacity to carry two or three bicycles – depending on the model of bus.

No additional passenger fare is required when transporting bicycles.

The DTA introduced Bike & Bus in the spring 1994 in an effort to expand customer services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports. Since then, the Bike & Bus feature has become increasingly popular.

Chelsea was congratulated by DTA and UMD staff and awarded gift certificates for UMD Stores and UMD Food Services.

Chelsea is senior at UMD and has been riding the DTA on the U-PASS program for 4 years.

U-PASS ridership at UMD reached the 1 millionth rider milestone in March of 2004; and the 2 millionth rider in February of 2007.

U-PASS ridership at UMD has increased every year since 2000 and has accounted for 11.6 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership of 25,899,357 during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters when school is in session, U-PASS ridership at UMD accounts for 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

U-PASS ridership at UMD for 2008 increased by 32.4% over 2007 with 500,215 rides

U-PASS ridership at UMD for September 2008 was up 59% compared to September 2007 with 75, 803 rides and is the second highest monthly total at UMD since the program began in 2000. The highest monthly total at UMD was October 2008 with 75,825 rides. Prior to the U-PASS Program, UMD ridership averaged just 4,000 a month. UMD ridership today tops the 4,000 rider mark in only 2 days. The average monthly ridership during Fall Semester 2008 was 64,345.

The U-PASS Program was introduced in Fall Semester of 2000 as an innovative partnership between UMD and the DTA to encourage greater use of public transportation on campus by providing unlimited rides for students, faculty and staff and building on-campus transit hub.

The U-PASS Program was designed to reduce on-campus traffic and address the construction related reduction of campus parking. More than 700 campus parking spaces have been eliminated since 2000, due to on-campus construction at UMD.

Since 2000, when the U-PASS Program was instituted, UMD has experienced a phenomenal 23 percent increase in enrollment. UMD enrollment is now at an all time high with more than 12,000 students. The U-PASS Program has been very instrumental in accommodating the transportation needs of this increased enrollment.

The unlimited-ride U-PASS arrangement with UMD was a prerequisite by the DTA for establishing a transit hub on campus, which opened in December of 2004. The Kirby Plaza transit hub construction was funded primarily by federal grant monies the DTA received in 1999 and 2000.

The Kirby Plaza Transit Hub is bustling with activity these days with five major bus routes serving the campus: Route #6 – Mainline/UMD; Route #11– East 8th Street/UMD/Morley Heights; Route #12 – Kenwood/UMD; Route #13 – East Fourth Street/UMD/Woodland, and Route #18 – UMD/CSS via Rice Lake and Arrowhead.

The Kirby Plaza Transit Hub has a spacious passenger waiting lobby and three route-specific bus shelters equipped with electronic signs that operate with a GPS-based “Intelligent Transportation System” and provide “real-time” bus departure times. The Transit Hub also includes indoor and outdoor seating for riders, route and schedule informational displays, an extended canopy, and highly-illuminated bus stop and bus staging areas.

Since 2000, the DTA has developed a number of inter-lined bus routes that provide “one-seat rides” to and from the UMD campus from New Duluth, Lincoln Park, West Duluth, Morgan Park, Gary, Proctor and Piedmont. The DTA also provides direct service to and from UMD from East Hillside, Woodland, Morley Heights and Kenwood neighborhoods. UMD riders in Lakeside, Duluth Heights, West Fourth Boulevard, Park Point and Superior, WI make connections to one of five routes serving the UMD campus at established transfer points or in downtown Duluth.

The DTA and UMD are contractually committed to continue the U-PASS Program through spring semester 2011.

Lake Superior College, University of Wisconsin, Superior and the College of St. Scholastica are also onboard the DTA’s U-PASS Program. Ridership at these colleges continues to grow; but on a smaller scale than UMD.

In preparation for major road construction that will begin this spring in the Miller Hill Mall area, the Duluth Transit Authority is revising the way it serves the Miller Hill Mall area and making system-wide adjustments as well. Effective Sunday, April 12th, the DTA will be revising service at the Miller Hill Mall, adjusting schedules and eliminating the non-productive services. As a result of the service revisions at the Mall, boarding times on most schedules will be affected in some way. Riders are advised to obtain new DTA pocket schedules, which will be available at the Downtown Transit Center and area schedule outlets beginning April 6th. New schedules are available for viewing at www.duluthtransit.com.

DTA service changes at the Miller Hill Mall

Due to major road construction scheduled to begin in the Miller Hill Mall area this spring, the DTA revising the way it serves the Miller Hill Mall area. All route 10, 10H, 14 and 9M buses will terminate at the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop and a Mall Area Connector shuttle bus will be introduced for service between the Miller Hill Mall, Village Mall, K-Mart, Target, Burning Tree Plaza and Super One. Route 5 and Route 14P buses will not terminate at the Mall Bus Stop and will continue their routing through the Mall area.

• Mall Area connector service in the Miller Hill Mall area

The Mall Area Connector will provide service every half an hour between the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop, Penney’s (New Stop), Village Mall, K-Mart, Target, Burning Tree Plaza and Super One. Transferring to and from Mall Area Connector will be timely. The Mall Area Connector buses will be waiting at the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop when buses arrive from and depart to downtown. The Mall Area Connector will operate from 8:50 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. during weekdays; 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 10:25 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. on Sundays. DTA riders will be able to ride the Mall Area Connector with a valid transfer or the Mall Area Short Hop (MASH) fare of 25 cents.

• Service to Stone Ridge Shopping Center Expanded

All Route 10 and 10H buses will be routed through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center, with the exception of five late night trips. This will greatly expand DTA service running through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center as service to Home Depot / Olive Garden will be eliminated.

• Saturday service added to West-to-the-Mall Route 5 schedule

Saturday service will be added to Route 5 between the Zoo at 71 A.W., Miller Hill Mall Bus Stop, Wal-Mart, the St. Louis County Jail and the Airport.

• Sunday service to Wal-Mart and Airport from Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop introduced

Hourly Sunday service to Wal-Mart, County Jail and the Airport will be provided from the Mall’s Bus Stop on an hourly basis from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday boarding times to Wal-Mart and Airport will be posted on the Mall Area Connector schedule.

• New Stop added at Penneys

The Mall Area Connector, routes 5, and 14P will provide service at Penney’s side (north) entrance.

• West Mainline Route 1 service will be interlined with Route #10 buses during midday hours for direct service to the Mall on weekdays

Route 1 riders going to the Miller Hill Mall will not have to transfer in downtown Duluth, as Route 1 buses will continue to the Mall after arriving downtown. Route 1 buses operate between 71 A.W. and downtown Duluth.

Other DTA route and schedule changes

ROUTE 1 Zoo – Midday service on West Mainline will be expanded on weekdays; Schedule times adjusted for midday and evening service.

This will increase service along the West Mainline between the Zoo at 71st A.W. and downtown during weekdays from three buses an hour to four buses an hour and will ease ridership demands along the busiest corridor in the DTA service area. Most schedule times will be adjusted.

Route 2 New Duluth – Minor weekday schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 2 schedule times for one morning and several afternoon trips adjusted.

• Saturday Service: Schedule times adjusted 4-10 minutes earlier.
• Sunday Service: No Changes

Route 2F Fond du Lac – Two weekday morning schedule adjustments

The 6:55 a.m. weekday trip from downtown will depart the Holiday Center 5 minutes earlier at 6:50 a.m.; and the weekday trip departing Fond du Lac at 7:39 a.m. will depart 10 minutes earlier at 7:29 a.m.

Route 3 Proctor – Minor weekday schedule adjustments

Two afternoon trips (4:32 p.m. and 5:27 p.m.) will depart Proctor 5 and 10 minutes earlier than currently scheduled. One afternoon trip (3:10 p.m.) will depart downtown 10 minutes later and one evening trip (6:45 p.m.) will depart downtown 5 minutes earlier.

• Saturday Service: Schedule times adjusted 3-10 minutes earlier.
• Sunday Service: No Changes

Route 4 Ramsey Raleigh - Weekday schedule adjustments

Morning and afternoon times will be scheduled 3 to 10 minutes earlier. Afternoon trip (4:32 p.m.) from Ramsey Raleigh will be discontinued.

• Saturday Service: Schedule times to be adjusted 10 minutes earlier

Route 5 West-to-the-Mall – Schedules adjusted to better serve Lake Superior College students

Schedule times will be adjusted 22 minutes earlier than currently scheduled, which will give Lake Superior College students more time to get to class and catch the bus after class.

• Saturday Service: New Saturday Service Added. Route 5 buses will not serve Lake Superior College on Saturdays; but will continue to provide service to Walmart, County Jail and Airport.

Route 6 East Mainline / UMD – Schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 6 boarding times at UMD will be scheduled 2-27 minutes earlier. After passing through downtown, Route 6 buses will continue as West Mainline Routes 1, 2 & 3.

• Saturday Service: Most trips departing downtown will be scheduled 20 minutes earlier. Morning trip from downtown (8:05 a.m.) will be discontinued.

Route 7 East Mainline / Lakeside – Midday boarding times to be scheduled 5-10 minutes earlier on weekdays

Weekday schedule times during midday hours will be scheduled 5-10 minutes earlier. This adjustment will space out the service along East Superior Street.

• Saturday Service: All schedule times slightly adjusted.
• Sunday Service: No Changes

Route 8 Fitger’s – DTA discontinues route

Route 8 service between downtown and Fitger’s will be discontinued.

Route 9 Piedmont – Minor schedule adjustments

Route 9 bus departing downtown at 8:20 a.m. on weekdays will provide service to Lake Superior College. Route 9 buses departing downtown Duluth at 5:25 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. will provide additional trips along Morris Thomas and Haines Roads. Two afternoon trips to LSC from downtown will be adjusted 19 minutes earlier than currently scheduled.

Saturday Route 9M Piedmont / Mall – Routing / Schedule adjustments

Weekend Route 9M buses will provide service to and from the Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop. Route 9M morning trip from downtown (7:45 a.m.) will be discontinued on Saturday.

Route 10 Duluth Heights / Mall – Downtown departure times between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to be scheduled 10 minutes later during week.

Route 10 and 10H buses departing downtown between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the week will be scheduled 10 minutes later at :25 and :55 of each hour. All Route 10 and 10H buses will be routed through the Stone Ridge Shopping Center, with the exception of five late night trips. All Route 10 and 10H buses will terminate and depart from the Mall’s Door 8 Bus Stop.

• Saturday Service: No Changes
• Sunday Service: No Changes

Route 11 East 8th / UMD– Minor Schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 11 buses departing downtown and UMD will be scheduled 5 to 10 minutes later than currently scheduled.

Weekend Route 11K East 8th / UMD / Kenwood – Schedule adjustments

Route 11K buses will depart Kirby 19-25 minutes later than currently scheduled on weekends. Route 11K buses departing downtown at 9:35 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. on Sundays will depart 20 minutes later than currently scheduled. Route 11K buses will serve the College of St. Scholastica on both inbound and outbound trips.

Route 12 Kenwood / UMD – Minor schedule adjustments

Weekday Route 12 buses departing UMD at 6:22 a.m. and 6:51 a.m. will be scheduled earlier at 6:21 a.m. and 6:46 a.m. Route 12 trips currently departing downtown at 6:07 p.m. and departing UMD at 9:26 a.m., 2:55 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. will be discontinued.

Route 13 East 4th / UMD / Woodland – No weekday changes

Saturday Route 13 East 4th / Woodland – Schedule/route adjustments – Service provided to UMD campus on Saturdays

All Saturday trips will be routed into UMD campus. All downtown schedule times have been adjusted ten (10) minutes earlier to accommodate the route extension through UMD campus.

• Sunday Service: No Changes

Route 13U East 4th / UMD – Minor schedule adjustments

Route 14 West 4th Street / Eklund / Mall – Morning trip added to and from Mall – Schedule Adjustments

A weekday trip will be added from downtown to the Mall at 8:15 a.m.; and from the Mall to downtown at 8:45 a.m. Route 14 trips from downtown at 5:42 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. will be discontinued.

• Saturday Service: Minor Schedule adjustments

Route 14P West 4th – Eklund – Mall -Piedmont –Schedule Adjustment

Weekday schedule times from downtown will be adjusted 8-10 minutes later than currently scheduled.

Route 15 Park Point – Minor schedule adjustments

Boarding times from downtown between 9:25 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. will be scheduled 15 minutes earlier. Boarding times to downtown between 9:44 a.m. and 3:44 p.m. will be scheduled 12 minutes earlier.

• Saturday Service: Schedule Adjustment (18-20 minutes earlier)

Route 15C Park Point / Canal Park – DTA reduces Route 15C service in Canal Park to evening service only – Schedule adjustments

Schedule times for these evening trips will be adjusted. Route 15C buses will depart downtown for Canal Park at 7:20 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Route 15C buses will depart Canal Park for downtown at 7:24 p.m., 8:04 p.m. and 9:04 p.m.

Route 16 Duluth-Superior – No weekday changes

• Weekend Service: Schedule times adjusted (15-24 minutes later) to match midday trip times during the week.

Route 17 Billings Park/South Superior – Minor schedule change

Route 17 Billings Park and South Superior service after 3 p.m. will be scheduled 2 minutes later. This will improve transfer connections with Route 16 Duluth-Superior service at 14th Street and Tower Avenue.

• Weekend Service: Major Schedule Changes (15-20 minutes later)

Route 18 UMD/CSS via Rice Lake & Arrowhead – No changes

Route 20 Cirrus/Airpark/UHC – No changes

The Homegrown Trolley shuttle will operate along Superior Street between Fourth Avenue West and Fitger’s serving Superior Street venue locations every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.

The Homegrown Trolley Shuttle, which is free to the public, will provide service to the following Homegrown Music Festival venues: Brewhouse, Baja Billy’s and Red Star Lounge in Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Carmody Irish Pub, Teatro Zuccone, Orpheum, Pizza Luce, Dubh Linn’s Pub, Live Downtown Bar, Harbor City International School and RT Quinlan’s Saloon.

Homegrown Trolley schedules will be available at downtown venues and on the Trolley.

Homegrown organizers encourage Festival attendees to take advantage of the convenient shuttle services between venues in downtown Duluth.

Last year, the Trolley shuttle transported more than 700 festival attendees during Homegrown weekend.

These routes operate only during fall and spring semesters and will return to service when fall semester 2009 resumes.

Route #9LSC (Piedmont / Lake Superior College) afternoon service will resume at Lake Superior College on August 24, 2009

Route #13U (UMD via East Fourth Street) will resume service at UMD on September 8, 2009.

Route #18 (UMD/CSS via Rice Lake Road) will resume service at UMD and the College of St. Scholastica on September 8, 2009.

In an effort to heighten awareness of public transportation services in the Twin Ports, the DTA and the Minnesota Department of Transportation are encouraging residents to take the "Greater Minnesota Commuter Challenge Pledge" during Try Transit Week – May 18-22.

Those taking the Greater Minnesota Commuter Challenge Pledge to try public transit during Try Transit Week or at least one time before July 20, 2009 will qualify for cash prizes. Register for the Greater Minnesota Commuter Challenge by pledging online during Try Transit Week at www.duluthtransit.com

Try Transit Week is held to promote the benefits of riding public transit – reducing energy consumption, air pollution and traffic congestion.

Try Transit Week and the Greater Minnesota Commuter Challenge are sponsored by the DTA, Mn/DOT and Wis/DOT and is supported by the American Public Transit Association and the Federal Transit Administration.

MN/DOT Office of Transit will announce winners on August 3, 2009.

The Benefits of Public Transportation

Saves Money:

• According to AAA, the total cost to drive a car is about 54.1 cents per mile.
• Public transit provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving.
• According to the American Public Transit Association, transit use can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $8,600.
• Even after gas prices came down, Americans continued to utilize public transportation in great numbers, 10.7 billion trips in 2008 - the highest level in 52 years.

Helps the Environment

• Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a super tanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days.
• Public transportation reduces the nation's carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually - equivalent to the electricity used by 4.9 million households.
• Public transportation reduces pollution and helps promote cleaner air.
• Riding the DTA is one of the most helpful things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Cars alone account for nearly half of household emissions created by a typical two-car American family, the study finds, and says that switching to public transportation has a greater environmental impact than using compact fluorescent bulbs or adding insulation to an attic.

Provides Opportunities

• Public transportation provides access to job opportunities for millions of Americans as well as a transportation option to get to work, go to school, visit friends, or go to the doctor's office.
• By 2025, and estimated 20 percent of the population - one in five people - will be over 65. Providing mobility options is critical for older Americans.
• Public transportation systems provide a vital link to the more than 51 million American's with disabilities.

Another way to participate in the "Bike to Work Day" for those living beyond the DTA service area would be to ride your bike to either DTA Park & Ride Lots at Piedmont Avenue and Haines Road or in upper Woodland on Calvary Road. Both Park & Ride lots are equipped with bike racks and buses provide frequent service to and from downtown.

• DTA to provide FREE fares to Bike & Bus riders on Friday, May 15 – Bike to Work Day.
• DTA buses are limited to two or three bicycles per bus on their external bike racks, depending on the model of bus. Newer buses are equipped with bike racks with the capacity for three bikes. In addition, bicycles are allowed onto buses at the driver’s discretion whenever external bike racks are in use and space available on the bus.
• Passengers are responsible for loading and unloading bicycles.
• Bike racks are available at both DTA Park & Ride lots: Piedmont Park & Ride, at the corner of Piedmont Ave. and Haines Road; and Woodland Park & Ride on Calvary Road.

DTA Bike & Bus Facts

• DTA buses transported a record 20,107 bikes in 2008.
• Bike & Bus service is available during the seven-month Daylight Savings Time season or when weather permits.
• All buses are equipped with front-end bike racks.
• No additional fare is charged for transporting bicycles beyond the passenger fare.
• Bike rack capacity is two bikes per bus. Bikes are allowed onto buses whenever external bike racks are in use and at the discretion of the bus operator.
• Riders are responsible for loading and unloading their bikes.
• Bike racks are easy to use and it usually takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike.
• The DTA introduced the Bike & Bus Program in the spring of 1994 in an effort to improve passenger services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports.
• Bike & Bus has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists can now easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, the Scenic North Shore Drive, the Osaugie Bike Trail in Superior, Wisconsin, from anywhere within the DTA service area.
• Bike & Bus also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.
• For more information about the Bike & Bus service go to www.duluthtransit.com.

The Duluth Transit Authority will return the Port Town Trolley to the streets of Duluth for the summer beginning Sunday, June 7. Due to downtown skywalk construction and the closure of Lake Avenue this summer, the Trolley will operate on a revised route in an effort to maintain timely service. The new route will eliminate service to all locations east of Lake Avenue.

As a result of the shortened routing revision, Trolley schedule frequency will be improved from 30-minute service to 20-minute service.

The Trolley will circulate every 20 minutes between downtown Duluth, Canal Park and Bayfront, and will operate daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the summer until Labor Day.

Trolley routing will be along West Superior Street between Lake Avenue and Sixth Avenue West, the Bayfront and along Canal Park Drive. The Trolley will stop at downtown bus stops along West Superior Street including the Holiday Center and Radisson Hotel and provide service to the Depot Heritage/ Arts Center & Railroad Museum, Bayfront Park, Great Lakes Aquarium, Vista Fleet Excursion Dock, S/S William A. Irvin, Duluth 10/Omnimax Theaters, shops and hotels along Canal Park Drive, including the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, Canal Park Lodge, Hampton Inn, Inn on Lake Superior, Comfort Suites and the Maritime Visitor Center/Aerial Lift Bridge.

Trolley fare is 50 cents - Trolley Day Passes sold on Trolley for $3

The Trolley fare is 50 cents with children four and under riding free. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available for $3 on the Trolley and Downtown Transit Center.

Port Town Trolley route and schedule information page is available at Duluth Transit Trolley Schedule (PDF)

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is again offering teen bus riders in the Twin Ports unlimited rides and "FUN PERKS" all summer long for just $45 with a "deep discounted" Summer Teen Pass. The 3-month unlimited-ride Summer Teen Pass is valued at $90 and along with "fun perk discounts" is a great value for teen riders in the Twin Ports.

In addition to unlimited rides on the DTA in June, July and August, youth riders 18 and under get "fun perks" at Carnival Thrillz in Canal Park, Incline Station Bowling Center, Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, Omnimax Theatre, Duluth Huskies Baseball and Burger King restaurants.

Teen riders get "FUN PERK DISCOUNTS" when presenting their Summer Teen Pass:

• One FREE game of bowling every day at the Incline Station Bowling Center
• $5 discount on unlimited-ride day pass wrist bands at Canal Parks’ Carnival Thrillz
• $5 admission at the Great Lakes Aquarium - $8 discount!
• $1 off general admission at Lake Superior Zoo.
• $1 discount on admission to Huskies baseball games.
• FREE popcorn with admission at the Omnimax Theater.
• FREE Junior Whopper with purchase of medium fries and beverage at all Twin Ports Burger King locations.

Summer Teen Passes, which offer unlimited rides anytime on all DTA buses and the Port Town Trolley, are also transferable and can be used by qualifying family members or friends when not used by its primary recipient.

Summer Teen Passes are sold for $45 - a $90 value. (31-Day Teen Passes normally sell for $30)

Summer Teen Passes are on sale at the Downtown Transit Center, DTA Operations Center (2402 W. Michigan Street), and DTA Pass Outlets: University Super America, Lakeside Super America, Plaza Super America, Fourth Super America, Morgan Park Super America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, Park State Banks and all Twin Ports Little Stores.

Summer Teen Pass Program was established in 1999 through collaboration with the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force.

Route #6 buses from downtown will run regular routing to Fourth Street and 24th A.E., then detour by continuing east on Fourth Street onto Wallace Avenue, St. Marie Street to Woodland Avenue and regular routing. Route #6 Buses to downtown will run detour routing in reverse.

Routes #13 buses from downtown will run regular routing to Kent Road and Woodland Avenue, then detour via East 8th Street, 19th A.E. College Street, Kirby Drive, St. Marie Street to Woodland Avenue and regular routing. Route #13 buses to downtown will run detour routing in reverse.

Route #13W buses from downtown will run regular routing to Fourth Street and 24th A.E., then detour by continuing east on Fourth Street onto Wallace Avenue, St. Marie Street to Woodland Avenue and regular routing. Route #13W buses run during weekday evenings and Sundays. Route #13W buses to downtown will run detour routing in reverse.

For route and schedule information, contact the DTA at 722-SAVE or www.duluthtransit.com.

Through an arrangement with the Lakes Ten Theater in Hermantown, the Duluth Transit Authority will begin running weekday commuter express service from the theater’s parking lot on its Route #20 buses beginning Thursday, June 18.

The DTA will operate four morning and four afternoon express trips between the Lakes Ten Park & Ride and downtown Duluth.

Route #20X - express buses will run non-stop along the express route with the first stop at St. Mary’s Hospital en route to downtown Duluth.

Route #20X express buses will depart the Lakes Ten Parking lot at 5:46 a.m., 6:46 a.m. 7:46 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. arriving at St. Mary’s Hospital 12 minutes later and downtown Duluth at 6:05 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. Boarding will take place at bus stops on Stebner Road adjacent to the Lakes Ten Parking lot.

The afternoon return trips will depart the Downtown Transit Center at 4:15, 4:45, 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. A stop will be made at St. Mary’s hospital, and then the bus will operate in an express mode to Lakes 10 Theater lot 19 minutes later.

In December 2007, the Duluth Transit Authority began providing a Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) service to the United Health Care, Duluth Airpark and Cirrus Aviation when Route #20 service was introduced.

This service is funded in part by federal funds designed to provide access to jobs in suburban areas, not traditionally served by public transit. The DTA presently operates 4 morning and 4 afternoon trips that primarily serve persons employed at these businesses, however, other facilities in the area are served as well. Because the focus of the JARC service has been on the outbound work trip in the morning, and the inbound home trip in the evening, the morning inbound trips and evening outbound trips are operated as "not in service" and do not carry passengers.

In recognition of the need to better utilize the buses assigned to the JARC route, the DTA has partnered with Lakes 10 Theater to establish a "Park and Ride" lot for persons commuting into downtown Duluth from the City of Hermantown and northern communities.

Commuters seeking to access the Route #20X express service to downtown Duluth will be allowed to park in the Lakes 10 Theater lot, between the hours of 4:40 a.m. and 6 p.m. The morning express trips to downtown will depart the Park & Ride lot at 5.46 a.m., 6:46 a.m., 7:46 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. The first passenger stop will be at St. Mary’s Hospital continuing on to the downtown Holiday Transit Center.

The Lakes 10 Theater lot is well illuminated and provides a safe place to park. Regular DTA fares will be charged. Peak hour fares are $1.25 and $0.60 during off-peak hours. Weekday peak hours are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The DTA revised downtown routing in September of 2007, which resulted in westbound buses running down Third Avenue East to Superior Street – providing direct service to downtown and western destinations from the Grandview Manor and Tri-Towers.

Residents of Grandview Manor and Tri-Towers petitioned the DTA to move the bus stop on Third Avenue East closer to their main sidewalk and to place a shelter there with the condition that they would adopt the shelter and keep it clean and orderly. The DTA worked with the HRA, who manages the senior housing complexes, to move the bus stop and erect the bus shelter.

DTA ridership at Grandview Manor and Tri-Towers is high and residents are expected to use the shelter for years to come.

In accordance with the DTA’s Adopt a Shelter Program, passenger shelters can be installed in high-use areas; but a commitment to keep the shelter clean and orderly is required.

For more information about adopting a DTA shelter, contact DTA Administrative Director, Jim Heilig at 218-623-4316 or jheilig@duluthtransit.com.

The Port Town Trolley fare is 50 cents. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available on the Trolley for $3. DTA passes and stored value fare cards will also be honored on the Trolleys with children under the age of four riding free of charge.

The Trolley will operate on its regular route with a slight detour onto First Street between First A.W. and Fourth A.W. to accommodate a "Street Dance" on Superior Street that night.

The Trolley will provide service between Bayfront Park, where the Reggae Festival will be held, Canal Park hotels and downtown venues where reggae groups will be performing.

Reggae Festival organizers encourage attendees to take advantage of the free, convenient Trolley service.

The Duluth Transit Authority and the City of Superior will provide Special Evening Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and the Head of the Lakes Fair, beginning Wednesday, July 22 and continuing through Saturday, July 25.

Special Evening Bus Service

The special evening service to the Head of the Lakes Fair will depart downtown Duluth hourly at the Holiday Center from 6:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., with service along the #17 South Superior route. Return trips from the Fair will run hourly from 6:40 p.m. with the last return trip to downtown Superior and downtown Duluth leaving the Fairgrounds at 10:45 p.m. (See schedule below.)

Special Evening DTA routing to the Fairgrounds will run as follows: West from the Holiday Center in Duluth along Superior Street to I-35 Freeway, Blatnik Bridge, Hammond Avenue, Broadway, and Tower Avenue to the South Superior Fairgrounds. Return routing to downtown Duluth will be in reverse.

Daytime DTA Service to Head of the Lakes Fair on Route #17

Daytime bus service to the Head of the Lakes Fair is available on the DTA's regular #17 Route weekday service. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses from Duluth make timely transfer connections at 14th Street & Tower Avenue in downtown Superior with Route #17 buses.

Sunday Service to the Head of the Lakes Fair

The DTA provides regular route service to the Fair on Route #17 from 10:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Sunday. The last route #17 bus departs the Fairgrounds on Tower Avenue at 5:40 p.m. and makes transfer connections in downtown Superior at 14th & Tower with the Duluth-Superior route #16 bus at 6:08 p.m. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses also provide service to Superior on Sunday – connecting with Route #17 buses to the Fair.

Special Evening Service Schedule for "Head of the Lakes" Fair

Wednesday, July 22 - Saturday, July 25

Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and Fairgrounds

DTA departs Holiday Center in Downtown Duluth for Superior:

6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.

DTA departs Downtown Superior (14th & Tower) for Fairgrounds:

6:28 p.m. – 7:28 p.m. – 8:28 p.m. – 9:28 p.m. – 10:28 p.m.

DTA departs Fairgrounds for Downtown Superior & Duluth:

6:40 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.

The Trolley operates daily during summer months with service every 20 minutes between downtown Duluth, Canal Park and Bayfront Park from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Trolley provides service to hotels, restaurants and shops in downtown Duluth and Canal Park.

Trolley fare is 50 cents with $3 day passes available on the Trolley.

Trolley Detour Map

The Duluth Transit Authority’s online GPS-based bus tracking feature – WebWatch – has recently been upgraded with mapping technology by Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth. In addition, major and minor bus stops are also now available on WebWatch. The new mapping technology provides enhanced aerial views of the terrain when tracking buses along routes.

WebWatch is an interactive feature on the DTA’s website www.duluthtransit.com that allows riders to obtain real-time schedule information and track buses with a click of the mouse.

WebWatch tracks buses and predicts in real-time when buses will arrive at their next bus stops. Using GPS-based satellite tracking, the WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at its stops.

Through the use of satellite tracking and GPS-based technology, WebWatch allows riders to access real-time bus schedule information for their stop and monitor their bus on a map as the bus makes its way along the route. WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at a selected stop based on the actual time the bus passes GPS points along its route.

WebWatch users select the bus route they need, indicate the direction of travel and choose their stop; and WebWatch provides a real-time estimate for the next three arrival times at that stop.

WebWatch real-time schedule times and live bus tracking maps are updated every minute.

WebWatch allows riders to see exactly when their bus will arrive at their stop while still at home, work-site, school and other web-friendly environments, and plan their schedule accordingly. Wait-time at bus stops can be reduced and trip planning improved.

WebWatch can be accessed from desktop and laptop computers along with web-enabled mobile communication devices.

Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth mapping technology replaced Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) application software previously used by WebWatch. In the past WebWatch users were prompted to download free SVG Adobe software; but now with Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth mapping systems, it is not necessary.

The DTA introduced WebWatch in February of 2008 and was the first transit system in Minnesota and third in the nation to provide the real time schedule and live bus tracking feature on its website.

Route #18 provides weekday service along Arrowhead Road and Rice Lake Road between Pecan Avenue and Central Entrance, Campus Park Housing, Boulder Ridge, Summit Ridge Apartments, College of St. Scholastica (CSS) and UMD. Route #18 provides hourly service during weekdays from 7:23 a.m. and 11:36 p.m.

Route #18 service is provided from September through May during fall and spring semesters. UMD and CSS students residing at these apartment complexes can ride the DTA with their student photo I.D. as part of the DTA’s U-Pass Program at UMD.

Route #18 does not provide service when UMD is not in session during fall and spring semesters or holidays.

Only full-time students, faculty and staff are eligible for the U-Pass Program.

UMD, Lake Superior College, University of Wisconsin, Superior and the College of St. Scholastica all participate in the DTA’s U-PASS Program. U-Pass ridership at these colleges during the 2008-2009 school year totaled 659,900, which was an increase of 23% over the 2007-2008 school year.

UMD ridership for the 2008-2009, which is the greater share of all U-Pass rides, totaled 501,392 – an increase of 24% over the 2007-2008 school year.

Last September, UMD had its highest monthly ridership since the U-Pass Program began in September of 2000 with nearly 100,000 rides.

Since 2000, when the U-PASS Program was instituted, UMD has experienced a phenomenal 23 percent increase in enrollment. The U-PASS Program has been very instrumental in accommodating the transportation needs of this increased enrollment.

U-Pass ridership at UMD has increased every year since 2000 and has accounted for 11.6 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership of 25,899,357 during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters when school is in session, U-PASS ridership at UMD accounts for 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

Prior to the U-Pass Program in 2000, UMD ridership averaged just 4,000 a month. UMD ridership today tops the 4,000 rider mark in only 2 days. The average monthly ridership during Fall Semester 2008 was 64,345.

The U-Pass Program was introduced in Fall Semester of 2000 as an innovative partnership between UMD and the DTA to encourage greater use of public transportation on campus by providing unlimited rides for students, faculty and staff and building on-campus transit hub.

The DTA and UMD are contractually committed to continue the U-PASS Program through spring semester 2011.

The Trolley will operate normal 20 minute service on a detoured route on Saturday since Harbor Drive will be closed to all traffic because of the Tall Ships coming to town, the Trolley routing has been revised See Routing Map.

Harvest Festival / Energy Fair organizers encourage attendees to take advantage of the free, convenient Trolley service and avoid parking fees.

This award is given to the organization which has demonstrated achievement in efficiency and effectiveness, including reports on ridership, cost, safety, maintenance proficiency, agency policy and administration and the organization’s achievement of its goals and objectives.

The DTA is one of the safest and most technologically advanced public transit systems in the country with GPS-based Intelligent Transportation Systems that monitor operations for efficiency and improve customer services with online features such as Google Transit Trip Planner and WebWatch which provides real-time schedule information and real-time bus monitoring. Major DTA transit hubs in downtown Duluth, the Mall area and UMD are all equipped with electronic schedule signs that provide real-time schedule information, along with bus shelters in downtown Duluth, UMD, Pecan and Central Entrance and in downtown Superior.

DTA buses are all equipped with accessible ramps, bicycle racks and security cameras. DTA ridership in 2008 was up 13.6% over 2007 and since 2006, has increased by nearly 20%, with the largest growth coming from the successful U-Pass Program, where ridership increased 32.4% in 2008 with more than a half a million rides. The DTA’s Bike & Bus ridership, which has increased every year since the program began in 1994, topped 20,000 in 2008. STRIDE ridership for 2008 also increased by 3% with 24,519 rides.

Riders can sign up for the email notification in the WebWatch feature and they will receive an email in advance of their normal boarding time that provides the schedule status of their bus in “real time.” Riders can sign up to receive these automatic email notifications on a daily basis or when they usually take the bus. Daily commuters can sign for email notifications for their morning bus and for their return bus from their workplace. Riders can sign up for an email notification account at http://webwatch.duluthtransit.com/Default.aspx by selecting “new user” at the top right hand corner of the page.

Subscribers can indicate when they’d like to receive the “status of their bus information.” They can request the email notification to arrive 15 or 30 minutes in advance of their normal boarding time. They will receive the anticipated arrival time of their bus at the bus stop calculated in “real time.” This is a real convenience for riders who will know that status of their bus before they leave the house or office. During inclement weather, when buses can be delayed, riders can better time their arrival at bus stops. This email notification service is especially helpful during winter snowfalls, when riders can cut down on the time they spend at the bus stop waiting for the bus.

WebWatch is an interactive feature that allows riders to obtain “real time” schedule information and track buses with a click of the mouse.

WebWatch tracks buses and predicts in “real time” when buses will arrive at their next bus stops. Using GPS-based satellite tracking, the WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at its stops.

Through the use of satellite tracking and GPS-based technology, WebWatch allows riders to access real-time bus schedule information for their stop and monitor their bus on a map as the bus makes its way along the route. WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at a selected stop based on the actual time the bus passes GPS points along its route.

WebWatch users select the bus route they need, indicate the direction of travel and choose their stop; and WebWatch provides a “real- time” estimate for the next three arrival times at that stop.

WebWatch real-time schedule times and live bus tracking maps are updated every minute.

WebWatch allows riders to see exactly when their bus will arrive at their stop while still at home, work-site, school and other web-friendly environments, and plan their schedule accordingly. Wait-time at bus stops can be reduced and trip planning improved.

WebWatch can be accessed from desktop and laptop computers along with web-enabled mobile communication devices.

WebWatch has recently been upgraded with mapping technology by Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth. In addition, major and minor bus stops are also now available on WebWatch. The new mapping technology provides enhanced aerial views of the terrain when tracking buses along routes.

Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth mapping technology replaced Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) application software previously used by WebWatch. In the past WebWatch users were prompted to download free SVG Adobe software; but now with Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth mapping systems, it is not necessary.

The DTA introduced WebWatch in February of 2008 and was the first transit system in Minnesota and third in the nation to provide the real time schedule and live bus tracking feature on its website.

After 15 years of removing bike racks from buses during winter months, the DTA will make its Bike & Bus program a year-round service.

In the past, bike racks were placed on buses in conjunction with the start Daylight Savings Time and removed when Daylight Savings Time ended. During the past several years, the DTA had postponed the removal of the bike racks due to warm fall weather.

Bike & Bus ridership this year is expected to break last year’s record of 20,107 bicycles transported as ridership is up 4.2% so far this year and is expected to reach 22,000 by the end of the year.

The DTA joins Metro Transit in the Twin Cities and other bike-friendly transit cities like Portland and Seattle, in providing bike racks on a year-round basis. Biking and busing encourage sustainable transportation and the DTA hopes the year-round service will generate interest from the public wishing to utilize the Bike & Bus service even during winter months.

Bike racks are currently built with weather-resistant stainless steel and will withstand corrosion from salts and chloride-magnesium deicers used on city streets during the winter months.

The DTA introduced the Bike & Bus Program in the spring of 1994 in an effort to improve passenger services and meet the growing popularity of cycling in the Twin Ports. All DTA buses are equipped with bike racks. No additional fares are charged for transporting bicycles on DTA buses beyond the regular passenger fare.

DTA bike racks, which are located on the front of the bus, can transport up to two or three bicycles at a time, depending on the type of bus. Cyclists are fully responsible for loading and unloading their bikes on a "first come first serve" basis. Transporting bicycles does not inconvenience DTA riders in transit, as it takes less than 30 seconds to load a bike onto the bike rack

The DTA's innovative Bike & Bus Program has opened new opportunities for bicyclists in the Twin Ports, like biking to work and busing home or busing to a bike trail and back. Cyclists easily access established bikeways such as the Lake Walk, the Munger Trail in West Duluth, Park Point, the Bong Bridge, and the Scenic North Shore Drive from anywhere within the DTA's service area. The Bike & Bus Program also makes DTA service more accessible to those who live beyond walking distance to a bus stop.

The Duluth Transit Authority has recently received eight new 40-foot buses – four hybrid electric buses and four standard clean-diesel buses. The DTA has had two 35-foot hybrid electric buses in service since 2007 and were able to purchase four 40-foot hybrids this year with special federal funding.

The new buses have been inspected and are being prepared for operation. They will all be placed into service by the end of the month.

The hybrid buses are powered by diesel / hybrid electrical propulsion systems that reduce emissions and conserve fuel.

Hybrid electric buses have enhanced acceleration, as they use electric power exclusively until they reach 10 mph. Hybrid buses run smoother and are quieter than conventional buses. Hybrid buses utilize a regenerative braking system that charges large Nickel Metal Hydride batteries whenever the buses are coasting or braking.

These buses are similar in design to existing DTA buses with a low floor that allows riders to take only one step to board the bus. This makes boarding easier and safer for many DTA riders. The new buses are equipped with rear destination route signs, which will allow riders to readily identify buses when making transfer connections particularly at busy bus stops. The new buses also have interior and exterior cameras for added security.

The new buses are equipped with these features: (Hybrid Bus Only in Green)

• Equipped with 5.9 liter 6-cylinder, clean-burning diesel engine
• Fuel economy is 22% better than standard buses (Hybrid – 5.6 mpg / Standard 4.6 mpg)
• Hybrid buses produce 90% fewer emissions than the buses they replace
• Hybrid electrical propulsion system reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions by up to 50%
• Transmission blends propulsion using two electric motors - one for electric power and one for mechanical power
• Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are non-hazardous, maintenance-free and have a 6-year life
• LED interior and door-well lighting for passenger safety
• Seating capacity of 38 with accommodations for two wheelchair passengers
• Front end bike racks with capacity for carrying up to two bikes
• Rear destination route signs for easy identification of buses when making transfer connections
• Interior and exterior digital cameras for added security
• Low floor vehicle makes boarding easy for passengers
• Wide aisles for easy access to seats
• “Kneeling” capabilities for easy boarding from an 11 inch step
• ADA compliant front door ramps for assisting riders in wheelchairs and walkers
• Improved heating and air-conditioning for passenger comfort
• Air-suspension for a comfortable ride
• Large bright electronic destination signs for easier reading

MAINLINE DULUTH SERVICE: The DTA will be providing fixed route service in Duluth along Grand Avenue and Superior Street from 57th Avenue West to 24th Avenue East from 10:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. with one trip from Gary/New Duluth. This bus will board passengers at all bus stops along the route.

SPECIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE: In addition, the DTA will be providing direct shuttle services at selective locations in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin, including: CHUM Drop-in Center; Domiano; YWCA; Morgan Park Manor, Solid Rock Mission (6th Street & Weeks); Clifford Lund (914 Tower Avenue); Royalton Manor (1900 New York Avenue); Peter Rich Center (1201 N. 8th Street); and center-city bus stop at 14th & Tower. (Schedules will be posted at these locations.)

Thanksgiving Day Dinner @ DECC

Mainline DTA Service in Duluth

DTA Mainline Service to and from the DECC

+ Trip starts at Commonwealth & McCuen @ 10:15 and serves Vintage Acres @ 10:17

++ Trip ends at Commonwealth & McCuen

Special Thanksgiving Day

Direct Duluth-Superior Shuttle Schedule

Service to and from DECC

Please Note: Times listed are departure times for each site. Riders should begin boarding five minutes earlier.

In an effort to speed up the paying of fares and boarding of buses, the Duluth Transit Authority will be giving away rechargeable EZ-Cards during the month of December for riders purchasing 31-Day Passes or Stored Value Cards with a minimum of $10 cash value at the Downtown Transit Center or the DTA Operations Center in the West End.

The DTA held a successful EZ-Card promotion in December last year, with nearly 700 riders taking advantage of the free EZ-Cards.

Paying a fare with an EZ-Card is simple. Riders just need to “touch” the target on the fare-box with their EZ-Card to validate a ride. EZ-Cards kept in wallets or plastic holders will also validate rides when held within near proximity (a few inches) of the farebox target.

EZ-Cards are rechargeable for continued use. DTA riders can easily recharge their EZ-Cards with a 31-Day Pass or stored cash values up to $25 at the Downtown Transit Center, the DTA Operations Center, located at 2402 W. Michigan Street or fare vending machines at the Downtown Transit Center, Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop and the Superior Public Library.

Normally, the DTA charges $2 for a “proximity-sensitive” EZ-Card; but is waving the fee during the month of December to promote the fare card medium and speed up passenger boardings.

EZ-Cards are made of durable plastic and have a three year life. EZ-Cards also provide improved security! Whenever an EZ-Card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced with the value remaining on the card at the time it was reported - providing the serial number on the EZ-Card was recorded by the user.

The DTA is now transporting record numbers of riders and faster boarding of passengers will surely help buses maintain their schedules.

Whole Foods Coop had requested the sales of 31-Day Adult Passes, which sell for $35, and $20 Stored Value Fare Cards at its 610 East Fourth Street location in Duluth.

Many of its patrons utilize public transportation and the addition of DTA fare cards will be a convenience for those who frequent their store.

Whole Foods Coop joins these established DTA pass outlets: Downtown Transit Center, University Super-America, Lakeside Super-America, Plaza Super-America, Morgan Park Super-America, Fourth Super-America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, Park State Bank (Lincoln Park), DTA Operations Center and all Twin Ports Little Store locations.

Park State Bank in Morgan Park closes - Pass Outlet discontinued

Park State Bank located at 1106 88th Avenue West had been a DTA Pass Outlet; but terminated its operation on December 1st.

DTA drivers and staff volunteers solicited prizes from local businesses for the raffle and presented the Salvation Army with a check on December 9th along with twelve new bicycles and a box of toys.

Toys and Christmas gifts will be purchased by the Salvation Army and distributed to children of needy families in the Twin Ports in time for Christmas.

Major Alan Fones of the Duluth Salvation Army (Center) poses with the DTA’s Toyland Express Committee after receiving donations including a check for $1,600, twelve brand new youth bikes and a box of toys. DTA employees (from left) include Don Johnson, Mike Mallory, Shelly Amos, (Alan Fones), Ruth Christie, Clint Johnson and Bob Moerke.

The Duluth Transit Authority will suspend all Twin Ports bus services, including STRIDE, on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25.

The DTA will curtail regular route and STRIDE services early on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, with service ending for the day at 7:15 p.m. (last buses departing downtown Duluth at 7:15 p.m.)

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Saturday, December 26.

The DTA will run regularly scheduled bus service on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31.

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Saturday, January 2.

For more information call the DTA at 722-SAVE or visit www.duluthtransit.com.

U-PASS ridership at LSC has continued to grow every year since they joined the DTA’s U-PASS program in 2001. In September, LSC ridership produced its highest monthly total ever with nearly 15,000 rides.

UMD, University of Wisconsin, Superior and the College of St. Scholastica are also onboard the DTA’s U-PASS Program. Ridership at these colleges continues to grow. In February of 2009, U-PASS ridership at UMD surpassed the 3 million mark. UMD joined the U-PASS program in 2000.

While transit use is up by all segments of the general population, U-Pass ridership has shown the most consistent gains. The U-Pass program was established in 2000 at UMD and expanded to the College of St. Scholastica (CSS) and Lake Superior College (LSC) in 2001 and University of Wisconsin, Superior (UWS), in 2007. The U-Pass ridership surpassed the 4 million milestone in January 2010. U-Pass ridership at UMD, CSS, LSC and UWS increased by 2.7% in 2009 with 712,030 rides.

DTA Bike & Bus ridership for 2009 also surpassed the previous year’s total. In its 15th year of operation, the Bike & Bus service transported 22,302 bicycles – up 5.6% over last year. For the first time since the Bike & Bus program began 15 years ago, bike racks have remained on buses through the winter months. A study of the winter use will determine if the bike racks will remain on a year-round basis from now on.

STRIDE (Special Transit RIDE) ridership for 2009 also increased by 2.9% with 27,290 rides.

DTA ridership gains parallel the national trend. Americans are using public transportation due to volatile gas prices and inflation. Even though fuel prices have subsided since last fall's high, DTA ridership continues to be strong.

"In the coming months the DTA will be evaluating its options for expanded services. We continue to receive requests for more evening service, later weekend hours and holiday service,” said DTA General Manager, Dennis Jensen. “The makeup of our traditional passenger base is changing and we need to respond to the needs of today's passengers".

The No Smoking Ordinance applies to all city bus shelters and transit hubs - the downtown Transit Center, Holiday Center, Third Avenue East inside passenger shelter and the Miller Hill Mall’s transit lobby at the Door 8 bus stop. Transit hubs at UMD and Lake Superior College are also covered by the “No Smoking” ordinance; but smoking is already banned on these campuses.

With the new No Smoking Ordinance, the DTA is expanding the prohibition of smoking within bus shelters and transit hubs to the area within 15 feet in all directions of shelters and transit hubs.

The City of Duluth’s No Smoking Ordinance is defined in Duluth City Code 34-40 and violators could receive up to a $1,000 fine in accordance with the ordinance.

Mn/DOT and the DTA have teamed-up to ease expected traffic congestion on I-35 and Grand Avenue during the construction season by providing FREE round-trip express service for morning commuters boarding buses at Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots and mainline bus stops along Grand Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue west of 46th A.W. The DTA’s “FREE-Round-trip Fare Express“ option for commuters begins Monday, April 26th – one week in advance of the I-35 construction start-up.

The DTA has established four temporary Park & Rides on Grand Avenue and will provide free round-trip express service between these Park & Rides lots and downtown Duluth during weekday peak hours. The City of Duluth has established “Buses Only” express lanes on Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street that will be utilized by all DTA express and mainline buses during morning and afternoon peak hours. Express buses will operate in “non-stop” express mode between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth.

Mn/DOT is scheduled to embark on a major 2-year construction project on I-35 beginning May 3rd that will continue through the 2011 construction season. This will have a significant impact on commuters traveling into Duluth from the south, as well as residents of the western part of the city, as much of the traffic is expected to be diverted onto Grand Avenue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane only on I-35 between Proctor and Duluth. In addition, many on and off ramps will be closed while under construction.

The DTA will provide the following to ease I-35 traffic congestion beginning April 26th:

• Spirit Mountain lower parking lot at 8600 Grand Avenue
• Asbury Methodist Church parking lot at 6822 Grand Avenue
• Bethany Baptist Church parking lot at 6700 Grand Avenue
• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parking lot at 4831 Grand Avenue

West Express buses will board and drop off passengers from inside the Spirit Mountain Park & Ride. West Mainline buses (#2 and #2F) will board passengers in the morning and drop off passengers in the afternoon at the entrance to the Spirit Mountain Park & Ride on Grand Avenue.

Parking is free in these Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots.

Commuters from south of Duluth are advised to exit I-35 at the Midway Road exit and drive south on Becks Road, east on Grand Avenue to Park and Ride lots.

West Express and West Mainline Service from Park & Ride lots and West Duluth:

• West Express and West Mainline service will be provided between Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots, downtown Duluth, the SMDC Medical Campus and St. Luke’s Hospital during morning and afternoon peak hours.
• West Express buses will board and drop off passengers from inside the Spirit Mountain Parking lot.
• West Express, New Duluth Express and Proctor Express buses will serve all bus stops west of 46 A.W.; but will operate in a “non-stop express mode” between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth during morning and afternoon peak hours.

FREE ROUND-TRIP FARES from Park & Rides and bus stops west of 46th A.W. will be provided

• Weekday commuters boarding West Express and regular route buses west of 46th A.W. during morning peak hours (buses arriving downtown between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.) will receive FREE ROUND-TRIP transportation on the DTA.
• Passengers will be issued a transfer upon boarding the bus in the morning, which will be good for a FREE return trip any time that day.

“Buses Only” Express Lanes will be provided along Grand Avenue:

• On-street parking along Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street will be restricted during weekday morning and afternoon peak hours to provide a dedicated bus lane – south-side parking will be prohibited during morning peak hours and north-side parking will be prohibited during afternoon peak hours.
• “Peak-Hour” Express lanes will be dedicated to DTA buses only – including West Express and non-express West Mainline buses.

Proctor and New Duluth Express buses will not operate on I-35 during construction:

• New Duluth (2X) and Proctor (3X) Express buses will not operate on I-35 during the construction season, due to expected delays; but will run on Grand Avenue to Carlton Street and Michigan Street to downtown.
• Proctor and New Duluth Express buses will run in non-stop express mode after 46th A.W. and Grand Avenue.

The DTA and Mn/DOT are encouraging commuters traveling into Duluth from the south on I-35, as well as local residents in the western part of the city, to take advantage of the FREE DTA commuter express service from the Grand Avenue Park & Rides and along Grand Avenue during the 6-month construction season.

West Mainline - West Express Route Map

West Mainline - West Express Schedule

The DTA has established four temporary Park & Rides on Grand Avenue (listed below) and will provide free round-trip express service between these Park & Rides and downtown Duluth during weekday peak hours. “Buses only” express lanes have been established on Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street which will be utilized by all DTA express and mainline buses during morning and afternoon peak hours. Express buses will operate in “non-stop” express mode between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth, SMDC and St. Luke’s Hospital. This service will continue throughout the 6-month construction season. Schedules are available at the downtown Transit Center or online at www.duluthtransit.com.

Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots in West Duluth:

• Spirit Mountain lower parking lot at 8600 Grand Avenue – Express buses board inside parking lot
• Asbury Methodist Church parking lot at 6822 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Bethany Baptist Church parking lot at 6700 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parking lot at 4831 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue

Northbound I-35 commuters are advised to exit at Midway Road and drive south to Becks Road and Grand Avenue to Park & Ride lots

Mn/DOT’s 2-year Mega Construction Project will have a significant impact on commuters traveling into Duluth on I-35 from the south, as well as residents of the western part of the city, as much of the traffic is expected to be diverted onto Grand Avenue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane only on I-35 between Proctor and Duluth. In addition, many on and off ramps will be closed while under construction.

In an effort to minimize traffic congestion, Mn/DOT and the DTA are encouraging commuters traveling into Duluth from the south on I-35, as well as local residents in the western part of the city, to take advantage of the FREE commuter express service during the construction season.

Mn/DOT is scheduled to embark on a major 2-year construction project on I-35 on or about May 3rd that will continue through the 2011 construction season. The I-35 Mega Project will have a significant impact on commuters traveling into Duluth from the south, as well as residents of the western part of the city, as much of the traffic is expected to be diverted onto Grand Avenue. I-35 traffic will be restricted to one lane only between Proctor and Duluth once contractors get set-up and equipment staged. In addition, many on and off ramps will be closed while under construction. For I-35 construction updates, see Mn/DOT’s website at www.dot.state.mn.us/duluthmegaproject/.

The Homegrown Trolley shuttle will operate along Superior Street between Fourth Avenue West and Fitger’s serving Superior Street venue locations every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.

The Homegrown Trolley Shuttle, which is free to the public, will provide service to the following Homegrown Music Festival downtown venues: Brewhouse, Red Star Lounge and Rex Bar in Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Carmody Irish Pub, Teatro Zuccone, Pizza Luce, Roscoe’s Pioneer Bar, Harbor City International School and RT Quinlan’s Saloon.

Homegrown Trolley schedules will be available at downtown venues and on the Trolley.

Homegrown organizers encourage Festival attendees to take advantage of the convenient shuttle services between venues in downtown Duluth.

On-street parking on Grand Avenue will be restricted during weekday morning and afternoon rush hours to provide dedicated bus lanes. South-side parking will be prohibited during morning rush hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.); and north-side parking will be prohibited during the afternoon rush hours (3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Rush hour express lanes will be dedicated to DTA buses only – including express and mainline buses.

Express buses will serve all bus stops and Park & Ride lots on Grand Avenue west of 46th A.W.; but will operate in a “non-stop express mode” between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth, SMDC and St. Luke’s Hospital during morning and afternoon rush hours. West Express buses will board passengers inside Spirit Mountain’s lower parking lot.

Mn/DOT and the DTA have teamed-up to ease traffic congestion on I-35 and Grand Avenue by providing FREE round-trip express service for morning commuters boarding buses at Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots and mainline bus stops along Grand Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue west of 46th A.W. Four temporary Park & Ride lots on Grand Avenue have been established and additional West Express service provided during the construction season. Northbound I-35 commuters are advised to exit at Midway Road and drive south to Becks Road and Grand Avenue to Park & Ride lots.

Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots in West Duluth:

• Spirit Mountain lower parking lot at 8600 Grand Avenue – Express buses board inside parking lot
• Asbury Methodist Church parking lot at 6822 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Bethany Baptist Church parking lot at 6700 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parking lot at 4831 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue

Free-Ride DTA Express Schedules are available at the downtown Transit Center or online at www.duluthtransit.com.

Mn/DOT’s 2-year Mega Construction Project will have a significant impact on commuters traveling into Duluth on I-35 from the south, as well as residents of the western part of the city, as much of the traffic is expected to be diverted onto Grand Avenue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane only on I-35 between Proctor and Duluth. In addition, many on and off ramps will be closed while under construction.

In an effort to minimize traffic congestion, Mn/DOT and the DTA are encouraging commuters traveling into Duluth from the south on I-35, as well as local residents in the western part of the city, to take advantage of the FREE commuter express service during the construction season.

Mn/DOT’s I-35 Mega Project will have a significant impact on commuters traveling into Duluth from the south, as well as residents of the western part of the city, as much of the traffic is expected to be diverted onto Grand Avenue. I-35 traffic will be restricted to one lane only between Proctor and Duluth and many on and off ramps will be closed while under construction. For I-35 construction updates, see Mn/DOT’s website at www.dot.state.mn.us/duluthmegaproject/.

The DTA is again offering teen bus riders in the Twin Ports unlimited rides and fun perks all summer long for just $45 with a “deep discounted” Summer Teen Pass. The 3-month unlimited-ride Summer Teen Pass is valued at $90 and along with “fun perk discounts” is a great value for teen riders in the Twin Ports. Summer Teen Passes will go on sale May 20th.

In addition to unlimited rides on the DTA in June, July and August, youth riders 18 and under get “fun perks” at the Incline Station Bowling Center, Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, Omnimax Theatre, Duluth Huskies Baseball and Burger King restaurants.

Teen riders get “FUN PERK DISCOUNTS” when presenting their Summer Teen Pass:

· One FREE game of bowling every day at the Incline Station Bowling Center

· $5 admission at the Great Lakes Aquarium - $8 discount!

· $1 off general admission at Lake Superior Zoo.

· $1 discount on admission to Huskies baseball games.

· FREE popcorn with admission at the Omnimax Theatre.

· FREE Junior Whopper with purchase of medium fries and beverage at all Twin Ports Burger King locations.

Summer Teen Passes, which offer unlimited rides anytime on all DTA buses and the Port Town Trolley, are also transferable and can be used by qualifying family members or friends when not used by its primary recipient.

Summer Teen Passes are sold for $45 - a $90 value.

(31-Day Teen Passes normally sell for $30.)

Summer Teen Passes are on sale at the Downtown Transit Center, DTA Operations Center (2402 W. Michigan Street), and DTA Pass Outlets: University Super America, Lakeside Super America, Plaza Super America, Fourth Super America, Morgan Park Super America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, Park State Bank and all Twin Ports Little Stores.

Summer Teen Pass Program was established in 1999 through collaboration with the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force to provide affordable summer transportation for area youth.

In an effort to accommodate downtown and hospital employees who start work at 7 a.m., the DTA has added two early morning weekday trips on the West Mainline that will be free for passengers boarding west of 46th A.W. and Grand Avenue during the construction season. These riders will also receive a free fare for their return trip.

The two new “free-ride” trips are:

• Route #2 bus departs Commonwealth Avenue and McCuen Street at 6 p.m. and arrives downtown at 6:36 a.m.
• Route #1 bus departs the Zoo (71st A.W.) at 6:37 a.m. and arrives downtown at 6:50 a.m.

These west mainline buses will make stops on Grand Avenue to accommodate riders at bus stops and those utilizing the Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots. The route #2 bus departing Commonwealth and McCuen at 6 p.m. will not provide direct service inside the Spirit Mountain Park & Ride, however; only West Express buses provide this service. Those choosing the Spirit Mountain Park & Ride at this time must board the bus on Grand Avenue.

Mn/DOT and the DTA have teamed-up to ease expected rush-hour traffic congestion on I-35 and Grand Avenue during the construction season by providing FREE round-trip express service for morning commuters boarding buses at temporary Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots and mainline bus stops along Grand Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue west of 46th A.W.

The DTA established four temporary Park & Rides on Grand Avenue (listed below) and provides free round-trip express service between these Park & Rides and downtown Duluth during weekday peak hours. “Buses only” express lanes have been established on Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street which are being utilized by all DTA express and mainline buses during morning and afternoon rush hours (7 a.m to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Express buses operate in “non-stop” express mode between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth, SMDC and St. Luke’s Hospital. This service will continue throughout the 6-month construction season. Schedules are available at the downtown Transit Center or online at http://www.duluthtransit.com

Grand Avenue Park & Ride lots in West Duluth:

• Spirit Mountain lower parking lot at 8600 Grand Avenue – Express buses board inside parking lot
• Asbury Methodist Church parking lot at 6822 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Bethany Baptist Church parking lot at 6700 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue
• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parking lot at 4831 Grand Avenue – Buses board on Grand Avenue

Northbound I-35 commuters are advised to exit at Midway Road and drive south to Becks Road and Grand Avenue to Park & Ride lots

The Port Town Trolley fare is 50 cents. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available on the Trolley for $3. DTA passes and stored value fare cards will also be honored on the Trolleys with children under the age of four riding free of charge.

For Trolley route and schedule information visit www.duluthtransit.com or call 722-SAVE!

The Duluth Transit Authority will suspend all regular route and STRIDE services in the Twin Ports on Sunday, the Fourth of July, with the exception of the Port Town Trolleys.

The DTA will resume full regular route and STRIDE services on Monday, July 5.

The Duluth Transit Authority and the City of Superior will provide Special Evening Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and the Head of the Lakes Fair, beginning Wednesday, July 14 and continuing through Saturday, July 17.

Special Evening Bus Service

The special evening service to the Head of the Lakes Fair will depart downtown Duluth hourly at the Holiday Center from 6:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., with service along the #17 South Superior route. Return trips from the Fair will run hourly from 6:40 p.m. with the last return trip to downtown Superior and downtown Duluth leaving the Fairgrounds at 10:45 p.m. (See schedule below.)

Special Evening DTA routing to the Fairgrounds will run as follows: West from the Holiday Center in Duluth along Superior Street to Garfield Avenue, Blatnik Bridge, Hammond Avenue, Broadway, and Tower Avenue to the South Superior Fairgrounds. Return routing to downtown Duluth will be in reverse.

Daytime DTA Service to Head of the Lakes Fair on Route #17

Daytime bus service to the Head of the Lakes Fair is available on the DTA's regular #17 Route weekday service. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses from Duluth make timely transfer connections at 14th Street & Tower Avenue in downtown Superior with Route #17 buses.

Sunday Service to Head of the Lakes Fair

The DTA provides regular route service to the Fair on Route #17 from 10:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Sunday. The last route #17 bus departs the Fairgrounds on Tower Avenue at 5:40 p.m. and makes transfer connections in downtown Superior at 14th & Tower with the Duluth-Superior route #16 bus at 6:08 p.m. Route #16 Duluth-Superior buses also provide service to Superior on Sunday – connecting with Route #17 buses to the Fair.

Special Evening Service Schedule for “Head of the Lakes” Fair

Wednesday, July 14 – Saturday, July 17

Service between downtown Duluth, downtown Superior and Fairgrounds

DTA departs Holiday Center in Downtown Duluth for Superior

6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.

DTA departs Downtown Superior (14th & Tower) for Fairgrounds:

6:28 p.m. – 7:28 p.m. – 8:28 p.m. – 9:28 p.m. – 10:28 p.m.

DTA departs Fairgrounds for Downtown Superior & Duluth:

6:40 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.

For more information: 722-SAVE or www.duluthtransit.com

The Trolley will provide service between Bayfront Park, where the Reggae Festival will be held, downtown and Canal Park.

Reggae Festival organizers are encouraging attendees to take advantage of the free, convenient Trolley service.

Trolley route map attached

The Duluth Transit Authority is inviting bus riders and the general public to voice their opinions and concerns on the proposed fare increase and service changes.

The purpose of these public hearings is to solicit comments on proposed fare increases and service changes to the current DTA system. The fare increase will fund service increases and may be needed to offset potential funding changes for the DTA.

Public Hearings:

Tuesday, July 20 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Transit Center – 214 West Superior Street – Duluth MN

This will be a walk-in format – comments will be taken anytime between 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 27 Starts @ 2 p.m. DTA Board Room – 2402 W. Michigan Street – Duluth MN

Persons with comments may:

1. Present comments in person or in writing at the above noted hearings;
2. Email comments to jheilig@duluthtransit.com;
3. Send comments to Duluth Transit Authority % Jim Heilig – 2402 W. Michigan St. – Duluth MN 55806

Send or email comments no later than Monday, August 2, 2010.

Proposed Fare Increases:

Service Proposals:

• Expand evening services within the City of Duluth on all days of the week to better serve third shift workers.
• Provide a Sunday level of service on all major holidays.
  (Currently, DTA provides no service on holidays.)
• Modify the level of service on the routes 18 and 20 to meet available funding.
  (This would be a decrease in service levels.)

The Duluth Transit Authority’s routes #5 and #10 buses provide service to the Miller Hill Mall, where free shuttle buses will be provided by Air Show organizers for Air Show attendees at the designated shuttle lot – Lot B in the Miller Hill Mall parking lot – north of the Mall’s Door 8 bus stop. (See map below or visit the Air Show website at http://www.duluthairshow.com/2010/maps.html).

The DTA recommends taking route #10 buses to the Air Show shuttle lot at the Mall, as route #10 buses provide earlier service than route #5. Route #10 buses arrive at the Miller Hill Mall about every half an hour beginning at 7:55 a.m. on Saturday and 10:21 a.m. on Sunday. Route #5 buses arrive at the Miller Hill Mall hourly beginning at 10:19 a.m. on Saturday; and at 12:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Shuttle buses will provide return trips to Lot B in the Miller Hill Mall after the Air Show.

For route and schedule information contact the DTA at 722-SAVE or www.duluthtransit.com

The Trolley operates daily during summer months with service every 30 minutes between downtown Duluth, Canal Park and Bayfront Park from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Trolley serves hotels, restaurants and shops in downtown Duluth and Canal Park.

Trolley fare is 50 cents with $3 day passes available on the Trolley.

Any disabled American veteran displaying a Department of Veteran Affairs Service Connected identification card or SC card in Wisconsin will be afforded free public transportation on DTA buses.

Disabled veterans can also board DTA buses in Duluth and Proctor without charge, as authorized by the State of Minnesota, when presenting their Department of Veteran Affairs Service Connected ID card. The City of Superior action is being taken to ensure that all qualified veterans are afforded equal consideration for the free fare program throughout the DTA’s service area. The Twin Ports Veteran’s Administration Outpatient Clinic in Superior is served by the DTA’s South Superior route with 16 trips per day.

The Disabled Veteran’s Fare Program, however, does not include the DTA’s para-transit STRIDE (Special Transit Ride) services. Disabled veterans will only be afforded free transportation on the DTA’s regular route buses.

Under the Disabled Veteran’s Fare Program, service attendants of disabled veterans also ride free on DTA buses.

It is essential that Department of Veteran Affairs identification cards presented on DTA buses carry the statement “Service Connected or SC” as the designation for a disabled American veteran.

The DTA provides public transportation service in Duluth and Proctor, Minnesota and is under contract to provide those services in the City of Superior, Wisconsin.

Effective January 1, the DTA will increase the base peak-hour fare to $1.50 and off-peak/weekend fare to 75 cents. The DTA will eliminate the peak-hour youth fare beginning January 1, 2011; but will retain a discounted 31-Day Youth Pass for riders 18 and under.

STRIDE peak fares will also be increased to $3, with off-peak fares increasing to $1.50.

Unlike most Minnesota transit systems, the DTA has not raised fares in the last few years to keep pace with higher fuel prices. The DTA last raised fares in 2005 and 1992.

The DTA Board of Directors approved a January 1st fare increase to expand weekday and weekend evening service and add holiday service at its August 25th meeting; and the Duluth City Council approved the fare increase on August 30th.

The DTA will expand late night service on selected routes to accommodate those working evening shifts beginning on Sunday, January 2, 2011.

Many weekday routes already provide late night service; but new evening services will be expanded on some routes. Saturday bus service, which currently doesn’t run as late as weekday services, will be extended to cover evening hours. The majority of added evening services will occur on Saturday. No evening service changes are slated for the City of Superior at this time. Evening services will be added on the following routes:

Weekday Evening Service Expansion: Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11

Saturday Evening Service Expansion: Routes 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11

Sunday Evening Service Expansion: Routes 2, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13

(See late night service schedule additions below)

The DTA will implement limited service (similar to the Sunday level of service) on all major holidays beginning with this New Year’s Day (January 1, 2011) and the following holidays throughout the year: Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Holiday service, however, will only be provided in Duluth. The DTA has not provided holiday services since the early 1970s.

The DTA will also be making adjustments to routes #18 and #20 beginning on Monday, January 3rd. Several evening trips on route #18 will be dropped with the schedule time for the last trip adjusted. Route #20 will no longer provide service to Cirrus Design and schedule times will be adjusted to better serve United Healthcare and Airpark businesses. These routes, which were established in 2007, are partially supported by JARC (Job Access Reverse Commute) federal funding.

DTA Fare Increase

New Late Night Service Adjustments Effective

EXPANDED WEEKDAY SERVICE

Route 1: 5:25 p.m. 8:40 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 4:37 p.m.

Route 2: 12:10 a.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 11:10 p.m.

Route 3: 8:40 p.m. trip to Proctor eliminated. (This 8:40 p.m. trip added to Route 1 schedule.)

Route 5: 6:05 p.m. trip added from Zoo. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving Zoo was 5:05 p.m.

Route 6: 10:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 9:15 p.m.

Route 9: 8:20 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 7:20 p.m.

Route 10: 11:43 p.m. trip added from Super One. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving Super One was 10:39 p.m.

Route 11K: 12:10 a.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 11:10 p.m.

Route 18: 10:35 p.m. trip from UMD replaces the 10:52 p.m. trip as the last bus from campus.

WEEKDAY SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS

Route 18: Evening trips eliminated: 8:52 p.m. and 9:52 p.m.

Route 20: Adjusted times depart downtown at 6:20 a.m., 7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m.

Route 20X: Adjusted times depart Hermantown Park & Ride for downtown at 6:56 a.m., 7:56 a.m., and 8:56 a.m. Adjusted times depart downtown transit center at 4:07 p.m. and 5:07 p.m.

EXPANDED SATURDAY SERVICE

Route 2: 7:50 p.m., 8:50 p.m., 9:50 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:50 p.m.

Route 5: 4:50 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. trips added from Zoo. Previous schedule: Last bus from Zoo was 3:50 p.m.

Route 6: 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:45 p.m.

Route 7: 8:05 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 7:00 p.m.

Route 9: 6:45 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 5:15 p.m.

Route 10: 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., and 10:10 .p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 5:45 p.m.

Route 11K: 7:40 p.m., 8:40 p.m., 9:40 p.m., and 10:40 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:35 p.m.

EXPANDED SUNDAY SERVICE

Route 2: 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., and 9:10 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:30 p.m.

Route 7: 7:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:15 p.m.

Route 9: 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 4:45 p.m.

Route 10: 6:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Las bus from downtown was 5:15 p.m.

Route 11K: 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., and 8:10 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 5:35 p.m.

Route 13: 6:45 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 5:45 p.m.

The Duluth Transit Authority will end its Park FREE – Ride FREE services after Friday, October 29 as I-35 construction season is coming to a close.

In an effort to mitigate traffic on I-35 and Grand Avenue during the I-35 Mega Project, the Minnesota Department of Transportation contracted with DTA last spring to provide free round-trip express service for weekday commuters boarding morning buses at temporary Park & Ride lots on Grand Avenue and bus stops west of 46th Avenue West during the construction season.

The Park FREE – Ride FREE service did reduce traffic congestion along Grand Avenue and minimized the effects of major highway construction on the West Duluth neighborhood. Ridership from Grand Avenue Park & Rides was less than predicted; but morning peak hour ridership originating from west of 46th and Grand Avenue peaked at 690 new rides per day. The daily average for the summer (May-September) was 594 additional riders per day. Over 36,000 total rides were produced over the summer months.

Congestion expectations were less than initially expected, as many commuters found alternative routes and traffic on I-35 was well managed by Mn/DOT.

Last spring, the DTA established four temporary Park & Rides on Grand Avenue and “buses only” express lanes on Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street for buses operating non-stop between 46th A.W. and downtown Duluth, SMDC and St. Luke’s Hospital.

The DTA and Mn/DOT may modify the I-35 traffic mitigation plan for next construction season; but are committed to providing free round-trip express service for those boarding buses west of 46th Avenue West next year too.

In an effort to speed up the paying of fares and boarding of buses, the DTA will be giving away rechargeable EZ-Cards with any fare purchase during the month of December at the Downtown Transit Center or the DTA Operations Center in the Lincoln Park Business District.

EZ-Cards, which can be charged with any DTA pass or stored value, are rechargeable for continued use. DTA riders can easily recharge their EZ-Cards with a 31-Day Pass or stored cash values at the Downtown Transit Center, the DTA Operations Center, located at 2402 W. Michigan Street or fare vending machines located at the Downtown Transit Center, Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop and the Superior Public Library.

Paying a fare with an EZ-Card is simple. Riders just need to “touch” the target on the fare-box with their EZ-Card to validate a ride. EZ-Cards kept in wallets or plastic holders will also validate rides when held within near proximity (a few inches) of the farebox target.

EZ-Cards are made of durable plastic and have a three year life. EZ-Cards also provide improved security! Whenever an EZ-Card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced with the value remaining on the card at the time it was reported - providing the serial number on the EZ-Card was recorded by the user.

Normally, the DTA charges $2 for a “proximity-sensitive” EZ-Card; but is waving the fee during the month of December to promote the fare card medium and speed up passenger boardings.

The DTA has held EZ-Card promotions the past two December, with nearly 1000 riders taking advantage of the free EZ-Cards.

The DTA is now transporting record numbers of riders and faster boarding of passengers surely helps buses maintain their schedules.

MAINLINE DULUTH SERVICE: The DTA will be providing fixed route service in Duluth along Grand Avenue and Superior Street from 57th Avenue West to 24th Avenue East from 10:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. with one trip from Gary/New Duluth. This bus will board passengers at all bus stops along the route.

SPECIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE: In addition, the DTA will be providing direct shuttle services at selective locations in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin, including: CHUM Drop-in Center; Domiano; Solid Rock Mission (6th Street & Weeks); Clifford Lund (914 Tower Avenue); Royalton Manor (1900 New York Avenue); and center-city bus stop at 14th & Tower. (Schedules will be posted at these locations.) 

SUPERIOR SITES                                                               

Solid Rock                            10:40     11:00     12:15     12:40
Phoenix Villa                      10:45     11:00     12:35     12:54
Royalton Manor               10:55     11:25     12:45     1:00
14th & Tower                     11:05     11:25     12:45     1:05
Clifford Lund                      11:10     11:25     12:45     1:10

DULUTH SITES                   ARRIVE DEPART               

                PICK-UP               DECC     DECC     DROP-OFF

CHUM               1 12:10     12:20    
CHUM               2 12:50     1:00        1:40        1:50
CHUM               3 1:50        1:55                       
CHUM               4                                                

Domiano            1               11:30     11:45     12:30     12:45
Domiano            2               12:45     1:00                       
Domiano            3               1:45        1:55        1:40        1:45
                                                2:00       

Car Shuttles start at 2:00 to Dominano & CHUM Every 15 minutes until 4:00

Tri-Towers          11:40     11:50
East Mainline     1:00        1:05
                2:00        2:05

Gary & McCuen (Vintage Acres (10:17)  10:15     11:00     12:05     12:25
Morgan Park      10:25     11:00     12:05     12:30

East Side Service                                             

24th Ave E           10th Ave E           DECC     DECC     24th Ave E
11:10                     11:15                     11:20                     11:10
12:10                     12:15                     12:20     12:00     12:10
1:10                        1:15                        1:20        1:00        1:10
2:10                        2:15                        2:20        2:00        2:10

WEST Side Service                                         

57th Ave W         21st Ave W         DECC     DECC     57th Ave W
10:40:00 AM*    10:49                     11:00     11:20     11:40
11:40                     11:49                     12:00     12:05     12:40:00 PM*
12:40                     12:49                     1:00        1:20        1:40
1:40                        1:49                        2:00        2:20        2:40
2:40                        2:49                        3:00        3:20        3:40
3:40                        3:49                        4:00        4:20        4:40

* Starts or ends at Commwealth & McCuen

In 2008, the DTA changed its stroller policy on a trial basis. The purpose of the policy change was to make buses more convenient for customers who transported children with strollers. However, during the past two years, the new policy prompted numerous and persistent complaints from elderly, disabled and other customers as strollers often blocked aisles causing congestion and trip hazards within the bus. Several accidents were reported when passengers tripped on strollers or a stroller tipped over. The increased size and use of the strollers frequently resulted in a conflict for the spaces reserved for passengers using wheelchairs, causing service delays. After careful consideration of these issues the DTA has elected to return to the stroller policy that was in effect prior to 2008. The policy is as follows:

DTA STROLLER POLICY:

• Children must be removed from strollers and seated on guardian’s lap or on the adjacent seat, if available.
• Strollers must be of a size that can be folded and stored on the bus.
• Strollers must be stored out of the aisle for the duration of the trip.
• Strollers may not be stored in the seating area reserved for disabled riders or stored on the front storage rack.
• Strollers that cannot be folded and stored out of the aisle will not be allowed on the bus.

• Carts must be of a size that can be folded and stored in a manner that does not require an additional seat.
• Carts must not be placed in the aisle or stored on the front storage rack.
• Carts that cannot be folded and stored out of the aisle will not be allowed on the bus.
• All packages must be removed from the cart and held by the passenger.

The Duluth Transit Authority will suspend all Twin Ports bus services, including STRIDE, on Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25.

The DTA will curtail regular route and STRIDE services early on Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, with service ending for the day at 7:15 p.m. (last buses departing downtown Duluth at 7:15 p.m.)

The DTA will resume regular route and STRIDE services on Sunday, December 26.

Holiday service and extended evening service hours on many routes (seven days a week) will be introduced beginning on January 1, along with a fare increase. (See separate news release for detailed information.)

STRIDE services will also operate in Duluth on New Year’s Day.

The DTA will run regularly scheduled bus service on New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31.

The Duluth Transit Authority has begun a public information campaign to encourage motorists to follow Minnesota Statute 169.20 (Subdivision 7) and allow DTA buses at bus stops to re-enter the traffic lane whenever possible.

According to the state statute, motorists are required to yield to transit buses trying to enter traffic from a bus stop or shoulder lane, providing the bus has signaled to exit the stop. If there are two lanes of one-way traffic, the statute only requires traffic in the right lane to yield to buses.

When motorists in Duluth see a DTA bus signaling to exit a bus stop, the law requires the vehicle to allow the bus back into traffic. DTA bus operators do not automatically have the right of way and are advised to pull out of bus stops only when the motorist behind them yields to the bus.

DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen stated; “Motorists in Duluth, for the most part, are courteous and generally allow buses to exit bus stops. However, during this past construction season DTA buses have had some trouble getting back in the traffic lane after dropping off or picking up passengers at bus stops and we believe the signs might help. We expect another year with major road construction projects and all we’re trying to accomplish is to remind motorists of the law and to give DTA drivers a break in traffic.”

Duluth has many bus stops throughout the city. Motorists are asked to pay close attention when approaching buses at stops and to give DTA drivers the courtesy of allowing them back into traffic when they signal.

Duluth Transit Authority ridership for 2010 surpassed the 3 million rider mark for the third consecutive year since 2002. Ridership for 2010, which was down 0.07% from 2009, totaled 3,171,085. DTA ridership has steadily improved over the past few years and is up 21.6% since 2005.

While transit use is up by all segments of the general population, U-Pass ridership has shown the most consistent gains. U-Pass ridership for 2010 at UMD, College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College and UWS increased by 4.57% over 2009 with 747,737 rides.

DTA Bike & Bus ridership for 2010 also surpassed the previous year’s total. In its 16th year of operation, the Bike & Bus service transported 22,751 bicycles – up 2.5% over last year. In 2009, the DTA began providing the Bike & Bus service on a year-round basis.

STRIDE (Special Transit RIDE) ridership for 2010 also increased by 1.9% with 25,637 passengers.

DTA ridership gains parallels the national trend. More Americans today are using public transportation due to volatile gas prices and inflation. Even though fuel prices dropped during the year, DTA ridership continued to grow. The recent rise in fuel prices should result in a continuing increase in passenger numbers.

"We're very pleased with these numbers" says DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen. "We picked up a lot of new riders during the I-35 construction project and they are continuing to ride. We are especially pleased with the success of the U-Pass program and all the benefits that this has brought to the colleges and to the community.”

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Justin is a Communications major at UMD and rides the DTA to and from campus every day from his apartment on East Fourth Street. “The U-Pass Program at UMD is a great service,“ he says. “It’s convenient and best of all free!” Justin says he appreciates not having to drive his car to campus and paying to park every day. When Justin returns home to West St. Paul during the summer, he operates a landscaping business with his brother.

U-PASS ridership at UMD has increased substantially since 2000 and has accounted for nearly 12 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters when school is in session, U-PASS ridership at UMD accounts for nearly 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

The U-PASS Program was introduced in Fall Semester of 2000 as an innovative partnership between UMD and the DTA to encourage greater use of public transportation on campus by providing unlimited rides for students, faculty and staff and building on-campus transit hub.

Prior to the implementation of the U-PASS Program, DTA ridership at UMD averaged just 4,000 a month. UMD ridership today tops the 4,000 rider mark in only 2 days.

The U-PASS Program was designed to reduce on-campus traffic and address the construction related reduction of campus parking. More than 700 campus parking spaces have been eliminated since 2000, due to on-campus construction at UMD.

Since 2000, when the U-PASS Program was instituted, UMD has experienced a phenomenal 23 percent increase in enrollment. UMD enrollment is currently at an all-time high with more than 12,000 students. The U-PASS Program has been very instrumental in accommodating the transportation needs of this increased enrollment.

U-PASS ridership at UMD reached the 1 millionth rider milestone in March of 2004; the 2 millionth rider in February of 2007; and 3 millionth rider in March of 2009.

The College of St. Scholastica and Lake Superior College joined the U-PASS Program in 2001 and University of Wisconsin, Superior joined in 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION: UMD Chancellor Lynn Black recognizes UMD Junior, Justin Oppegard, as the 4 millionth U-Pass rider at UMD. DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen (on left) and Aaron Bransky, President DTA Board of Directors, join in the ceremonial presentation.

We need you to act to save transit service! The House Transportation Committee has been given a new “target” or limit on general fund. Previously, the House set a general fund target of $120 million for transportation – including Metropolitan Area Transit, Greater Minnesota Transit and the Department of Public Safety. Today the Chair of the House Committee announced that the new target will provide $0 general fund dollars to MnDOT and the Metropolitan Council. Those dollars will be used to help balance the general fund budget.

At this point the committee is considering proposals to shift funds from the Livable Communities and Right-of-Way Acquisition funds within the Metropolitan Council to transit and taking funds generated by the ¼ cent sales tax levied in 5 Twin Cities Metropolitan Area counties for transitways and dedicating those dollars to transit operations. We don’t yet know the exact dollar amounts.

It is not clear at this point, how funding for Greater Minnesota transit will be provided. We assume that there will be an increase in the amount of motor vehicle sales tax revenue dedicated to Greater Minnesota transit but no definite amounts.

It’s pretty clear that no amount of shifting or raiding other funds will totally make transit funding whole. We anticipate that serious, ongoing cuts in funding for transit will result from passage of this bill (HF1140).

The House Transportation Committee will amend the bill and take testimony this week. The DTA needs people to speak up in support of transit service in Duluth!

Send an e-mail to local legislators and the members of the House and Senate Transportation Committees. Ask some folks who ride the bus to share a story about how important transit service is to them. These stories make a difference! One of the committee members talked about an e-mail from a bus rider during the committee hearing today to make the point about the need for transit funding.

Now is the time to make the case for transit!

Make a phone call or send an e-mail today to these contact below!

House Transportation Finance Divison

Kerry Gauthier (DFL-Duluth) 651-297-9010 225 State Office Bldg. rep.kerry.gauthier@house.mn

Senate Transportation Budget and Policy Committee

Roger Reinert (DFL-Duluth) 651-296-4188 149 State Office Bldg. sen.roger.reinert@senate.mn

Transportation Alliance Director:

Margaret Donahoe 651-659-0804 St. Paul, MN margaret@transportationalliance.com

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the DTA have teamed-up to ease rush-hour traffic congestion on I-35 and Grand Avenue during the second phase of the I-35 re-construction by providing FREE round-trip fares for weekday commuters boarding buses during morning peak hours at bus stops west of 46th Avenue West and Grand Avenue, including a temporary Park & Ride at the Lake Superior Zoo.

The DTA’s FREE-round-trip fare option for West Duluth commuters begins Monday, April 4th. Mn/DOT is expected to begin restricting traffic on I-35 during that week.

“Buses only” express lanes on Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street will again be utilized by all DTA buses during morning and afternoon peak hours. In addition, New Duluth and Proctor express buses will operate in “non-stop” express mode between Carlton Street and downtown Duluth, Essentia Medical Campus and St. Luke’s Hospital during the construction season.

Weekday commuters boarding buses west of 46th A.W. and Grand Avenue during morning peak hours (buses arriving downtown between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.) will receive FREE round-trip transportation on the DTA throughout the I-35 construction season. Passengers will be issued a free transfer upon boarding the bus in the morning, which will be good for a FREE return trip any time that day.

Last year, the DTA’s Ride FREE service helped reduce traffic congestion along Grand Avenue and minimized the effects of the I-35 construction on the West Duluth neighborhood. The DTA averaged nearly 404 rides per day with more than 43,227 free rides during last year’s construction season (April 17 through October). In addition to the free rides, an additional 30,689 rides were generated in the West Duluth corridor during the construction season for a total of 73,916 rides.

Temporary Grand Avenue Park & Ride at Zoo

• Lake Superior Zoo parking lot at 7100 Grand Avenue
Park & Ride passengers can board buses at DTA bus turn-around at 71st A.W. or on Grand Avenue.

“Buses Only” Express Lanes will be provided along Grand Avenue:

• On-street parking along Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Carlton Street will again be restricted during weekday morning and afternoon peak hours to provide a dedicated bus lane – south-side parking will be prohibited during morning peak hours and north-side parking will be prohibited during afternoon peak hours.
• “Peak-Hour” Express lanes are dedicated to DTA buses only.

Proctor and New Duluth Express buses will operate alternate express routing:

• New Duluth (2X) and Proctor (3X) Express buses to downtown will run on Grand Avenue, Carlton Street and Michigan Street to downtown. Afternoon express buses will return to New Duluth and Proctor along the same alternate express route.
• New Duluth and Proctor Express buses will run in non-stop express mode between Carlton Street and downtown Duluth via Michigan Street.

Mn/DOT and the DTA are encouraging West Duluth commuters and those commuting from the south on I-35, to take advantage of the FREE DTA commuter service during the 6-month construction season. The DTA is anticipating greater ridership during this year’s construction season because of rising gas prices.

Mn/DOT plans to complete the 2-year I-35 re-construction project this year. For I-35 construction updates, see Mn/DOT’s website at www.dot.state.mn.us/duluthmegaproject/.

The Duluth Transit Authority Board of Directors recently approved a comprehensive “Passenger Safety Policy” that prohibits passengers from storing any personal items in the aisle – including strollers, carts, baggage and large items.

On January 1, 2011, the DTA instituted a new policy for strollers on buses and reissued its policy on carts, baggage and large items. The new Passenger Safety Policy incorporates these policies and broadens its scope to include all personal items. The purpose of the Passenger Safety Policy is to assure that passengers always have safe access to seats and that aisles are safe for walking or emergency evacuation.

• Personal items may not be stored in the aisle.
• Personal items must be stored either under or between the seats.
• Personal items too large to be stored within the seating area are not permitted on the bus.
• Personal items may not occupy seats that are required for other passengers.
• Personal items may not be stored in the front seating area reserved for disabled riders or on the front storage racks.

This policy, however, does not restrict the use of the aisle for storage of personal assistance devices necessary for passengers with disabilities such as walkers, canes, crutches, oxygen generators or tanks and certified service animals as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Seating areas in the front of the bus continue to be primarily reserved for persons with mobility aides in compliance with ADA standards.

The DTA’s comprehensive Passenger Safety Policy is effective immediately.

The Homegrown Trolley shuttle will operate along Superior Street between 4th Avenue West and 8th Avenue East, and Canal Park serving venue locations every 20 minutes.

The Homegrown Trolley Shuttle, which is free to the public, will provide service to the following Homegrown Music Festival downtown venues: Brewhouse, Red Star Lounge and Rex Bar in Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Carmody Irish Pub, Teatro Zuccone, The Encounter, Pizza Luce, Roscoe’s Pioneer Bar, Harbor City International School, RT Quinlan’s Saloon, Lake Avenue Café, Amazing Grace Café and Grandma’s Sportsgarden.

Homegrown Trolley schedules will be available at downtown venues and on the Trolley.

Homegrown organizers encourage Festival attendees to take advantage of the convenient shuttle services between venues in downtown Duluth.

Trolley Shuttle Map

The DTA is again offering teen bus riders in the Twin Ports unlimited rides and FUN PERKS all summer long for just $55 with a deep discounted Summer Teen Pass. The 3-month unlimited-ride Summer Teen Pass, which is valued at $112.50, is a great value for teen riders in the Twin Ports.

In addition to unlimited rides on the DTA in June, July and August, youth riders 18 and under get "fun perks" at the Incline Station Bowling Center, Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, The Encounter, Duluth Huskies Baseball and area Burger King restaurants.

Teen riders get "FUN PERK DISCOUNTS" when presenting their Summer Teen Pass:

Summer Teen Passes, which offer unlimited rides anytime on all DTA buses and the Port Town Trolley, are also transferable and can be used by qualifying family members or friends when not used by its primary recipient.

Summer Teen Passes are sold for $55 – more than a 50% discount.

(31-Day Teen Passes normally sell for $37.50.)

Summer Teen Passes go on sale May 23 at the Downtown Transit Center, DTA Operations Center (2402 W. Michigan Street), and DTA Pass Outlets: University Super America, Lakeside Super America, Plaza Super America, Fourth Super America, Morgan Park Super America, CUB Foods, Proctor Milk House, Park State Bank and all Twin Ports Little Stores.

Summer Teen Pass Program was established in 1999 through collaboration with the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force to provide affordable summer transportation for area youth.

DTA and Northland Foundation’s Youth Rider Transportation Task Force

In 1998, the DTA and the Northland Foundation’s Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force collaborated to encourage the use of public transportation by area youth. As a result of this partnership, the DTA reduced summer fares, developed a youth rider guide, and assisted in a “youth rider logo” contest with Lincoln Park School art students.

The Youth Rider Initiative was set in motion by the Duluth Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force in May of 1998 in response to the national movement, America’s Promise, chaired by retired General Colin Powell. This Promise is a call to all American businesses, congregations, schools, youth-serving organizations, service clubs, civic leaders, parents and others to commit more time, energy and funding to the fundamental resources needed by all children and youth. Initially, 135 youth and adults from various sectors of Duluth met at a local summit in February, 1998 to identify what programs and opportunities were currently available to the young people in this community so they could access these fundamental resources. It was determined that transportation, access to facilities, changes in attitude regarding volunteerism, and improved public relations were key areas that needed attention in order to make these resources more easily accessible. As a result, the Duluth Alliance with Youth was formed, along with four task forces to address these issues.

The Alliance with Youth Transportation Task Force brought together students and representatives from the DTA, Voyageur Bus Company, ISD 709 Transportation Department, community education, Duluth Parks & Recreation Department, youth-serving organizations, and the Metropolitan Interstate Committee to focus on youth issues and concerns of public transportation in the Duluth area.

Surveys: In 1999, transportation surveys were administered to over 1,000 students, grades 5 through 12, from 14 Duluth schools, and to more than 300 parents. ARDC’s Metropolitan Interstate Committee analyzed the survey results, with results indicating that many of our young people do have transportation needs that could be met by public transportation. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed were involved in extra-curricular activities and about half indicated they often have difficulty with transportation to and from these activities. Other comments supported the need to make the image of public transportation more "kid-friendly". With that in mind, 55 Lincoln Park School eighth graders submitted logo designs. The winning design, entitled "Youth Rider" is used by the DTA for youth-related marketing efforts and has been made available for use by task force member organizations.

Summer Teen Pass Brochure

Trolley serves downtown & Canal Park hotels – restaurants - shops & attractions

The Trolley operates along Superior Street between Eighth Avenue East and Sixth Avenue West, along Canal Park Drive, and Harbor Drive along the Bayfront.

The Trolley stops at downtown bus stops along Superior Street including: Fitger's, Greysolon Plaza, Fond-Du-Luth Casino, the Holiday Center and Radisson Hotel. The Trolley also serves the Depot Heritage Arts Center & Railroad Museum, Bayfront Park, Great Lakes Aquarium, Vista Fleet Excursion Dock, S/S William A. Irvin, the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, Maritime Visitor Center/Aerial Lift Bridge and other locations along Canal Park Drive.

Trolley fare is 50 cents – Trolley Day Passes sold on Trolley for $4

The Trolley fare is 50 cents with children four and under riding free. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available for $4 on the Trolley and Downtown Transit Center.

Port Town Trolley route and schedule information is available at http://www.duluthtransit.com.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Office of Transit and the DTA will embark on a campaign May 16 to encourage Duluth residents to take the Greater Minnesota Commuter Challenge this summer.

Commuters pledging to use an alternative to driving such as transit, car/van pooling, biking or walking to work will qualify for valuable prize drawings. Commuters must pledge to ride the DTA or use an alternative just one time by September 30, 2011 to qualify for the prize drawings.

Those wishing to make a pledge can do so at www.duluthtransit.com by clicking the "Take a Pledge" button, which is located on the home page.

Mn/DOT’s Office of Transit is challenging commuters in communities across Minnesota to take the Commuter Challenge and ride the bus, bike or car/van pool. Pledge drawing winners will be announced by Mn/DOT by October 1, 2011.

Beginning with New Year’s Day (January 1, 2011), the DTA introduced the operation of holiday services in Duluth. The DTA will operate a limited holiday service schedule (similar to the Sunday level of service) on all major holidays including July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Memorial Day. Holiday service, however, will only be provided in the City of Duluth; not in Superior, where additional funding for holiday services is not available. Prior to New Year’s Day 2011, the DTA had not provided holiday services since the early 1970s.

Holiday service schedules are highlighted on the Sunday section on all passenger hand schedules and on the DTA website – www.duluthtransit.com.

The Trolleys will provide service to the base of Bayfront Festival Park on July 4th; but since Harbor Drive will be closed to traffic for Fourth Fest activities, the Trolleys will not be able to serve the Great Lakes Aquarium, the Excursion Dock, the S/S Irvin or Lakes 10 Theater.

The Port Town Trolley fare is 50 cents. Unlimited-ride Trolley Day Passes are available on the Trolley for $4. DTA passes and stored value fare cards will also be honored on the Trolleys with children under the age of four riding free of charge.

For Trolley route and schedule information visit www.duluthtransit.com or call 722-SAVE!

DTA service to and from Walmart was permanently changed on Friday, July 8th as Route #5 buses have been prohibited from entering the Walmart parking lot to board and de-board passengers. Route 5 buses now board and de-board passengers at a single bus stop boarding area on Mall Drive.

Route 5 (West-to-the-Mall-Area) buses provide service between the Zoo, Lake Superior College, the Miller Hill Mall area, Walmart and Airport via Grand Avenue, Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road. Connections between downtown buses and Route 5 buses are made at the Door 8 Bus Stop at the Miller Hill Mall.

New Routing Map

The DTA has produced a “How to Use WebWatch” instructional video for its web-site to help riders access the service and take advantage of its “real-time” schedule features. First-time users of WebWatch are advised to view this instructional video.

In 2008, the DTA introduced WebWatch – an interactive feature that allows riders to obtain real-time schedule information from any bus stop in the Twin Ports and track buses as they travel along their routes – on the DTA’s web-site - www.duluthtransit.com. WebWatch is the fastest way to get “real-time” schedule information from your neighborhood bus stop!

Through the use of satellite tracking and GPS-based technology, WebWatch allows riders to access real-time bus schedule information for their bus stop and monitor their bus on a map as it makes its way along the route. WebWatch calculates when a bus will arrive at a selected stop based on the actual time the bus passes GPS points along its route.

WebWatch users select the bus route they need, indicate the direction of travel and choose their stop; and WebWatch provides a real-time estimate for the next three arrival times at that stop. WebWatch real-time schedule and live bus tracking maps are updated every minute!

WebWatch allows riders to see exactly when their bus will arrive at their stop while still at home, work-site, school and other web-friendly environments, and plan their schedule accordingly. Wait-time at bus stops can be reduced and trip planning improved.

WebWatch can be accessed from desktop and laptop computers along with web-enabled mobile communication devices.

WebWatch also provides daily email notifications for “real-time” schedules

Riders can also sign up for an email notification service through WebWatch to receive an email in advance of their normal boarding time that provides the schedule status of their bus in “real time.” Riders can sign up to receive these automatic email notifications on a daily basis or when they usually take the bus. Daily commuters can sign for email notifications for their morning bus and for their return bus from their workplace. Riders can sign up for an email notification account by selecting “new user” at the top right hand corner of the page at: http://webwatch.duluthtransit.com/default.aspx

Subscribers can indicate when they’d like to receive the “status of their bus information.” They can request the email notification to arrive 15 or 30 minutes in advance of their normal boarding time. They will receive the anticipated arrival time of their bus at the bus stop calculated in “real time.” This is a real convenience for riders who will know that status of their bus before they leave the house or office. During inclement weather, when buses can be delayed, riders can better time their arrival at bus stops. This email notification service is especially helpful during winter snowfalls, when riders can cut down on the time they spend at the bus stop waiting for the bus.

The DTA introduced WebWatch in February of 2008 and was the first transit system in Minnesota and third in the nation to provide the real time schedule and live bus tracking feature on its website.

In January 2011, the DTA posted an instructional video on its website for the new Stroller Policy and is presently working on an instructional online video for its year-round Bike & Bus service.

The DTA will pick-up passengers at the following locations en-route to the Fairgrounds:

· Regina Hill High Rise @ 10 a.m.

· Phoenix Villa @ 10:10 a.m.

· Lund Hill Apartments @ 10:20 a.m.

· Superior Senior Center @ 10:25 a.m.

· Royalton Manor @ 10:30 a.m.

· Superior Golden Apartments @ 10:40 a.m.

· ARRIVES @ FAIRGROUNDS – 11:20 a.m.

The DTA shuttle will board passengers at the Fairgrounds at 1:30 p.m. and return attendees to senior sites above.

This special DTA service, which was arranged by the City of Superior, will be free for passengers.

DTA drivers Paul Mattson and Matt Muecke were selected for this year’s State Roadeo competition by attaining perfect safety and customer service records for the year, while maintaining an “employee in good standing” status.

The Minnesota Statewide Bus Roadeo provides training, skill enhancement and recognition for Minnesota’s public transit operators. The Roadeo course simulates many of the driving situations that challenge operator skills in the everyday performance of their jobs.

The Minnesota Statewide Bus Roadeo is sponsored by the Minnesota Public Transit Association and Mn/DOT’s Office of Transit.

Large Bus Division Winners (left to right): Paul Mattson (3rd place), Duluth Transit Authority; Ken Rakke (1st place), St. Cloud Metro Bus; and Aaron Marshall (2nd place), St. Cloud Metro Bus.

Winners in the Small Bus Division included champion Todd DeZurik of St. Cloud Metro Bus, runner-up Byran Thiele of Meeker Public Transit and third place finisher Daniel Winnekamp of St. Cloud Metro Bus.

The video is located at http://www.duluthtransit.com/video/bikeandbus.aspx. It can also be viewed directly on YouTube.

DTA buses are all equipped with bike racks on a year-round basis. Bike & Bus ridership has grown every year since the service was established in 1994. In 2010, 22,750 bikes were transported on DTA buses.

Beginning with this past New Year’s Day (January 1, 2011), the DTA introduced the operation of holiday services in Duluth. The DTA will operate a limited holiday service schedule (similar to the Sunday level of service) on all major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Holiday service, however, will only be provided in Duluth. Prior to New Year’s Day 2011, the DTA had not provided holiday services since the early 1970s.

Holiday service schedules are highlighted on all passenger hand schedule’s Sunday section and on the DTA website – www.duluthtransit.com.

Students living within 2 miles of the new East High School and Denfeld High School do not qualify for traditional school bus transportation services. These students must walk or obtain their own transportation.

The DTA’s Route 7 (Lakeside) buses provide service along East Superior Street between downtown Duluth and 60th Avenue East. East High School students living in Morley Heights, the UMD area, Kenwood and East Hillside will have to take other DTA routes and transfer to Route 7 buses at 24th Avenue East, downtown Duluth or at UMD’s Kirby Bus Hub. (See Route 7 schedule and area map for East High School.)

The former East High School on Fourth Street was not served directly by the DTA since 2003, when the East Fourth Street route was combined with the Woodland route and redirected to 24th Avenue East, UMD and along Woodland Avenue to the upper Woodland neighborhood.

Denfeld High School has been served by a number of DTA routes over the years. Routes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 provide service to and from the school.

The DTA website provides route and schedule information, along with a Google Plan & Ride feature, which can be very helpful in planning DTA transportation to and from East and Denfeld High Schools. The website also provides a GPS-based “WebWatch” feature that provides schedule times from neighborhood bus stops in “real time.” “WebWatch” also enables riders to follow their bus on a map in “real time,” which is especially helpful during the winter months. Riders can also sign-up for daily email notifications that will alert riders on the status in “real time” of the bus the regularly take.

DTA fare is $1.50 during weekday peak hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.). DTA off-peak fare is 75-cents. Student riding the DTA on regular basis may wish to consider purchasing an unlimited-ride 31-Day Youth Pass for $37.50. Thirty-one Day Youth Passes are valid for 31 consecutive days from the first day they are used on the bus. DTA passes are available at the Downtown Transit Center, area pass outlets and fare vending machines at the Downtown Transit Center and Miller Hill Mall Bus Stop.

For more information call the DTA at 722-SAVE or visit www.duluthtransit.com.

U-PASS ridership at UMD has increased steadily since 2000 and accounts for nearly 12 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters, U-PASS ridership at UMD accounts for nearly 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

The U-PASS Program was designed to reduce on-campus traffic and address the construction related reduction of campus parking. More than 700 campus parking spaces have been eliminated since 2000, due to on-campus expansion.

Prior to the establishment of the U-PASS Program in 2000, DTA ridership at UMD averaged just 4,000 a month. By 2011, enrollment at UMD had increased by more than 30 percent to nearly 12,000 students. The only expansion of on-campus housing since 2000 was an addition to Griggs Hall in September of 2011. No additional parking lots were constructed on campus since 2000, and more than 4,000 UMD students, faculty and staff were riding the DTA every two days. UMD’s campus expansion and growing enrollment would not have been possible without the transportation of students living off-campus on the U-PASS Program.

U-PASS ridership at UMD reached the 1 millionth rider milestone in March of 2004; the 2 millionth rider milestone in February of 2007; the 3 millionth rider milestone in March of 2009; and the 4 millionth rider milestone in March of 2011.

In an effort to mitigate traffic on I-35 and Grand Avenue during the construction project the Minnesota Department of Transportation contracted with DTA the past two construction seasons to provide the Park FREE – Ride FREE service to commuters. Free round-trip fares were provided for weekday commuters boarding morning buses at a temporary Park & Ride lot at the Zoo and bus stops west of 46th Avenue West.

Through the end of this September, 57,666 additional rides were generated in the free-ride corridor of which 36,301 were free. (Additional rides include above average pass ridership along the West Duluth corridor.) Once October ridership figures are finalized it is estimated that this year’s Park FREE – Ride FREE ridership will total more than 68,000 rides of which nearly 43,000 rides were free. During the 2010 construction season, 73,916 additional rides were generated in the free-ride corridor of which 43,227 were free.

The Park FREE – Ride FREE service, along with “buses only” express lanes on Grand Avenue did reduce traffic congestion along Grand Avenue and minimized the effects of I-35 construction on the West Duluth neighborhood.

The Duluth Transit Authority will operate a limited holiday service schedule for regular route and STRIDE services in Duluth on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, along with special shuttle services to the 22nd annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the DECC for selective location in Duluth and Superior. DTA’s regular route and shuttle services on Thanksgiving Day will be FREE all day, compliments of National Bank of Commerce.

Beginning with this past New Year’s Day (January 1, 2011), the DTA introduced the operation of holiday services in Duluth. The DTA provides limited holiday service schedule (similar to the Sunday level of service) on all major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Holiday service is only provided in Duluth. Prior to New Year’s Day 2011, the DTA had not provided holiday services since the early 1970s.

Holiday service schedules are highlighted on all passenger hand schedule’s Sunday section and on the DTA website – www.duluthtransit.com.

SPECIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE: In addition to regular route services, the DTA will provide direct shuttle services at selective locations in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin, including: CHUM Drop-in Center, Domiano Center in Duluth and Solid Rock Mission, Clifford Lund, Royalton Manor and center-city bus stop at 14th and Tower Avenue in Superior. (Schedules will be posted at these locations.)

Special Thanksgiving Day Shuttle to DECC

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SUPERIOR SITES

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DULUTH SITES

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SHUTTLE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN

TRANSIT CENTER AND DECC

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SPECIAL WEST MAINLINE TRIP

DIRECT TO THE DECC

Since parking at the Depot is limited, parade organizers are encouraging participants to park at the DECC and take the DTA shuttle bus to the Depot – the origination point for the parade.

The DTA shuttle bus will depart the DECC parking lot for the Depot every 15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. The parade starts at 10 a.m.

U-PASS ridership has increased steadily since 2000 and accounts for nearly 12 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters, U-PASS ridership accounts for nearly 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

The U-PASS Program was established at UMD in 2000, with CSS and LSC joining in 2001 and UWS in 2007.

In an effort to speed up the paying of fares and boarding of buses, the DTA will be giving away rechargeable EZ-Cards with any fare purchase during the month of December at the Downtown Transit Center and the DTA Operations Center in the Lincoln Park Business District.

EZ-Cards, which can be charged with any DTA pass or stored value, are rechargeable for continued use. DTA riders can easily recharge their EZ-Cards with a 31-Day Pass or stored cash values at the Downtown Transit Center, the DTA Operations Center, located at 2402 W. Michigan Street or fare vending machines located at the Downtown Transit Center, Miller Hill Mall Door 8 Bus Stop and the Superior Public Library.

Paying a fare with an EZ-Card is simple. Riders just need to “touch” the target on the fare-box with their EZ-Card to validate a ride. EZ-Cards kept in wallets or plastic holders will also validate rides when held within near proximity (a few inches) of the fare box target.

EZ-Cards are made of durable plastic and have a three year life. EZ-Cards also provide improved security! Whenever an EZ-Card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced with the value remaining on the card at the time it was reported - providing the serial number on the EZ-Card was recorded by the user.

Normally, the DTA charges $2 for a “proximity-sensitive” EZ-Card; but is waving the fee during the month of December to promote the fare card medium and speed up passenger boardings.

The DTA is now transporting record numbers of riders and faster boarding of passengers surely helps buses maintain their schedules.

The DTA and Fond-du-Luth Casino are encouraging the public to “Play It Safe” on New Year’s Eve by riding the bus! All major areas in Duluth and Superior will be covered with special after midnight bus service for New Year’s Eve.

The DTA appreciates the generosity of the Fond-du-Luth Casino in paying all fares on December 31 and sponsoring the extension of service after midnight. Without their support, this would not have been possible.

LAST BUSES DEPARTING DOWNTOWN DULUTH:

• West Mainline: 1:50 a.m.

• East Mainline to Lakeside: 1:40 a.m.

• East 8th Street/UMD/Kenwood: 1:40 a.m.

• East 4th Street/Woodland: 1:45 a.m.

• Central Hillside/Duluth Heights: 12:40 a.m.

• Superior, WI: 12:50 a.m.

EXTENDED DTA SERVICE FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE:

Below are added trips FROM DOWNTOWN on Saturday, December 31/January 1:

• Route #1 on West Mainline to Zoo – 9:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m.

• Route #2 on West Mainline – 11:50 p.m., 12:50 a.m. and 1:50 a.m.

• Route #6 East Mainline to UMD – 10:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.

• Route #7 on E. Mainline to Lakeside – 9:05 p.m., 10:05 p.m. and 1:40 a.m.

• Route #10 Duluth Heights / Mall – 11:15 p.m. and 12:40 a.m.

• Route #11K East 8th Street / Kenwood – 11:40 p.m., 12:40 a.m. and 1:40 a.m.

• Route #13 East 4th Street / Woodland – 10:10 p.m. 1:45 a.m.

• Route #16 Duluth-Superior – 8:50 p.m., 9:50 p.m., 10:50 p.m., 11:50 p.m. and 12:50 a.m.

Passengers are advised to refer to standard passenger schedules for full Saturday service.

CLICK HERE for extended New Year’s Eve schedule!

You can find the new blog at http://blog.duluthtransit.com/

Toys and Christmas gifts will be purchased by the Salvation Army and distributed to children of needy families in the Twin Ports in time for Christmas.

Since 2004, DTA Holiday Party raffle donations to the Salvation Army’s Toyland Express have totaled $10,722.

Salvation Army Major Bill Cox (on right) receives a check for $1,475 from Bob Moerke and the DTA's Toyland Express Committee.

Major Bill Cox thanks the committee for its generous donation. From left: Gordon Mesedahl of the Salvation Army, Ruth Christie, Bob Moerke, Sadie Green, Clint Johnson and Shelly Amos of the DTA’s Toyland Express Committee.

U-PASS ridership at UMD during spring semester last year (January through May 2011) was also record-breaking with each month topping all previous monthly counts.

U-PASS ridership at UMD in 2011 was a record year, as ridership was up 10 percent over 2010. Monthly U-PASS ridership totals at UMD during 2011 were all monthly records, with exception of the summer months.

U-PASS ridership at Lake Superior College for 2011 was at an all-time high

U-PASS ridership at Lake Superior College (LSC) for 2011 was an all-time high with 176,616 total rides. Record U-PASS ridership was recorded at LSC every month in 2011. LSC joined the DTA’s U-PASS Program in 2001.

U-PASS ridership has increased steadily since 2000 and accounts for nearly 12 percent of the DTA’s over-all ridership during the same time period. However, during fall and spring semesters, U-PASS ridership accounts for nearly 20 percent of DTA’s system-wide ridership.

In the name of sustainability and conservation, the DTA is retrofitting lighting fixtures at its Operations Center in Lincoln Park. In all, 187 high pressure sodium lights will be retrofitted with LEDs for a projected energy cost savings of more than 75 percent when combined with timers and motion sensors.

The original high pressure sodium light fixtures, which are 32 years old, are presently being cleaned, painted and retrofitted with LED lights. The DTA is saving nearly $20,000 by retrofitting the old fixtures along with the cost of recycling the old units.

Installers are currently working on this project and expect to complete the work in about a month.

The investment in LED retrofits will pay for itself in 5 years. Funding for this project comes from several federal grants.