Effective Now: DTA Returns to 83% of Normal Service

The Duluth Transit Authority has returned to 83% of our normal service.  This comes in response to the State and Federal guidelines allowing for broader activities to resume in accordance with the “Stay Safe” plan now under effect.

The DTA encourages all passengers to wear masks on our buses and in facilities, board from the rear door, take essential trips only, and practice social distancing and proper hygiene. The following routes will remain temporarally paused or reduced:

  • Route 4 – completely paused
  • Route 5 – no weekday service. Saturday and Sunday will run Mall Area shuttle (see Sunday schedule)
  • Route 15 – (Monday thru Saturday on-demand trips only 218-722-7283)
  • Route 24 – No Saturday service – weekdays are normal
  • Route 25 – completely paused

 

Further, late evening service will once again continue with temporary curtailment. The last buses leaving the downtown area on weekdays and Saturdays will be 9:20 p.m. On Sunday, the last buses leaving the downtown area will be 7:00 p.m.

Route 15 will be a on demand service for the entirety of the route 15 service day. When a Park Point passenger calls the DTA information line, it will be forwarded to the DTA dispatcher and a show up operator will use a small DTA Stride van to transport that passenger from their bus stop to DTC, or a stop between their bus stop and DTC only. Return trips will run only from DTC to their bus stop.

DTA Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Duluth Transit Authority has taken a proactive approach to protecting our riders, drivers, team, and the communities we serve.  We have been collaborating with local, state, and federal authorities to craft our response to this challenging situation.  We have taken the following actions in our plan:

  1. Removal of fares for all trips on the DTA, reducing congestion and contact at the front of our buses.
  2. Implementation of a “Rear-Door-Only” boarding process on every vehicle.
  3.  Adapting our routing and service levels to “Saturday” level service for key routes, dial-a-ride implementation for Route 15 serving Park Point, a shuttle service in the Miller Hill Mall Area, and the temporary contraction to some routes reflecting our staffing levels available for front-line employees.
  4.  Enhanced our daily cleaning procedures in vehicles and facilities to sanitize against the spread of coronavirus.
  5.  Encouraging essential trips only on all of our fixed route and STRIDE paratransit services.
  6.  Launched public information campaigns through media and signage to inform of these and other changes to our system.

A message from our leadership team:

“As we continue to deal with these unprecedented times, the DTA is determined to continue to provide safe and reliable public transportation to our passengers. There have been many questions regarding our current and future service levels as it relates to this current health emergency. The state of Minnesota is currently under a Stay at Home order until May 18th. We will monitor the Minnesota Department of Health and the office of the Governor in anticipation of a determination as to whether this order will be lifted. When the Stay at Home order is rescinded, the DTA will quickly move to institute a higher level of service that will be the first step to returning to a full service schedule. The DTA continues to take passenger and employee safety seriously as we are deep cleaning all buses on a daily basis and continue with rear door boarding and free fares. Once again, the DTA is reminding passengers to please make essential trips only. The DTA appreciates the understanding and patience from our passengers during these difficult times.”  

 

Effective 5/4/2020 –

Bus Stop Modification notice:  Both the inbound and outbound bus stops at 28th AW and 3rd Street will be removed, effective May 4th , 2020.

Effective 4/6/2020 – 

To enhance social distancing on the DTA’s busy East-West Mainline buses, between 24th Ave East and Superior Street and the Lake Superior Zoo, effective Monday April 6th, the following trips will be added to our weekday service:

Eleven “From Downtown” Route 1 Zoo trips will be added, departing DTC at:

11:00am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm,3pm, 3:30pm and 4:00pm.

Nine “To Downtown” Route 1 Zoo trips will be added, departing the Zoo at:

10:37am, 11:07am, 11:37am, 12:07pm, 12:37pm, 1:07pm, 1:37pm, 2:07pm and 2:37pm.

Ten “From Downtown” Route 7A “24th Ave East” trips will be added, departing downtown at:

10:35am, 11:05am, 11:35am, 12:05pm, 12:35pm, 1:05pm, 1:35pm, 2:05pm, 2:35pm and 3:05pm.

Ten “To Downtown” Route 7A “24th AE” trips will be added, departing 24th Ave East at:

11:10am, 11:40am, 12:10pm, 12:40pm, 1:10pm, 1:40pm, 2:10pm, 2:41pm, 3:11pm and 3:41pm.

Click Here to see all of our recent schedule changes!

 

 

4/2/2020 –

In an effort to continue providing our essential transportation services as we face the challenges of Covid-19, the DTA is announcing new changes effective Sunday, April 5th:

  • The essence of these changes will be weekday service moving to the same “limited” schedule currently offered on Saturdays.  This will still include the continued cancellation of routes 4 and 5, along with route 15 remaining “dial-a-ride format.”  Our Sunday limited schedule remains unchanged.

 

  • Importantly, the last trips of the evening Monday through Saturday are just after 9:00 p.m., leaving downtown.  The last trips of the evening on Sunday are just after 7:00 p.m. also from downtown.

 

  • We will now be offering a shuttle which will run from 10:10 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. each day, including Sunday, departing Miller Hill Super One for Menards and Walmart at :10 and :30 past each hour in an effort to connect these areas impacted by the schedule modifications.

These changes come in addition to the free fare, rear-door boarding, facility modifications, and other efforts already implemented to address the current pandemic.

 

3/31/2020 – 

Effective immediately, our 3rd Ave East bus shelter will be closed until further notice. DTA passengers can still access bus service while waiting outside the facility.

 

3/26/2020 –

To clarify based on The MN and WI governors’ shelter in place policies, transit workers (including the DTA) are considered essential.  Therefore, we will continue to run our abbreviated service until further notice.  Please continue to limit trips to only those allowed by the state guidelines:

  •  Obtaining groceries or other essentials
  •  Seeking medical attention
  •  Commuting to work in an essential industry
  •   Outdoor (social distanced) recreation

3/23/2020 – 

Please limit your bus travel to essential trips during this time.  Reducing the number of passengers on each trip can help reduce the spread of illness.  Thank you for your cooperation as we work together as a community.

3/21/2020 –

Effective Sunday 3/22: The DTA will shift to a “Rear Door Only” boarding policy. The move will be effective until further notice. Those with mobility impairment/mobility devices (wheel chairs etc.) will still have access to the ramp at the front of the buses.

 

3/17/2020 –

Effective Wednesday, March 18th, the DTA will implement service reductions in response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19). This response addresses the initial impacts this public health emergency is having on ridership.

To address the decreasing ridership, several routes have been identified that could be temporarily dropped due to either very low ridership or having other service options. The following routes will be cancelled Weekdays and Saturdays until further notice:

  • Route 4
  • Route 5
  • Route 15 (On demand trips only 218-722-7283)
  • Route 24 (Saturdays only)
  • Route 25 (DuLooper)

Further, late evening service will also be curtailed. The last buses leaving the downtown area on weekdays and Saturdays will be 9:20 p.m. On Sunday, the last buses leaving the downtown area will be 7:00 p.m. The Route 15 will be a on demand service for the entirety of the route 15 service day. When a Park Point passenger calls the DTA information line, it will be forwarded to the DTA dispatcher and a show up operator will use a small Stride van to transport that passenger from their bus stop to DTC, or a stop between their bus stop and DTC only. Return trips will run only from DTC to their bus stop. We are still finalizing these changes and will update as needed.

 

3/16/2020 3:30 p.m. –  Until further notice – customer service visits will take place at the Duluth Transit Center, and not be available at the Operating Center in Lincoln park.

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