Duluth Transit Authority

Duluth Transit Authority
Founded1969
Headquarters2402 W. Michigan Street
LocaleDuluth, Minnesota
Service areaSaint Louis County, Minnesota
Douglas County, Wisconsin
Service typebus service
Routes27
Fuel typeLow Sulfur Diesel
OperatorFirst Transit[1]
Websiteduluthtransit.com

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is the transit agency that provides mass transit service — currently, only buses — in the city of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. The agency also serves nearby Proctor, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, as well as the eastern edge of Hermantown, Minnesota.

The organization was formed in 1969 by the Minnesota State Legislature.

In 2009, the DTA was named Transit System of the Year by the Minnesota Public Transit Association.[2]

Operation[edit]

Express service is provided during rush hours to New Duluth (2X), Proctor (3X), Lakeside (7X – PM only), Superior (16X – PM only), and Hermantown (20X). During peak hours, an average of 45 buses will be in service at any one time. The transit agency also owns three park-and-ride lots and has bike racks on the front of every bus.

As of 2009, the DTA had 6 hybrid buses in service.

Ridership[edit]

According to the agency, the system carried 3.26 million riders in 2011, a 3% increase from 2010.[3]

Duluth Transit Authority is the Minnesota's third-largest transit system by ridership, after the Metro Transit and University of Minnesota Campus Shuttle systems in Minneapolis – Saint Paul.[4][5]

Ridership Change over previous year
2013[6] 3,220,810 n/a
2014[7] 3,135,332 Decrease02.65%
2015[8] 3,081,885 Decrease01.7%
2016[9] 2,835,047 Decrease08.01%
2017[10] 2,817,089 Decrease00.63%
2018[11] 2,794,941 Decrease00.79%
2019[12] 2,683,183 Decrease04.0%
2020[13] 1,814,742 Decrease032.37%
2021[14] 1,484,409 Decrease018.2%
2022[15] 1,874,795 Increase026.3%

Routes[edit]

This list is derived from the current DTA system map.[16]

  • 1 Grand Ave Zoo
  • 2 New Duluth
  • 3 Proctor
  • 4 Ramsey – Raleigh via West 8th
  • 5 West to the Mall
  • 6 East Mainline/UMD
  • 7 East Mainline/Lakeside
  • 8 Downtown to LSC - Mall
  • 9 Piedmont
  • 9M Piedmont/Mall
  • 10 Duluth Heights/Mall
  • 10H Duluth Heights/Mall/Southeast 6th
  • 10E Duluth Heights/Ecklund
  • 11 East 8th–UMD
  • 11K East 8th–UMD – Kenwood
  • 11M East 8th–UMD – Morley Heights
  • 12 Kenwood – UMD
  • 13 Woodland - East 4th - UMD
  • 14 West 4th Blvd
  • 15 Park Point
  • 16 Superior
  • 17 Tower Ave
  • 18 Duluth Heights-UMD
  • 23 UMD Circulator
  • 24 Aquarium/DECC Loop
  • S1 Grocery Express
  • Port Town Trolley (Operates Summers Only)

Duluth Transportation Center[edit]

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

The DTC was built in February 2016,[17] replacing an existing parking ramp. The building was designed by LHB Corporation and constructed by Mortenson Construction.[18]

The DTC has eight docks for boarding buses, with space for layovers. Skyways to nearby buildings were replaced during construction, improving pedestrian access.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ First Transit Extends Longest Running Partnership in Duluth
  2. ^ "DTA lands award as state's best transit system". Duluth News Tribune. September 24, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "DTA transported 3,264,477 riders in 2011". Duluth Transit Authority. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "2009 Transit System Performance Evaluation". Metropolitan Council. 2009. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  5. ^ Jeremy Mattson (June 2008). "Effects of Rising Gas Prices on Bus Ridership for Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems" (PDF). Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University. p. 7. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  6. ^ "2013 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  7. ^ "2014 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  8. ^ "2015 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  9. ^ "2016 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  10. ^ "2017 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  11. ^ "2018 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  12. ^ "2019 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  13. ^ "2020 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  14. ^ "2021 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  15. ^ "National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "DTA System Map".
  17. ^ "Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) Grand Opening Scheduled for Thursday, February 4th". Duluth Transit. Duluth Transit Authority. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Heilig, Jim. "DTA awards Build/Design Contract for Multimodal Center" (PDF). Duluth Transit. Duluth Transit Authority. Retrieved November 6, 2016.