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.
Founded | 1969 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 2402 W. Michigan Street |
Locale | Duluth, Minnesota |
Service area | Saint Louis County, Minnesota Douglas County, Wisconsin |
Service type | bus service |
Routes | 27 |
Fuel type | Low Sulfur Diesel |
Operator | First Transit[1] |
Website | duluthtransit.com |
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]
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.
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]
Fixed route ridership[6] | Change over previous year | |
---|---|---|
2005 | 2,684,804 | n/a |
2006 | 2,692,931 | 0.3% |
2007 | 2,854,467 | 6.0% |
2008 | 3,219,758 | 12.8% |
2009 | 3,173,484 | 1.44% |
2010 | 3,171,087 | 0.0% |
2011 | 3,264,479 | 2.95% |
2012 | 3,261,494 | 0.0% |
2013 | 3,195,020 | 2.04% |
2014 | 3,100,305 | 2.96% |
2015 | 3,051,665 | 1.57% |
2016 | 2,804,354 | 8.1% |
2017 | 2,786,702 | 0.63% |
2018 | 2,760,475 | 0.94% |
2019 | 2,645,307 | 4.17% |
2020 | 1,794,627 | 32.16% |
2021 | 1,461,418 | 18.57% |
2022 | 1,874,795 | 28.29% |
2023 | 2,134,071 | 13.83% |
This list is derived from the current DTA system map.[7]
Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) is the downtown hub for the Duluth transit system.
The DTC was built in February 2016,[8] replacing an existing parking ramp. The building was designed by LHB Corporation and constructed by Mortenson Construction.[9]
The DTC has eight docks for boarding buses, with space for layovers. Skyways to nearby buildings were replaced during construction, improving pedestrian access.[9]