With summer right around the corner it’s time to start thinking about all of the great activities the Duluth Superior area has to offer. The DTA is a great way to get to many of these activities and once again the DTA is offering the 3 month Teen Pass for only $55. Along with the pass comes many extra perks and deals. Check them all out on our website. That is a great value and a good way to give mom or dad a break the constant shuttling of the kids. Whether it’s going to a Huskies game at Wade Stadium, checking out the Lake Superior Zoo, or heading to Park Point for some fun in the sun, the DTA can get you there. For a list of the area’s popular destinations you can connect to this link; http://www.duluthtransit.com/routes/popdest.aspx

Remember, when mom or dad put up a fuss, ride the bus!

Did you know we have an outreach program that can inform groups how to use transit!

How do I read the schedule? How do I plan my trip? How do I use the farebox? How do I load my bike?

These are all questions we can answer in a casual environment. It can be hands on even! Call us to setup a session today at 218-623-4314 or email requests to telwell@duluthtransit.com

http://www.duluthtransit.com/accessibility/outreach.aspx

Spring has sprung and that means it is once again time for the annual Twin Ports Bike to Work Day. This year it is slated for Friday, May 18^th and is held at in Duluth and Superior. In Superior a Bike to Work Day station is located at Tower Avenue and Belknap Street and in Duluth it is located at the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. At both locations you can enjoy free coffee and snacks on your way to work and there are even bike safety checks performed by local bike shop mechanics. At the Duluth location, a DTA bus will be on hand to show people how easy it is to use our bike racks. Utilizing the DTA along with your bike is a great alternative way to get around town! For more information and to see the flyer go to www.dsmic.org/btw

Have you read about our tax-free commuter benefit package?

Do you see a need within your organization to jump on board?

We successfully do this now with various businesses and what a great benefit to the employer and employee.

If you are an employee, bring this to your employers attention and have them contact us, if you are an employer, contact us, we can discuss this further with you, get you some great information and talk with your employees.

Saves on parking costs for employees, as well as opens up parking for your customers.  Too many benefits to mention.

Check us out!  What can we do for you?

http://www.duluthtransit.com/riderguide/pdf/commuter_pass_program.pdf

Before moving into management, I spent 17 years behind the wheel of a DTA bus, so I feel I am well qualified to speak on what it is like to be a bus operator. Many times I have had friends and family comment what a great job I must have just to sit there and drive around town all day. While I did consider it a great job, just “driving around town” all day does not begin to describe the duties of a bus operator.

Imagine driving at night, during a snow and/or rain storm, with 40 people on your bus, talking and asking questions, and trying to move your bus safely through a crowded street full of cars and pedestrians. That gives you an idea of some of the things that an operator has to deal with on a daily basis.

Recently we have received some comments regarding inappropriate behavior on some of our buses. As stated above, the driver is very busy with the operation of the bus, but with that said, the operator also has to be aware of the activities going on in the bus. Often times, due to heavy loads or other factors, it is very difficult to monitor situations at all times and that is where you the passenger can be very helpful.

If you see illegal or inappropriate activities on the bus, you can help by being an extra set of eyes and ears for the driver. Perhaps on your way out you could quietly mention to the driver what you observed. You could also call the DTA operating center and tell the information operator your concerns and we can then contact that bus and relay the information. The DTA has zero tolerance for illegal behavior on the bus and the driver is the first line of defense for this. While these situations are very rare, we will continue to do our best to provide a safe environment for all of our passengers.

What a great time to be a public transit user. When I used to take the bus to school way back in the day, I remember dropping my quarter into that sleek looking farebox. The best part of that farebox was when the driver hit the lever to dump the change,  that started a symphony of coins being sorted that was not that unpleasant to listen to.

Unfortunately, that was the high point of technology back in those days. Today the sky, and the budget, is the limit for transit technology. As we have discussed in the past, the DTA is a leader in transit technology and the reason for all of this is you, the transit user. The easier and more convenient we can make our system, the more people will use it.

Using the DTA has become much more user friendly with the addition of GPS technology, real time on street signs, smart cards, web watch, email notifications, and trip planner. There is already technology that can be added to complement our already great system. Some things that other systems are using are Quick Response Codes or QR codes. This is a technology that utilizes a smart phone to read a barcode off of a bus stop and get real time data in relation to the next bus.

In addition to this, there is a move to become a more cashless system. The more we can remove actual money from the system the better off everyone is. Cash is dirty, time consuming, and costly to move and count. Of course we will never completely remove actual money from our system, but less is better. To this end there is great technology available combining , smart phones, fareboxes and smart cards to assist in fare payments.

The DTA is committed to providing safe, efficient, and affordable public transportation. With the use of these new technologies we are looking forward to the future and making your next ride on the DTA as easy as possible.

Transit patrons can receive advance notifications via email of upcoming bus arrival times based on route, direction, crossing, and time selections.

Just create an account, specify notification preferences and receive notification via email.  Especially convenient with smart phone technology.

At anytime you can go into your account and modify your existing setup, maybe the stop changes, or your days change, this is all done via the edit feature within your profile you create.

http://webwatch.duluthtransit.com/login.aspx

Do you remember Passengergrams? 

Do you remember how timely they had to be to meet rider/detour notification? 

Now with social media, we are able to accomplish the same task so much more efficiently.  By us submitting information via our social media/website, we can hit majority of our rider population with timely information in hopes our riders can adjust their schedules accordingly.

We are able to market to our public in a more sustainable way, save on paper, resources, and hit more individuals just by signing up to use our social media services. 

We appreciate you visiting our social networks and using our resources for fast, convenient information.

Ever thought of driving a bus? If so, here could be your chance. The DTA is preparing to hire part time bus operators and if you are a customer oriented individual that likes meeting new people and challenges, this could be the career move you have been looking for. If interested, stop down to the DTA operating center at 2402 West Michigan Street between the hours of 8:00a – 3:30p Monday thru Fridays, fill out an application and drop off your resume and cover letter. Incidentally, you do not need a Commercial Driver’s License to apply, as candidates that are hired will have the opportunity to earn their license as part of our 4-5 week training program. You can also mail your resume to:

Human Resources

Duluth Transit Authority

2402 West Michigan Street

Duluth, MN 55806

Spring means one thing in the northland and that’s construction season. The DTA is facing several construction headaches this year, and none is more troublesome than the Blatnik Bridge reconstruction. The DTA was just made aware of the details of this season long project on short notice, and we are scrambling to identify detour routes and the logistics needed to make this project run as smoothly for our passengers as possible.

Approximately four years ago we were faced with a similar situation with the Blatnik Bridge, and our aim is to closely follow our past detours. Stage one of this project is tentatively set to start on May 7, 2012 and last until mid-summer. During this first stage, all Northbound lanes from Superior to Duluth will be closed resulting in the need for the DTA to detour to the Bong Bridge.

When the Northbound lanes are complete during mid-summer, the construction will move to the Southbound lanes and detour traffic from Duluth to Superior. Once again the route 16 buses from Duluth will be forced to use the Bong Bridge. In the past we have provided peak hour shuttle buses from the North end of Superior to connect to these buses coming from Duluth for passengers that are destined for points beyond downtown Superior.

As we finalize our detours and have an official start date, information will be forthcoming in the form of passengergrams, social media, and on our website. These are major detours that will affect many people, and the DTA will make every effort to get you to your destinations in a smooth, safe, and timely manner.