What Duluth Transit Authority does

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is the regional public transit provider for the Twin Ports area, operating 15 fixed bus routes across Duluth, Minnesota; Superior, Wisconsin; and the adjacent communities of Proctor, Hermantown, and Rice Lake. The system runs approximately 850 bus stops and more than 100 shelters, with nearly 80 percent of regional residents living within walking distance of service. DTA also operates STRIDE, an ADA-compliant paratransit service for riders whose disabilities prevent use of fixed-route buses, available across the same service footprint. The Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) at 228 W Michigan Street functions as the system's multimodal hub, anchoring route interlining, fare sales, customer service, a 410-space public parking facility with 9 EV chargers, and connections to Jefferson Lines, Arrowhead Transit, and Indian Trails intercity carriers.

DTA's technology stack centers on a Masabi-powered mobile ticketing platform delivered through the MyDTA app (iOS and Android), with QR-code fare validation and a VanillaDirect cash-load network for unbanked riders. GoSwift (Swiftly) provides real-time vehicle tracking exposed at live.goswift.ly/duluth-transit, and the trip planner is built on Google Transit. DTA publishes both GTFS static feeds and real-time feeds in JSON and Protocol Buffer formats, including vehicle positions, trip updates, and service alerts, under a developer Terms of Use — a relatively mature data-publishing posture for a small/mid-sized agency. The agency's technology is operationally solid but composed entirely of best-of-breed third-party vendors rather than proprietary IP.

Revenue is generated through a mix of fare box collections (peak $1.50 / off-peak $0.75 single rides, $3 day passes, $15 7-day passes, $40 adult or $30 youth 31-day passes, $55 summer youth pass), DTC parking (operated by Interstate Parking), bus and DTC skywalk advertising (via Houck Transit Advertising and MediaUSA), and contracted U-Pass programs with the Duluth School District, City of Superior, and four higher-education institutions (University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Wisconsin-Superior, College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College). DTA is owned by the City of Duluth, managed under contract by ATE Management of Duluth, with day-to-day operations delivered by First Transit, Inc. — a public-sector ownership and outsourced operating model typical of mid-sized US transit authorities.

Name

Duluth Transit Authority

Legal name

Duluth Transit Authority

Website

https://duluthtransit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Duluth Transit Authority is a municipal public transit authority operating 15 fixed bus routes plus STRIDE ADA paratransit across the Twin Ports (Duluth, MN and Superior, WI) for roughly 2.7 million annual riders. Owned by the City of Duluth and operated under contract by ATE Management and First Transit, DTA sells fares, advertising, and institutional U-Pass contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), School and Employee Bus Transportation (4854)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Ticketing & Digital Pass Apps (THAIAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concessionary, Student & Employer Pass Programs (THAIAMAI), Integrated Ticketing & Fare Management (Capping, Passes, Validators) (THADALAC)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• Fixed-route transportation
• Paratransit services
• Transit fare management
• Municipal transit operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fixed-Route Passenger Fares: DTA generates revenue from peak ($1.50) and off-peak ($0.75) single-ride fares, day passes ($3.00), 7-day passes ($15.00), and 31-day passes ($40 adult / $30 youth / $55 summer youth). Fares are collected via cash fareboxes, EZ-Cards, stored-value fare cards, and mobile ticketing (MyDTA app and Transit app). Transfers between routes are free.
2. Bus and Facility Advertising: DTA sells interior and exterior advertising space on buses through Houck Transit Advertising, digital advertising placements in the Duluth Transportation Center skywalk through MediaUSA, and banner ads on the DTC webpage. Passenger hand schedule ads reach over 2.7 million passengers annually.
3. School District Pass Programs: Duluth School District pays DTA for an all-access pass program allowing high school students and staff to ride free year-round. The City of Superior similarly funds free ridership for secondary students and staff.
4. STRIDE Paratransit Fares: STRIDE paratransit service generates fare revenue at $1.50 off-peak and $3.00 during peak hours (weekdays 7-9am and 2:30-6pm). Personal Care Attendants ride free with certified riders.
5. DTC Parking Revenue: The Duluth Transportation Center generates parking revenue from 410 spaces including hourly, daily, and contract rates (ranging from $3 for 0-3 hours to $12 for 12+ hours), operated by Interstate Parking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) operates public fixed-route bus service across 15 routes and the STRIDE ADA-compliant paratransit service in the Twin Ports region of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI. It sells fares, day/multiday passes, and EZ stored-value fare cards via in-person sales at the Duluth Transportation Center, partner retail stores, the MyDTA mobile app, and the Transit app, supplemented by school and college U-Pass institutional programs. The agency also generates revenue from on-bus and DTC digital advertising and from public parking at the DTC, while offering real-time bus tracking, a Google Transit-powered trip planner, and published GTFS open data feeds for developers and third-party integrators.

Product overview

Duluth Transit Authority operates as a regional public transit system providing fixed-route bus services across 15 routes in the Twin Ports area (Duluth, MN and Superior, WI), complemented by STRIDE Paratransit for ADA-qualified riders with disabilities. The DTA offers digital services through the MyDTA Mobile App for mobile ticketing, a Trip Planner powered by Google Transit, and Real-Time Bus Tracking. The flagship Duluth Transportation Center serves as the main transit hub. Fare payment options include the free EZ Card for contactless boarding, stored value cards, and mobile tickets purchased through the MyDTA app or Transit app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STRIDE Paratransit: Special Transit RIDE - dial-a-ride transportation service for qualified individuals with disabilities, operating in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Duluth, Superior, Proctor, Hermantown, and Rice Lake areas.
• MyDTA Mobile App

Products and services

• DTA Fixed-Route Bus Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 80 percent of Duluth and Superior residents live within walking distance of a bus stop
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Houck Transit AdvertisingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHouck Transit Advertising has managed DTA bus advertising for over 100 years. They sell interior and exterior advertising space on DTA buses, offering wide market coverage targeting a broad audience throughout the Twin Ports area with high recall from low-cost repetition. Contact: John Young, [email protected], 1-800-777-7290.
• MediaUSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMediaUSA provides dynamic digital advertising in the Duluth Transportation Center skywalk system. The company targets thousands of daily DTA passengers, downtown workers, area shoppers, and Duluth visitors. Contact: Macy Johnson, Account Executive, 320-630-1137, [email protected].
• Masabi LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationMasabi LLC provides the mobile ticketing platform powering the MyDTA app and the web portal (duluth.justride.tickets). Masabi handles mobile pass sales, ticket wallet functionality, and QR-code validation infrastructure. DTA is identified as the service provider and Masabi as the mobile sales provider in the app's terms and conditions. Support inquiries are directed to DTA at 218-722-7283, not Masabi.
• Interstate ParkingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterstate Parking operates the 410-space parking garage at the Duluth Transportation Center (DTC), including 9 EV charging stations. They manage contract, hourly, and event parking. Contact: 218-727-7275, [email protected], duluthparking.com.
• Duluth Police DepartmentminorOthersThe Duluth Police Department (DPD) maintains a substation at the Duluth Transportation Center, providing officers a convenient presence in downtown Duluth. Contact: 218-730-5567. For emergencies, call 911.
• Jefferson LinesminorOthersIntercity bus carrier with connections available at the Duluth Transportation Center. DTA's DTC serves as a hub connecting regional DTA routes with Jefferson Lines' intercity bus service.
• Arrowhead TransitminorOthersRegional transit service available as a connection through the Duluth Transportation Center. Arrowhead Transit provides transit service to the greater Arrowhead region of Minnesota.
• Indian TrailsminorOthersIntercity bus service available as a connection through the Duluth Transportation Center. Indian Trails provides motorcoach service across the upper Midwest.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Swiftly: Real-time transit data and tracking platform powering DTA's GoSwift live tracking. Comparable as the technology vendor providing DTA's vehicle positioning and arrival prediction infrastructure.
• Jefferson Lines: Intercity bus carrier connecting through DTA's Duluth Transportation Center. Comparable as an adjacent transportation operator sharing DTA's hub and serving overlapping passenger segments.
• Masabi: Mobile ticketing platform provider for the MyDTA app and JustRide system. Comparable as the technology vendor enabling DTA's mobile fare infrastructure, also serving other transit agencies globally.

Emerging players

• Via Transportation: On-demand microtransit platform serving transit agencies in mid-size markets. Comparable as a software/microtransit provider competing for the same demand-responsive transit opportunities that STRIDE and DTA's fixed-route service address.

Broad incumbents

• Metro Transit (Minneapolis-St. Paul): The Twin Cities metropolitan transit authority operating fixed-route buses, light rail, and commuter rail. Comparable as a Minnesota public transit authority operating fixed-route buses with mobile ticketing and GTFS real-time data, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Green Bay Metro: Public transit system serving Green Bay, WI with fixed-route bus service. Comparable mid-size Wisconsin municipal transit authority with paratransit service and university ridership programs.
• Madison Metro Transit: Municipal transit authority operating fixed-route bus service in Madison, WI. Closely comparable to DTA as a mid-size Wisconsin-region municipal bus operator with similar service structure and fare tiers.
• Eau Claire Transit: Municipal transit serving Eau Claire, WI with fixed-route bus and paratransit service. Comparable small-to-mid municipal bus operator in Wisconsin with similar fare structure.
• Valley Transit (Appleton): Fox Valley regional transit authority operating fixed-route bus service in Appleton, WI metro. Comparable mid-size Wisconsin municipal transit authority with similar fixed-route and paratransit service model.

Regional players

• Arrowhead Transit: Regional transit service for the greater Arrowhead region of Minnesota. Already a connection partner at DTA's Duluth Transportation Center, operating complementary regional routes outside DTA's urban service area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DuluthTransit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwnmq7gblS61hyCu-JHW-_g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/DuluthTransit
• Instagraminstagram.com/duluthtransitauthority

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duluth Transit Authority