The Jule, the city of Dubuque’s public transit system, will launch an adjusted route structure on Aug. 17, and move its downtown transfer from its current location at Sixth and Iowa streets to Dubuque’s new intermodal terminal located at 950 Elm Street.
The Jule’s crosstown express and looped service will continue to offer faster bus transportation between downtown and the west end while areas with low ridership will see reduced service. Specifically, the Orange 2 Fremont, Red 2 Key West, and Green 2 Port/Schmitt routes have been analyzed for peak usage periods and are being modified. High ridership stops from those routes have been incorporated into other route.
The following route changes will take effect on Aug. 17, in coordination with the opening of the intermodal terminal:
- The downtown transfer location will move from Sixth and Iowa streets to the intermodal terminal at 950 Elm Street.
- Downtown bus stops will be moved to align with the new transfer location at Ninth and Elm streets.
- Service to Key West will be reduced from hourly to every other hour (five trips per day).
- Service to Fremont Avenue will be reduced from hourly to every other hour (five trips per day).
- Service to the Port of Dubuque will operate only during business shuttle hours (Monday-Friday, 6:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) and the Summer Trolley season (10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays, May 30 – Oct. 31).
- Service along Loras Blvd. will be reduced to once per hour, eastbound only.
The intermodal terminal and downtown transfer is located along Elm Street and features public restrooms, indoor and outdoor seating areas, bike parking, electronic signage showing next bus arrival times as well as ticket windows for The Jule, Burlington Trailways and Lamers bus services. The terminal is scheduled to open to Jule bus traffic on Aug. 17. Interior amenities are nearing completion and expected to be open shortly after bus service begins. The Jule terminal office hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Burlington Trailways and Lamers are scheduled to begin operating from the terminal on Sept. 1.
The intermodal terminal is part of Dubuque’s Intermodal Transportation Center project, designed to improve access to The Jule and other transportation services in and around Dubuque. The project consists of three main components: an intermodal transportation terminal, a three-level parking facility, and a bus storage and maintenance facility. The intermodal terminal and parking ramp, located on Ninth Street between Washington and Elm streets in the Historic Millwork District, will be operational August. Construction of the bus storage and maintenance facility is scheduled to begin in 2017.
The new three-level parking structure will accommodate 292 parking spaces and will also include bicycle storage to support commuter travel and recreational bicycle use. A pedestrian bridge connects the parking structure and terminal. While both facilities will be operational in late August, some elements of the structure façades will be delayed.
