The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) will host a Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony and Open House for the newly constructed Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) on Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the DTC facility located at 228 West Michigan Street. It will commemorate completion of the $30 million construction project that began on June 19, 2014.
DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen, reported that the projected early January opening date is being pushed back to accommodate the final installation of building features that directly impact the safe movement of DTA buses, public wayfinding and passenger safety.
“This decision to delay the opening is being made primarily in the interest of public safety and to ensure that when we move to Michigan Street, the new Transportation Center is 100 percent ready for our passengers with minimal inconvenience.” Jensen stated.
The DTA will provide light refreshments from 9 a.m. to noon and the event will feature information tables for DTA partner organizations that have interests at the new center, including: Jefferson Lines, Arrowhead Transit, the Duluth Police Department, Greater Downtown Council (GDC), Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC), the Duluth Bike Coalition, and Northern Lights Express (NLX). This event will be free and open to the public.
In addition to local and regional transit, the facility houses over 400 parking spaces, some of which are being made available prior to the Grand Opening. Contract parking services began on Jan. 4. People holding contracts for monthly parking are being offered access to the parking ramp prior to the opening of the ramp to general parking in mid-January.
DTA bus operations at the DTC will begin on Sunday, February 7th. The DTA will provide light refreshments to bus passengers on Monday, February 8th during this inaugural event. New passenger hand schedules featuring GIS maps will be available on Feb. 1.
