Go Line Retrospective: How Duluth Fixed Its Bus Network
Years ago, the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) saw that its bus system was struggling. After serving the Twin Ports for over 50 years, the system became convoluted with 33 patchworked routes built over time. Riders had a hard time navigating the system because buses were unreliable and many routes changed by day of the week. The system was confusing for longtime residents, and even more so for newcomers.
Facing challenges at the core of the organization, the DTA did something drastic: it wiped the slate completely clean. In 2023, it launched the Better Bus Blueprint, a system redesign that cut 33 routes down to 14, with two bus rapid transit routes at the center. Coined the ‘Go Lines’, the Blue and Green routes operate on a 15-minute schedule along Duluth’s main corridors. These routes follow the same path and schedule every day of the week.
Get Dakotah Canty’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
“We wiped the slate clean,” said Christopher Belden, CEO of the Duluth Transit Authority. “We got rid of every route, and we started from scratch.”
The old system prioritized coverage, reaching as much of the city as possible. The new system prioritized frequency and reliability, structuring service around two high-frequency buses, at the cost of reaching fewer low-density areas. Now, riders do not need to memorize a schedule, since the Go Lines serve as the system’s core and arrive every 15 minutes.
Ridership has climbed month over month, a trend the DTA attributes to the network’s simplicity. The routes no longer reach every doorstep, but the trade-off is a system people can understand and rely on.
The Go Lines are not just about moving people. They also provide an alternative to personal vehicles. Every full bus means less congestion, fewer parking spaces needed, and cleaner air. The DTA aims to make bus travel as convenient as possible and expects ridership to keep growing as more people discover the system’s simplicity.
The DTA invested in a simpler system, and it has paid off. The result is a transit network that is clearer and easier to understand. The Go Lines show that investing in clarity and frequency over coverage can transform a bus system from a last resort into a first choice.
