Duluth school students and faculty now have a new perk—a free lift across town. Starting January 16, the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) and the Duluth Public Schools have kicked off a pilot program allowing high schoolers and staff members to hop on any DTA bus without spending a dime. All they need is a school-issued ID, as reported by WDIO.
Adelle Wellens, a communications officer, confirmed the no-restrictions policy. Students and educators can use this service for after-school programs, weekend activities, or getting to their part-time jobs with ease, according to Duluth News Tribune,
The strategic alliance was born out of necessity, as highlighted by Assistant Superintendent Anthony Bonds. When the community expressed a dire need for more robust transportation means, it paved the way for Saraiya Piantek of the Duluth Community School Collaborative to seek this partnership with the DTA. They hope to gather data on the program's usage to gauge future expansion prospects. Bonds relayed how the collaborative efforts transpired in a statement obtained by the Duluth News Tribune.
DTA general manager Rod Fournier sees the move as a callback to past services offered to the school district, aiming to smooth out the logistical wrinkles that come with students’ packed and diverse schedules. "It's a bit easier for students to get to school during school hours, after-school activities and jobs are a bit harder to find transportation... I think this will be a good partnership again," Fournier said, as per Duluth News Tribune.
