Effective Friday the Duluth Transit Authority will discontinue the collection of all passenger fares on the Port Town Trolley service. The free rides are being offered to encourage use of the trolley service to and from Canal Park, particularly for those parking at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center and downtown parking ramps.

Two trolleys circulate every 20 minutes between Downtown Duluth, Canal Park and Bayfront Park daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 7 to 11 p.m. Summer service continues through Labor Day.

The Port Town Trolley serves downtown and Canal Park hotels, restaurants, retail shops and attractions. Its route runs along Superior Street from 10th Avenue East to Sixth Avenue West and then proceeds to Bayfront via Harbor Drive and to Canal Park via Canal Park Drive. The trolley stops at all general DTA bus stops along Superior Street in addition to the special Port Town Trolley stops located in Bayfront and Canal Park.

The free trolley service is an element of Duluth’s “Making Canal Park Pop” program, which encourages residents and visitors to visit the Canal Park area and Downtown Duluth. One of the goals of the program is to expand the parking options available to visitors, thereby reducing auto traffic that circulates through the area searching for the limited parking available during weekends and major events.

DTA General Manager Dennis Jensen said in a news release he believes the free trolley fares will benefit both visitors and residents.

“It was the decision of the DTA Board of Directors that the schedule frequency and expanded route were great for the service, and that the free fare would be an even greater incentive for the public to use the trolley as a shuttle service.” Jensen said. “Hotel guests, visitors and Duluth residents can now access all that the Canal Park and downtown have to offer for free without driving around looking for parking.” Jensen continued.