REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA)

Being written

REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA). In 2011 the RTA managed a fleet of thirty-five light duty buses, accessible mini-vans, standard vans, and school buses and provided 150,000 annual passenger trips serving more than 2,500 individuals in Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties. Vehicles were equipped to accommodate children, senior and those with disabilities. Fundraising that year included the third annual Black Tie Bowling event at Cherry Lanes at the Diamond Jo Casino. (1)

In 2007 transportation between the Northeast Iowa Community College's downtown center and its Peosta campus was implemented. Funding was provided with a grant fro the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program, but the agency ran out of those funds at the end of 2008. The service cost an estimated $60,000 annually to operate, but generated only about $8,000 annually in fares. In July, 2009, Mark Munson, the RTA director, announced a potential yet unnamed source had come forward so that cutting the hourly service to three runs per day could be avoided. (2)

Effective July 1, 2010 the East Cengral Intergovernmental Association took over the management of KEYLINE and the ECIA's RTA services were possible. ECIA officials found many opportunities for Keyline and the RTA to work together. ECIA planned to hire a Keyline director and an operations supervisor who would devote 70% of their hours to Keyline and 30% to RTA. ECIA had assumed the management of the Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County RTA in 20oo5 at the request of Project Concern and RTA boards of directors. (3)

RTA officials in July 2018 announced more public transportation options from Dubuque to Peosta. Currently one bus route was provided daily leaving Dubuque at 8:30 a.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m. Beginning August 6th, a new pilot program would add five more bus routes throughout the day with an early morning route that would pick up at home riders unable to transport themselves to the transfer site. The need for the increase came from Dubuque residents attending school at the Northeast Iowa Community College or working at one of Peosta's manufacturing companies. The trip fare was $6.75 with the option of purchasing a monthly pass for $45. (4)

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Source:

1. "Bowling Event to Benefit Regional Transit Authority," Telegraph Herald, February 21, 2011, p. 3

2. Piper, Andy. "Move to Aid Campus Transportation," Telegraph Herald, October 10, 2009, p. 1A

3. Piper, Andy. "City Turns to ECIA in Awarding Bus Pact," Telegraph Herald, May 4, 2010, p. 3

3. Kruse, John, "RTA to Offer More Routes from Dubuque to Peosta," Telegraph Herald, July 30, 2018, p. 3A