UMD reveals new electric bus wrap

Lisa Erwin, the Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students, leads the unveiling of the new electric bus. Pictured with Champ, students featured on the bus, and DTA General Manager Phil Pumphrey. Photo courtesy of Corbin Smyth.

On Oct. 12, the Duluth Transit Authority and UMD unveiled one of the DTA’s seven new electric busses.

To help tell the community that UMD had a large role in the implementation of the electric busses, the university paid to wrap one with UMD colors and pictures of students.

UMD and the DTA have had a partnership for 18 years, allowing students to use their U-Card to ride the bus. There is a mandatory $16 semester fee for all students that is included in student service fees. Employees and Faculty can opt into this program for $72 a year.

According to the DTA website, UMD recently renewed their U-Pass contract with the DTA for another five years.

“This new electric bus wrap is a terrific way to show their commitment to the environment, sustainability and efficient public transportation for students,” the website press release read.

The new electric bus. Photo courtesy of WDIO.

According to an article published by the Duluth News Tribune, the electric busses cost $1 million each. The past and current diesel busses the DTA operates are roughly $450,000 each--a cost analysis will be done to compare the electric and diesel bus costs in coming years.

Danny Boie, one of the students pictured on the outside of the bus, said that "it's a really cool opportunity to be a part of such an initiative.”

“It's inspiring UMD is making a commitment to sustainability in our community with such a focus on nature,” Boie said. “I also think it was very awesome of UMPR, the department who organized the wrap, was committed to finding real students to make this organic and real as possible."

Corbin Smyth, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student life, said that there are no immediate plans for further bus wraps in the future.

See the UMD press release here.