Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA)

Program Highlight: Arrowhead Transit’s New Rider App

Arrowhead Transit is the primary public transportation provider in northeast Minnesota and the largest rural transit system in the state. Serving 10 counties, it offers reliable and accessible transportation options tailored to meet diverse community needs, including scheduled routes, a Volunteer Driver Program, and its flexible Dial‑A‑Ride service, which provides convenient, personalized trips within communities. Through its wide coverage and variety of services, Arrowhead Transit helps connect residents, commuters, and travelers while supporting mobility and access across the region.

Recently, Arrowhead Transit officially launched its new rider app and transit management software system, marking a significant shift in how northeastern Minnesota's public transportation network schedules trips, communicates with drivers, and serves riders across a region that covers more than 20,000 square miles. A public celebration and ribbon cutting was held at the Arrowhead Transit facility in Hibbing.

On the operations side, the new system gives dispatchers and drivers better tools for scheduling and routing, improves communication across the network, and helps the agency collect more detailed data on how riders move through the region. That data will be used to report service information to MnDOT and to guide future decisions about routes, timing, and coverage based on real travel patterns. “This is about improving how people access transportation in rural communities and making our system easier to use in everyday life. We serve a large region, and we know transportation is not optional for many of our riders. It is how people get to work, appointments, school, and stay connected to their communities.” -- Brandon Nurmi, Director, Arrowhead Transit Rural transit operates differently than metro transit. Urban systems are often built around fixed routes and high-density corridors. Rural transit has to be built around people, distance, and access; matching service to communities spread across hundreds of miles, where a missed ride can mean a missed appointment or a lost shift. Arrowhead Transit's new system is designed to help the agency do that more effectively, making service more responsive to how riders actually use it. 

Connect with AEOA

Website: www.aeoa.org

Arrowhead Transit’s Website: https://arrowheadtransit.com