Effective March 26, 2022, Dickinson Public Transit’s Saturday hours of operation changed from 6:00am-7:00pm to 6:00am-6:00pm. If you wish to make a comment on this reduction of one hour of operation, it can be sent to:

Dickinson Public Transit

361 26th Street East 

 Dickinson, ND 58601

or email:

director@eldercareregion8.org

Effective March 26, 2022, Dickinson Public Transit’s Saturday hours of operation will change from 6:00am-7:00pm to 6:00am-6:00pm. If you wish to make a comment on this reduction of one hour of operation, it can be sent to:

Dickinson Public Transit

361 26th Street East 

 Dickinson, ND 58601

or email:

director@eldercareregion8.org

Comments must be submitted by March 25, 2022, at 3:00pm

 Welcome to Dickinson Public Transit

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Our Mission Statement: 
Dickinson Public Transit works to meet the changing transit needs of Dickinson and the surrounding area. Dickinson Public Transit provides transportation to the general public and lends itself to improving people's quality of life by providing the freedom of mobility to the residents of Dickinson. This allows them the opportunity for employment and self-sufficiency, which may otherwise be impossible.

Dickinson Public Transit is governed by the Elder Care Management Board which meets the third Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM at Hawks Point, 1266 Signal Butte, Dickinson, ND 58601.

Due to the current closure of Hawk’s Point to the public, meetings will be hosted via Zoom. If you wish to attend, please call our administrative office at (701) 456-1818 for call in information.

News / Events

Elder Care Management Board Meeting at Players on September 21, 2023 at 10:30am.

July 2020 – Dakota Transit Association – Transit Tidbits – Issue 103

Since being established in 1979, Elder Care/Dickinson Public Transit has not always had the same name or the same role. What started with one van used for Stark County Senior Meals and Bus Service, evolved to a transit service branch under the Stark County Council on Aging with multiple fleets operation by September 1991. Since inception there have been 28 vehicles that have provided service to residents and visitors of Dickinson and the surrounding areas, which includes the 12 vehicles currently in use today. Elder Care and Dickinson Public Transit have seen a lot of employees come and go throughout the 41 years, approximately 370 different faces. However, for over 35 years, there has been one employee has seen it all. Dennis Ulmer began as a driver in November 1984. Over the years Dennis has become such a staple to Dickinson Public Transit that people know him by name, face and his current vehicle, Apple 2. When asked what inspired him to work for Elder Care, Dennis says, “My family owned a gas station and I was driving school bus at the time. We got to know Charlie, who was a driver for Elder Care, and he was retiring soon. I started working part time the summer of 1984 and when Charlie retired, I started working full time.” Dennis delivered meals to the seniors in Dickinson, as well as multiple towns in southwest North Dakota including transporting people to places they needed to be. What kept Dennis working here for 35 plus years? Dennis says that, “It’s a great job to have. I was pretty young when I started. I gave rides to elderly people and they grew on me. They were very educational, and I learned a lot from them. I enjoy helping people.”
One of the most memorable moments that stands out when Dennis thinks about his years of providing transit service, “I competed in the DTA bus roadeos for years. When I was competing at the national roadeo in Austin, Texas, I had one mistake, but I still finished in the top five that year.”

Dennis has seen a lot of happenings and changes in Dickinson. The city population increased from approximately 16,000 in 1985 to a peak of 23,520 people in 2015 before decreasing about 2,000 people to today’s current population of 21,835. When a tornado ripped through the southside of Dickinson in 2011, Dennis was there to help get people transported to safety. The oil boom came and went between the years of 2010-2015, subsequently the number of rides increased and then decreased again when the boom ended. In more recent days, since March 13, 2020 to be exact, we had to modify and adjust everything we do as a transit agency because of the looming COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. “We offer an opportunity to ride. I think we are doing the best we can with protecting us and our riders. We are the most equipped and educated transit service… here in town.”

News Release from Dickinson Public Transit, Dickinson, ND


December 2019

Dickinson Public Transit in Dickinson, ND received two awards at the Dakota Transit Association’s (DTA) Fall Conference held in Dickinson. DTA was formed in 1985 to address the need for greater communication between transportation providers and to serve as a unified voice for public transportation agencies within the states of North Dakota and South Dakota at the national level. Larry Robinson and Kelsey Connole were nominated by Colleen Rodakowski, executive director of Dickinson Public Transit. 

Robinson was awarded the 2019 Friend of Transit for North Dakota award for his support of ND’s public transit needs in the state. He has been on the Elder Care Management Board, which oversees Dickinson’s Public Transit agency since its inception in 1990. Robinson is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Dickinson. Transit services are vital to the elderly, disabled, and general public, and Robinson is committed to public transit for North Dakota and has been a consistent, strong, and dedicated supporter. “We would have a difficult time providing public transit services without Robinson,” says Rodakowski. “It was an honor to present him with this recognition.”

Connole received the 2019 Outstanding Support Staff of the Year award for North Dakota for exhibiting extraordinary dedication and professionalism. She started at Elder Care/Dickinson Public Transit in December 2015 as an administrative assistant. With Connole’s strong communication skills and problem-solving ability, she has been promoted to Finance/Human Resources Coordinator. Rodakowski states, “Connole has grown significantly to where she is seeked out by management for her knowledge, which is why she was promoted to work in human resources. She is a strong member of our team and handles our customer complaints.”

Dickinson Public Transit has been serving the community of Dickinson for over 30 years. It is located at 361 26th Street East in Dickinson with hours of operation from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday- Friday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday, and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday with early closings on some holidays. Call 701.483.6564 for a ride.

For more information, contact
Colleen Rodakowski, Executive Director
Cell 701.590.9311


New Name and Record Trips
January 2020 – Dakota Transit Association – Transit Tidbits – Issue 97


Public Transit in Dickinson has a new name! To better reflect its community, Public Transit as changed its name to Dickinson Public Transit. By adding the word “Dickinson” to its name, it better reflects the community it serves. 

2019 was a big year for Dickinson Public Transit. Not only did it receive two awards at the Dakota Transit Association’s (DTA) Fall Conference held in Dickinson, but it also hit the highest record of trips since 2012! In 2019, Dickinson Public Transit had 45,191 one-way trips, an increase of 18% from its 2018 trips of 38,315. Transit Manager Gena Bowar states, “This last year was very exciting for Dickinson Public Transit! Our staff is incredible, and we are helping more and more people get to where they need to go at an affordable fare.” The increased trips are mostly from taking new riders to work and to medical appointments. Bowar says, “I am really looking forward to seeing where 2020 will take us as a company. We have many goals and ideas to strive for to make ourselves better and more productive. We are committed to helping our riders and the community.” 

Gena came on board as a manager this past summer. Colleen Rodakowski, executive director, attributes part of its increased ridership success to Bowar’s ability to schedule staff and move drivers around to peak rider times during the day. Dispatchers and drivers are also consolidating trips to better serve its ridership. “We have much to be thankful for”, says Rodakowski. 

A big part of Dickinson Public Transit’s success is attributed to the partnerships we create that make us stronger. Hosting the DTA Fall Conference in Dickinson was such a great opportunity for us to showcase our town, as well as provide support to DTA. One of the highlights of the conference was when Larry Robinson, a Dickinson CPA, was awarded the 2019 Friend of Transit for North Dakota award for his support of ND’s public transit needs in the state. Larry has been on the Elder Care Management Board, which oversees Dickinson’s Public Transit agency since its inception in 1990. A second highlight from the DTA Fall Conference was when Kelsey Connole received the 2019 Outstanding Support Staff of the Year award for North Dakota for exhibiting extraordinary dedication and professionalism. Connole’s strong communication skills and problem-solving ability had her promoted to Finance/Human Resource Coordinator this past year. Dickinson Public Transit has been serving the community of Dickinson for over 30 years. 

If you are ever in Dickinson and need a ride, call Dickinson Public Transit at 701-483-6564. We are going your way!
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