Jefferson Lines is beefing up service between Duluth and the Twin Cities. Starting Thursday, the Minneapolis-based company will offer three daily departures between the two cities. Jefferson also stops at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America.

With the new schedule, travelers will now have the option to do day trips with early morning departures from Duluth and evening departures from the Twin Cities, allowing for same day travel, said Kevin Pursey, Jefferson's director of marketing.

Jefferson Lines is also enhancing bus service to the Iron Range, Pursey said. There is a new stop at Hobby Lobby, by Miller Hill Mall where passengers can transfer onto the Duluth Transit Authority's Mall Area Short Hop (MASH) for only 25 cents. In addition, Jefferson Lines is instituting a later afternoon return trip to the Iron Range allowing range residents to make a round trip to Duluth in one day.

"Jefferson Lines is committed to better serving the Duluth community," Pursey said. "Implementing additional schedules will provide Duluth residents with more travel options to the Twin Cities and destinations beyond."

The enhancements to Duluth-based schedules also help prepare Jefferson Lines for the upcoming move to the new Duluth Transportation Center scheduled to open in January.