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Sioux Area Metro

Summary

The Sioux Area Metro (SAM) is the local governmental transit agency in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the state's largest public transportation operator. They provide multiple scheduled fixed routes and paratransit services. Although the city owns the bus fleet the system is currently managed by First Transit and operated under Sioux Area Metro. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 559,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Sioux Area Metro
A SAM bus at the downtown terminal
Headquarters500 E. Sixth St.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Service areaUrban area
Service typeBus service
Tourist trolley
Paratransit
Routes12
Fleet29 Buses (Fixed Route)
26 Buses (Paratransit)
Daily ridership1,800 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[1]
Annual ridership559,400 (2023)[2]
OperatorFirst Transit
Websitesiouxfalls.org/sam

Facilities edit

Transit Offices and Garage edit

Address: 500 E. Sixth St.[3]
Coordinates: 43°33′05.7″N 96°43′13.5″W / 43.551583°N 96.720417°W / 43.551583; -96.720417
Facilities: Head office, bus storage and maintenance

Sioux Area Metro Depot edit

 
Main bus terminal in downtown before renovations.
Address: 120 E. 11th St.
Coordinates: 43°32′41.4″N 96°43′31.4″W / 43.544833°N 96.725389°W / 43.544833; -96.725389
Facilities: Downtown bus terminal

The Sioux Area Metro Depot was originally built in 1988 and known as "The Bus Stop". In 2017, the facility underwent a $2 million renovation and reopened on November 6, 2017 with the name Sioux Area Metro Depot. The renovations included a skylight, new canopy, new benches, bike storage and bike repair station. The facility serves 11 routes. [4]

Southwest Transfer Facility edit

Address: 4409 S. Louise Ave.
Coordinates: 43°30′17″N 96°46′17″W / 43.50472°N 96.77139°W / 43.50472; -96.77139
Facilities: Mall area bus terminal

Fixed routes edit

Effective February 1, 2016[5]

Routes operate Monday-Saturday unless otherwise indicated.

No. Destinations[6] Notes
1 VA Hospital, South Kiwanis Ave
2 Sanford Hospital, Augustana University, South Western Ave
3 South Minnesota Ave, West 41st St, Empire Mall
4 East 10th St
5 Avera Hospital, South Cliff Ave, South Phillips Ave
6 PREMIER Center, Terrace Park
7 East Sioux Falls, Dawley Farms Village
8 North 4th Ave, North Cliff Ave Weekday Only
9 East 18th St, East 26th St
10 West 12th St, Hayward Park, South Marion Rd
11 Southwest Circulator
19 University Center, Southeast Technical Institute, North Career Ave, Sioux Falls Bus Station Weekday Only

Discontinued Services edit

Sioux Area Metro operated an old-time trolley styled bus in the downtown area. In 2014 operation of the service was assumed by Downtown Sioux Falls Inc, and in 2019 they were joined by a coalition of local businesses to continue funding through 2022.[7]

Sioux Area Metro also operated four school "tripper" routes until May 2016. These routes were open to the public, with high schools as destinations. School Bus, Inc is currently operating those routes.[8]

Paratransit edit

Sioux Falls Paratransit is an extension to the city's fixed-route system, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to use it. Each paratransit bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift. All passengers must be certified by guidelines established by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and be registered with Sioux Area Metro after qualifying. Passengers must schedule Paratransit trips by calling their local office.[9]

Fixed route ridership and service edit

The ridership and service statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. Per capita statistics are based on the Sioux Falls urbanized area as reported in NTD data. The significant changes in per capita numbers from 2010 to 2011 are a result of the 2010 census numbers replacing the 2000 census numbers.[10]

Ridership Change Ridership per capita Vehicle Revenue Hours Change Vehicle Revenue Hours per capita
2002 572,630 n/a 4.61 50,882 n/a 0.40945
2003 657,444  014.81% 5.29 50,583  00.59% 0.40704
2004 684,469  04.11% 5.51 51,130  01.08% 0.41145
2005 724,271  05.82% 5.83 52,557  02.79% 0.42293
2006 803,450  010.93% 6.47 54,121  02.98% 0.43551
2007 837,299  04.21% 6.74 49,929  07.75% 0.40178
2008 905,870  08.19% 7.28 53,640  07.43% 0.43164
2009 927,112  02.34% 7.46 53,749  00.2% 0.43252
2010 937,258  01.09% 7.54 55,239  02.77% 0.44451
2011 996,316  06.3% 6.35 55,046  00.35% 0.35111
2012 1,026,715  03.05% 6.55 55,361  00.57% 0.35312
2013 1,023,089  00.35% 6.53 55,490  00.23% 0.35394
2014 955,357  06.62% 6.09 62,669  012.94% 0.39973
2015 885,104  07.35% 5.65 65,640  04.74% 0.41868
2016 837,474  05.38% 5.34 64,389  01.9% 0.4107
2017 795,026  05.07% 5.07 61,894  03.87% 0.39479
2018 782,129  01.62% 4.99 61,935  00.0% 0.39505
2019 769,437  01.62% 4.91 62,344  00.66% 0.39766
2020 445,205  042.14% 2.84 54,264  012.96% 0.34612
2021 389,816  012.44% 2.49 51,756  04.62% 0.33012
2022 385,565  01.09% 2.46 - - -
2023 502,993  030.46% 2.59 - - -

Fleet edit

2009 2015 2018 Gillig Low Floor

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Office
  4. ^ Joe Sneve (November 6, 2017). "Sioux Area Metro's downtown digs reopen after $2M worth of upgrades". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sioux Area Metro - City of Sioux Falls PDF Map of all SAM Routes, Shelters and Stops". www.siouxfalls.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  6. ^ "City of Sioux Falls Bus Routes". Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  7. ^ Tuchscherer, Rebekah. "Downtown Sioux Falls Trolley saved for 2018 summer". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  8. ^ "Sioux Falls Transit Development Plan". Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  9. ^ "Paratransit Service - City of Sioux Falls". www.siouxfalls.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  10. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved June 27, 2022.