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Sioux Area Metro

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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, Q2 2024)[1]
Annual ridership559,400 (2023)[2]
OperatorVia
Websitesiouxfalls.gov/sam

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. In December 2023, city council members voted unanimously to select Via as its technology and operations partner.[3] In 2023, the system had a ridership of 559,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Facilities

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Transit Offices and Garage

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Address: 500 E. Sixth St.[4]
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

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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.[5]

Southwest Transfer Facility

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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

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Effective February 1, 2016[6]

Routes operate Monday-Saturday unless otherwise indicated.

No. Destinations[7] 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

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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.[8]

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.[9]

Paratransit

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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.[10]

Fixed route ridership and service

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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.[11]

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 Increase014.81% 5.29 50,583 Decrease00.59% 0.40704
2004 684,469 Increase04.11% 5.51 51,130 Increase01.08% 0.41145
2005 724,271 Increase05.82% 5.83 52,557 Increase02.79% 0.42293
2006 803,450 Increase010.93% 6.47 54,121 Increase02.98% 0.43551
2007 837,299 Increase04.21% 6.74 49,929 Decrease07.75% 0.40178
2008 905,870 Increase08.19% 7.28 53,640 Increase07.43% 0.43164
2009 927,112 Increase02.34% 7.46 53,749 Increase00.2% 0.43252
2010 937,258 Increase01.09% 7.54 55,239 Increase02.77% 0.44451
2011 996,316 Increase06.3% 6.35 55,046 Decrease00.35% 0.35111
2012 1,026,715 Increase03.05% 6.55 55,361 Increase00.57% 0.35312
2013 1,023,089 Decrease00.35% 6.53 55,490 Increase00.23% 0.35394
2014 955,357 Decrease06.62% 6.09 62,669 Increase012.94% 0.39973
2015 885,104 Decrease07.35% 5.65 65,640 Increase04.74% 0.41868
2016 837,474 Decrease05.38% 5.34 64,389 Decrease01.9% 0.4107
2017 795,026 Decrease05.07% 5.07 61,894 Decrease03.87% 0.39479
2018 782,129 Decrease01.62% 4.99 61,935 Increase00.0% 0.39505
2019 769,437 Decrease01.62% 4.91 62,344 Increase00.66% 0.39766
2020 445,205 Decrease042.14% 2.84 54,264 Decrease012.96% 0.34612
2021 389,816 Decrease012.44% 2.49 51,756 Decrease04.62% 0.33012
2022 385,565 Decrease01.09% 2.46 - - -
2023 502,993 Increase030.46% 2.59 - - -

Fleet

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2009 2015 2018 Gillig Low Floor

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Sioux Falls kicks off new year with Via as official transit provider; SAM On Demand gains improved app and city-wide coverage starting Jan. 6". Via. Via. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ Office
  5. ^ Joe Sneve (November 6, 2017). "Sioux Area Metro's downtown digs reopen after $2M worth of upgrades". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Sioux Area Metro - City of Sioux Falls PDF Map of all SAM Routes, Shelters and Stops". www.siouxfalls.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  7. ^ "City of Sioux Falls Bus Routes". Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  8. ^ Tuchscherer, Rebekah. "Downtown Sioux Falls Trolley saved for 2018 summer". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  9. ^ "Sioux Falls Transit Development Plan". Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  10. ^ "Paratransit Service - City of Sioux Falls". www.siouxfalls.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  11. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved June 27, 2022.