Sioux Area Metro

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 2022, the system had a ridership of 439,600, or about 3,300 per weekday as of the second 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 ridership3,300 (weekdays, Q2 2023)[1]
Annual ridership439,600 (2022)[2]
OperatorFirst Transit
Websitesiouxfalls.org/sam

Facilities

Transit Offices and Garage
Address: 500 E. Sixth St.[3]
Coordinates: 43°33′05.7″N 96°43′13.5″W
Facilities: Head office, bus storage and maintenance

Sioux Area Metro Depot
Main bus terminal in downtown before renovations.
Address: 120 E. 11th St.
Coordinates: 43°32′41.4″N 96°43′31.4″W
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
Address: 4409 S. Louise Ave.
Coordinates: 43°30′17″N 96°46′17″W
Facilities: Mall area bus terminal

Fixed routes

Effective February 1, 2016[5]

Routes operate Monday-Saturday unless otherwise indicated.

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

Discontinued Services

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

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

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]

RidershipChangeRidership per capitaVehicle Revenue HoursChangeVehicle Revenue Hours per capita
2002 572,630n/a4.6150,882n/a0.40945
2003 657,444Increase014.81%5.2950,583Decrease00.59%0.40704
2004 684,469Increase04.11%5.5151,130Increase01.08%0.41145
2005 724,271Increase05.82%5.8352,557Increase02.79%0.42293
2006 803,450Increase010.93%6.4754,121Increase02.98%0.43551
2007 837,299Increase04.21%6.7449,929Decrease07.75%0.40178
2008 905,870Increase08.19%7.2853,640Increase07.43%0.43164
2009 927,112Increase02.34%7.4653,749Increase00.2%0.43252
2010 937,258Increase01.09%7.5455,239Increase02.77%0.44451
2011 996,316Increase06.3%6.3555,046Decrease00.35%0.35111
2012 1,026,715Increase03.05%6.5555,361Increase00.57%0.35312
2013 1,023,089Decrease00.35%6.5355,490Increase00.23%0.35394
2014 955,357Decrease06.62%6.0962,669Increase012.94%0.39973
2015 885,104Decrease07.35%5.6565,640Increase04.74%0.41868
2016 837,474Decrease05.38%5.3464,389Decrease01.9%0.4107
2017 795,026Decrease05.07%5.0761,894Decrease03.87%0.39479
2018 782,129Decrease01.62%4.9961,935Increase00.0%0.39505
2019 769,437Decrease01.62%4.9162,344Increase00.66%0.39766
2020 445,205Decrease042.14%2.8454,264Decrease012.96%0.34612
2021 389,816Decrease012.44%2.4951,756Decrease04.62%0.33012
2022 385,565Decrease01.09%2.46---

Fleet

2009 2015 2018 Gillig Low Floor

See also

References
  1. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  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.


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