Sioux Area Metro

Sioux Area Metro

A SAM bus at the downtown terminal
Headquarters	500 E. Sixth St. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Service area	Urban area
Service type	Bus service Tourist trolley Paratransit
Routes	12
Fleet	29 Buses (Fixed Route) 26 Buses (Paratransit)
Daily ridership	1,800 (weekdays, Q4 2024) [1]
Annual ridership	559,400 (2024) [2]
Operator	Via
Website	siouxfalls.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 2024, the system had a ridership of 559,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Facilities

Transit Offices and Garage

Address: 500 E. Sixth St. ^[4]

Coordinates: 43°33′05.7″N96°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

Main bus terminal in downtown before renovations.

Address: 120 E. 11th St.

Coordinates: 43°32′41.4″N96°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

Address: 4409 S. Louise Ave.

Coordinates: 43°30′17″N96°46′17″W / 43.50472°N 96.77139°W / 43.50472; -96.77139

Facilities: Mall area bus terminal

Fixed routes

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

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]

Fleet

SAM operates a fleet of 26 fixed-route buses and 13 paratransit buses which run on biodiesel. ^[10]

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. ^[11]

Fixed route ridership

The ridership and service statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. ^[12]

Ridership Data from the NTD

	Ridership	Change
2002	572,630	n/a
2003	657,444	014.81%
2004	684,469	04.11%
2005	724,271	05.82%
2006	803,450	010.93%
2007	837,299	04.21%
2008	905,870	08.19%
2009	927,112	02.34%
2010	937,258	01.09%
2011	996,316	06.3%
2012	1,026,715	03.05%
2013	1,023,089	00.35%
2014	955,357	06.62%
2015	885,104	07.35%
2016	837,474	05.38%
2017	795,026	05.07%
2018	782,129	01.62%
2019	769,437	01.62%
2020	445,205	042.14%
2021	389,816	012.44%
2022	385,565	01.09%
2023	502,993	030.46%

See also

• List of bus transit systems in the United States
• Rapid City Rapid Ride
• YST Transit

References

1. "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
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. "Biodiesel Fuels the Sioux Area Metro: New Bus Wrap on Display". South Dakota Soybean. January 16, 2024. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
11. "Paratransit Service - City of Sioux Falls". www.siouxfalls.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
12. "The National Transit Database (NTD)" . Retrieved June 27, 2022.