Metropolitan Area Commuter System

Metropolitan Area Commuter System
Parent	Fairbanks North Star Borough
Founded	1977
Headquarters	3175 Peger Road, Fairbanks AK 99709 (administration, operations); 501 Cushman Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 (customer service, dispatch)
Locale	Fairbanks, Alaska
Service area	Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Service type	bus service ; paratransit
Routes	8
Stations	Max C. Lyon Jr. Transit Center
Fleet	15
Daily ridership	478,140 (annual)
Fuel type	Diesel
Website

Last updated May 25, 2024

Metropolitan Area Commuter System (MACS) is a public transport agency in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. The agency provides bus service for much of the urbanized Fairbanks Metropolitan Statistical Area. MACS is part of the borough's transportation department and is the northernmost local bus network in continental North America.

History

Prior to the formation of MACS, the public transit needs of Fairbanks were served, if at all, mostly by private operators. The longest-lasting of these was University Bus Lines, operated by Paul Greimann, Sr. University Bus Lines primarily provided service to and from Fairbanks, the University of Alaska campus, and Ladd Air Force Base, now Fort Wainwright.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough began exploring the possibilities of offering public transit during the 1970s, when the population and economy of Fairbanks began exploding in conjunction with the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Voters in the City of Fairbanks voted in 1976 to allow operation of transit buses by the FNSB over the streets of Fairbanks. The system began operating in 1977 with two routes serving the Fairbanks urban area.^[1]

A 1978 study recommended offering service to the outlying areas of the borough, including Ester, Chena Ridge Road, Farmers Loop Road and Goldstream Road. The system expanded to serve North Pole, Salcha and Farmers Loop, Fort Wainwright and other areas of the Fairbanks area.^[1] The system now operates 8 routes,^[3] and travels over 723,228 miles every year.^[4]

Routes

MACS has eight fixed routes identified by color.^[3] The Red and Blue Lines provide loop service around urban Fairbanks in opposing directions, while the other routes connect to more outlying destinations. Only the Grey Line does not connect to the Transit Center or overlap with other routes, requiring a transfer from either University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) or Fred Meyer East to connect to other routes.^[2]

No service is provided on Sundays and holidays. Some routes also lack service on Saturdays.^[3]

Route	Major Destinations	Schedule
Blue Line	Walmart, College Road/Diane, Aurora/Tamarack, UAF Wood Center, UAF Museum, Fred Meyer West, Pioneer Park, Carlson Center, Shoppers Forum
Red Line	Shoppers Forum, Fred Meyer West, University/Sandvik, UAF Wood Center, Aurora/Tamarack, Helmricks Street/Mt McKinley Bank
Brown Line	C Street & Eureka, Bentley Mall, Fred Meyer East
Green Line	Old Richardson/South Cushman, McPeak's, Badger/Nordale, North Pole Mall, North Pole High School, North Pole Middle School/Wescott Pool, Santa Claus House, Beaverbrook Mall, Badger/Nordale, McPeak's
Grey Line	Fred Meyer East, McGrath Road to Town and Country Mobile Home Park, Summit Drive, Grenac Road, Scenic Loop, Ballaine Road, UAF Wood Center
Orange Line	Big Dipper Ice Arena, FNA Head Start, Van Horn & Lathrop, Transit Admin. Offices, Jillian Square, Fred Meyer West
Purple Line	Easy Street, 23rd & Lathrop, Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Yellow Line	Fred Meyer West, Fairbanks International Airport, UAF Wood Center, University West

Fares

Fare category^[5]	Single Ride	Day Pass	Monthly Pass	Half-month Pass
Adult	US $1.50	US $3	US $40	US $20
Reduced fare	US $0.75	US $2	US $20

Reduced fare rides are offered to youth (ages 6 to 18), individuals with Medicare or Medicaid cards, active duty military servicemembers and their dependents, and those with qualifying disabilities.^[5]

Free fare rides are offered to seniors (ages 60+) and children (ages 0-5). Seniors must show government issued photo identification to the driver to ride for free.^[5]

Fleet

The fleet consists of nine Gillig Low Floor buses and six demand response vehicles used by the Van Tran service.^[4]

Van Tran

While all MACS vehicles are wheelchair accessible, the transit system also operates van service for patrons unable to use the standard bus services. Vans provide door to door service. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, service is prioritized by one's ADA status, not necessarily by need.^[6]

In 2011, an effort was initiated to privatize Van Tran.^[7] Spearheaded by conservative Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly members Diane Hutchinson and Michael Dukes, the system's cost, estimated at between US $61.71^[4] and $76^[8] per ride, was cited as justification. However, a study commissioned by the Borough Assembly found that privatization would only result in minor cost savings,^[9] and no action towards privatization was taken.

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References

1 2 3 "Metropolitan Area Commuter System (MACS)". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
1 2 "MACS Bus System Map". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
1 2 3 4 "Metropolitan Area Commuter System (MACS)". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
1 2 3 4 5 "MACS Bus Fleet Information" (PDF). Federal Transit Administration, United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
1 2 3 "MACS Bus Fare Information". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
↑ "Fairbanks, Alaska Van Tran". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
↑ "Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly looks at privatizing Van Tran". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
↑ "Fairbanks Borough Ride Service for Disabled in Jeopardy". Alaska Public Radio. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
↑ News-Miner, Matt Buxton/mbuxton@newsminer.com Fairbanks Daily. "Study: Privatizing Van Tran service would save little". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2018-02-06.

External links

Official website

64°50′29″N147°43′11″W / 64.84139°N 147.71972°W / 64.84139; -147.71972

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[History-1] 1 2 3 "Metropolitan Area Commuter System (MACS)". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.

[Map-2] 1 2 "MACS Bus System Map". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.

[Routes-3] 1 2 3 4 "Metropolitan Area Commuter System (MACS)". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2021-08-31.

[FTA_Data-4] 1 2 3 4 5 "MACS Bus Fleet Information" (PDF). Federal Transit Administration, United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2020-07-31.

[Fares-5] 1 2 3 "MACS Bus Fare Information". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

[6] "Fairbanks, Alaska Van Tran". Fairbanks North Star Borough Government. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

[7] "Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly looks at privatizing Van Tran". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

[8] "Fairbanks Borough Ride Service for Disabled in Jeopardy". Alaska Public Radio. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

[9] News-Miner, Matt Buxton/mbuxton@newsminer.com Fairbanks Daily. "Study: Privatizing Van Tran service would save little". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2018-02-06.

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