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. 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.

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

Facilities

Transit Offices and Garage

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

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.^[5]

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^[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]

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.^[10]

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.^[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	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:**

2009: 0902, 0905, 0907, 0910, 0915, 0916. 2015: 1518, 1519, 1520, 1521, 1522, 1523, 1524. 2018: 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826. 2023: 2327, 2328, 2329, 2330, 2331, 2332, 2333, 2334, 2335, 2336, 2337.

• • PARATRANSITS:**

2012: **WILL UPDATE WHEN NUMBERS ARE FIGURED OUT** 2014: 1480, 1482, 1483, 1484. 2018: 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889. 2021: 2191, 2192, 2193, 2194, 2195, 2197, 2198, 2199.

• • RETIRED:**

1981: 9701, 9702, 9703, 9704, 9705, 9706, 9707, 9708, 9709, 9710, 9711, 9712, 9713, 9714, 9715, 9716, 9717. 2001: 9718 (No.9), 9719 (No. 99). 2002: 9720, 9721, 9722, 9723, 9724, 9725, 9726, 9727. 2009: 0901, 0903, 0904, 0906, 0908, 0909, 0911, 0912, 0913, 0914, 0917. 2010: **UNSURE OF THE NUMBERS OF THESE** 2014: 1481. (Involved in wreck). 2021: 2190, 2196. (Both involved in wreck).

See also

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