Fargo Moorhead Metro Area Transit

Metro Area Transit
Founded 1870's
Headquarters 502 NP Avenue, Fargo, North Dakota
Service area Fargo–Moorhead
Service type Bus service, paratransit
Routes 25
Fleet 43[1]
Fuel type Diesel, biodiesel[2]
Website matbus.com

Fargo Moorhead Metro Area Transit (popularly known as MAT or MATBUS) is a bus company serving the Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota Metropolitan Area.[1]

History

Public transport in Fargo–Moorhead began in the 1870s, with horse-drawn coaches. In the twentieth century, trolleys and buses were introduced. Trolley tracks can still be seen in some alley ways in Fargo. Increased automobile use and growing urban sprawl caused public transport to decline in the area. Beginning in 1971, transit was subsidized.[1]

In 1974, the Fargo-Moorhead Council of Governments began management of the area's public transit, which was subsequently named MAT. Fargo and Moorhead later took control of their portions of the transit system, but continued cooperation and coordination under the MAT brand.[1]

Ridership

Metro Area Transit has experienced a 28 percent increase in the number of riders in Fargo. In January and February, MAT carried 241,196 passengers on its Fargo routes, up from 185,292 during the same period in 2007.

High gas prices surely receive some of the credit for the increase in riders on MAT. Customers can buy a 30-day bus pass for just $40.00 for adults and $26.00 for youth, senior citizens, disabled. But Fargo Planning and Development Director Jim Gilmour sees other explanations as well.[3]

“We greatly improved service to the shopping areas on 13th Avenue South in late 2007,” Gilmour said. “Since then, we’ve seen a 66 percent jump in ridership on Route 15, which was extended to serve Walmart and offer a more direct connection to the West Acres Shopping Center. The fact this route is now available every 15 minutes instead of every 60 makes it easier than ever for shoppers to reach their destinations.”[4]

A third factor in MAT’s increasing passenger load is the number of Fargo college students using the bus system; this number was up 37% in January/February 2008 when compared to January/February 2007 statistics.

Link F-M is a route that serves the downtowns of Fargo and Moorhead, established as a way for people to conveniently move between both city's downtowns. Link F-M began giving rides in 2015. [5]

Transit route and timetables

MATBUS operates the following routes. Click HERE to view the map with all 25 MATBUS fixed routes.

Routes City Name Description
     Hot Pink FM Link Route Moorhead and Fargo Moorhead Center Mall East Entrance, Moorhead Center Mall SW Entrance, Hjemkomst Museum, Fargo City Hall, Gate City Bank, Plains Art Museum, Renaissance Hall (NDSU), MATBUS Center (GTC), Family Health Center, Moorhead Center Mall NW Entrance
     Light Purple Route 1 Moorhead Downtown, Concordia College, Hopkins Elementary, Marriott, Sunmart, Library
     Dark Blue Route 2 Moorhead Downtown, Main Ave. & 6th St., Hornbacher's, MSUM, Hopkins Elementary, Marriott
     Dark Orange Route 3 Moorhead Marriott, Cashwise, Target, Moorhead High School, 24th Ave. S. & 14th S.
     Dark Green Route 4 Moorhead & Dilworth Downtown, US Bank, Courthouse, Churches United, Target, Walmart, Cashwise, Kmart, Moorhead Manor, D M V, Courthouse, Moorhead Center Mall, Park View Terrace
     Dark Red Route 5 Moorhead State, Lakeland Mental Health Center, Grand Inn/Essentia Health Clinic, Hornbachers, AmericInn, Safari Theater, 30th Ave. S. & 13th St.
     Brown Route 6 Moorhead and Dilworth Walmart, Cashwise, CVS Pharmacy, City Hall, Departs Houge Estates, 4th Ave NE/Woodbridge Dr, Dilworth Elementary, Community Center
     Blue Route 7 Moorhead Downtown, Hornbacher's, MSUM, Moorhead High, Target, Cashwise/Kmart
     Pink Route 8 Moorhead State, Safari Theatre, Sunmart, Concordia
     Mint Green Route 9 Moorhead Walmarth, Cashwise, Horizon Middle School, 24th Ave and 38th St S, Sanford Medical Center, Sam's Club, Casey's General Store, 34th St N
     Purple Route 11 Fargo GTC, Sanford, Washington Elementary, VA Hospital, Hornbacher's, Fargo North High School
     Light Green Route 13 Fargo GTC, Klai Hall, R.H. Barry Hall, Roosevelt Elementary, Minard Hall, 10th St. N. & 12th Ave., Northport, Trollwood, Skills & Technology Center, BSA, Memorial Union, Sunmart, Labor Ready, Renaissance Hall
     Green Route 13U Fargo Memorial Union, Renaissance Hall, GTC, Klai Hall, R.H. Barry Hall, Niskanen
     Dark Red Route 14 Fargo GTC, Prairie Psych./Island Park, Essentia/Sanford, Kmart, Sunmart, Essentia Hospital, Flying J, Rasmussen College, West Acres, YMCA, Love’s, Hornbacher’s, Courthouse
     Dark Orange Route 15 Fargo GTC, Holiday Station, Bethany Homes, Fraser Halls, CVS, West Acres, Target, TJ Maxx, Walmart (13th Ave), Job Service of ND, 13th Ave. S. & University Dr., Courthouse
     Blue Route 16 Fargo & West Fargo GTC, Fargo High Rise, Essentia Clinic, Fargo South High, Cashwise, West Acres, Home Depot, Sunmart, Sanford Clinic, West Fargo High, Sharehouse, Century 10
     Yellow Route 17 Fargo GTC, Madison Elementary, YWCA, New Life Center, Centre, University Manor
     Brown Route 18 Fargo GTC, Bethany Homes, Woodrow Wilson High School, Teleforce, SEHSC, Community Homes, Courthouse
     Light Purple Route 23 Fargo West Acres, Ramada, 45th St. S. & 18th Ave., Swanson Health, Microsoft, Kennedy Elementary, Osgood Townsite, Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center, Hornbacher’s, Walmart (52nd Ave), PRACS Institute
     Dark Yellow Route 31 Fargo & NDSU Minard, Stevens Hall, Wallman Wellness, Research and Technology Park, Fargodome, High Rises
     Dark Blue Route 32 E Fargo & NDSU Minard, Residence Dining Center, Fargodome, University Village, High Rises, Minard, Dakota Drive, Criminal Justice
     Cyan Blue Route 32 W Fargo and NDSU Minard West, West Port, Dakota Creek Lofts, Bison Crossing and CJ/PP, Minard East, Residence Dining Center, Fargodome, University Village, High Rises
     Dark Orange Route 33 Fargo & NDSU Memorial Union, Sunmart, Klai Hall, R.H. Barry Hall, University Village, BSA
     Dark Red Route 34 Fargo & NDSU Memorial Union, Reed/Johnson Halls, Fargodome, Stop-N-Go Center, Niskanen
     Pink Route 35 Fargo & NDSU Library, RDC, Fargodome, Univ. Village, High Rises, Wallman Wellness, Criminal Justice

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 About MAT
  2. ↑ "Biodiesel Use in Fargo-Moorhead MAT Buses". Small Urban & Rural Transit Center. August 29, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  3. ↑ http://www.matbus.com/payingtransfers.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.matbus.com/images/be%20moved.%20%20matbus.%20%20(1-2-2013)/Route%2015%20Jan13.pdf
  5. ↑ http://www.matbus.com/linkfm.htm


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