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