Sioux Area Metro

Sioux Area Metro
A SAM bus at the downtown terminal
ParentCity of Sioux Falls
Headquarters500 E. Sixth St.
LocaleSioux Falls, South Dakota
Service areaUrban area
Service typeBus service
Tourist trolley
Paratransit
Routes12
Fleet29
Daily ridership
1,800 (weekdays, Q2 2026)
Annual ridership
559,400 (2025)
OperatorVia Transportation
WebsiteOfficial Site

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. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 559,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2026.

Operations

Effective February 1, 2016

Routes operate Monday-Saturday unless otherwise indicated.

No.DestinationsNotes
1VA Hospital, South Kiwanis Ave
2Sanford Hospital, Augustana University, South Western Ave
3South Minnesota Ave, West 41st St, Empire Mall
4East 10th St
5Avera Hospital, South Cliff Ave, South Phillips Ave
6PREMIER Center, Terrace Park
7East Sioux Falls, Dawley Farms Village
8North 4th Ave, North Cliff AveWeekday Only
9East 18th St, East 26th St
10West 12th St, Hayward Park, South Marion Rd
11Southwest Circulator
19University Center, Southeast Technical Institute, North Career Ave, Sioux Falls Bus StationWeekday Only

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.

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.

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.

Fleet

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

Paratransit

Sioux Area Metro provides paratransit services alongside its fixed-route bus and microtransit networks. The service operates within the same general service area on a scheduled and demand-responsive basis and uses accessible vehicles.

Fixed route ridership

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

Ridership Data from the NTD
Year Ridership Change
2013 1,023,089 Decrease0.35%
2014 955,357 Decrease6.62%
2015 885,104 Decrease7.35%
2016 837,474 Decrease5.38%
2017 795,026 Decrease5.07%
2018 782,129 Decrease1.62%
2019 769,437 Decrease1.62%
2020 445,205 Decrease42.14%
2021 389,816 Decrease12.44%
2022 385,565 Decrease1.09%
2023 502,993 Increase30.46%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2026" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 2, 2026. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 20, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  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 August 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Sioux Area Metro - City of Sioux Falls PDF Map of all SAM Routes, Shelters and Stops". siouxfalls.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  5. ↑ "City of Sioux Falls Bus Routes". Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  6. ↑ Joe Sneve (November 6, 2017). "Sioux Area Metro's downtown digs reopen after $2M worth of upgrades". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ Tuchscherer, Rebekah. "Downtown Sioux Falls Trolley saved for 2018 summer". Argus Leader. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Sioux Falls Transit Development Plan". Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Biodiesel Fuels the Sioux Area Metro: New Bus Wrap on Display". South Dakota Soybean. January 16, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Paratransit | Sioux Area Metro". siouxareametro.info. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved June 27, 2022.

Official site
Official government site