Mountain Line (Montana)

Mountain Line is a public transit system providing service to the community of Missoula, Montana and the University of Montana. The legal name of Mountain Line is the Missoula Urban Transportation District, which is governed by a board whose members are appointed by the City of Missoula and Missoula County. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 1,016,100, or about 3,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2023.

Mountain Line
Founded1976[1]
HeadquartersMissoula, Montana
Service areaMissoula, Montana
Service typeBus service, paratransit
Routes13
Daily ridership3,800 (weekdays, Q2 2023)[2]
Annual ridership1,016,100 (2022)[3]
Fuel typeBiodiesel
OperatorMissoula Urban Transportation District
Websitemountainline.com

History

The Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD) was established via a ballot measure in June 1976. The MUTD formed the Mountain Line and began operating buses in December 1977.[1]

On January 5, 2015, the Mountain Line began a three-year demonstration project that provided free bus service to all passengers.[4] The project costs $460,000 annually and is funded by the city of Missoula, the University of Montana, and 12 other community partners.[5] By the end of the year, the service saw a 38 percent increase in ridership, with 300,000 additional passengers.[6]

Services

Mountain Line operates 13 fixed routes on weekdays, 11 of which also operate on Saturdays. There is no service on Sundays or most major holidays. 15-minute frequent transit service is available on the Bolt! Route while most other routes operate on 30- or 60-minute schedules. During the Saturdays in the summer, Mountain Line also operates a trolley to two farmers' markets and a craft market in downtown Missoula. Additionally, Mountain Line operates a trolley to "Out to Lunch," an outdoor concert series on Wednesdays during the summer. Paratransit service is provided for people with disabilities who are unable to ride fixed-route buses.

Route list
  • Bolt! 1 Downtown / University / Community Hospital
  • Bolt! 2 Target Plaza / Southgate Mall
  • Route 3 Northside
  • Route 4 East Broadway Park and Ride / East Missoula / Bonner
  • Route 5 Rattlesnake
  • Route 6 Higgins / Dornblaser / Opportunity Resources / Southgate Mall
  • Route 7 Downtown / Southgate Mall
  • Route 8 Adams Center / 5th / 6th / Southgate Mall
  • Route 9 Good Food Store / Target Range / Community Hospital
  • Route 11 N Reserve St / Expressway / Airport
  • Route 12 Downtown / University / Dornblaser / South Hills
  • Route 14 Broadway / Russell

Facilities

Head office
Address: 1221 Shakespeare Street, Missoula
Coordinates: 46°53′02″N 114°00′36″W
Facilities: Head office, administration, bus storage and maintenance
Opened: 1980

Transfer center
Address: 200 West Pine Street, Missoula
Coordinates: 46°52′25.8″N 113°59′42.2″W
Facilities: Transfer point, waiting area, restrooms
Opened: 2000

Park-and-ride lots
Lewis and Clark (Route 12)
Coordinates: 46°50′43.12″N 113°59′50.00″W
Dornblaser (Routes 1, 6, 12)
Coordinates: 46°50′54.05″N 113°59′50.13″W

References
  1. "History". Mountain Line. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. Erickson, David (January 5, 2015). "Riders take advantage of first day of free Mountain Line bus service". Missoulian. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  5. Wahba, Monique (September 3, 2015). "Free transit attracts riders and helps communities in more ways than one". Mobility Lab. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  6. Kidston, Martin (December 25, 2015). "Update 2015: Mountain Line smashes ridership records in first year of zero fare". Missoulian. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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