SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Area Metro’s new public transport has officially hit the road. Mayor Paul TenHaken, Sioux Falls city councilors, and Via employees gathered downtown today to recognize the accomplishment.
“We’re here really celebrating the partnership that we’ve established with this company called Via and our existing Sioux Area Metro employees and leadership that has really been innovative and transformational to how we’re doing transit,” said Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken.
TenHaken says the idea to partner with Via first stemmed from a visit to Arlington, Texas.
“I’m like, this is a big city. You don’t have public transit? They’re like we do, but most of it’s contracted through this company. And I’m like, man, maybe there’s something to this Via that could be used in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,” said TenHaken.
The partnership between Via and Sioux Area Metro, or SAM, has expanded public transit access in Sioux Falls from 45% of the city to 100%.
“Previously, many of the bus routes might run every 45 to 75 minutes. Now they are all running every 30 to 60 minutes,” said Via’s Director of Partner Success Joe Martin.
Now, additional transit vehicles reach a wider area, and a wider audience as well.
“Within the On Demand vehicle fleet, we have wheelchair accessible vehicles. So anyone that needs to use a wheelchair can indicate on the app that they will be riding in a wheelchair,” said Martin.
Since the launch of SAM On Demand, there have been over 220 rides a day.
For more information on SAM, click here.
