Billings Metropolitan Transit

MET Transit
Headquarters 1705 Monad Road
Locale Billings, MT
Service type bus service, paratransit
Fleet

Weekday Fleet: 17

Saturday Fleet: 8
Daily ridership 5,000
Website MET Transit

Billings Metropolitan Transit (MET) is the public transit system in Billings, Montana. MET Transit provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service to the City of Billings. The MET is the primary mode of transportation for many citizens of the city.[1] Met serves about 5,000 passengers a day. It currently employs around 200 people. All of MET's buses are accessible by citizens who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices; the buses are wheelchair lift-equipped and accessible to all citizens that are unable to use the stairs.[2] All MET buses are equipped with bike racks for its bike riding passengers.[3]

History

The MET began operation in 1973 with only five fixed routes; these included Crosstown, Grand, Broadwater, Central, and Southside. In 1993 the MET opened up its first transfer center at Stewart Park for passengers to utilize in transferring to connection buses. In July 1996 the MET started the "Bike and Ride" program in an attempt to attract new riders; by 2004, the program had 1,411 bike-and-ride users. In 2002 the MET added its S.S. Loop to the fleet list adding extra service to the Billings south side and Route 11M Northwest was dropped off the MET route fleet. In 2003 the MET remodeled its Stewart Park transfer center. In the summer of 2008, construction began on the new Downtown transfer center at 220 N. 25th Street; this was completed in early 2009 and it was open for business. This resulted in various changes to the routes and schedules for the buses that transfer in Downtown. Further, the MET raised its fare prices from $0.75 to $1.25 and from $0.25 to $0.50. In 2011 the MET once again faced a schedule change; Route 12P Overland Avenue was taken off the fleet.

In 2013 the MET faced another schedule change, but added more service to the West-End and the South Side. The new "West-End" bus (originally called "Southwest" and running every half-hour) was changed into a one-hour route that extended to cover the V.A. Clinic on Spring Creek Drive and Zoo Montana on Shiloh Road and Pierce Parkway. The route was directed down Shiloh to Shiloh Crossing, a shopping center on Shiloh Road and King Avenue West. Routes 1M, 5D, 9D, 10D, S5, and S9 also faced changes. Route 1M changed by adding an hour and a half of service each weekday and further service down 6th Ave N. Route 5D is now known as Route 5D1 Grand 1 and Route 5D2 Grand 2. The new Grand routes run to 32nd St W off of Grand Ave instead of to 28th St W. Route 9D Central has been changed to travel down 1st Ave S during its Outbound times. Route 10D Southside serves 4th Ave S on its outbound times.

In 2014, the MET began a new program for disabled veterans. Disabled veterans can ride free on all the MET bus routes as long as the individuals show the MET driver their Department of Veterans Affairs identification card indicating "Service Connected"; the vet is not required to have a bus pass.

Also in 2014, the MET will provide its first shuttle service to the Magic Blues Fest at south park. Service will run from 2pm - 11pm and the bus will run 4 times an hour.

Services

The MET serves all five wards in the city of Billings with easily identifiable buses; they have green and blue diagonal bands. The route name is displayed over the windshield and side window while the route number is also displayed in the windshield's lower left corner. The MET stops at most corners or at blue and green MET bus signs.

Weekday routes

Full day service routes - 5:50AM–6:35PM

Peak buses - 5:50AM–9:45AM and 3:25PM–6:35PM

Mid-day Routes 8:35AM – 2:35PM

Student Runs

(these routes are run during public middle school days.)

Saturday Routes

Special Services

Met Plus

MET Plus provides a paratransit program for citizens who are not able to use the MET due to a disability. Five specially equipped vehicles provide door-to-door service for persons certified as eligible.

Facilities

Head Office

The head office known as The Metroplex houses the offices, buses, and bus wash.

Address: 1705 Monad Road
Coordinates: 45°45′47″N 108°33′31″W / 45.76306°N 108.55861°W / 45.76306; -108.55861

Downtown Transfer Center

Most MET routes, except 13P, come together in downtown Billings at the transfer center at 220 N. 25th Street.

Address: 220 North 25th Street
Coordinates: 45°47′06″N 108°30′12.8″W / 45.78500°N 108.503556°W / 45.78500; -108.503556

Stewart Park Transfer Center

Many routes come together at the Stewart Park Transfer Center just west of Rimrock Mall. The routes that do not use Stewart Park include 1M, 2P, 14P, 15P, 16P, 17P, 18M, and 19D.

Address: Stewart Park Road at Rimrock Mall
Coordinates: 45°46′04.4″N 108°34′55.8″W / 45.767889°N 108.582167°W / 45.767889; -108.582167

See also

References

  1. ↑ "City of Billings, MT - Official Website - MET Transit". Ci.billings.mt.us. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  2. ↑ "City of Billings, MT - Official Website - Accessibility". Ci.billings.mt.us. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  3. ↑ "City of Billings, MT - Official Website - Bike & Ride". Ci.billings.mt.us. Retrieved 2013-10-17.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/disabled-vets-to-ride-city-bus-for-free-beginning-on/article_83c9cc4d-a291-55bb-9dcc-dcab2506247e.html

External links

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