The City of Moorhead, in coordination with the City of Fargo, is considering service changes to public transit operating hours, generally described below, to become effective July 1, 2024. From 2021 to 2024, MATBUS has enacted various temporary reductions in service hours to provide consistent, and reliable service levels in the face of a long-term driver shortage. In addition, MATBUS has seen changing ridership patterns post COVID-19, with rides dropping from 1.8 million in 2019 to 1.2 million rides in 2023. MATBUS is proposing to make a portion of the previously enacted temporary service changes permanent. This service change will allow for MATBUS to provide levels of service based on current ridership demands while addressing long-term driver shortages and a decrease in federal funding due to new allocation formulas applied to the Fargo-Moorhead urbanized area.
Changes to Service Hours: The proposed change would permanently reduce MATBUS and MAT Paratransit service hours to 6:15am-10:15pm, Monday through Friday and 7:15am-8:15pm on Saturdays. Previously, MATBUS and MAT Paratransit would operate 6:15am-11:15pm, Monday through Friday and 7:15am-11:15pm on Saturdays.
Informational Display: An informational display on the proposed route and service changes, as well as comment cards, will be in the lobby of the Ground Transportation Center from April 22 through May 8. Staff will be at the Ground Transportation Center to answer questions on May 6, 2024, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Written comments may be turned into the customer care center window and will be considered by staff prior to the final recommendation to the Moorhead City Council. The final recommendations will be made available to the public on May 8, 2024, at the GTC.
Public Hearing Dates: The proposed changes are considered major and will require a public hearing. Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held for the consideration of permanent service hour changes on MATBUS and MAT Paratransit: Moorhead City Council, Monday, May 13, 2024, 5:45 pm, Hjemkomst Center, 202 1 Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560
At the hearing, interested persons will be afforded an opportunity to be heard with respect to the service hour reduction. In addition, written comments may be submitted in advance of the public hearing to: Lori Van Beek, Moorhead Transit Manager, 650 23 St N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 476.6686, For TDD Relay Service call 7-1-1
Email: lvanbeek@matbus.com.
Upon request, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, language barriers, or other needs to allow participation in meetings will be provided. To arrange assistance, call the City Clerk’s Office at (218) 299.5166 or 7-1-1 (TDD/TTY) at least 48 hours before the meeting to give staff adequate time to make arrangements.
