UPDATED 5/18/21 AT 3:20 PM:
Due to construction on High Park Way, all Route 12 bus stops south of 39th street are temporarily closed. These closed stops are circled in red on the map.
Route 12: Temporary Stop Closures
Category: Rider Alerts
Federal TSA Mask Requirement Extension to Apply to Mountain Line Through Sept 13
MISSOULA – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks in the United States, including airports and public transportation, through September 13, 2021. TSA’s initial face mask requirement went into effect February 1, 2021, with an expiration date of May 11, 2021.
“The TSA maintains oversight of Mountain Line’s security,” said Mountain Line CEO and General Manager, Corey Aldridge. “Therefore, Mountain Line will continue to require face masks be worn by all transit users over the age of two through September 13, to remain in compliance with this federal requirement.”
Riders with a qualifying medical exemption to the face mask requirement must contact Mountain Line directly to secure an official exemption letter. This exemption must be secured before using any of Mountain Line’s services. For more information about medical exemptions or other questions, please contact Mountain Line at 406-721-3333 or [email protected].
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In 2020, Mountain Line committed to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035. This action solidified Mountain Line’s long-standing commitment to clean air, public health and a more sustainable future. Mountain Line became a zero-fare system in 2015, made possible through partnerships with local government, businesses and nonprofits. Since the debut of Zero-Fare, ridership has increased almost 70 percent. During normal times, Mountain Line provides more than 1.5 million rides annually, helping students get to school, employees get to work, and helping seniors and people living with disabilities stay active, mobile and independent. By reducing the number of single vehicles on the road, lessening traffic congestion and investing in electric buses, Mountain Line benefits us all.
Take Our 3-Minute Survey
We want to hear about your use of public transportation during COVID-19. Take our three-minute survey and be entered to win a $50 Good Food Store gift card!
To provide additional comments Contact Us directly. Thank you for your time and feedback!
Mountain Line to Resume Saturday Market Trolley Service May 8
Mountain Line will resume its special trolley service to the Saturday downtown markets starting this Saturday, May 8, 2021. Trolley service will begin at 8:55 AM each Saturday and run approximately every 20 minutes until 11:45 AM. The trolley runs from the Lewis and Clark Villages and Dornblaser Park and Ride lot down Higgins Avenue to the XXXXs. Riders may catch the trolley at any designated Mountain Line bus stop, as indicated on the special route map.
“It feels great to have the trolley back in operation after a year hiatus,” said Jennifer Sweten, director of operations at Mountain Line. “The Saturday markets are a Missoula staple and we’re happy to provide sustainable, zero-fare service to help decrease traffic and parking congestion downtown.”
All Mountain Line services are zero-fare. Masks are required for all riders over the age of two. Trolley service will run from May 8 through September 25. More information at mountainline.com/maps-schedules or by calling 406-721-3333.
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In 2020, Mountain Line committed to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035. This action solidified Mountain Line’s long-standing commitment to clean air, public health and a more sustainable future. Mountain Line became a zero-fare system in 2015, made possible through partnerships with local government, businesses and nonprofits. Since the debut of Zero-Fare, ridership has increased almost 70 percent. During normal times, Mountain Line provides more than 1.5 million rides annually, helping students get to school, employees get to work, and helping seniors and people living with disabilities stay active, mobile and independent. By reducing the number of single vehicles on the road, lessening traffic congestion and investing in electric buses, Mountain Line benefits us all.
Temporary Route 2 Stop Closures
Due to construction the Inbound Route 2 stop at Johnson & 10th, and the Outbound Route 2 stop at Shakespeare St. & Phillips St are temporarily closed.
This construction is part of our Bus Stop Improvement Project.
Mountain Line Launches Route Race in Time for Earth Week Engagement
MISSOULA – Starting Earth Week, April 19, Missoulians are encouraged to try their hand at solving clues and earning prizes in Mountain Line’s “Route Race,” an Amazing-Race style adventure across Missoula! Round one of the race officially kicks off this morning, with the first clue (available on here) sending people to an iconic Missoula location to earn a tasty reward and find their next clue.
Mountain Line is hosting three rounds of the Route Race, each lasting three weeks, as part of its season-long Spring Shift campaign. The campaign is focused on encouraging Missoulians to shift their behaviors to be more sustainable as our community reopens both with warmer weather and the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Spring Shift has multiple facets, from the Route Race to season-long Challenges and a family-friendly Scavenger Hunt (launching in time for Earth Day).
In the Route Race, Missoulians are encouraged to hop on board the bus, follow the clues and earn incentives from local businesses along the way. Participants will need to use a smartphone to scan QR codes at each location and need email access to receive their next clue. All Route Race locations have a QR code posted in an exterior facing window and participants are kindly asked not to enter businesses looking for the next clue. For each round of the Route Race completed, participants are entered into the grand prize drawing for a Towne electric bike donated by race sponsor, Windfall.
Mountain Line is also hosting season-long sustainability Challenges, where Missoulians are entered into various drawings for local prizes for each shift they make to a sustainable behavior. From taking the bus to shopping bulk, each action this Spring comes with exciting incentives, such as a head-to-toe outfit from Pink Elephant, $50 Good Food Store gift card, deluxe bike tune-up, and six months of glass or compost pickup. Earning 10 or more unique Challenge badges comes with a grand-prize entry to win a three-night stay at ROAM Beyond’s Glacier Montana destination, generously donated by ROAM Beyond.
Get your first clue in the Route Race and learn more about the Spring Shift Challenges at mountainline.com/spring-shift.
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In 2020, Mountain Line committed to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035. This action solidified Mountain Line’s long-standing commitment to clean air, public health and a more sustainable future. Mountain Line became a zero-fare system in 2015, made possible through partnerships with local government, businesses and nonprofits. Since the debut of Zero-Fare, ridership has increased almost 70 percent. During normal times, Mountain Line provides more than 1.5 million rides annually, helping students get to school, employees get to work, and helping seniors and people living with disabilities stay active, mobile and independent. By reducing the number of single vehicles on the road, lessening traffic congestion and investing in electric buses, Mountain Line benefits us all.
Route 2 & 9 Bus Stops Temporarily Relocated
Construction season is here! Starting today, a few stops are being temporarily relocated.
The Inbound Route 2 stop at Johnson & Strand is moving to the S side of Strand.
The Inbound Route 2 & 9 stop at Johnson & 3rd is moving down the block to the east, marked by a temporary bus stop sign.
This construction is part of our Bus Stop Improvement Project, which will increase accessibility, improve safety and maximize our efficiency! Watch for more Rider Alerts as the project progresses.
Public Art Installation at Mountain Line Transfer Center to Commence April 1
MISSOULA – Starting April 1, Missoulians can expect to see new splashes of color going up at the Mountain Line Downtown Transfer Center (DTC), as artist Stella Nall gets to work on a full-scale mural outside the south entrance celebrating public transportation, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The mural, titled “Climate Conscious Creatures Wheel Towards a Sustainable Future,” combines Nall’s whimsical style and cultural heritage with Mountain Line’s commitments to a sustainable future.
“I use a lot of symbolism in my work. Some of it is drawn from tradition, and some I develop to speak to my own experiences,” said Nall, a 23-year-old descendant of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe. “I was initially drawn to this opportunity because I’m very passionate about sustainability and how we can make conscious steps toward maintaining a healthier balance with the earth.”
Nall’s design shows animals native to Montana, like bison, badgers and mountain lions, imagined as bus creatures wheeling through clean air above the mountains. Each bus has many wheels, all inspired by the form and color palate of the traditional Plains medicine wheel.
According to Nall, there are several different meanings for the medicine wheel, depending on the Plains tribe.
“The way I was taught about it speaks well to the ideas of this project,” said Nall. “Through this mural I hope to highlight our relationship with the earth and the animals that we share it with, and to advocate for making conscious decisions to care for them by choosing to live more sustainably.”
The original public art call, which launched in the summer of 2020, was a joint effort between Mountain Line and the City of Missoula Public Arts Committee (PAC). The call asked artists to visually represent Mountain Line’s commitments to sustainability and the benefits of those commitments for the entire community.
Jennifer Sweten, Director of Operations at Mountain Line and a member of the PAC review committee, said she was captured by Nall’s vision and personality.
“We loved how Stella created a direct connection between public transportation and stewardship for the environment,” said Sweten. “At Mountain Line, sustainability is one of our guiding principles, from reducing traffic congestion and helping keep our air clean, to committing to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035.”
Kathi Olson, acting chair of the PAC, said she couldn’t imagine a better pairing than Mountain Line and Nall.
“There are many factors that go into building a healthier more equitable community,” said Olson. “And we see three of them coming together in this project: supporting public art, BIPOC representation, and sustainable, accessible public transportation.”
Nall will be working on the installation throughout the month of April. Originally from Bozeman, she came to Missoula to attend the University of Montana, graduating in 2020 with a bachelor’s in psychology, a Bachelor of Fine Art in printmaking, and a minor in art history and criticism. Nall is now embracing life as a full-time artist. She has worked on smaller-scale projects throughout the community over the past couple of years, ranging from artistic design for Clyde Coffee to the Zootown Arts Community Center Mural Alley Project. The installation at the DTC will be the first time Nall has worked on such a challenging landscape, involving three textured concrete pillars and two large beams.
You can see more of Nall’s work at www.stellamarieart.com and can catch her in action throughout the month at 200 W Pine St.
Mountain Line and the PAC ask that all visitors be respectful of Nall’s space as she works and remind visitors that masks are required at all times while at the DTC.
A First Friday designation celebration is planned for May 7.
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In 2020, Mountain Line committed to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035. This action solidified Mountain Line’s long-standing commitment to clean air, public health and a more sustainable future. Mountain Line became a zero-fare system in 2015, made possible through partnerships with local government, businesses and nonprofits. Since the debut of Zero-Fare, ridership has increased 70 percent. During normal times, Mountain Line provides more than 1.5 million rides annually, helping students get to school, employees get to work, and helping seniors and people with disabilities stay active, mobile and independent. By reducing the number of single vehicles on the road, lessening traffic congestion and investing in electric buses, Mountain Line benefits us all.
Daylight Savings This Sunday
Daylight savings beings this Sunday, March 14. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour. Happy (almost) spring!
Mayor Declares March 18 Transit Operator Appreciation Day
Above: Mountain Line Bus Operator Holly Wirtz. Wirtz previously worked as a bus operator for ASUM Transportation while earning her degree in theater from the University of Montana. Writz joined the Mountain Line team in July 2017 after graduation. When asked what her favorite part of the job is, Wirtz says greeting and thanking her passengers: “I have a mindset that you never know if your greeting or farewell is the one thing that could help turn someone’s day around,” Wirtz said. “So I do my best to be friendly and kind.”
MISSOULA – Mayor John Engen proclaimed March 18, 2021, as Transit Operator Appreciation Day during City Council Monday night.
The proclamation honors Mountain Line and ASUM Transportation bus operators as essential workers and recognizes their vital work in helping Missoulians and University of Montana students get to work, school, medical appointments, the grocery store and other important locations during the unprecedented challenges of the past year.
“Public transit operators frequently go above and beyond the call of duty, working long hours and safely operating our transit system in rain, snow, extreme cold, wind and during a global pandemic,” Mayor Engen read from the proclamation on Monday night.
Mountain Line CEO and General Manager Corey Aldridge said it was around this time last year that many Missoula residents were packing up their offices in preparation of sheltering at home.
“When so many were heading home, our operations team was moving against the tide, showing up each day with the conviction that the service they provide is absolutely essential to this community,” said Aldridge.
Even during the height of Montana’s stay-at-home order, Mountain Line continued to serve the community, bringing health care professionals to the frontlines, connecting essential workers to their jobs, and ensuring everyone had reliable, accessible transportation to grocery stores, medical appointments and other essential services.
“Reliable, accessible public transportation is vital for a healthy community,” said Aldridge. “Mountain Line could not provide service that benefits us all without the dedication of our maintenance technicians, service team, dispatchers, supervisors and, of course, the face of our agency, our bus operators.”
Jonathan Karlen, chair of the ASUM Transportation Board, which oversees UDASH service to the University of Montana, said the proclamation was an important and meaningful way to honor the frontline service provided by bus operators in both normal and challenging times.
“While the pandemic created unprecedented challenges for students, transit operators never ceased working, making it possible for students to travel between class, work, home, shopping, and recreation, safely and efficiently,” Karlen said. “For many students, UDASH and Mountain Line made it possible for them to continue their education.”
While ridership fell significantly over the past year for both agencies as workers telecommuted, students transitioned to online learning, and non-essential travel was discouraged, bus operators continued to serve thousands of people each week. And ridership has continued to rise over the months.
“The journey to a full recovery, for us and our community, will be a long one, but we have seen ridership across both systems steadily increase since last April,” said Karlen, a UM senior studying Wildlife Biology. “I have no doubt that public transportation will play a critical role in Missoula’s recovery from COVID-19.”
Aldridge agreed, stating that access to reliable public transportation will be key in moving Missoula forward toward a more equitable, sustainable future.
“Zero-fare public transportation increases access to vaccines, provides economic relief to workers, and offers a pathway to a more sustainable, heathier community as we reopen,” Aldridge said. “However, none of these benefits to our community would be possible without the hardworking individuals who show up each day to provide that service, our bus operators.”
To honor Missoula’s Transit Bus Operators, members of the public are invited to share their gratitude by visiting mountainline.com/thanks-operations-team or by engaging with either agency on social media:
Facebook: @MountainLineTransit and @umtransportation.
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In 2020, Mountain Line committed to a zero-tailpipe-emissions fleet by 2035. This commitment solidified Mountain Line’s long-standing commitment to clean air, public health and a more sustainable future. Mountain Line became a zero-fare system in 2015, made possible through partnerships with local government, businesses and nonprofits. Since the debut of Zero-Fare, ridership has increased 70 percent. During normal times, Mountain Line provides more than 1.5 million rides annually, helping students get to school, employees get to work, and helping seniors and people with disabilities stay active, mobile and independent. By reducing the number of single vehicles on the road, lessening traffic congestion and investing in electric buses, Mountain Line benefits us all.
The Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) provide services to enhance the student experience, advocate for the rights of all University of Montana (UM) students as a unified body and build a system of trust and transparency among students, faculty and staff. ASUM’s Office of Transportation operates the UDASH transit system—one of the only student-run public transportation systems in the country. Through student government and employment opportunities, ASUM helps train the next generation of transit professionals.