Streamline has officially been providing free rides to Gallatin County residents for 20 years.
Thursday’s midday celebration, which took place in the parking lot behind the Human Resources Development Council building on South Tracy Avenue, focused on Streamline’s continued growth and the ways it has been an important tool in the community.
During the event, Streamline Director Sunshine Ross announced that starting around Halloween, the reinstated late-night line will extend service from 10 p.m, when all other lines stop operating for the night, to 2:25 a.m.
The late-night line will operate in a loop, with specific time points located at 11th and West Lincoln Street, the Loaf N' Jug on West Babcock Street and South 19th Avenue and Main Street and North Rouse Avenue.
Additionally, potentially starting as early as September, the pink line will expand southward to Montana State’s Strand Union Building, downtown and Walmart before heading to Belgrade. New stops in Belgrade include the senior center and the library.
Streamline has created a new Transit Development Plan that outlines their goals for the future.
“This would be a dream situation under a perfect funding scenario,” explained Todd Wilson, Streamline's operation coordinator.
The plan includes adding several new bus lines that would reach south Bozeman, Billings Clinic, Gallatin Valley Food Bank, the trailheads in Bridger Canyon and the airport, among other locations in the Bozeman area.
Wilson said Streamline wants to expand the brown line, which has low ridership, to let it reach downtown, Walmart and Gallatin High School. Streamline has already worked with the high school to make sure the bus schedule aligns with school hours and wants to make riding the bus easier for high schoolers.
"We really benefit everyone, not just bus riders,” Wilson said. “If we’re taking cars off the road, even if you’re choosing to not ride the bus, you should be having less traffic, a cleaner environment.”
President of Montana State University Brock Tessman also took to the microphone to share his appreciation for Streamline’s partnership with MSU and speak about how the bus system will help with city growth.
“I happen to believe that the success of Streamline and the growth of Streamline over the years will be one of the decisive factors that allows us to keep that sense of accessibility, friendliness, mobility within this community,” Tessman said.
He noted that Bozeman has grown exponentially since 2006, when the city’s population was 28,000. Now, the city has almost reached 60,000 residents, and last year Streamline saw four million riders.
Belgrade Mayor Mike Meis spoke at the event abd said Streamline is “vital for our valley, as well as Belgrade,” before reminding attendees that they can take the bus to Belgrade.
“Hop on the bus, do some exploring, come spend some time out in Belgrade,” he said. “We’ve got some amenities and we’re growing just as quickly as everywhere else here.”
City Commissioner Emma Bode said Streamline allows people to get to medical appointments and to the hospital, encourages equality by letting people of all backgrounds lead a “vibrant life” and improves public safety through the late-night routes.
“When we invest in public transportation, we are investing in our public health,” Bode said.
Roads don’t have to be as wide and don’t need to be maintained as frequently with the use of public transportation, per Bode. She also spoke about the positive environmental impacts of Streamline. For example, the bus service keeps cars off the road and lowers overall emissions.
“It’s an efficient use of our transportation infrastructure dollars,” Bode said.
She said she is “thrilled” to see Streamline’s services and the direction it is headed.