MATBUS

What MATBUS does

MATBUS is the public transit authority serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area, jointly operated by the Cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. The system delivers fixed-route bus service across approximately 20 numbered routes spanning Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth, Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday service. Beyond fixed routes, MATBUS operates MAT Paratransit (ADA-compliant door-to-door service for eligible riders with disabilities), MATBUS On-Demand (flexible microtransit powered by TransLoc), and LinkFM (a free downtown circulator shuttle). Institutional transportation is also provided through NDSU campus routes 31, 32, 33, and 34.

The technology stack is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: a Live Bus Tracker provides real-time AVL, the paratransit mobile app is delivered through Via Mobility LLC, the on-demand service runs on TransLoc, and the public Trip Planner is integrated with Google Maps. MATBUS also publishes GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) data for third-party developers. All vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, and the property is ADA- and Title VI-compliant.

Revenue is generated through a mix of per-ride fares (standard $1.50 adult fare with discounts for elderly, youth, and disabled passengers), subscription/recurring pass sales (day passes, 10-ride cards, monthly passes, youth passes, semester passes), the institutional U-Pass program (NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College pay for unlimited student access), and on-vehicle/shelter advertising. Pricing includes agency rates for medical paratransit trips originating from skilled nursing facilities. As a municipal government entity, operating funds additionally flow from city budgets and federal transit grants rather than conventional commercial revenue channels.

Name

MATBUS

Legal name

MATBUS and the Cities of Fargo & Moorhead

Website

https://matbus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MATBUS is a municipal public transit authority jointly operated by the Cities of Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN. It provides fixed-route bus service, ADA paratransit, and on-demand transit across the Fargo-Moorhead metro for commuters, students, seniors, and disabled riders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Paratransit / ADA Complementary Bus Operators (TLAFAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus Shuttle & Fixed-Route Transit Services (EDALAKAC), On-Demand Ride Coordination & Assisted Rides (TNC/Taxi Brokerage) (HSABAOAJ), Wheelchair-Accessible & Mobility Vehicle Transport (HSABAOAC), Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Fixed route bus
• Paratransit transportation
• On-demand transit
• ADA accessible transit

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fixed Route Fares: Revenue from per-ride fares collected from passengers boarding fixed-route buses. Standard adult fare is $1.50, with discounted fares for elderly, youth, and disabled passengers. Cash fares collected on-board.
2. Pass Sales: Sale of various transit passes including day passes, 10-ride cards, monthly passes, youth passes, and semester passes. Passes available for purchase online, at ticket windows, and through vendors.
3. Paratransit Fares: Fares collected from paratransit eligible riders for ADA-compliant door-to-door service. Agency rates apply for medical trips from skilled nursing facilities.
4. Advertising: Revenue from advertising on buses, bus shelters, and the MATBUS website. Includes opportunities to advertise with the transit system.
5. U-Pass Program: College students ride free with their student ID through agreements with NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College. Revenue received from educational institutions for transit access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MATBUS is a joint municipal public transit authority that operates fixed-route bus service across the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area on 18+ numbered routes, supplemented by ADA-compliant MAT Paratransit door-to-door service for eligible riders with disabilities, MATBUS On-Demand flexible routing powered by TransLoc, and the LinkFM free downtown circulator. Riders pay per-trip fares starting at $1.50, purchase monthly/10-ride/semester passes, or ride free through U-Pass agreements with NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College.

Product overview

MATBUS operates as a public transit system serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area across North Dakota and Minnesota. The system provides a portfolio of transit services including fixed-route bus service across 20+ routes, paratransit service for eligible riders with disabilities, and on-demand service powered by TransLoc. Additional offerings include LinkFM (a free downtown circulator), a mobile application for paratransit booking, real-time bus tracking, and GTFS data for developers. The core fixed-route service operates Monday through Saturday across Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LinkFM: Free downtown circulator shuttle service connecting Moorhead Center Mall to downtown Fargo and Moorhead events.
• MAT Paratransit
• MATBUS Connect
• MATBUS On-Demand

Products and services

• MATBUS Fixed Route Service Traditional fixed-route bus service operating 18+ numbered routes (Routes 01-06, 09, 11, 13-18, 20, 24, plus NDSU campus routes 31-34) Monday through Saturday across Fargo, West Fargo (ND), Moorhead, and Dilworth (MN). Open to the general public at $1.50 per ride.
• MATBUS On-Demand On-demand, dynamically routed transit service powered by TransLoc that lets riders request rides within designated zones, complementing the fixed-route network.
• MAT Paratransit ADA-compliant, demand-responsive paratransit service for individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route buses, offering door-to-door rides scheduled in advance via phone or the mobile app.
• MATBUS Paratransit Mobile App Android and iOS mobile application provided via Via Mobility LLC that allows paratransit-eligible riders to book and manage paratransit rides on the MATBUS service.
• LinkFM Free downtown circulator shuttle connecting Moorhead Center Mall to downtown Fargo and Moorhead event venues, with expanded service during community events and festivals.
• GTFS Data Static General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data files containing schedule, route, and stop information published by MATBUS for use by third-party transit applications, developers, and Trip Planner integrations.
• College U-Pass Program Institutional partnership offering that lets college students at NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College ride MATBUS free by presenting a valid student ID, with participating schools funding access.

Quantifiable outcome

• All vehicles are wheelchair-accessible ensuring ADA compliance

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Jefferson LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2019Jefferson Lines moved its local depot to the MATBUS Ground Transportation Center facility at 502 NP Avenue, Fargo. This centralized location provides a convenient interface with the MATBUS system, allowing passengers including NDSU/MSUM students to connect with Jefferson's intercity bus routes.
• Via Mobility LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationVia Mobility LLC provides the technology platform for the MATBUS Paratransit mobile application. The app is available for Android and iOS devices and allows paratransit eligible riders to book rides on the paratransit service. Personal information is shared with Via to support provision of the app and ride booking services.
• TransLoccoreTechnology or IntegrationTransLoc provides the technology powering MATBUS On-Demand service, enabling flexible routing and real-time ride matching for passengers in the service area.
• North Dakota State University (NDSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDSU participates in the MATBUS U-Pass program allowing students to ride free with their student ID. MATBUS operates campus routes 31, 32, 33, and 34 serving NDSU Transit Hub, residence halls, and campus facilities.
• Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSUM participates in the U-Pass program with Routes 2, 3, and 5 serving the campus. Students ride free with student ID.
• Concordia CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcordia College participates in the MATBUS U-Pass program with Route 1 serving the campus. Students ride free with student ID.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Valley Metro (Phoenix): Regional public transportation authority for the Phoenix metro providing bus, light rail, paratransit, and microtransit. Comparable to MATBUS as a municipal transit authority but operates at substantially larger scale with rail service MATBUS does not offer.
• King County Metro (Seattle): Seattle-area public transit operator providing bus, paratransit (Access), water taxi, and vanpool. Comparable to MATBUS as a public transit authority with paratransit and on-demand services, but at a much larger scale with broader multi-modal offerings.

Others

• Via Transportation: Technology vendor whose platform powers MATBUS's paratransit mobile application. Comparable as an enabling technology partner that supplies the on-demand and paratransit ride-matching software underpinning MATBUS's services.
• TransLoc: Mobility technology vendor powering MATBUS On-Demand service and providing microtransit/on-demand routing software to many U.S. transit agencies. Comparable as the technology backbone for MATBUS's on-demand service layer and a peer to other agencies using TransLoc's platform.

Direct peers

• Capital Metro (Austin): Austin, Texas's public transit provider offering MetroBus, MetroRail, MetroAccess paratransit, and Pickup on-demand microtransit. Comparable to MATBUS as a municipal transit authority combining fixed-route, paratransit, and on-demand service modalities.
• IndyGo: Indianapolis's public transit agency operating fixed-route buses, paratransit (Open Door), and the BRT Red Line. Comparable to MATBUS as a mid-size municipal transit authority offering fixed routes plus ADA paratransit in a similar-sized Midwest metro area.
• Metro Transit (Minneapolis-St. Paul): The primary public transit operator for the Twin Cities metro in Minnesota, providing fixed-route buses, light rail, and paratransit. Directly comparable to MATBUS as a Midwest municipal transit authority with multi-modal service, ADA paratransit, and U-Pass university programs (University of Minnesota).
• Citilink (Fort Wayne): Public transit system for Fort Wayne, Indiana providing fixed-route bus service and Access paratransit. Comparable to MATBUS as a smaller Midwestern municipal transit authority of similar operational scale and service mix.
• DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit): Regional transit agency serving Greater Des Moines with fixed-route buses, paratransit (DART On Call), and university partnerships. Directly comparable to MATBUS as a Midwest regional transit authority with on-demand, paratransit, and campus route services.
• The Ride (AAATA - Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority): Public transit authority for the Ann Arbor, Michigan region, operating fixed routes, A-Ride paratransit, and the Blake Transit Center hub. Comparable to MATBUS as a similarly-sized bi-modal university-adjacent transit agency with strong campus ridership programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/matbus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/matbusfm
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/matbus/99993153109
• Instagraminstagram.com/matbusfm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MATBUS