Bus route between Bozeman and Big Sky hasn’t seen fare increase since 2016
By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER
Covering the trek from Bozeman and through the roughly 25 miles of Gallatin Canyon, Skyline’s Link service has a $5 price tag for one-way rides, and a $2.50 cost for punch card holders. That may change soon.
At the Big Sky Transportation District meeting on April 18, board members discussed fare increases for the bus service, which is primarily used by seasonal employees and commuters. Just a day prior on April 17, the Big Sky Resort Area District reviewed applications for three-year funding for local government operations, including transportation. Funding amounts will be finalized in May.
For this coming cycle, the transportation district applied for $1.48 million in fiscal year 2025, $1.53 million for 2026 and $1.58 million for 2027. BSRAD board members reminded the transportation district that Skyline is long overdue for inflation-adjusted fare increases.
“You guys provide a critical service, I really do see this as what helps our workforce, I really appreciate all you do,” Kevin Germain, BSRAD board member said. “When I look at funding you guys this year… You guys need to increase your rates.”
“You gotta stay on top of that,” Germain said. “Because you’ll shock people. And you’re gonna have to have a shock this go-around.”
The next day, board chair Ennion Williams reflected on the feedback from BSRAD at the April 18 transportation meeting. “Right now I feel as though we’re kind of playing a little catch up, because we haven’t increased fares since 2016,” Williams said.
“At about the time we were talking about implementing a fare change, the pandemic hit, and so it was like, ‘Oh no, now is not the time to be raising the fare,’ but I think we are in a position to make that change,” said Darren Brugmann, executive director of the transportation district.
Board members discussed a change in fare to $10 per one-way ride, citing eight years of inflation and easy change for drivers to handle when picking up passengers. They added that punch cards could have different, discounted prices to incentivize repeat commuters to use the punch card system.
Board members look forward to meeting with large employers in Big Sky to hold conversations about a need for increased fares. In their funding application to BSRAD, the transportation district stated that roughly 80% of riders are associated with Big Sky businesses and resorts, the remaining 20% would likely be locals and visitors.
“I know that with the link that … when we increase rates for the link, the majority of the burden of that goes to the resorts … because they are the ones who are buying the fare cards for their employees,” Williams said.
In a tidbit of bus news, Dennis Sines, general manager for Karst Stage, the bus company that services the Link, added that the Skyline bus stop sign at Four Corners has vanished.
“Somebody decided they liked it enough,” Sines said. “They took it home. It’s gone.”
Other than the local theft, Sines noted that things are moving smoothly during Link trips.
Ridership on Big Sky Connect
The Big Sky Connect Service in Big Sky has been operational for over a year and is run through a mobile app to provide flexible and fare-free rides to locals and employees. On the app, riders can request a lift around the Big Sky Town Center and Meadow Village areas.
From Nov. 29 to April 18, the service logged 60,633 total miles in rides for 58,272 passengers. The average length of a ride was five minutes and the average distance was 1.4 miles. Evan Simpson, operations manager for Downtowner, the service that orchestrates Big Sky Connect’s app, added that the service completed more than 47,200 rides in that time span.
Board members discussed the possible implementation of a small fare for riders, proposing a flat rate per-ride, but appeared hesitant due to its use in transporting employees to workplaces during times outside local bus service trips.
“We don’t want people to be riding it instead of the bus, but we don’t want … people to have to pay that to work every day,” said Amy Fonte, transportation board member.
Board members decided that a possible fare for Big Sky Connect requires further discussion at future meetings.
