Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses

Infobox Bus transit
name = Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses

logo_size = 107


image_size =
image_caption =
company_slogan =
parent =
founded = May 11, 1959
headquarters = San Juan, Puerto Rico
locale =
service_area = Metropolitan San Juan area
service_type = Public Transit
alliance = Tren Urbano
routes = 30
destinations =
stops =
hubs = 10
stations =
lounge =
fleet = 277 buses
54 paratransit
ridership = 112,000 [ [http://www.dtop.gobierno.pr/AMA/Amades_e.htm AMA: Descripción] es icon]
fuel_type = Diesel, Diesel-Electric Hybrid
operator = Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico
ceo =
website = [http://www.dtop.gov.pr/ama/ama.htm AMA Website]

Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses, also known in English as Metropolitan Bus Authority or by its initials in Spanish, AMA, is a public bus transit system based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is operated by the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico.

Background

Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses was created as a public corporation on May 11, 1959. The operations would later be integrated into the Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas in 1973.

The AMA is one of three major public transportation systems serving the Metropolitan San Juan area, along with Tren Urbano, the area's light rail transit service and the Cataño Ferry, which operates boat service between San Juan and Cataño. Both AMA and Tren Urbano services are accessible to each and several TU stations connect at major AMA transit centers. AMA is also the only public transit system in the area that serve Old San Juan, since Tren Urbano does not have service in that area.

Operations

The AMA provides daily bus transportation to residents of San Juan, Guaynabo, Bayamón, Trujillo Alto, Cataño, and Carolina through a network of [http://www.dtop.gov.pr/ama/rutas.htm 30 bus routes] , including 2 express routes and 3 "Metrobus" routes. Its fleet consists of 277 regular buses and 54 paratransit vans for handicapped persons. Its ridership is estimated at 112,000 on work days.

The daily, weekend and holiday bus service from 4:30 AM to 10PM with the exception of a few routes that are limited to certain hours and the express routes.

Fares

Fares for the AMA were US$.75 for both Regular/Express and Metrobus-II routes, US$.60 for students and US$.35 for 60-74 year olds & disabled. Transfers are free. Disabled and handicapped passengers ("Llame y Viaje") who use the paratransit vehicles must pay US$1.50 for the service and have to make a reservation prior to using the service.

For passengers who have to make a connection with Tren Urbano, a single trip costs $1.50 ($0.75 if you transfer from an AMA bus) including a 2 hour bus transfer period. If you exit the station and wish to get back on the train the full fare must be re-paid; there is no train to train transfer period. In addition, A stored-value multi-use farecard may be used for travel on buses as well as on trains. The value on the card is automatically deducted each time it is used.

Bus Routes

The AMA bus system has a unique line-up, with routes being assigned by alphabet first, followed by the number:

*A-3: Río Piedras-Estación Hato Rey-F.D. Roosevelt-San Patricio-Cataño
*B-4: Río Piedras-Estación Universidad-Estación Centro Médico-Ave. San Patricio-San Patricio
*A-5: San Juan-Parada 18-Calle Loíza-Isla Verde-Los Angeles-Iturregui
*A-6: Iturregui-Plaza Carolina-Plaza Escorial-Carolina
*A-7: Estación Piñero-Capetillo-65 Infantería, Plaza Escorial, Ave. Comandante-Iturregui
*B-8: San Juan-Parada 18-Ave. Kennedy-San Patricio
*A-9: Río Piedras-Ave. Barbosa-Ave. Borinquen-Estación Sagrado Corazón-Ave. Fernández Juncos-Parada 18-San Juan
*C-10: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Ave. Borinquen-Ave. Eduardo Conde-Calle Loíza-Condado-Parada 18
*C-11: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Ave. Borinquen-Eduardo Conde-Llorens Torres
*B-15: Río Piedras-Embalse San José-Hato Rey-Estación Sagrado Corazón
*B-16: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Calle Quisquella-Ave. Eduardo Conde-Parada 18
*B-17: Estación Piñero, Domenech-Plaza Las Américas-Ave. Andalucía-Ave Piñero-Ave San Patricio, Centro Médico
*C-18: Río Piedras-Estación Universidad-Carr.176-Ave. Lomas Verdes-El Señorial-Cupey Gardens
*B-19: San Patricio-De Diego-Ave. Américo Miranda-Centro Médico-Estación Centro Médico
*B-21: San Juan-Condado-Parada 18-Ave. Fernández Juncos-Estación Sagrado-Corazón
*B-22: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Calle Calaf-Plaza Las Américas-Ave. Roosevelt-Ave. Quisqueya
*B-26: Río Piedras-Estación Río Piedras-Urb. Venus Gardens
*B-27: Estación Martínez Nadal-Santiago Iglesias-Muñoz Rivera-Guaynabo
*B-28: Río Piedras-Estación Universidad-Ave. Piñero-Ave. San Patricio-San Patricio
*B-29: Río Piedras-Estación Universidad-Estación Cupey-Urb. College Park-Muñoz Rivera-Guaynabo
*C-30: Estación Martínez Nadal-Santiago Iglesias-Muñoz Rivera-Guaynabo
*C-31: Río Piedras-Estación Universidad-Estación Cupey-Calle Paraná-PR1-Ave. Las Cumbres-Ave. Emiliano Pol
*C-37: Cataño-Ave. Comerío-Ave. Sabana Seca-Levittown
*B-40: Estación Piñero-Puente Teodoro Moscoso-Aeropuerto Luis Muñoz Marín-Isla Verde
*B-41: Estación Piñero-Capetillo-Villa Prades-Campo Rico-Iturregui
*B-42: Iturregui-Ave. Comandante-Sánchez Osorio-Plaza Carolina-Fidalgo Díaz-Ave. Calderón-Carolina
*B-43: Iturregui-Vistamar-Carr. #190-Fidalgo Díaz-Plaza Carolina-Sánchez Castaño
*C-44: Iturregui-Campo Rico-Ave. Roberto Clemente-Carolina
*C-45: Iturregui-Los Angeles-Aeropuerto-Isla Verde-Loíza
*B-46: Iturregui-Ramal 8-Ave. Comandante
*B-47: Carolina-Severo Quiñones-Carr #887-Metrópolis-Plaza Carolina-Sánchez Osorio
*C-49: Estación Centro Médico-Centro Médico-Ave. Américo Miranda-Villa Nevárez
*C-53: San Juan-Centro de Convenciones-Condado-Calle Loíza-Ave. Isla Verde
*B-52: Estación Centro Médico-Santiago Iglesias-Estación Martínez Nadal-Ave. Los Filtros-Bayamón
*C-91: Bayamón-Ave. Main-Ave. Laurel-Santa Juanita
*C-92: Bayamón-Carr. 174-Ave.Lomas Verdes-Ave. Nogal-Magnolia Gardens
*ME: Río Piedras-Hato Rey-San Juan
*M-I: Río Piedras-Hato Rey-Santurce-San Juan
*M-II: Parada 18-Estación Sagrado Corazón-Estación Hato Rey-Estación Roosevelt-Ave. Roosevelt-San Patricio-PR2-Bayamón

Transit hubs

The following transit centers serve as a connection for these routes:

*Terminal de Bayamón: B52, Metrobús II, C91, C92
*Terminal de Cataño: A3, C37
*Terminal de San Patricio, Guaynabo: A3, B4, B8, B19, B28,
*Terminal de Carolina: A6, B42, C44, B47
*Terminal de Iturregui, Carolina: A5, A6, A7, B41, B42, B43, C44, C45, B46
*Terminal de Río Piedras (Capetillo): A3, A9, B4, B15, B26, B28, B29, C18, C31, Metrobús I, Metrobús Expreso, Rutas Públicas
*Terminal Piñero: A7, B17, B40, B41
*Terminal de Martínez Nadal: B27, C30
*Centro de Transferencia de Hato Rey: A3, B22, Metrobús I, Metrobús II, Metrobús Expreso
*Terminal de Sagrado Corazón, Santurce: A9, B15, B16, B21, B22, C10, C11, Metrobús I, Metrobús II, Metrobús Expreso
*Terminal de la Parada 18, Santurce: A9, B8, B16, B21, C10, Metrobús II
*Terminal del Viejo San Juan (Covadonga): A5, A9, B8, B21, C53, Metrobús I, Metrobús Expreso, El "trolley" de San Juan

New services

The Metropolitan Bus Authority has announced new routes starting August 11, 2008. Also the governor has signed an Executive Order for free services of the MBA starting August 11 until December 31, 2008 in an effort to try to attract more passengers to the service and to reduce the use of the car to get an easier commute.

ee also

*Tren Urbano
*Cataño Ferry
*Transportation in Puerto Rico

References

External links

* [http://www.dtop.gov.pr/ama/ama.htm AMA Website]