Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
Encyclopedia
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (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
.
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 serves Old San Juan, since Tren Urbano does not have service in that area.
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.
For passengers who have to make a connection with Tren Urbano, a single trip costs $0.70 (Also $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.
The AMA bus system has a unique line-up, with routes being assigned by alphabet first, followed by the number:
First Transit, which operates routes ME, M-I, and M-III uses a fleet of ex-Denver RTD
Gillig Phantoms built in 1994 and Gillig Low Floor built in 2009.
Notes
.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. It is operated by the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico
Executive Departments of the Government of Puerto Rico
The Executive Branch of the Government of Puerto Rico comprises various Departments which provide public services to the citizens of Puerto Rico. Currently, there are 16 main departments, each with their own sub-agencies and divisions...
.
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. It is one of the first public transport authorities in america, leaving behind the New York's MTA.The AMA is one of three major public transportation systems serving the Metropolitan San Juan area, along with Tren Urbano
Tren Urbano
The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English — is a fully automated rapid transit that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan, which includes the municipalities of San Juan, Bayamón and Guaynabo. It is electrified by third rail at 750 V DC...
, the area's light rail transit service and the Cataño Ferry
Cataño Ferry
La Lancha de Cataño is a ferry service that is widely known by Puerto Ricans and used by tourists that visit Puerto Rico. Despite what the service's name might lead people to think, this ferry service is provided with multiple boats, not just one ship.-Brief history:"La Lancha de Cataño"'s...
, 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 serves 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 30 bus routes, including 2 express routes and 4 "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 is US$.75 for both Regular/Express and Metrobus-II routes, US$.35 for students and US$.35 for 60-74 year olds & disabled. Metrobus I, III and Expreso is US$.50. 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 $0.70 (Also $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
Map of AMA Bus RoutesThe 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 ReyHato Rey (Tren Urbano station)Hato Rey is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Hato Rey financial district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The station opened on December 17, 2004....
-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
- B-7: Estación PiñeroPiñero (Tren Urbano station)Piñero is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The station opened on December 17, 2004. The station features a work of public art entitled Viandante by the artist Marnie Pérez Moliere....
-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 CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-Ave. Fernández Juncos-Parada 18-San Juan - C-10: Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-Ave. Borinquen-Ave. Eduardo Conde-Calle Loíza-Condado-Parada 18 - C-11: Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-Ave. Borinquen-Eduardo Conde-Llorens Torres - B-15: Río Piedras-Embalse San José-Hato Rey-Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
- B-16: Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-Calle Quisquella-Ave. Eduardo Conde-Parada 18 - B-17: Estación PiñeroPiñero (Tren Urbano station)Piñero is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The station opened on December 17, 2004. The station features a work of public art entitled Viandante by the artist Marnie Pérez Moliere....
, 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 CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
- B-22: Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-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-Ocean Park-Condado-Calle Loíza-Ave. Isla Verde-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: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Ave. Muñoz Rivera-Centro de Convenciones-Terminal San Juan
- M-I: Río Piedras-Hato Rey-Santurce-San Juan
- M-II: Parada 18-Estación Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón (Tren Urbano station)Sagrado Corazón is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opening on December 17, 2004, this is the northern terminus of the Tren Urbano line. The station features a stained glass display of public art display entitled Vitral by Luis...
-Estación Hato ReyHato Rey (Tren Urbano station)Hato Rey is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the Hato Rey financial district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The station opened on December 17, 2004....
-Estación RooseveltRoosevelt (Tren Urbano station)Roosevelt is a Tren Urbano rapid transit station in the in the Hato Rey financial district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The station opened on December 17, 2004. The station features a mural composed of tile as a work of public art entitled Encuentros Fugaces by the artist Susana Espinosa....
-Ave. Roosevelt-San Patricio-PR2-Bayamón - M-III: Estación Sagrado Corazón-Ave Ponce de Leon-Santurce-Terminal San Juan
Active Bus Fleet
AMA has a total of 277 buses in its active fleet, with the oldest buses being NovaBus RTS's built in 1997 and the newest being Orion VII Next Generation being built in 2010. In addition AMA also has a fleet of Orion V's, New Flyer DE35LF's, and a sub fleet of 10 Baby RTS's which are used on light routes, such as C45.First Transit, which operates routes ME, M-I, and M-III uses a fleet of ex-Denver RTD
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, or RTD, was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area in Colorado. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of...
Gillig Phantoms built in 1994 and Gillig Low Floor built in 2009.
| TYPE | YEAR | LENGTH | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gillig Gillig Gillig Corporation, formerly Gillig Bros., is a manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses located in Hayward, California. Prior to 1993, Gillig had also been a manufacturer of school buses.-History:... Phantom |
1994 | 40' | 1 |
| NovaBus RTS | 1997-2000 | 40' | 2 |
| Gillig Gillig Gillig Corporation, formerly Gillig Bros., is a manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses located in Hayward, California. Prior to 1993, Gillig had also been a manufacturer of school buses.-History:... Low Floor |
2009 | 40' | 1 |
| NovaBus RTS | 2002 | 30' | 3 |
| Orion Orion Bus Industries Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975... V |
2004-2007 | 35' | 4 |
| New Flyer DE35LF | 2005-2007 | 35' | 5 |
| Orion Orion Bus Industries Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975... VII Next Generation |
2010 | 40.5 | 5 |
Notes
- 1: Operated under contract by First Transit on routes ME, M-I, and M-III.
- 2: Curtain buses feature ATI color scheme.
- 3: Used only light routes.
- 4: Feature old and new AMA color scheme.
- 5: Feature new AMA color scheme.
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: B7, 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 III, 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 III, Metrobús Expreso, El "trolley" de San Juan
New Services
The AMA has announced new routes and modifications to existing routes starting August 11, 2008. The new routes include B-7, C-53, C-91, C-92 and M-III, existing routes have also been restructured to create easier connections to Tren UrbanoTren Urbano
The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English — is a fully automated rapid transit that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan, which includes the municipalities of San Juan, Bayamón and Guaynabo. It is electrified by third rail at 750 V DC...
.