As gas prices remain high, Missoula's Mountain Line bus system wins national award

On Thursday morning, about 12 different people rode the Route 11 Mountain Line bus in Missoula from near Yoke's grocery store to Target. A young woman and her toddler laughed and made conversation with an older gentleman seated next to them.

Two bearded veterans, each recognizing the others' hat denoting military service, exchanged stories from across the aisle about where they grew up.

Later, on the same bus traveling back toward downtown, a man in a cowboy hat told this reporter he couldn't believe how many people don't know that Route 11 runs back and forth from downtown to the airport.

For one woman, it was her first time riding the bus because she was having problems with her car and she wanted to get to the Senior Center to play pinochle. Taking the bus, she said, meant she didn't have to find two different friends to drop her off and pick her up.

Not only were they all saving on gas, but none of them paid even a nickel to hop on and get to where they needed to go.

They are among the thousands of people who use Missoula's free-to-ride Mountain Line bus system, which was recently named the best transit system of its size in the country by the Community Transportation Association of America.

In presenting the award, the association noted that Mountain Line was the first system in Montana to offer service seven days a week and riders haven't been charged in over a decade.

And with gasoline and diesel at extremely high prices (Montana set a new all-time record for gas prices for Memorial Day weekend, according to the tracking website GasBuddy), there's never been a better time to choose public transportation.

Jordan Hess, the CEO and general manager of Mountain Line, said their application for the award highlighted the agency's long-running commitment to zero-fare service, its electric buses and more recent initiatives like the recreation shuttle to Marshall Mountain, which will return for a full season this weekend.

“This award recognizes our employees who help Missoulians get to where they need to go 361 days a year, but it also celebrates all of Missoula,” Hess said. “The award-winning service Mountain Line provides is only possible because of the community's support.”

In fiscal year 2025, Mountain Line gave 1.26 million rides on fixed routes and 85,507 rides on their paratransit system.

The award from the Community Transportation Association of America was presented to bus operator Bryan Ursery, who has worked at the agency for over two decades.

Last week, Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis and Missoula Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chad Bauer held a press conference about the recognition.

"Mountain Line isn’t just a transportation service, it’s part of Missoula’s economic infrastructure,” Bauer said. “When we talk about Missoula as a competitive, forward-looking community, a strong, visible transit system like Mountain Line is part of that story.”

In July, Mountain Line will launch new routes and make frequency improvements as part of a system update that Hess said reflects extensive community input about service needs around Missoula.

A new Route 10 will connect the northern Franklin to the Fort area to downtown with half-hour service six days a week, the first higher-frequency route to be offered on Saturdays. That new route will serve the Wyoming Street corridor and the Missoula Food Bank and provide transportation to multiple low-income neighborhoods.

Also, Routes 3 and 4 will see increased frequency in response to high ridership demand on the Northside and East Missoula. There are also plans to bring new service to neighborhoods around Mullan Road, where new housing is rapidly increasing demand for transit.

“CTAA is proud to award Mountain Line with the 2026 Large System of the Year Award," said Loreal Lance of the association. "They deliver the essential transit services their community wants and needs. They are an exemplary example for us to showcase to the rest of our members. It’s always difficult to choose winners for the Community Transportation awards. Mountain Line was chosen because of their leadership in innovative, accessible public transit."

Mountain Line is getting ready to start construction on a new headquarters in Missoula, supported by a large federal grant they won in 2023.

Mountain Line's website at MountainLine.com shows a map of all the routes and schedules, along with answers to frequently asked questions.