Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority
Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA) bus
FoundedMay 11, 1959; 64 years ago (1959-05-11)
Headquarters37 De Diego Ave
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Service areaSan Juan, Puerto Rico metropolitan area
Service typePublic transport
AllianceTren Urbano and Cataño Ferry
Routes32
Daily ridership3,500 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[1]
Annual ridership988,800 (2023)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel, hybrid electric
Websitedtop.pr.gov

The Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA, English: Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority) is a government-owned corporation and public transport bus service based in the San Juan metropolitan area. It is part of the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Puerto Rico Integrated Transit Authority (ATI). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 988,800, or about 3,500 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Background

Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses was created as a public corporation on May 11, 1959. The operations would later be integrated into the Department of Transportation and Public Works in 1973 and the Integrated Transit Authority in 2014. It is the second oldest public transport authority in America, behind New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

AMA is one of three major public transportation systems serving the San Juan metropolitan area, along with Tren Urbano and the Cataño Ferry.

Service

AMA provides bus transportation in the San Juan metropolitan area—which includes the municipalities of San Juan, Guaynabo, Bayamón, Trujillo Alto, Cataño, Toa Baja, Carolina, and Loíza—through a network of 32 fixed bus routes.

Most routes operate Monday through Friday from 5AM to 9PM; and Saturdays and holidays from 6:00AM to 8:00PM. Only routes E30, E40, and T3 offer Sunday service, along with Tren Urbano and the Cataño Ferry.

Most bus stops are identified with a "Parada" (English: stop) green sign.

Fares

Bus stop on Avenida Ashford across from the Best Western Plus in Condado

The regular service fare is $0.75 per ride. The only bus routes with a different fare are Routes E20 and E30 with a $2.00 cost per ride. Reduced fares are available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities.

All buses require exact change in coins or the use of a magnetic fare card available at Tren Urbano stations.

Service Regular service Route E20/E30 (MU)
Full Fare (ages 3 and up) $0.75 $2.00
Children 2 and under Free Free
Student Discount Program $0.60 $1.00
Golden Program Free Free
Half Fare Program $0.75 $1.00
Llame y Viaje (Paratransit) $1.50
Unlimited passes TU/AMA
1-Day $5.00
7-Day $15.00
30-Day $50.00
90-Day $90.00

Routes

ATI manages the operation of thirty-two bus routes in the San Juan metropolitan area; twenty-four operated by AMA and eight by First Transit. The design of the bus network includes four service categories to guide the customers and improve the coordination between buses, ferry, públicos, municipal buses, and Tren Urbano.[3]

Route Terminals Major streets traveled Notes
EXPRESS ROUTES Limited number of stops and route mostly on exclusive lanes or expressways.
E10
(ME)
[4] 		Sagrado Corazón
TU station 		↔ Old San Juan
Covadonga Terminal 		Luis Muñoz Rivera Hwy
  • Weekday service only until 8:00pm
  • 15-minute peak period service frequency
  • Branded as Metrobús Expreso
E20
(MU)
[5] 		Bayamón
TU station 		↔ Campanilla
Park-and-ride 		PR-5, PR-22
  • Weekday service only until 7:00pm
  • 15-minute peak period service frequency
  • Branded as Metro Urbano
E30
(MU)
[6] 		Cupey
TU station 		↔ Caguas
Bus terminal 		PR-52
  • Daily service until 7:00pm
  • Branded as Metro Urbano
E40
[7] 		Piñero
TU station 		↔ LMM International Airport (SJU) Jesús T. Piñero Hwy, The Mall of San Juan
  • Daily service until 8:00pm
  • Bus stops at the airport located on the upper level
  • TU CONEXIÓN shuttle
TRUNK ROUTES Primary routes connecting Tren Urbano stations and transit terminals with headways between 10 and 25 minutes in peak periods.
T2
[8] 		Sagrado Corazón
TU station 		↔ Bayamón
TU station 		FD Roosevelt Ave, PR-2
  • Formerly known as Metrobús II
T3
(M3)
[9] 		↔ Old San Juan
Covadonga Terminal 		Juan Ponce de León Ave
  • Daily service until 11:00pm
  • 10-minute peak period service frequency
  • Branded as Metrobús
T4
[10] 		Piñero
TU station 		↔ Cataño
Ferry Terminal 		Juan Ponce de León Ave, Luis Muñoz Rivera Ave, Chardón Ave, Calaf St, FD Roosevelt Ave, PR-165, PR-24
T5
[11] 		Old San Juan
Covadonga Terminal 		↔ Iturregui
Bus Terminal 		Juan Ponce de León Ave, José de Diego Ave, Loíza St, Isla Verde Ave, LMM International Airport (SJU), Marginal Los Angeles
T7
[12] 		Cupey
TU station 		↔ Carolina
Bus Terminal 		65 de Infanteria Ave (PR-3)
T9
[13] 		↔ Old San Juan
Covadonga Terminal 		Barbosa Ave, Borinquen Ave, Manuel Fernández Juncos Ave
T21
[14] 		Plaza Las Américas ↔ Juan Ponce de León Ave, José de Diego Ave, Ashford Ave, Magdalena St
T41
[15] 		Piñero
TU station 		↔ Iturregui
Bus Terminal 		Mayagüez St, Barbosa Ave, 65 de Infantería Ave, Simón Madera St, Ramal 8, Campo Rico Ave
CIRCULATION ROUTES Short length routes around Tren Urbano stations or transit terminals operating at headways between 20 and 30 minutes in peak periods.
1
[16] 		Sagrado Corazón
TU station 		↔ 65 de Infanteria Ave Juan Ponce de León Ave, Luis Muñoz Rivera Ave, Gándara Ave, Barbosa Ave
  • Weekday service only until 8:00pm
C22
[17] 		↔ Plaza Las Américas Chardón St, Hostos Ave, Arterial B Ave
  • Weekday service only until 8:00pm
  • TU CONEXIÓN shuttle
C35
[18] 		↻ Puerto Rico Convention Center Manuel Fernández Juncos Ave, Cerra St, Hoare St, Juan Ponce de León Ave
  • Weekday service only until 8:00pm
  • TU CONEXIÓN shuttle
C36
[19] 		↻ Lloréns Torres Borinquen Ave, Eduardo Conde Ave, Degetau St, Marginal Baldorioty de Castro, Isla Verde Ave, Loíza St, Tapia St, Juan Ponce de León Ave
  • Weekday service only until 8:00pm
  • TU CONEXIÓN shuttle
43
[20] 		Iturregui
Bus Terminal 		↻ Plaza Escorial Pontezuela Ave, Galicia Ave, Campo Rico Ave, PR-190, Monserrate Ave, Fidalgo Díaz Ave, Jesús M. Fragoso Ave, PR-3, El Comandante Ave
44
[21] 		Carolina
Bus Terminal 		↻ Campo Rico Avenue Dr. Sánchez Castaño Ave, Eloy Hernández St, Inocencio Cruz St, Calderón Ave, Monserrate Ave, Roberto Clemente Ave, 419 St, Campo Rico Ave, Fidalgo Díaz Ave
DISTRIBUTION ROUTES Connection routes between Tren Urbano or transit terminals to sub-urban or rural areas with frequencies between 30 and 90 minutes in peak periods.
6
[22] 		Carolina
Bus Terminal 		↔ Iturregui
Bus Terminal 		Campo Rico Ave, Sánchez Osorio Ave, Jesús M. Fragoso Ave
8
[23] 		Piñero
TU station 		↔ Martínez Nadal
TU station 		Jesús T. Piñero Ave
15
[24] 		Cupey
TU station 		↔ Sagrado Corazón
TU station 		Quisqueya St, Barbosa Ave, PR-181, José de Diego St
17
[25] 		↔ Piñero
TU station 		Centro Médico Station, San Patricio Ave, Jesús T. Piñero Ave, Andalucía Ave, FD Roosevelt Ave, Domenech Ave
18
[26] 		↔ Alturas de Cupey Paraná St, Winston Churchill Ave, Las Cumbres Ave
19
[27] 		Martínez Nadal
TU station 		↔ Centro Médico
TU station 		San Patricio Ave, FD Roosevelt Ave, De Diego Ave, Américo Miranda Ave
26
[28] 		Piñero
TU station 		↔ Trujillo Alto Plaza Gándara Ave, José de Diego St, PR-181, Park Gardens Ave, Frontera Ave, PR-846, Ave A, Venus Ave, PR-199
27
[29] 		Martínez Nadal
TU station 		↔ Guaynabo Francisco Paz Granela Ave, Lomas Verdes Ave, Camino Alejandrino, Esmeralda Ave, Carazo St, PR-886
31
[30] 		Cupey
TU station 		↔ Emiliano Pol Ave Paraná Ave, Lomas Verdes Ave, Las Cumbres Ave, Emiliano Pol Ave
37
[31] 		Bayamón
TU station 		↔ Cataño
Ferry Terminal 		PR-167, Sabana Seca Ave, CDT Toa Baja, Dr. Diego Álvarez Chanca St, Boulevard Levittown, PR-165, Las Nereidas Ave
45
[32] 		Sagrado Corazón
TU station 		↔ Loíza Sagrado Corazón St, Tapia St, Isla Verde Ave, PR-187
53
[33] 		Old San Juan
Covadonga Terminal 		↔ LMM International Airport (SJU) Ashford Ave, Magdalena St, McLeary St, Isla Verde Ave
91
[34] 		Bayamón
TU station 		↔ Santa Juanita Bobby Capó Ave, Main Ave, PR-174, UPR Bayamón, Laurel Ave, Santa Juanita Ave, Hostos Ave, Minillas Ave
92
[35] 		↔ Magnolia Gardens PR-174, Lomas Verdes Ave, Santa Juanita Ave, Magnolia Ave
Notes
  Operated by First Transit

1Effective October 30, 2023
2Peak period service: 6:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-6:00pm

Transit hubs

Active bus fleet

Sagrado Corazón Station

AMA has a total of around 100 buses in its active fleet, with the oldest active fleet model being Orion V built in 2004–2005 and 2007, and the newest being the NovaBus Smart LFS built in 2013. In addition, AMA also operates a large fleet of Orion VII NG built in 2010 and a subfleet of New Flyer DE35LF built in 2005 and 2007.

First Transit, which operates seven routes under contract, works with a fleet of Gillig Low Floors built in 2009, and NABI 42-BRT and 60-BRT for Metro Urbano (E20 route) built in 2012. The 60-BRT will be AMA's first low-floor articulated bus. This will mark only the second-time articulated buses have been used on the island; in 1984 AMA receive their first fleet of articulated buses, the MAN SG-310.

In 2015, AMA introduced the first suburban bus fleet with 33 Ford Super Duty Glaval buses.

TYPE YEAR LENGTH
Orion V 2004–2005, 2007 35'
New Flyer DE35LF 2005, 2007 35'
Gillig Low Floor 2009 40'
Orion VII Next Generation 2010 40
NABI 42-BRT 2012 42'
NABI 60-BRT 2012 60'
Ford Super Duty Glaval Suburban Bus 2012 25'
NovaBus Smart LFS 2013–2014, 2019–2020 40'

Inactive bus fleet

TYPE YEAR LENGTH
Flxible Twincoach Old Look 1946 35'
GMC Old Look 1953–1954 40'
Mack Trucks Old Look 1955 40'
Mack Trucks New Look 1960 40'
GMC New Look 1962–1963 35'
GMC New Look 1966–1968 35'
Flxible New Look 1970,1972 35'
GMC New Look 1976 35'
GMC RTS II 1980,1983 35'
MAN SG-310 1984 60'
Grumman 870 ADB 1987 40'
Flxible Metro 1988 40'
Flxible Metro 1990 30'
Flxible Metro 1991 35'
TMC Methanol Powered RTS 1992 40'
Flxible Metro 1995 40'
Nova Bus RTS 1997–2000 40'
Nova Bus LFS 1999 40'
Nova Bus RTS 2002 30'

See also

References

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Folleto Informativo Reestructuración ATI 2015(in Spanish)
  4. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=E10 E10 map
  5. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=E20 E20 map
  6. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=E30 E30 map
  7. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=E40 E40 map
  8. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T2 T2 map
  9. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T3 T3 map
  10. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T4 T4 map
  11. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T5 T5 map
  12. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T7 T7 map
  13. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T9 T9 map
  14. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T21 T21 map
  15. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T41 T41 map
  16. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C1 C1 map
  17. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C22 C22 map
  18. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C35 C35 map
  19. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C36 C36 map
  20. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C43 C43 map
  21. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=C44 C44 map
  22. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T6 D6 map
  23. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=T8 D8 map
  24. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D15 D15 map
  25. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=17 D17 map
  26. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D18 D18 map
  27. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=19 D19 map
  28. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D26 D26 map and information
  29. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D27 D27 map
  30. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=31 D31 map
  31. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D37 D37 map
  32. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D45 D45 map
  33. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D53 D53 map
  34. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D91 D91 map
  35. ^ http://trenurbanoapp.com/app/map?route=D92 D92 map

External links

Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico
Government-owned corporations of Puerto Rico
Authority control databases
Categories