Phoenix-based Valley Metro light rail saw its highest ridership on record in September 2011, only to have the record broke again one month later. The agency had 1,258,711 total boardings in October, an 8 percent increase over October 2010 and the highest in the system's history.
"The increase can be attributed to a number of different factors including a large number of conventions, the Arizona Diamondbacks reaching the playoffs and Arizona State University football drawing a crowd," said Metro CEO Steve Banta. "But it's not solely events, it's positive growth in response to good, quality service."
Phoenix Metro averaged 45,867 daily weekday riders in October; 36,725 daily riders on Saturdays; and 22,376 on Sundays. The Saturday average is also the highest on record.