For the first time, the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) jointly recorded more than 10 million passenger trips in a fiscal year. This milestone is nearly a 14% increase over the previous fiscal period and almost 1.3 million more trips than the previous year.
Ridership has increased steadily over the past year and continues to grow. Average Nashville MTA ridership is 31,000 passenger trips per weekday. Average regional bus ridership is 1,200 passenger trips per weekday.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment not only for the Nashville MTA but also for the city of Nashville,” MTA Board Chair Thomas F. “Freddie” O’Connell said. “Public transportation offers a choice that ensures freedom of mobility. We're committed to making it the smart, comfortable, convenient choice for more people."
RTA regional bus and train ridership has been increasing prior to gas prices spiking in 2011. For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, Music City Star ridership is up 14%.
Ridership on regional buses has grown rapidly as well, up by 49%.