The agency saw a 15% year-over-year increase in ridership in July 2023 compared to July 2022 with more than 23.3 million boardings, marking the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth.
In July, Metro had 23,337,404 boardings on its bus and rail services. An average of 843,459 rides were taken each weekday, with Saturday boardings averaging 643,234 and Sunday boardings averaging 542,009.
Credit:
L.A. Metro
3 min to read
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) saw a 15% year-over-year increase in ridership in July 2023 compared to July 2022 with more than 23.3 million boardings, marking the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth.
Metro’s monthly bus and rail ridership is now at 76% of its 2019 pre-pandemic level. Average weekend ridership is now at 88% of pre-pandemic (July 2019) levels and 72% for average weekdays.
Ad Loading...
July Ridership Boom
In July, Metro had 23,337,404 boardings on its bus and rail services. An average of 843,459 rides were taken each weekday, with Saturday boardings averaging 643,234 and Sunday boardings averaging 542,009. Post-pandemic ridership recovery continues to be strongest on the weekends, with average boardings on Saturdays reaching more than 86% of (July 2019) pre-pandemic levels and average boardings on Sundays reaching almost 90% of (July 2019) pre-pandemic levels.
July 2023 marked the first full month of operation for the newly reconfigured A and E Lines, thanks to the opening of the Regional Connector project in June 2023. The Regional Connector project consolidated three of Metro’s legacy rail lines, the A (Blue), E (Expo), and L (Gold) Lines, into two: the A Line, serving customers from Azuza to Long Beach, and the E Line, serving customers from East L.A. to Santa Monica. The project also opened three new stations in downtown L.A.
During July 2023, ridership on the A and E Lines rose 26% on the weekdays compared to the combined ridership on the A (Blue), E (Expo), and L (Gold) Lines in July 2022. Ridership on the weekends in July 2023 rose nearly 42% compared to the combined ridership on the A (Blue), E (Expo), and L (Gold) Lines in July 2022.
Ridership also rose on other parts of the Metro rail system. On the B Line (Red)/D Line (Purple) subway, where there has been an increased focus on safety and a sharp decrease in crime, ridership in July 2023 rose on both the weekdays and the weekends (13% on the weekdays and 4% on the weekends) as compared to July 2022. Average Sunday ridership on the B Line and D Line is now 99% compared to July 2019, before the pandemic. On Sundays in July 2023, an average of 61,290 trips were taken on the B Line and D Lines, compared to 61,923 in July 2019 before the pandemic.
Ridership on the C Line rose 13% on the weekdays and 16% on the weekends year-over-year. K Line year-over-year information is not yet available as the line opened in October 2022.
Ad Loading...
Weekend ridership was driven in part by special events supported by Metro, the Anime Expo (A Line), NoHo Summer Nights (B Line), Riverfest (A Line), Rock the Block (K Line), and a soccer match-up between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl (A Line).
Credit:
L.A. Metro
Weekend Ridership Growing
Weekend ridership was driven in part by special events supported by Metro, the Anime Expo (A Line), NoHo Summer Nights (B Line), Riverfest (A Line), Rock the Block (K Line), and a soccer match-up between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl (A Line).
In July 2023, Metro bus ridership saw nearly a 12% year-over-year increase. Almost 18 million rides were taken on Metro’s buses, with total bus ridership in July 2023 at 75% of its level in July 2019, before the pandemic.
“We continue to be encouraged that more people are choosing to go Metro on both bus and rail,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We believe these ridership gains can be directly tied to our proactive efforts to improve the customer experience over the past year, from restoring our pre-pandemic level of bus service to making big improvements related to safety, security, and cleanliness on our rail system.”
The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service.
Discover how leading agencies are using connected technology to gain real-time visibility across operations, improve service reliability, and reduce disruptions.
Once viewed primarily as transit operators, agencies are now leveraging land, partnerships, and long-term planning to boost ridership, expand housing, and strengthen communities.
New federal transit funding will support safety, accessibility, and technology projects as updated rail regulations establish new noise standards for high-speed trains.
The coalition noted the next surface transportation bill should provide sustained investment in highways and public transit to strengthen freight movement, improve safety, and support economic growth.
METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.
Three new fare pilots — including unlimited two-hour transfers, reduced express bus fares, and free transit for eligible seniors — will launch this fall as Massachusetts extends popular commuter rail discounts through November.
The latest Notice of Funding Opportunity provides transit agencies with funding for bus facilities, fleet modernization, and low- and no-emission vehicles, with applications due September 21.
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
