New data from TransLink’s 2024 Transit Service Performance Review (TSPR) shows that more Metro Vancouver, Canada, residents opt for transit over driving. This trend reflects growing confidence in the region’s public transportation system. 

The agency reported that in 2024, Metro Vancouver recorded 7.7 million more transit trips than in 2023 — a 3% year-over-year increase, outpacing a modest 1% rise in vehicle travel across the region.

“As Metro Vancouver continues to grow, more people are turning to transit instead of driving, which reflects our system’s reliability,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “Our 2025 Investment Plan is key to keeping this momentum going and meeting the demand of a growing region.”

The agency said the findings highlight TransLink’s system's resilience and growing appeal. 

Driving estimates were calculated using traffic counts from eight major bridges and the George Massey Tunnel, comparing road and transit usage broadly.

A National Leader in Transit Performance

TransLink continues to rank among North America’s top-performing transit agencies. It has the second-highest per capita transit ridership in Canada, ahead of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and second only to Greater Montreal. It also has the third-highest total bus ridership among Canadian and American agencies, despite Metro Vancouver’s relatively smaller population base.

Major events also fueled ridership spikes in 2024. 

Notably, Stadium–Chinatown SkyTrain Station saw a 29% increase in ridership, driven by high-profile events at BC Place and Rogers Arena. According to the agency's data, the Taylor Swift concert series alone resulted in record-setting numbers, with a 116% jump in ridership at Stadium–Chinatown and a 64% increase in SeaBus boardings during the same period.

RapidBus, HandyDart Drive Growth

The RapidBus BRT network was a standout contributor to ridership gains in 2024. 

Some highlights include:

• Accounting for 15% of all bus boardings despite having just six routes.

• Four RapidBus routes ranking among TransLink’s top 10 most used.

• The RapidBus system averaged 20,600 daily boardings per route, more than five times the daily boardings of a typical local bus route.

TransLink’s HandyDART paratransit service also demonstrated strong performance and user satisfaction. 

Highlights for that service include:

• 1.17 million trips delivered in 2024.

• Customer satisfaction 8.8 out of 10, the second-highest score ever recorded.

• 99.6% requested trips were fulfilled, with 91% arriving on time.

• Primary trip purposes included day programs (36%), medical appointments (16%), and dialysis (14%).

Looking Ahead: 2025 Investment Plan

TransLink’s 2025 Investment Plan, which launches in September, is designed to address service gaps, reduce overcrowding, and expand access in underserved areas. 

The plan reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, responsive transit service to a rapidly growing population.

As Metro Vancouver's transit network continues to evolve, these numbers underscore a system that is keeping pace with demand and setting a national standard for public mobility, the agency said.