The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) achieved 27,170,160 boardings on its bus and rail services in May. Metro carried an average of 980,865 boardings each weekday, an 8.2% increase over last May and the 18th-straight month of year-over-year ridership increases.
Additionally, average weekend ridership in May saw a 7% increase in boardings over May 2023 as more people took Metro to special events and leisure activities, with Saturday boardings at 2,706,120 and Sunday boardings at 2,885,010.
In May, weekday ridership for bus and rail was at 81.1% of the level it was before the pandemic in May 2019. Weekend ridership in May reached 95.9% of the pre-pandemic level from May 2019.
Bus/Rail Ridership Trends
The total number of May rail boardings was 5,887,366, with 4,573,712 trips taken on weekdays reflecting a 4.5% increase over May 2023.
Average ridership on the A and E Lines is up 31% year-over-year when compared to the A, E, and L line configuration before the Regional Connector project was completed. Weekend ridership on the A and E Lines now exceed their pre-pandemic levels.
Saturday ridership in May 2024 on A and E Lines was 0.9% higher than Saturday ridership on the A, E, and L Line configuration in 2019. Sunday ridership in May 2024 on the A and E Lines was 5.9% higher than Sunday ridership on the A, E, and L Lines in May 2019. In May, the A Line saw the largest total rail boardings with 1,946,782 trips taken, a 4.6% increase over April 2024.
In May, more than 21 million (21,282,794) rides were taken on Metro buses for a 9% year-over-year ridership increase over May 2023 and an 87.4% recovery of its May 2019 level.
Metro recorded 17,005,318 bus boardings on weekdays in May 2024, up 10.9% over May 2023. On Saturdays in May 2,087,816 boardings occurred adding 37,736 riders over April 2024. Sundays in May saw 2,189,660 boardings, an increase of over a half million riders (517,132) over the previous month (April 2024).
Weekend/Leisure Ridership
During May, weekend activities were plentiful, and riders relied on Metro to get to many events taking place throughout Los Angeles County. Riders boosted weekend boardings, which reached 95.9% of its May 2019 pre-pandemic level. Saturday boardings on bus and rail combined reached 90.6% of May 2019 levels, and on Sundays during the month, average combined boardings reached 101.5% of May 2019 levels.
The Cruel World Music Festival on May 11 at Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl saw a 94% increase in ridership at the Memorial Park Station on Saturday compared to the previous Saturday. On the following weekend, May 18, The Just Like Heaven Music Festival at Brookside Park saw a 27% increase in ridership compared to the Cruel World event the previous Saturday and a 145% increase in Saturday ridership compared to a non-event weekend.
Concerts, sports, and other special events are all helping to raise Metro’s weekend ridership. Additionally in May, Keinemusik music festival, Long Beach, and West Hollywood Pride festivities, as well as LAFC and Angel City FC soccer matches (seven games combined) and 14 LA Dodger games added to weekend ridership.
