Transit usage in the Puget Sound region significantly jumped in 2024, bringing ridership up to 151 million trips.

Growing Transit in 2024

According to six ORCA transit agencies, Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit delivered 17 million more trips in 2024 than in 2023.

"Our riders chose to take 10 million more Metro trips in 2024 than the year before, and more people are taking transit more often in 2025, too,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “In the years ahead, we're responding to communities' desire for even more transit to better connect our riders to the people and destinations that are most important to them."

Recent expansions and improvements across the region match transit's growing popularity. The agencies celebrated adding more bus trips, opening new bus rapid transit lines, launching Sound Transit Link light rail extensions, offering faster ferry and water taxi services, and extending the “first-mile, last-mile” options that connect neighborhoods that. 

“With the opening of the Northgate and Lynnwood light rail extensions, more and more people have discovered just how convenient transit is to get to entertainment, sporting events and work,” said Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparrman. “As we extend across Lake Washington and south to Federal Way in the near future, we know that even more riders will be using light rail to enjoy everything our region has to offer.”

Importance of Transit in 2025

With increased in-person work and the region’s growing popularity, transit offers many benefits compared to private vehicles. More people using public transportation shortens commuting times, lowers stress levels, reduces pollution, decreases congestion, and cuts travel costs such as gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and parking.

Since January 2025, vehicle traffic and transit ridership increased as Amazon office staff resumed in-person work five days a week. In 2026, Seattle is hosting the FIFA Men’s World Cup, bringing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to the Puget Sound region.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will be making major improvements to Interstate 5, with resulting changes, closures, and detours affecting alternate routes and side streets.

Transit can help many people get where they need to go safely and reliably.

With more riders, ORCA transit agencies continue expanding and enhancing transit service, combatting climate change and making transit more accessible and affordable to residents and visitors.