MENU
SEARCHThe latest Fiscal Year 2022 report revealed an increase in ridership of 52% for Trolley and 41% for bus when compared to FY21.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a major challenge for transit agencies across the country as commute habits changed, including MTS where ridership plummeted to about 30% of normal levels in April 2020.
San Diego MTS
Ridership on San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) continues to climb, exceeding five million trips a month since March 2022.
The latest Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) report revealed an increase in ridership of 52% for Trolley and 41% for bus when compared to FY21. Between July 2021 to June 2022, Trolley ridership totaled 29.7 million trips compared to 19.5 million in the previous fiscal year. Bus ridership totaled 27.7 million trips compared to 19.6 million trips the year prior.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a major challenge for transit agencies across the country as commute habits changed, including MTS where ridership plummeted to about 30% of normal levels in April 2020. Ridership has since been able to recover to approximately 75% of pre-pandemic levels and reached approximately 200,000 weekday trips in the spring-summer of 2022.
The largest increase in Trolley ridership was seen on the UC San Diego Blue Line, which went up by 66%, jumping from 10.4 million rides the prior fiscal year to 17.4 million. In November 2021, MTS inaugurated an 11-mile Mid-Coast Trolley extension to UTC, and this allowed for the largest increase in ridership in one year for any line in the history of MTS.
Some of the largest increases in ridership were along routes that serve major school and employment centers. The Rapid 201/202/204 routes all saw over 300% jumps in ridership as UC San Diego students and staff returned to school in person.
Bus ridership also increased to more than one million trips each for the system’s highest performing bus routes which include Rapid 215 and Routes 7, 13 and 929, and serve areas of City Heights, Downtown, City College, South Bay and Grantville.
In May 2022, MTS, North County Transit District and San Diego Association of Governments launched the Youth Opportunity Pass (YOP) Pilot program, which allows Youth 18 and under to ride free. Following the launch of YOP, Youth bus ridership jumped 34% in the first month of free transit (May vs April 2022) and remained high in June, even as schools were no longer in session (18% increase over April 2022).
Curated and facilitated by transportation industry leaders, LITLA provides a high-quality, structured learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge, professional networking, and practical leadership application.
Read More →
Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.
Read More →
Veteran transportation innovator to lead coalition as it pushes nationwide expansion of shared autonomous mobility.
Read More →
METRO Executive Editor Alex Roman presented the award to the operation’s President/CEO Scott Parsons at the United Motorcoach Association’s EXPO in Birmingham, Alabama.
Read More →
The brand strategy was developed based on input from RTA board members, staff, and stakeholders, along with secondary research conducted over a months-long process.
Read More →
In close coordination with regional partners including Caltrain and BART, the agency ensured convenient interagency connections and seamless transfers for game-day passengers.
Read More →
Because rail has high fixed costs and low marginal savings, it is impossible to close the projected FY27 $376M deficit with service cuts and fare increases alone, said agency officials.
Read More →
The total ridership includes all fixed-route bus service, C-VAN paratransit service, The Current, Vanpool, and special event service. Almost all individual routes saw year-over-year increases from 2024 to 2025.
Read More →
Transit agencies across the U.S. commemorated Transit Equity Day with zero fares and a renewed focus on access and equity.
Read More →
The Renton Transit Center project will relocate and rebuild the Renton Transit Center to better serve the regional Stride S1 line, local King County Metro services, and the future RapidRide I Line.
Read More →
