Through the end of April, Metro Transit has provided more than 15.6 million rides, a 12% increase compared to the same time last year. Bus ridership is up 13% while light rail ridership is up 10% and Northstar ridership is up almost 33%. Through the end of April, average weekday ridership is 144,316.
"Our continued ridership growth is an encouraging sign that residents across the region value convenient, reliable and affordable service, and want to see more of it in the years ahead," Council Chair Charlie Zelle said.
Notably, the number of rides taken through the Transit Assistance Program (TAP) has increased nearly 15%. Metro Transit is promoting the reduced fare program with the support of community-based organizations, through in-person outreach events, and with help from Transit Rider Investment Program Agents and Transit Service Intervention Project partners who are riding light rail.
Ridership trends by mode are available at metrotransit.org/performance.
Service improvements coming June 15
To expand access to transit, buses will begin running more frequently on several routes, including routes 2, 25 and 32, when planned schedule changes take effect on Saturday, June 15. Due to construction, trip times will be adjusted on many routes and several routes will return to 6th Street in downtown St. Paul.
To enable future service improvements, Metro Transit is seeking to hire hundreds of operators, technicians, and other transit workers. To help attract candidates, wages for all represented transit workers will increase 4.5% on Aug. 1, 2024.
"We are seeing more success hiring transit workers and are eager to welcome even more people into Metro Transit as we work to improve and expand service," Metro Transit General Manager Lesley Kandaras said.
In 2025, service will be improved with the opening of three new bus rapid transit lines, the METRO Gold Line, METRO B Line, and METRO E Line.
In the coming months, crews will build B Line and E Line stations along West Lake Street and in southwest Minneapolis; improvements to the roadways, sidewalks and traffic signals are being coordinated with local partners. On the Gold Line, station construction continues in downtown St. Paul and on a new Park & Ride in Woodbury.
Official presence on transit expanding
To ensure riders have a consistently safe and welcoming experience, Metro Transit continues to expand the official presence on transit.
Since December, Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents and Community Service Officers (CSOs) who assist customers and ensure riders have valid fares have interacted with tens of thousands of riders. Metro Transit is now seeking to hire up to 22 additional TRIP Agents, who ride light rail to answer questions and ensure riders have valid fares.
Service providers working on transit through the Transit Service Intervention Project also continue to offer services on light rail. Their efforts are focused on the METRO Green Line, and several coordinated events will be held in June.
The Metro Transit Police Department is meanwhile recruiting police officers and CSOs. The department will swear in its next class of police officers this summer.
As reported earlier this year, the number of reported crimes declined 7.7% when comparing the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2023. Updated crime data will be provided in August as part of the quarterly update on the Safety & Security Action Plan.
Blue Line, Green Line reach major milestones
In June, the METRO Blue Line will reach 20 years of service and the METRO Green Line will reach 10 years of service. These milestones will be celebrated at an event at Target Field Station on Tuesday, June 18.
The event will include a short program featuring speakers from Metro Transit, the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the Minnesota Twins. A Metro Transit representative involved in the Blue Line’s opening will throw out the first pitch at that evening’s Twins game.
Contacts
Metro Transit: Drew Kerr, [email protected], 651-387-3928
Metro Transit Police Department: Nikki Muehlhausen, [email protected], 763-264-9913