US Public Transport Ridership:
Top 50 Systems: 1985-1995

Analysis of National Transit Database Information

12 March 1997

Contents
National Ridership by Size of System
Top 50 Systems by State and Urban Area
Top 50 Systems by 1985-1995 Percentage Change
Top 50 Systems by 1985 Ridership
Top 50 Systems by 1995 Ridership

PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDERSHIP
Ridership Trend by Size of System
1985-1995
1985 Ridership (# Systems) 1985 1995 Change
Over 300 Million (5) 4,388 3,339 -23.9%
100 to 300 Million (5) 918 890 -3.0%
50 to 100 Million (16) 1,106 1,073 -3.0%
20 to 50 Million (16) 486 491 1.2%
Less than 20 Million 1,104 1,168 5.8%
Total 8,001 6,962 -13.0%
Ridership in millions of unlinked trips
Motorbus, Trolleybus, Metro & Tram

PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDERSHIP
50 Top US Systems
1985-1995
State System 1985 1995 Change
AZ Phoenix Transit 18.8 34.1 80.8%
CA Los Angeles: LACMTA 497.2 362.3 -27.1%
CA Los Angeles: Long Beach 21.1 21.0 -0.2%
CA Los Angeles: Orange County 32.0 41.5 29.9%
CA Sacramento: RT 16.1 23.1 43.8%
CA San Diego: MTDB 36.2 59.2 63.4%
CA San Fancisco: Santa Clara Co. 34.6 45.0 30.2%
CA San Francisco Muni 235.6 207.2 -12.1%
CA San Francisco: AC Transit 72.8 61.9 -14.9%
CA San Francisco: BART 66.0 78.7 19.1%
CA San Francisco: San Mateo Co. 19.9 19.5 -1.9%
CO Denver: RTD 57.8 66.8 15.6%
CT Hartford: CT Transit 21.0 18.7 -10.7%
DC Washington Metro 308.7 345.0 11.7%
FL Ft. Lauderdale: Broward Co. 17.3 24.0 38.5%
FL Miami: MDTA 66.7 76.5 14.7%
GA Atlanta: MARTA 155.7 143.6 -7.8%
HI Honolulu: DTS 74.2 73.0 -1.7%
IL Chicago: CTA 642.0 441.5 -31.2%
IL Chicago: Pace 37.5 33.5 -10.6%
KY Louisville: TARC 25.2 19.5 -22.6%
LA New Orleans: RTA 68.6 70.6 2.8%
MA Boston: MBTA 276.2 294.7 6.7%
MD Baltimore: MTA 107.6 103.3 -4.0%
MD Washington: Ride-On 8.5 18.0 111.6%
MI Detroit: DDOT 66.5 57.0 -14.3%
MN Minneapolis-St. Paul: MCTO 73.6 61.1 -16.9%
MO St. Louis: Bi-State 51.1 51.2 0.1%
NJ New Jersey Transit 142.5 141.2 -0.9%
NV Las Vegas: CAT 5.4 28.5 433.3%
NY Buffalo: NFTA 35.7 29.0 -18.6%
NY New York: Long Island Bus 29.9 25.0 -16.6%
NY New York: PATH 53.6 64.7 20.7%
NY New York: TA 2,584.7 1,893.1 -26.8%
NY New York: Westchester Co. 29.0 30.1 3.7%
OH Cincinnati: SORTA 28.8 23.8 -17.5%
OH Cleveland: RTA 90.2 58.0 -35.7%
OH Columbus: COTA 25.9 17.5 -32.3%
OR Portland: Tri-Met 54.8 64.0 16.7%
PA Philadelphia: SEPTA 355.4 297.5 -16.3%
PA Pittsburgh: PAT 86.5 72.4 -16.3%
RI Providence: RIPTA 22.9 14.9 -35.0%
TX Austin: Capital Metro 7.7 27.3 252.7%
TX Dallas: DART 45.9 51.0 11.1%
TX Houston: Metro 66.1 79.6 20.5%
TX San Antonio: VIA 35.4 47.3 33.8%
UT Salt Lake City: UTA 17.0 24.5 44.3%
VA Richmond: GRTC 24.5 14.1 -42.6%
WA Seattle Metro 81.8 81.0 -1.0%
WI Milwaukee Co Transit 75.5 56.5 -25.2%
Total 50 Systems 7,008.8 5,993.6 -14.5%
All Others 993.2 969.4 -2.4%
National 8,001.0 6,962.0 -13.0%
Ridership in millions of unlinked trips
Motorbus, Trolleybus, Metro & Tram
Washington: Ride On 1985 estimated
Source: National Transit Database

PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDERSHIP
50 Top US Systems Ranked by Percentage Change
1985-1995

Rank State System 1985 1995 Change
1 NV Las Vegas: CAT 5.4 28.5 433.3%
2 TX Austin: Capital Metro 7.7 27.3 252.7%
3 MD Washington: Ride-On 8.5 18.0 111.6%
4 AZ Phoenix Transit 18.8 34.1 80.8%
5 CA San Diego: MTDB 36.2 59.2 63.4%
6 UT Salt Lake City: UTA 17.0 24.5 44.3%
7 CA Sacramento: RT 16.1 23.1 43.8%
8 FL Ft. Lauderdale: Broward Co. 17.3 24.0 38.5%
9 TX San Antonio: VIA 35.4 47.3 33.8%
10 CA San Fancisco: Santa Clara Co. 34.6 45.0 30.2%
11 CA Los Angeles: Orange County 32.0 41.5 29.9%
12 NY New York: PATH 53.6 64.7 20.7%
13 TX Houston: Metro 66.1 79.6 20.5%
14 CA San Francisco: BART 66.0 78.7 19.1%
15 OR Portland: Tri-Met 54.8 64.0 16.7%
16 CO Denver: RTD 57.8 66.8 15.6%
17 FL Miami: MDTA 66.7 76.5 14.7%
18 DC Washington Metro 308.7 345.0 11.7%
19 TX Dallas: DART 45.9 51.0 11.1%
20 MA Boston: MBTA 276.2 294.7 6.7%
21 NY New York: Westchester Co. 29.0 30.1 3.7%
22 LA New Orleans: RTA 68.6 70.6 2.8%
23 MO St. Louis: Bi-State 51.1 51.2 0.1%
24 CA Los Angeles: Long Beach 21.1 21.0 -0.2%
25 NJ New Jersey Transit 142.5 141.2 -0.9%
26 WA Seattle Metro 81.8 81.0 -1.0%
27 HI Honolulu: DTS 74.2 73.0 -1.7%
28 CA San Francisco: San Mateo Co. 19.9 19.5 -1.9%
29 MD Baltimore: MTA 107.6 103.3 -4.0%
30 GA Atlanta: MARTA 155.7 143.6 -7.8%
31 IL Chicago: Pace 37.5 33.5 -10.6%
32 CT Hartford: CT Transit 21.0 18.7 -10.7%
33 CA San Francisco Muni 235.6 207.2 -12.1%
34 MI Detroit: DDOT 66.5 57.0 -14.3%
35 CA San Francisco: AC Transit 72.8 61.9 -14.9%
36 PA Philadelphia: SEPTA 355.4 297.5 -16.3%
37 PA Pittsburgh: PAT 86.5 72.4 -16.3%
38 NY New York: Long Island Bus 29.9 25.0 -16.6%
39 MN Minneapolis-St. Paul: MCTO 73.6 61.1 -16.9%
40 OH Cincinnati: SORTA 28.8 23.8 -17.5%
41 NY Buffalo: NFTA 35.7 29.0 -18.6%
42 KY Louisville: TARC 25.2 19.5 -22.6%
43 WI Milwaukee Co Transit 75.5 56.5 -25.2%
44 NY New York: TA 2,584.7 1,893.1 -26.8%
45 CA Los Angeles: LACMTA 497.2 362.3 -27.1%
46 IL Chicago: CTA 642.0 441.5 -31.2%
47 OH Columbus: COTA 25.9 17.5 -32.3%
48 RI Providence: RIPTA 22.9 14.9 -35.0%
49 OH Cleveland: RTA 90.2 58.0 -35.7%
50 VA Richmond: GRTC 24.5 14.1 -42.6%

PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDERSHIP
50 Top US Systems Ranked by 1985 Ridership
1985-1995
Rank State System 1985 1995 Change
1 NY New York: TA 2,584.7 1,893.1 -26.8%
2 IL Chicago: CTA 642.0 441.5 -31.2%
3 CA Los Angeles: LACMTA 497.2 362.3 -27.1%
4 PA Philadelphia: SEPTA 355.4 297.5 -16.3%
5 DC Washington Metro 308.7 345.0 11.7%
6 MA Boston: MBTA 276.2 294.7 6.7%
7 CA San Francisco Muni 235.6 207.2 -12.1%
8 GA Atlanta: MARTA 155.7 143.6 -7.8%
9 NJ New Jersey Transit 142.5 141.2 -0.9%
10 MD Baltimore: MTA 107.6 103.3 -4.0%
11 OH Cleveland: RTA 90.2 58.0 -35.7%
12 PA Pittsburgh: PAT 86.5 72.4 -16.3%
13 WA Seattle Metro 81.8 81.0 -1.0%
14 WI Milwaukee Co Transit 75.5 56.5 -25.2%
15 HI Honolulu: DTS 74.2 73.0 -1.7%
16 MN Minneapolis-St. Paul: MCTO 73.6 61.1 -16.9%
17 CA San Francisco: AC Transit 72.8 61.9 -14.9%
18 LA New Orleans: RTA 68.6 70.6 2.8%
19 FL Miami: MDTA 66.7 76.5 14.7%
20 MI Detroit: DDOT 66.5 57.0 -14.3%
21 TX Houston: Metro 66.1 79.6 20.5%
22 CA San Francisco: BART 66.0 78.7 19.1%
23 CO Denver: RTD 57.8 66.8 15.6%
24 OR Portland: Tri-Met 54.8 64.0 16.7%
25 NY New York: PATH 53.6 64.7 20.7%
26 MO St. Louis: Bi-State 51.1 51.2 0.1%
27 TX Dallas: DART 45.9 51.0 11.1%
28 IL Chicago: Pace 37.5 33.5 -10.6%
29 CA San Diego: MTDB 36.2 59.2 63.4%
30 NY Buffalo: NFTA 35.7 29.0 -18.6%
31 TX San Antonio: VIA 35.4 47.3 33.8%
32 CA San Fancisco: Santa Clara Co. 34.6 45.0 30.2%
33 CA Los Angeles: Orange County 32.0 41.5 29.9%
34 NY New York: Long Island Bus 29.9 25.0 -16.6%
35 NY New York: Westchester Co. 29.0 30.1 3.7%
36 OH Cincinnati: SORTA 28.8 23.8 -17.5%
37 OH Columbus: COTA 25.9 17.5 -32.3%
38 KY Louisville: TARC 25.2 19.5 -22.6%
39 VA Richmond: GRTC 24.5 14.1 -42.6%
40 RI Providence: RIPTA 22.9 14.9 -35.0%
41 CA Los Angeles: Long Beach 21.1 21.0 -0.2%
42 CT Hartford: CT Transit 21.0 18.7 -10.7%
43 CA San Francisco: San Mateo Co. 19.9 19.5 -1.9%
44 AZ Phoenix Transit 18.8 34.1 80.8%
45 FL Ft. Lauderdale: Broward Co. 17.3 24.0 38.5%
46 UT Salt Lake City: UTA 17.0 24.5 44.3%
47 CA Sacramento: RT 16.1 23.1 43.8%
48 MD Washington: Ride-On 8.5 18.0 111.6%
49 TX Austin: Capital Metro 7.7 27.3 252.7%
50 NV Las Vegas: CAT 5.4 28.5 433.3%

PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDERSHIP
50 Top US Systems Ranked by 1995 Ridership
1985-1995

Rank

 State System 1985 Rank 1995 Change
1 NY New York: TA 1 1,893.1 -26.8%
2 IL Chicago: CTA 2 441.5 -31.2%
3 CA Los Angeles: LACMTA 3 362.3 -27.1%
4 DC Washington Metro 5 345.0 11.7%
5 PA Philadelphia: SEPTA 4 297.5 -16.3%
6 MA Boston: MBTA 6 294.7 6.7%
7 CA San Francisco Muni 7 207.2 -12.1%
8 GA Atlanta: MARTA 8 143.6 -7.8%
9 NJ New Jersey Transit 9 141.2 -0.9%
10 MD Baltimore: MTA 10 103.3 -4.0%
11 WA Seattle Metro 13 81.0 -1.0%
12 TX Houston: Metro 21 79.6 20.5%
13 CA San Francisco: BART 22 78.7 19.1%
14 FL Miami: MDTA 19 76.5 14.7%
15 HI Honolulu: DTS 15 73.0 -1.7%
16 PA Pittsburgh: PAT 12 72.4 -16.3%
17 LA New Orleans: RTA 18 70.6 2.8%
18 CO Denver: RTD 23 66.8 15.6%
19 NY New York: PATH 25 64.7 20.7%
20 OR Portland: Tri-Met 24 64.0 16.7%
21 CA San Francisco: AC Transit 17 61.9 -14.9%
22 MN Minneapolis-St. Paul: MCTO 16 61.1 -16.9%
23 CA San Diego: MTDB 29 59.2 63.4%
24 OH Cleveland: RTA 11 58.0 -35.7%
25 MI Detroit: DDOT 20 57.0 -14.3%
26 WI Milwaukee Co Transit 14 56.5 -25.2%
27 MO St. Louis: Bi-State 26 51.2 0.1%
28 TX Dallas: DART 27 51.0 11.1%
29 TX San Antonio: VIA 31 47.3 33.8%
30 CA San Fancisco: Santa Clara Co. 32 45.0 30.2%
31 CA Los Angeles: Orange County 33 41.5 29.9%
32 AZ Phoenix Transit 44 34.1 80.8%
33 IL Chicago: Pace 28 33.5 -10.6%
34 NY New York: Westchester Co. 35 30.1 3.7%
35 NY Buffalo: NFTA 30 29.0 -18.6%
36 NV Las Vegas: CAT 50 28.5 433.3%
37 TX Austin: Capital Metro 49 27.3 252.7%
38 NY New York: Long Island Bus 34 25.0 -16.6%
39 UT Salt Lake City: UTA 46 24.5 44.3%
40 FL Ft. Lauderdale: Broward Co. 45 24.0 38.5%
41 OH Cincinnati: SORTA 36 23.8 -17.5%
42 CA Sacramento: RT 47 23.1 43.8%
43 CA Los Angeles: Long Beach 41 21.0 -0.2%
44 KY Louisville: TARC 38 19.5 -22.6%
45 CA San Francisco: San Mateo Co. 43 19.5 -1.9%
46 CT Hartford: CT Transit 42 18.7 -10.7%
47 MD Washington: Ride-On 48 18.0 111.6%
48 OH Columbus: COTA 37 17.5 -32.3%
49 RI Providence: RIPTA 40 14.9 -35.0%
50 VA Richmond: GRTC 39 14.1 -42.6%

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