Metro recorded more than 25.8 million boardings on the bus and rail system last month. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Metro celebrated its 24th consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth in November with more than 25.8 million boardings. Combined bus and rail ridership reached nearly 88% of its 2019 pre-pandemic ridership level. While Metro typically sees a drop in ridership during November and December due to the holiday season, Metro’s average weekday boardings reached 84.4% of the 2019 pre-pandemic levels and on weekends, ridership attained 99.3% of the pre-pandemic level.

The Metro bus system experienced a 4.5% ridership increase compared to November 2023. Weekday bus ridership recorded an average of 760,985 daily boardings, and weekends had an average of 528,078 trips on Saturdays and 434,233 trips on Sundays. Weekend bus ridership in November surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time, marking a 102.9% increase over the November 2019.

Rail boardings increased 11.2% in November over the numbers in November 2023. Rail ridership last month reached 75.3% of its November 2019 pre-pandemic level.

Metro’s Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) program, which provides free rides and reduced fares to low-income customers, experienced a 16% year-over-year ridership increase in November. People are encouraged to utilize the system. Metro conducted 100 outreach and pop-up events last month and enrolled more than 6,100 new people in the program.

For information on Metro’s reduced fare programs, including discounts for low-income persons and families, seniors, persons with disabilities and students, visit metro.net/riding/fares.