Transit Ridership Surges in Minneapolis

The Star Tribune Editorial Board extols the ‘welcome’ recovery of transit ridership in Minneapolis in an editorial, noting that “ridership numbers have been improving and now they appear to be surging.”

For January through May — the latest numbers available — Metro Transit provided 17.7 million rides, a nearly 20% jump compared to the same time last year, and on par with national transit ridership trends. And transit officials say ridership is increasing for every mode, whether light rail, bus or bus rapid transit.

The board notes that peak ridership in 2015 neared 86 million fares, but the recovery is still impressive. According to Metro Transit Interim General Manager Lesley Kandaras, “‘one thing we've learned is that frequent, fast, all-day service,’ such as light rail and bus rapid transit ‘has been much more resilient than express buses, which head to downtown from the suburbs in the morning and back in the evening.’”

Part of the rebound is thanks to college students who receive free transit rides as part of their university fees. “More operators have also helped boost rider numbers. Kandaras said staffing has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, but transit officials have hired more than 200 new bus drivers this year, a couple dozen more are in training to become rail operators, and recruitment continues.” And although the ‘Swiftie bump’ during the weekend Taylor Swift performed in the city was temporary, it could signal a similar surge in ridership during other popular events.