Ridership milestones on OCTA, MTA and Colorado transit systems

Several public transit service providers throughout the United States marked positive ridership milestones this past week. The gains were driven by students returning to class for the fall term, promotional fares and a deliberate, gradual return to service.

In California, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has achieved 100,000 average weekday riders for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. OCTA says it has put an emphasis on the gradual, safe restoration of bus service, along with the implementation of programs that make riding the bus free for students and youth throughout Orange County.

“During the height of the pandemic, we saw a sharp decline in bus ridership,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, also the Mayor of Orange. “Now, it’s highly encouraging to see this steady climb, which is only possible through thoughtful planning, the hard work of coach operators and OCTA staff, and good relationships built with the community.”

Prior to the pandemic, the OC Bus system saw an average of nearly 120,000 riders per day. That number dropped in March and April 2020 to approximately 33,000 daily riders at its lowest. The recently reported 100,000 average weekday riders represents 88 percent of pre-pandemic ridership levels. ...............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/article/21280563/ridership-milestones-on-octa-mta-and-colorado-transit-systems