Metro - File #: 2024-0142

• File #: 2024-0142
• Type: Informational Report
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 2/21/2024
• In control: Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee
• On agenda: 4/18/2024
• Title: RECEIVE AND FILE the NextGen Bus Ridership Update.
• Sponsors: System Safety, Security and Operations Committee
• Indexes: All Door Boarding, Bus rapid transit, Bus Speed Improvements, Design build, Equity Focus Communities, Florence, Informational Report, Metro Busway G Line, Metro Busway J Line, Metro Rail A Line, NextGen Bus Study, Off peak periods, Peak periods, Plan, Ridership, San Fernando, San Fernando Valley Service Sector, San Fernando Valley subregion, South Bay Cities subregion, South Bay Service Sector, Strategic planning, Telecommuting, Transit boards, Transit buses, Travel time, Trip length, Van Nuys
• Related files: 2024-0271

Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 18, 2024

Subject
SUBJECT: NEXTGEN RIDERSHIP UPDATE - Q4 CY2023
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the NextGen Bus Ridership Update.

Issue
ISSUE

This report provides an assessment of Metro bus system ridership for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2023 (Q4 CY2023, including the months October - December 2023) compared to ridership from the same period of 2019 (pre-pandemic/pre-NextGen Bus Plan). Ridership changes are examined by the day type (weekday, Saturday, Sunday), area, Equity Focus Communities (EFCs)/non-EFCs, time period, line/line group, and changes in average passenger trip length.

As of Q4 CY2023, average daily bus system ridership continues to show growth:

* Weekday ridership was at 83.4% (up from 78.6% in September 2023)
* Saturday ridership was at 90.3% (up from 86.0% in September 2023)
* Sunday ridership was at 99.97% (up from 92.4% in September 2023).

The San Fernando Valley continues to show the highest ridership recovery in Q4 CY2023 compared to the four other service areas, at 89.4% of pre-pandemic Q4 CY2019 levels weekdays, 101.5% Saturday, and 113.4% Sunday, benefitting from NextGen Bus Plan investments in this area.

The proportion of boardings in Equity Focus Areas remains around 1% above pre-pandemic levels.

Midday weekday Q4 CY2023 ridership recovery was at 85% of pre-pandemic levels at exceeding both AM peak (73%) and PM peak (81%) recovery.

There were 11 weekday (up from 6 in September 2023), 18 Saturday (up from 14), and 37 Sunday (up from 24) lines/line groups exceeding their pre-COVID Q4 CY2019 ridership numbers in Q4 CY2023.

Background
BACKGROUND

* The NextGen Bus Plan was adopted by the Metro Board in October 2020, and was implemented in three phases between December 2020 and December 2021.
* The plan was designed to create a fast frequent, and reliable Metro bus system.
* Whi...