Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 16, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: NEXTGEN RIDERSHIP UPDATE - Q4 CY2025
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status update on NextGen Bus Ridership.
Issue
ISSUE
This report provides an assessment of Metro's bus ridership for the fourth quarter (October, November, and December) of calendar year 2025, compared to Q4 CY2024 when ridership last peaked. Ridership changes are examined by day type (weekday, Saturday, Sunday), service area, across Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) and non-EFCs, time period, line/line group, as well as average passenger trip length.
Background
BACKGROUND
* The Metro Board adopted the NextGen Bus Plan in October 2020.
* The NextGen Bus Plan was designed to create a fast, frequent, and reliable Metro bus system and was to be rolled out in two phases: "Reconnect" and "Transit First."
* "Reconnect" is the initial phase to restructure the existing network and was implemented over three dates: December 2020, June 2021, and December 2021.
* "Transit First" is an additional phase to maximize the plan's effectiveness through strategic, quick-build capital investments in improved bus speeds and direct revenue service hours (RSHs) saved on bus frequency improvements.
* After achieving full operator staffing in mid-2023, the increased operators required for additional service and challenges in recruiting new operators resulted in a 1-2% operator shortage existed from December 2023 to December 2024. Recruitment efforts were increased in response and cancelled service levels were kept at relatively low levels.
* Full operator staffing was again achieved by January 2025, with cancellation rates during the first three quarters of 2025 reduced to very low levels, generally under 1% on weekdays and Saturdays and below 2% on Sundays.
* After ridership peaked in late 2024/early 2025, since June 2025, ridership has shown a reduction comp...
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