BART, Frederick County, L.A. Metro see ridership gains

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Transit Services of Frederick County Md., and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) have all seen ridership increases. 

BART ridership increases by double digits in June  

Ridership on all BART systems was up 13.4 percent in June compared to June 2024. BART says weekend ridership helped that number grow, especially Saturdays, which has seen some of the highest rates of ridership growth. Saturday ridership increased by 15.2 percent from May to June and was up 24.6 percent compared to 2024.  

According to BART, the increases were boosted thanks to local events, such as the June 14 No Kings Day protests, which marked the second highest day for Saturday ridership since the pandemic. June 29, the day of the San Francisco Pride Parade, saw the second highest Sunday for ridership since 2020.  

The agency says that while ridership continues to recover from post-pandemic declines due to remote work, the increase in ridership demonstrates the effectiveness of its Safe and Clean Plan. BART notes the improvements in cleaning are happening in concurrence with customer experience improvements, including running only new Fleet of the Future trains and system hardening efforts, led by the ongoing installation of next generation fare gates.  

According to BART, it has also been strategically promoting non-work trips by partnering with local sports teams and organizations; sharing rider guides and social media videos describing how to take transit to events and promoting non-work trips through efforts such as the BARTable website and newsletter. BART’s Fun Stuff program is an engagement effort that aims to educate riders, help the agency connect with the community and build brand affinity, especially with younger riders.  

Transit Services of Frederick County sees record-breaking ridership for fiscal year (FY) 2025 

FY25 saw a record-breaking year for  Transit Services of Frederick County, as over 928,650 riders used public transit from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The county says the record-breaking year reflects its dedication to accessible, community-centered transportation, driven by innovative initiatives and a fresh new look. According to the county, while fare-free service has played a key role in increasing ridership, expanded outreach and refreshed marketing efforts over the past year have also helped increase the number of people using transit. 

“This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people,” said Frederick County Director of Transit Services Roman Steichen. “Every ride represents someone getting to work, school, medical care or a favorite community event. We’re honored to play such an important role in the daily lives of people in Frederick County.” 

In FY25, Frederick County launched a full rebrand for its transit system designed to modernize its image and strengthen its relationship with riders. According to the county, the rebrand introduced updated visuals, refreshed messaging and community-driven campaigns to keep public transit top of mind as a practical and enjoyable way to get around the county.  

The county also says an enhanced social media presence and creative outreach efforts connected with new audiences and reinforced transit as an essential service for all community members and visitors. 

“Public transit works best when it feels approachable and convenient for everyone,” said Frederick County Transit Communications Manager Mary Dennis. “By focusing on better ways to connect with our community—whether through a new look, clear and inviting language or an expanded social media presence—we’ve been able to meet riders where they are.”  

In FY26, Transit Services of Frederick County says it will continue working to create a transit system that is accessible, reliable and reflective of the needs of the community. 

L.A. Metro reports increased ridership thanks to K Line’s LAX/Metro Transit Center opening 

June ridership on L.A. Metro’s K Line increased due to the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center, but overall system ridership experienced a slight decline of six percent compared to June 2024. The agency says the decline is better than initially anticipated at the start of the month due to the increase in federal law enforcement activity across Los Angeles County, numerous protests resulting in station and road closures and several days of curfew in downtown Los Angeles, as well as many Angelenos staying home. 

LAX/Metro Transit Center 

According to L.A. Metro, data shows that year-over year-ridership on the K Line was up 139.5 percent on weekdays, 198.9 percent on Saturdays and 214.9 percent on Sundays. The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened June 6 and provides a new transit connection to Los Angeles International Airport. The agency says that by providing a direct connection to regional transit, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station expands options for airport-area employees and travelers and decreases reliance on more costly options, such as taxis, rideshares or private vehicles. 

The new station closes the final gap along the K Line, so it now runs continuously from the Expo/Crenshaw Station to Redondo Beach, bisecting the loop comprised of the A, C, K and E lines, providing improved connectivity regionally via the C, J and E lines. It also extends the C Line, which previously terminated at Aviation/LAX Station, bringing it directly to the LAX/Metro Transit Center and enhancing airport access for riders across the region. 

Total monthly ridership on the K Line in June 2025 was 26.8 percent higher than November 2024, the second highest monthly total ridership in the line’s history.   

Overall system ridership and experience 

L.A. Metro notes that in the days following the surge in immigration enforcement activity and the large protests that followed, the agency saw a 10 to 15 percent decline in ridership across the system. Over the course of the month, the outlook improved, as the system saw a total of 23.8 million boardings on bus and rail, which represents only a six percent year-over-year decrease in total boardings as compared to June 2024. In that same period, bus ridership also declined six percent while rail dropped seven percent. 

The agency says many factors influence ridership patterns, including closures due to construction, such as those required to connect the existing D Line to the first phase of the D Line extension that is expected to open later this year or people changing their daily routines such as to work from home or to transition to summer school. 

L.A. Metro notes the customer experience continues to improve with results from a February 2025 rider survey that showed 87 percent of customers are satisfied or very satisfied with the service. In that survey, 53 percent of riders said they had seen improvements to the transit system over the past year, with improving service quality and safety as the top reasons cited for the improvement.