METRO Ridership Peaks in September
Courtesy of Metro Light Rail
PHOENIX, AZ — METRO light rail saw record ridership in September 2011 with 1,241,701 total boardings – the highest in the system’s nearly three years of service. Ridership in 2011 is out-pacing records achieved in 2010 by an average of more than four percent.
“Our growth in ridership is indicative of quality service,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “When you give residents effective mobility choices and connections to life, they will ride. Our focus has and will continue to be on the customer.”
METRO also saw its highest ridership day on record with 60,437 riders on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. The ridership spike was achieved by weekday commuters and special events that included home games for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona State University football.
METRO averaged 47,818 daily weekday riders in September; 34,520 daily riders on Saturdays; and 19,887 on Sundays. METRO’s 2020 weekday ridership projection of 48,004, developed during project planning, was also nearly reached.
About METRO
METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 12.6 million riders in 2010, exceeding the prior year by 11 percent. METRO serves an average of 40,000 riders each weekday while also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.