DATE: July 3, 2024
TO:
- PPRTA Citizen Advisory Committee
- PPRTA Board of Directors
FROM: Lan Rao, Transit Division Manager
SUBJECT: May 2024 Mountain Metropolitan Transit Update
Ridership Update
Fixed Route1
Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) provided 234,772 fixed-route boardings in May 2024, which was 5% higher than in May 2023. Boardings per revenue service hour (RSH)2 increased slightly for the fourth month in a row, starting from 9.1 in January to 10.7 in May.
ADA Complementary Paratransit3
Metro Mobility provided 10,937 ADA complementary paratransit boardings in May 2024, which was an increase of 3% compared to May 2023. There were 1.9 boardings per revenue service hour in May 2024.
Vanpool4
Five vanpools with 28 participants5 were in service in May 2024 which provided 699 commuter trips. May 2024 ridership decreased 6% compared to May 2023 when five vans were in operation with 25 participants, indicating that vanpool participants rode fewer days during May 2024. Boardings per revenue service hour decreased 14% compared to May 2023.
[1]Fixed Route refers to Mountain Metropolitan Transit’s scheduled bus routes.
[2] Revenue service hour (RSH) refers to the time during which passengers can board and/or ride a transit vehicle.
[3] ADA complementary paratransit service, known as Metro Mobility, is a demand response service for individuals who are unable to use fixed-route service due to a disability. Metro Mobility is comparable to fixed-route service in terms of shared rides, days and hours of service, and service area.
[4] Vanpool service is part of MMT’s Metro Rides program, which includes several alternative commuting options. Metro Rides programs are designed to reduce pollution from single-occupant vehicle trips.
[5] The number of Vanpool participants and vehicles in operation are as of the first of the month and do not reflect changes that may have occurred throughout the month.
May Monthly Ridership by Mode (2023 vs 2024)
| Mode | May 2023 Boardings | May 2023 Revenue Service Hours (RSH) | May 2023 Boardings / RSH | May 2024 Boardings | May 2024 Revenue Service Hours (RSH) | May 2024 Boardings / RSH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Route | 223,254 | 20,523 | 10.9 | 234,772 | 22,021 | 10.7 | 5% |
| ADA Complementary Paratransit | 10,581 | 5,539 | 1.9 | 10,937 | 5,857 | 1.9 | 3% |
| Vanpool | 744 | 208 | 3.6 | 699 | 225 | 3.1 | -6% |
| Total All Modes | 234,579 | 26,270 | N/A | 246,408 | 28,103 | N/A | 5% |
Fixed-Route Ridership by Month
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 114,131 | 159,519 | 184,835 |
| February | 110,938 | 161,397 | 200,529 |
| March | 144,663 | 203,319 | 204,148 |
| April | 159,092 | 194,331 | 224,538 |
| May | 177,325 | 223,254 | 234,772 |
| June | 205,352 | 314,253 | |
| July | 218,465 | 353,189 | |
| August | 302,883 | 366,930 | |
| September | 213,123 | 242,541 | |
| October | 207,321 | 240,972 | |
| November | 175,901 | 209,923 | |
| December | 169,566 | 196,095 |
ADA Complimentary Paratransit Ridership by Month
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7,720 | 9,115 | 9,957 |
| February | 6,884 | 8,556 | 10,458 |
| March | 9,336 | 10,281 | 9,659 |
| April | 9,537 | 9,861 | 11,090 |
| May | 9,176 | 10,581 | 10,937 |
| June | 8,433 | 9,662 | |
| July | 7,883 | 9,294 | |
| August | 10,666 | 11,216 | |
| September | 10,058 | 9,958 | |
| October | 10,076 | 10,526 | |
| November | 9,141 | 9,655 | |
| December | 8,197 | 8,796 |
Metro Rides Vanpool Ridership by Month
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 790 | 804 | 669 |
| February | 734 | 609 | 609 |
| March | 1,006 | 863 | 597 |
| April | 967 | 741 | 802 |
| May | 744 | 744 | 699 |
| June | 728 | 566 | |
| July | 727 | 479 | |
| August | 907 | 662 | |
| September | 808 | 628 | |
| October | 825 | 558 | |
| November | 570 | 570 | |
| December | 542 | 470 |
Year-Over-Year Comparisons
The following table compares January through May fixed route and ADA complementary paratransit boardings, revenue service hours (RSH), and average boardings per revenue service hour from 2020 through 2024.
2020-2024 Comparison of January-May Boardings, RSHs, and Boardings per RSH – Fixed Route & ADA Paratransit
| Year | Fixed Route Boardings | Fixed Route RSH | Fixed Route Boardings / RSH | ADA Complementary Paratransit Boardings | ADA Complementary Paratransit RSH | ADA Complementary Paratransit Boardings / RSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020* | 945,454 | 77,106 | 12.3 | 37,883 | 20,831 | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 693,346 | 75,172 | 9.2 | 34,260 | 20,550 | 1.7 |
| 2022 | 706,149 | 68,591 | 10.3 | 42,653 | 22,330 | 1.9 |
| 2023 | 941,820 | 95,056 | 9.9 | 48,394 | 25,688 | 1.9 |
| 2024 | 1,048,822 | 103,727 | 10.1 | 52,101 | 28,560 | 1.8 |
*The COVID-19 pandemic did not begin to have a noticeable impact on ridership until mid-March 2020.
Cumulative January through May fixed-route boardings have risen since 2022 after decreasing in 2021 from the pandemic and resulting bus operator shortage. Fixed-route boardings for January through May 2024 increased 11% compared to the same period in 2023. January through May revenue service hours increased during 2023 and 2024 due to a range of service improvements and the provision of a sufficient number of bus operators to provide nearly all scheduled fixed-route service. January through May 2024 boardings per revenue service hour were 2% higher than in January through May 2023.
Cumulative January through May ADA complementary paratransit boardings and revenue service hours have risen since 2022. Total January through May 2024 boardings increased 8% compared to the same period in 2023. While both paratransit boardings and revenue service hours are higher in 2024, revenue service hours increased at a higher rate than boardings, leading to a 5% decrease in boardings per revenue service hour.
Transit Highlights
Zero Fare for Better Air
This year, MMT is participating in the Zero Fare for Better Air Initiative during July and August, allowing for fare-free rides on fixed route and Metro Mobility complementary paratransit service. This marks the third year in a row that MMT has offered fare-free rides during some summer months. Free fares are made possible through the Ozone Season Transit Grant established by Senate Bill 24-032. Fare-free funding aims to encourage greater use of public transit during summer months when ozone levels are at their highest. MMT set a record number of fixed-route boardings with 366,930 last August. The zero-fare marketing campaign commenced the week of June 10th.
New Buses in Production
MMT has ordered seven diesel buses from Gillig Corp. The first three went into production the week of June 3rd. Based on the production timeline and delivery schedule, MMT expects to place these buses into revenue service this fall. These new buses signify progress in updating the fleet, replacing older buses that will either be moved to the contingency fleet or retired. These new buses are expected to improve service reliability.