Minneapolis Metro Transit's Blue Line posts highest annual ridership in 2015

A Metro Transit Blue Line train travels through snow.
Photo: Metro Transit's Flickr account

Last year, Minneapolis' Blue Line light-rail route facilitated more than 10.6 million rides, marking the highest annual ridership since it opened in mid-2004, Metro Transit announced late last week.

The figure surpassed the previous record of 10.5 million rides set in 2010. Additionally, average ridership topped 30,000 for eight consecutive months, Metro Transit officials said in a press release.

Nearly 12.4 million rides were taken on the Green Line light-rail route in 2015, its first full year of operation. The line opened mid-June 2014.

Average weekday ridership on the Green Line was 37,400, which was just under the 2030 forecast of 41,000 rides, Metro Transit officials said.

Also in 2015, ridership on the Northstar commuter line clocked in at 722,637, marking a slight increase compared to 2014, agency officials said.