Metro Transit's safety plan is boosting ridership, GM says

Metro Transit leaders see an increase in ridership as a positive sign that the Minneapolis agency's "Safety and Security Action Plan" is having an impact.

"The continued increase in ridership is an encouraging sign that the efforts we’re making to provide a consistently high-quality experience are making a difference," said General Manager Lesley Kandaras in a press release. "At the same time, I know from my own experiences and from hearing from riders and employees that we have much more work to do to improve conditions on our system."

Efforts to improve the customer and employee experiences are outlined in the agency’s "Safety and Security Action Plan," which includes more than 40 action items influenced by rider and worker feedback. All the items are in progress or have been implemented, Metro Transit officials said.

One aspect of the plan calls for an increased focus on cleaning and repair, including efforts to clean buses between trips at Brooklyn Center and Mall of America transit centers. Signs encouraging riders to report facility issues also have been posted at all light-rail and bus rapid-transit stations.

Through the end of March, more than 11.56 million rides had been taken across Metro Transit’s bus, light-rail and commuter-rail lines in the Twin Cities, up 13% compared to the same period last year. Weekday ridership in March averaged 144,897.  

The ridership growth in the first quarter followed total 2023 ridership that had increased 16% year over year to more than 45 million rides.