Systemwide, Metro Rail saw ridership rise 1.7% to nearly 6 million boardings
Los Angeles Metro ridership remained strong in September, buoyed by new rail service and a rise in weekend and leisure travel, even as overall boardings dipped slightly compared to last year.
Metro reported 26.3 million total boardings last month, down just 1.9% from September 2024 — a marked improvement from the 6% drop seen in June, when federal law enforcement activity disrupted travel. The numbers signal a continued recovery following more than two years of growth, with ridership over the past 12 months up 1.1% compared to the previous year.
The A Line extension from Azusa to Pomona, which opened Sept. 19, helped stabilize ridership by reconnecting light rail service to the San Gabriel Valley for the first time since 1951. The four new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona recorded nearly 3,000 boardings during their first 12 days of service. The line now stretches from Pomona to Long Beach, creating a key transit link ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
The E Line remained one of Metro’s best-performing routes, logging 1.5 million boardings in September — a 6.7% increase from last year. Ridership rose across all days of the week, particularly on weekends, with a 10.8% increase on Sundays. Events such as LA Comic Con, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, drove boardings at nearby Pico Station up 65% on event days.
Systemwide, Metro Rail saw ridership rise 1.7% to nearly 6 million boardings, while bus ridership fell 2.9% to 20.3 million. Customer satisfaction rose for both services, reaching 81% for rail and 88% for bus riders.
Safety and cleanliness improvements also contributed to the system’s resilience. Violent crime dropped 16% in August compared to last year, and customer satisfaction related to safety rose six points. A point-in-time count found the number of unhoused individuals on Metro property had fallen nearly 40% since 2024, with outreach teams connecting more than 2,700 people to housing.
Metro said these gains, combined with the installation of new, more secure fare gates and cleaner trains and stations, show that riders are regaining confidence in the system as it prepares for major regional events in the coming years.
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