Metro Transit ridership fell 3% last year
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Metro Transit finished 2025 with ridership about 3% below the previous year.
Why it matters: It's a troubling trend for an agency that is making big investments in service but is still struggling to gain rider buy-in after years of public safety concerns.
- It also came at a time when transit ridership nationally was on pace to increase by nearly 7% in 2025.
Friction point: Light rail remains the laggard, posting a 14% decline in ridership in 2025 despite Metro Transit's ongoing efforts through an ambassador program to address drug use and homelessness on trains.
- Serious crime in the system fell by 14% last year, but overall crime increased.
Of note: Track repairs shut down the Blue Line — and the downtown Minneapolis portion of the Green Line — for two weeks in September.
Meanwhile, bus ridership was virtually flat despite Metro Transit's addition of three new bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in 2025, a record. More lines are in planning stages.
- Data from 2025 shows mixed results for BRT: Ridership grew on some existing lines, but fell on others, including the C and D lines.
What they're saying: Metro Transit said it's encouraged by ridership gains on certain lines where it improved service.
- "We are taking a closer look at the drop in light rail ridership," spokesperson Drew Kerr said in an email.
The latest: Metro Transit is planning another fare simplification this year —pending Met Council approval — that would make express bus service a flat $3, instead of $2.50 during non-peak hours and $3.25 during rush hour.
- It's also proposing a maximum daily fare cap in 2027.
- Tap-to-pay credit card machines — which will eliminate the need for Go-To cards — will be rolled out in 2027.
Reality check: While these changes will result in a 1% reduction in fare revenue, they are not projected to increase ridership — just make it simpler for people, especially tourists, a Metro Transit official said at a meeting Monday.