REBROADCAST: Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Ride On Bus Service Ranks Second in the Nation in Bus Ridership Growth Among Transit Systems with 15 to 50 Million Riders

REBROADCAST: Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Ride On Bus Service Ranks Second in the Nation in Bus Ridership Growth Among Transit Systems with 15 to 50 Million Riders

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced today that ridership on the Ride On bus system is up twenty percent over last year, the second-highest boost in bus ridership in the country among transit systems serving between 15 million and 50 million riders annually

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released its 2024 ridership report, which included an Instagram post ranking transit systems by increase in ridership. MCDOT’s Ride On system has provided more than 18.5 million rides during the current fiscal year, compared with 15.4 million rides the previous fiscal year. 

“The Ride On transit system provides crucial links to employment, education and vital services to our residents,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We know transit systems across the country are still recovering from the reduction in ridership since the pandemic. I am pleased to see riders returning to Ride On. We have made significant investments in our transit system, including our transition to zero-emission buses, as well as new services such as Ride On extRa and Flash Bus Rapid Transit, to adapt to changing community needs and encourage more people to use transit.” 

MCDOT has seen the most significant increase in ridership on weekdays. MCDOT’s Ride On buses carried more than 58,000 riders each weekday in Fiscal Year 2024, compared with 46,000 riders each weekday during the previous fiscal year. 

“Our ridership numbers show that more people are choosing public transportation, and we hope to see those numbers continue to grow,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We have implemented service changes and dedicated bus lanes to increase efficiency and on-time performance and upgraded our infrastructure to make our bus stops safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. I am pleased to see that these changes are benefiting our residents and more people are using the services we provide.”   

Ride On bus fare is only $1 and monthly passes are $22.50 using SmarTrip, cash or tokens. Seniors 65 or older,  persons with disabilities and youth 18 and under ride free using specialized SmarTrip cards.  

Release ID: 24-153
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282

For the most up-to-date service information, riders should follow @RideOnMCT on X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. In addition, information is available at RideOnBus.com, by subscribing to receive email alerts at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/govdelivery, or texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 468311 to receive text alerts.

For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky,  Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.    

If you need an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodation to access Ride On bus service, contact MC311 by voice at 240-777-0311, by email RideOn.CustomerService@montgomerycountymd.gov or TTY 711.

Title VI: Montgomery County assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1987, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.