7 Million+ Rides Strong: ABQ RIDE is Making a Comeback
ALBUQUERQUE – ABQ RIDE’s 2024 ridership count is in and totals 7,362,536 rides provided to the community across three services: bus (fixed route and ART), paratransit (Sun Van), and microtransit (ABQ RIDE Connect) services.
The 2024 data shows:
- An increase of 390,000+ rides over 2023
- An increase of 1.1 million+ rides over 2022
- An average of 28 people served per vehicle service hour
“We are turning the bus around and ridership rising back up toward pre-pandemic levels in Albuquerque,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “By implementing Zero Fares, improving transit safety, and launching microtransit to help folks connect, our transit system is more accessible for Burqueños to get across our city.”
The transit industry was highly impacted by the pandemic, causing a dramatic decline in bus ridership across the globe. Zero Fares has contributed to a recovery in ridership. Since the launch of the (now permanent) Zero Fares Pilot Program in January 2022, ridership increased by 20%. ABQ RIDE Connect, the City’s new microtransit pilot program, added more than 9,100 rides to the 2024 ridership count.
“Ridership data demonstrates there is substantial demand for transit services in Albuquerque,” said Transit Principal Planner Andrew de Garmo. “Despite significantly reduced service levels due to driver and mechanic shortages, ridership is strong and productivity per service hour is extremely efficient. ABQ RIDE is well on its way to putting the pandemic in the rearview mirror.”
In addition to a growth in ridership, the accuracy of counting ridership has improved by onboarding Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs). Counting ridership used to rely on fareboxes and then manual counts when the pilot program launched.
“We’re almost 80% of the way to recovering pre-pandemic ridership levels over what has been a long, winding road,” said Data Analyst Kevin Welch. “Our reporting systems are more accurate than ever with APCs, which provide data we are utilizing to drive efficient management and route solutions.”
To meet the demand for public transportation services, ABQ RIDE needs to hire more drivers, mechanics, and more. Learn about ABQ RIDE’s hiring incentives ranging from $500-$5,000 and a training program which provides free CDL training and testing.
Apply for a job at CABQ.Gov/TransitJobs and find information on benefits and hiring incentives, along with extensive ridership data at ABQRIDE.com.
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ABQ RIDE’s mission is to provide the community with safe, clean, and reliable transportation.