VTA Weekday Ridership Increasing, Nearly Half Of Pre-COVID Levels

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s weekday transit ridership reached nearly half of pre-pandemic levels as of November, the transit agency announced last week.

The 47 percent recovery rate is higher than the 30 percent rate at this time last year.

The majority of ridership growth is coming on VTA’s Frequent Bus lines, which has seen nearly two-thirds recovery since the pandemic.

October and November usually result in a dip in ridership, according to VTA. But 2021 saw an increase. Light rail ridership increased by nearly 1,000 passengers and bus ridership was steady, according to VTA.

“The need for reliable, safe public transit has continued to ring true throughout the pandemic,” said VTA Chief Planning and Programming Officer Deborah Dagang. “And the trajectory for VTA’s service restoration aims to improve service for everyone, especially those who rely on it most.”