Data from a CapMetro news release shows 2.2 million customers utilized CapMetro’s services in March—a 25% increase compared to 1.7 million customers in March 2022.
Along with MetroRail services to and from downtown as well as MetroBus and MetroRapid services with stops around the city, CapMetro offers MetroExpress bus routes for residents in North Austin and other outlying areas and a ride-sharing option called Pickup.
CapMetro representatives said every one of its services saw an increase in ridership in March with Pickup and MetroExpress seeing the largest increases—71.4% and 33%, respectively—in comparison to last March. MetroBus and MetroRapid ridership also each increased by 26%.
CapMetro representatives said the jump in ridership numbers could be due to several factors.
“Compared to last year and even the last few months, traffic has picked up in Central Texas during rush hours. More people are starting to return to the office, which could be one reason for the increase. SXSW was also in March, and we normally see a slight uptick in customers during that time,” CapMetro Communications Specialist Blythe Nebeker said in an email.
According to CapMetro’s new performance dashboard, the total number of boardings this year through March reached nearly 6 million. As the service grows, CapMetro representatives maintain the agency has been working to improve its on-time performance, which is around 80%, and continually analyze ridership data to make necessary service changes up to three times a year.
“CapMetro does expect ridership to continue to grow due to the reasons listed above, but also as Central Texas grows, so are our services. Our McKalla Station is expected to be operational before the 2024 Austin FC season, and we anticipate a lot of excitement about that station. Our Pickup service is also seeing large ridership numbers, and we expect those numbers to grow even more soon,” Nebeker said.
CapMetro recently launched a performance dashboard that includes a variety of ridership data. Pickup data can be found separately here.
