While transit ridership across the country has been recovering from the COVID pandemic five years ago, MTS is gaining riders back to the system faster than almost anywhere else in the country.

According to a May 2025 report from the American Public Transit Association (APTA), the national average for ridership recovery from pre-pandemic is at 85%. In Fiscal Year 2025, MTS logged nearly 81 million trips, about 95% of it's pre-pandemic levels.

Of the largest 25 transit agenices in the country, MTS is #2 for fastest ridership growth since 2020 (second only to the New York bus system)

Ridership Chart (2019-2025)

Many transit agencies across the country are facing financial difficulties, with some major operators having to slash millions in service as we speak in areas like Dallas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and more.

In about three years (starting mid-2028), MTS expects to face funding shortages of more than $100 million annually, or about 25% of its operating budget.

For scale, if MTS were to cut the entire Trolley system, it would close about half the budget gap.

Budget Forecast:

As a public agency, MTS receives a variety of funding sources:

• Fare revenue
• Federal funding
• State funding
• Local funding
• Advertising income
• Grants
• And more

As MTS looks to find new revenue sources in hopes of keeping recent transit ridership and service levels growing, a more modern local funding source could be considered as part of the solution.

When compared to other transit agencies, local funding to support MTS services fall short of some other major California providers.

Local Transit Funding Comparison: