Metrobus ridership surged last year, and the transit service hopes to learn why

Metrobusis surveying passengers to understand why ridership is boomingand whetherthe trendwillcontinue.

Last year, Metrobus recorded more than 4.7 millionrides a 35 per cent increase over 2022, and a45 per cent increase over the nearly 3.3 million rides in 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The St. John's bus service hasenlisted the help of MQO Research to determine whether the boost was an anomalyor if it should be preparing for even more riders in the futureand to see where there might be room for improvement.

General manager Judy Powell said the service wants to be prepared for continued growth.

"We will be looking at the travel patterns, and [areas] we need to focus on," she said.

"Certainly we know where the overcrowding is, and where the busiest routes are. So we're going to be looking at population growth expectations, immigration patterns, all those kinds of things."

Metrobus expects to get the results of its research by the end of February, but no changes will be implemented before 2025, she said.

Powell pointed to several possible factors contributing to the surge, includingthe risingcost of living, high gas pricesand a growing number of new Canadians coming from areas where public transit is a regular part of everyday life.

It's a good problem to havebut it doesn't come without challenges.

"It takes time to respond to this type of rapid growth, and to acquire funding for buses," Powell said.

"The lead time through the procurement process and delivery could be up to 18 months, and with federal funding and ridership growth across the country, there's a huge demand on buses now."

Ebenazer Sabu, one of the thousands of people who ride Metrobus every day to get to work and school, likes that it's affordable and close to home, but he has a few suggestions for improving the service.

"Sometimes it has to be more frequent, not only in the busier hours," Sabu said.

Manog Poudal wants to see more commuter service to other communities around the northeast Avalon Peninsula.

"In Paradise, there is very little service. Actually I think there are only two buses in Paradise, and in Conception Bay there are no buses."

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