The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported eight straight months of increased ridership as of July, fueled by new transit openings, FIFA World Cup events and improved safety for train and bus riders, an agency spokesperson said in an email.
LA Metro counted nearly 26 million boardings in July across its rail and bus network, with the largest increase coming on weekends. In addition to the World Cup events and the Fourth of July holiday, Metro ridership benefited from Los Angeles Dodgers home games and other sporting and high-profile events during that month.
In conjunction with regional transportation agencies, Metro provided direct bus service to the World Cup matches and fan events, allowing riders to avoid high parking fees and congested traffic, the spokesperson said.
Metro opened a three-station extension of its D Line subway in May and extended the A Line to Pomona, California, in December. It also opened the LAX/Metro Transit Center near the Los Angeles International Airport last year, with shuttle-bus connections to the airport. Together, these projects “greatly expanded access to key destinations across LA County and continue to drive significant increases in rail ridership,” the spokesperson said.
The transit agency has also made strides in reducing the population of unhoused people on the system, reporting a 57% decrease since 2024, according to an Aug. 3 press release. The agency deploys 24 outreach teams and began a care-based services division in January. The division coordinates with Metro’s Department of Public Safety law enforcement, code of conduct enforcement, physical security and emergency management “to ensure all riders and employees feel safe and are safe,” Metro said in a press release.
Violent crime was down 6.7% in 2025, the spokesperson said. “Riders want to feel safe on the system, and increasing ridership and record-high customer satisfaction of 87% show our efforts are having a positive impact,” the spokesperson said.
Los Angeles will host the Super Bowl in 2027 and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Two additional extensions of the D Line subway are projected to open in 2027, reaching Beverly Hills, Century City, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
“Coming off Metro’s World Cup efforts, we’re continuing to assess key lessons learned and how we can apply them as we prepare for upcoming major events,” the LA Metro spokesperson said. “We're focusing on building on what worked, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring Metro is ready to help make the next major event a success.”
