Metro Transit ridership goes down during 2020 pandemic

Metro Transit released ridership numbers for 2020 and every major form of public transportation declined significantly, which was expected because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on work and school.

Bus and light rail ridership both dropped by more than 50% and the North Star rail line ridership fell off by 80%.

With the Metropolitan Council, Nick Thompson told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the agency is hopeful 2021 will see a rebound in passengers.

Public transit ridership off the rails during COVID-19 pandemic

“Schools are starting to reopen, people are returning to work this summer and so we are hoping to recover some of that transit ridership,” said Thompson. “But, it will be a few years until we get back to our levels pre-pandemic.”

State Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) told KSTP lawmakers will have to take a long, hard look at things like the North Star Line to determine if there are sustainable financially.

“North Star was a loser before and ridership may never come back and it was never financially feasible,” said Koznick. “So, I think we should continue to press and look harder to mothball North Star possibly.”