BUS AND COMMUTER RAIL RIDERSHIP GROWTH CONTINUES
The ability of residents and workers within San Bernardino County to access diverse transportation options contributes to a higher quality of life and a more prosperous business climate. An effective public transit system is essential for individuals who cannot afford to drive a car, are unable to drive, or choose not to drive. Rail and bus service is important for meeting differing transit needs, with rail serving mostly longer-distance commuters and buses serving mostly local commuters and other trips. This indicator measures ridership on the Metrolink commuter rail system serving the region (San Bernardino, Riverside, Inland Empire/Orange County, and Perris Valley/91 lines), as well as ridership and operating costs for San Bernardino County’s five bus systems, which offer bus service coverage in substantial portions of all 25 cities in the county plus strategic unincorporated areas.
TREND
Ridership for all Metrolink rail lines that have at least one station in or near San Bernardino County (including San Bernardino, Riverside, Inland Empire/Orange County, and Perris Valley/91 lines) continues to rebound following a pandemic-induced retraction. In 2024/25, there was a combined total of 3.93 million riders served by the four Metrolink rail lines serving the Inland Empire. This represents an increase of 18% in one year, on top of 18% growth the previous year, and a 228% increase since the pandemic-induced low of 1.2 million riders. Despite these year-over-year increases, ridership remains 36% below the number of riders 10 years ago (6.11 million in 2015/16).
The San Bernardino Line, the highest ridership line in the Metrolink system, saw a 17% increase in ridership compared to 2023/24. This line, which connects to Arrow service, operating between Downtown San Bernardino and Redlands as of 2022, carries about 27% of the ridership on the Metrolink system. The Riverside line saw a 3% increase from the prior year, and the Inland Empire/Orange County line saw a 12% increase. The Perris Valley/91 line, which runs just south of San Bernardino County with stops in Riverside, saw the largest one-year increase at 36%. All lines remain below their pre-pandemic (2018/19) ridership levels, with the Riverside line experiencing the slowest recovery with ridership at roughly 30% of pre-pandemic levels.
ALL LINES EXPERIENCE RIDERSHIP INCREASES IN 2024/25
Commuter Rail Ridership on Rail Lines Serving the Inland Empire (San Bernardino Line, Riverside Line, Inland Empire/Orange County Line, and Perris Valley/91 Line), 2016-2025
Bus ridership continued to steadily increase each year following the pandemic-induced 10-year low in 2020/21. Rebounding from 5.73 million riders collectively on the bus systems serving San Bernardino County in 2020/21, four years later in 2024/25, the bus systems served a combined 10.14 million riders. While this 77% growth since 2020/21 is substantial, current ridership has not yet surpassed pre-pandemic levels (13.57 million riders in 2018/19). Increased rates of working from home post-pandemic could be contributing to lower ridership (see Mobility).
Omnitrans, which experienced a 7% one-year increase in ridership between 2023/24 and 2024/25, served the most San Bernardino County residents (7.48 million riders in 2024/25).
Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), which serves the second highest number of residents, also experienced a 7% one-year growth in ridership, from 1.66 million riders in 2023/24 to 1.78 million riders in 2024/25.
BUS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO INCREASE INCREMENTALLY SINCE 2020/21
Bus Ridership in San Bernardino County, 2016-2025
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
Transit agencies serving San Bernardino County residents, including Omnitrans, VVTA, Riverside Transit Agency, and SunLine Transit Agency, have fewer bus passenger trips per capita than most of their peer markets, including transit agencies serving Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami. VVTA posted the highest operating costs per bus trip at $28.07 in 2024. The transit agency serving Las Vegas and greater Clark County had the lowest operating cost per bus trip at $4.64 in 2024. Omnitrans’ operating costs per trip ($11.63) was the fourth highest among the nine agencies compared.
HIGHER RIDERSHIP RATE GENERALLY ALIGNS WITH LOWER PER TRIP OPERATING COSTS
Regional Comparison of Bus System Passenger Trips per Capita and Operating Costs, 2024