San Diego's public transit system reached an unprecedented achievement last month when the Metropolitan Transit System logged more than 4.1 million trolley passenger trips in July, the highest single-month total in the agency's history.
The milestone reflects ongoing recovery from pandemic-era declines and demonstrates increasing demand for public transportation throughout the county. Agency officials attribute the growth to several factors, including more frequent service, major community events, and the recent extension of the Blue Line to serve La Jolla and University Town Center near UC San Diego.
Board Chair Stephen Whitburn, who also serves on the San Diego City Council, said the numbers show residents increasingly depend on efficient public transit for commuting, attending events, and traveling to destinations across the region. Chief Executive Officer Sharon Cooney emphasized that years of investment in service quality and customer experience have made the trolley a more appealing transportation choice.
The Blue Line carried the most passengers with approximately 2.36 million trips, while the Green and Orange lines recorded 971,266 and 587,174 trips respectively. Special event service during Comic-Con accounted for more than 132,000 trips, though even without convention traffic, July would still have set a new record.
The transit agency has steadily rebuilt ridership since the pandemic, serving over 81 million passengers in fiscal year 2026. MTS now ranks 13th nationally among transit systems, up from 21st before the health crisis, a notable achievement for a region that ranks 18th in population. The American Public Transportation Association recently recognized MTS as the outstanding public transportation system in North America among large agencies.