(Editor’s note: On March 16, 2020, armed with additional estimated ridership data, we posted updated route-by-route figures in the table below, with a sharper 2019 baseline average for comparison and a weekday estimate that better reflects a five-day week March 9-13 (instead of March 9-12), which also revised the estimated percentage decrease in ridership. Updated rows marked with an asterisk.)

Both regional traffic and King County Metro ridership have decreased since public health officials directed people to take steps and avoid traveling to limit the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

King County Metro has analyzed preliminary estimates and extrapolations to create an unofficial estimate of ridership. The results show an estimated 45% reduction in Metro bus ridership ­– or a drop of 185,000 riders, from an estimated 415,000 to 230,000  – on Thursday, March 12, compared to this time in 2019.

Similarly, the dip was estimated to be about 51% fewer riders on Access paratransit as demand decreased and some destination facilities closed. Water taxi routes also are seeing reduced ridership.

Routes with the greatest changes in the number of riders include RapidRide routes, which generally have the highest ridership and most frequent service across the transit system.

We expect ridership could continue to decrease due to COVID-19 as people take actions to limit the spread of the virus, including recommended limits on travel and increases in telecommuting, closure of schools and some public locations in our community.

Line graph of Metro ridership decreases due to COVID-19

King County Metro bus ridership

*Unofficial ridership estimates are preliminary and based on samples and extrapolations
Date Baseline (2019) Current (2020) Change
3/2/2020 416,885 389,103 -7%
3/3/2020 430,822 396,544 -8%
3/4/2020 425,431 381,634 -10%
3/5/2020 411,763 344,562 -16%
3/6/2020 399,641 301,111 -25%
3/9/2020 408,494 283,259 -31%
3/10/2020 417,616 275,642 -34%
3/11/2020 424,583 269,362 -37%
3/12/2020 415,904 230,570 -45%

 

Water taxi ridership
Date Ridership (2020)
3/2/2020                      1,778
3/3/2020                      1,892
3/4/2020                      1,739
3/5/2020                      1,383
3/6/2020                         838
3/9/2020                         958
3/10/2020                         936
3/11/2020                         845
3/12/2020                         686
Key affected King County Metro routes – Average weekday ridership
*Unofficial ridership estimates are preliminary and based on samples and extrapolations
Week Route Baseline (2019) Current (2020) Change
Mar 2 – Mar 6 7               10,981        11,193 2%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 36                 9,407           9,037 -4%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 40               12,996        11,182 -14%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 44                 9,783           8,390 -14%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 70                 9,050           7,100 -22%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 120                 9,233           8,189 -11%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 RapidRide A Line                 9,067           9,400 4%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 RapidRide C Line               11,440           9,601 -16%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 RapidRide D Line               14,136        12,959 -8%
Mar 2 – Mar 6 RapidRide E Line               16,714        16,231 -3%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 7               10,995           9,062 -18%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 36               9,420           6,641 -30%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 40               12,984           7,541 -42%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 44               9,072           5,597 -38%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 70               8,809           4,551 -48%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 120               8,472           6,440 -24%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 RapidRide A Line               9,410           8,497 -10%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 RapidRide C Line               11,812           6,592 -44%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 RapidRide D Line               13,749           9,192 -33%
*Mar 9 – Mar 13 RapidRide E Line               17,279        12,503 -28%

 

New Answers to Questions from the Media and the Public

Question:

In his Wednesday, March 11, news conference, Gov. Inslee mentioned that he is encouraging transportation systems to do everything they can to manage the coronavirus, including additional buses and extra space for passengers on buses. Does Metro plan to add buses to routes? How is ridership performing in the past few days, given the encouragement from Gov. Inslee and King County Executive Constantine toward telecommuting?

Governor’s remarks during reporter Q&A for context:

“This does not apply specifically to transportation systems, but we are expecting transportation systems to do everything humanly possible in the social distancing realm, including to the extent possible, have additional buses so we have more space on the buses. Our Department of Transportation is looking at how to encourage people to do social distancing while they are on the boat (Washington State Ferries).”

Answer:

King County Metro continues to provide scheduled bus service, representing more than 12,000 daily trips. Unofficial preliminary estimates show ridership has decreased by an estimated 45% comparing March 12 to this time last year. This decrease likely reflects the public’s response to direction from public health officials to avoid traveling, and direction from employers and educational institutions to telecommute. We are also seeing social distancing as buses are less crowded. These practices and steps should help limit the spread of the virus.

We are considering the governor’s comments at the same time we are preparing for the effects both of the virus itself and the steps taken to limit its spread (e.g., at-risk employees telecommuting). The availability of our workforce – including our transit operators and vehicle maintenance staff – directly impacts our ability to deliver transit service. At the current time, we remain focused on continuing to provide the community with safe and reliable public transit service.

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