DC Metro expects over 1 million daily riders

Washington, D.C.'s Metro system is seeing a significant rise in ridership. In February, passenger numbers reached their highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This growth follows a push for more in-person work, as many federal employees returned to their offices. Ridership has increased by 10% in the first half of fiscal year 2025. The Washington Metropolitan Transit Area Authority (WMATA) expects to surpass 1 million daily passengers across its rail and bus services. The authority has reported 47 months of continuous ridership growth, averaging over 800,000 daily trips. This increase is also expected to boost revenue by $20 million, from $444 million to $464 million in fiscal year 2026. Randy Clarke, Metro's General Manager and CEO, noted that the return to office is just one factor driving this growth. Improvements in service and warmer weather are encouraging more people to travel for leisure as well. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which started on March 20, is likely to attract more visitors. Last year, the event saw 1.6 million attendees, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Customer satisfaction with the Metro rail stands at 89%. While the on-time performance is slightly below the target at 87.7%, the service has successfully met 97.8% of its scheduled stops. Additionally, crime in the Metro system has dropped by 40% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.