L.A. Metro ridership soars during World Cup as fans ditch cars for transit

L.A. Metro saw a sharp rise in ridership during the recent World Cup events. Thousands of fans chose public transport to reach venues, avoiding traffic and parking fees. The system also reported no safety incidents despite the surge in passengers. The D Line extension along Wilshire Boulevard had already boosted daily numbers by 8,000 to 10,000 riders. By May 2023, overall ridership was up 9.5% compared to the previous year.

World Cup matches brought even bigger crowds. On Friday, 2 June 2023, 18,541 fans used Metro buses to reach SoFi Stadium for the U.S. vs. Paraguay game. The Exposition Park, USC Metro E line stop saw a 598% increase in riders that day. The A line’s Memorial Park stop in Pasadena recorded a 7% rise in fare gate taps.

To handle the crowds, L.A. Metro added extra law enforcement and security staff. Conan Cheung, the chief operations officer, ensured the system remained accessible for all attendees. The enhanced services ran smoothly with no reported safety issues. The World Cup period highlighted the growing reliance on public transport in Los Angeles. Ridership figures for May and the event days show a clear upward trend.