List of United States light rail systems

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See also: List of North American light rail systems by ridership and List of United States rapid transit systems

The following is a list of all light rail systems in the United States, ranked by ridership. Also included are some of the urban streetcar/trolley systems that provide regular public transit service (operating year-round and at least five days/week), ones with data available from the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Ridership Reports. This list does not include statistics for metro/rapid transit systems (see: the List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership for those). Daily and annual ridership figures are based on "average weekday unlinked passenger trips" (where transfers between lines are counted as two separate passenger "boardings" or "trips"). References with supplementary (non-APTA) ridership figures are included in the System column.

List[edit]

System Largest city
served 		Annual ridership 2023[1] Avg. ridership weekdays, Q4 2023[2] System
length 		Avg. boardings per mile weekdays, Q4 2023 Year
opened 		Stations Lines Year
last
expanded
1 San Diego Trolley[note 1]
(incl. Silver Line[3][note 2]) 		San Diego 38,438,000 130,500 65 mi (105 km)[4] 2,008 1981[4] 62[4] 4[3][4] 2021[4]
2 Metro Rail light rail:[note 3]
A, C, E, & K lines 		Los Angeles 36,082,100 120,100 94.5 mi (152.1 km)[5] 1,271 1990[5] 88[5] 4[5] 2023[5]
3 MBTA light rail:[note 3]
Green Line & Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line[note 2] 		Boston 34,581,000 80,300 26 mi (42 km)[6] 3,088 1897[7] 74[6] 5[6] 2022
4 Link[note 1]
(incl. T Line) 		Seattle 27,338,200 78,600 20.4 mi (32.8 km)[8] 3,853 2009 19[8] 1[8] 2023[9]
5 MAX Light Rail[note 1] Portland 23,446,700 74,800 60 mi (97 km) 1,247 1986 97 5 2015
6 Muni Metro[note 3][10]
(incl. E Embarcadero[note 2] & F Market[11][12][note 2]) 		San Francisco 24,324,600 75,500 35.7 mi (57.5 km)[13] 2,115 1912[14] 152[12][13] 9[11][13] 2022[15]
7 DART[note 1] Dallas 21,380,900 71,700 93 mi (150 km)[16] 771 1996[17] 64[16] 4[18] 2016[17]
8 NJ Transit:[note 3] Hudson–Bergen
Light Rail, Newark Light Rail, River LINE,[19] 		Jersey City, Newark, Camden-Trenton 20,827,300 57,100[note 4] 59.9 mi (96.4 km)[19] 953 1935 24[20] 3[20] 2011
9 Denver RTD:[note 1]
D, E, H, R, L, & W Lines 		Denver 12,740,600 51,200 58.5 mi (94.1 km)[21] 875 1994[22] 62[21] 8 2019[23]
10 METRO Light Rail[note 1] Minneapolis-St. Paul 14,755,900 46,500 21.8 mi (35.1 km)[24][25] 2,133 2004[24] 37[24][25] 2[24][25] 2014[25]
11 METRORail Houston 13,883,700 42,900 23.8 mi (38.3 km)[26][27] 1,803 2004[27] 44[26] 3[26] 2017[26]
12 SEPTA Metro light rail:[28][note 3]
Subway–Surface Lines, Suburban Trolley Lines & Girard Ave Trolley[note 2] 		Philadelphia 13,248,600 42,800 68.4 mi (110.1 km)[29][30] 626 1906 >100[29] 8[29][30] 2005
13 TRAX (UTA) and S Line[note 1] Salt Lake City 11,043,800 37,700 46.8 mi (75.3 km)[31][32] 806 1999[33] 57[34] 4[34] 2013
14 Valley Metro Rail[35] Phoenix 10,797,600 33,000 29.8 mi (48.0 km)[36] 1,107 2008[37] 41[38] 1[37] 2024[36]
15 Sacramento RT Light Rail Sacramento 6,580,000 22,200 42.9 mi (69.0 km)[39] 517 1987[39] 53[39] 3[39] 2015[39]
16 MetroLink St. Louis 6,717,900 19,400 46 mi (74 km)[40] 422 1993[41] 37[40] 2[42] 2006[43]
17 Charlotte Area Transit System:
Blue and Gold Lines 		Charlotte 6,118,300 18,200 20.8 mi (33.5 km)[44][45] 875 2007[46] 43[44][45] 2[44] 2021[47]
18 VTA light rail[note 1] San Jose 4,464,500 13,800 42.2 mi (67.9 km)[48] 327 1987[48] 62[48] 3[48] 2005[48]
19 Baltimore Light RailLink[note 3] Baltimore 3,546,300 12,500 33 mi (53 km)[49] 379 1992 33[49] 3[49] 1997
20 RTA Streetcars
in New Orleans[note 2] 		New Orleans 3,884,800 9,700 26.9 mi (43.3 km)[50] 361 1835 n/a[note 5] 5[50] 2018[50][51]
21 The T:
Pittsburgh Light Rail 		Pittsburgh 3,417,100 9,400[note 4] 26.2 mi (42.2 km)[52] 357 1984[note 6] 53[52] 3[52] 2012[52]
22 Portland Streetcar[note 7] Portland 2,849,190[53] 7,806[53] 9.35 mi (15.05 km)[54] 834 2001[54] 76[54] 2[54] 2015[55]
23 Buffalo Metro Rail Buffalo 2,433,300 6,600 6.4 mi (10.3 km) 1,031 1984 14[56] 1[56] 1986
24 Sun Link Tucson 1,724,900 5,800 3.9 mi (6.3 km)[57] 1,487 2014 22[57] 1[57] —
25 SPRINTER[note 1][58] Oceanside 1,362,600 5,600 22 mi (35 km)[59] 255 2008[59] 15[59] 1[59] —
26 KC Streetcar Kansas City 1,832,215[60] 5,020[61] 2.2 mi (3.5 km) 2,281 2016 16[62] 1 2016
27 Seattle Streetcar[note 1] Seattle 1,326,500 4,200 3.8 mi (6.1 km) 1,105 2007 21 2 2016
28 TECO Line Streetcar Tampa 1,156,800 [citation needed] 3,169[note 4] 2.7 mi (4.3 km) 1,173 2002 11 1 2010
29 Tide Light Rail Norfolk 771,500 2,500 7.4 mi (11.9 km)[63] 338 2011[64] 11[63] 1[63] —
30 RTA Rapid Transit:[note 8]
Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines 		Cleveland 661,500 2,500 15.3 mi (24.6 km)[65] 163 1913[66] 34[65] 2[65] 1996[66]
31 Q-Line Detroit 896,900[67] 2,460[67] 3.3 mi (5.3 km) 745 2017 20 1 —
32 Cincinnati Connector[68] Cincinnati 846,622[69] 2,320[note 4][69] 3.6 mi (5.8 km)[70] 644 2016[71] 18[70] 1 —
33 DC Streetcar Washington, D.C. 721,700 2,200 2.4 mi (3.9 km) 917 2016 8 1 —
34 Dallas Streetcar Dallas 701,904[72] 1,923 [note 4] 2.45 mi (3.94 km) 784 2015 6 1 2016
35 The Hop (streetcar) Milwaukee 453,269[73] 1,241 2.1 mi (3.4 km) 636 2018 10 1 —
36 MATA Trolley Memphis 365,400 800 2 mi (3.2 km) 400 1993 11[73] 1[73] 2004
37 Atlanta Streetcar Atlanta 184,500 600 2.7 mi (4.3 km) 222 2014 12 1 —
38 El Paso Streetcar El Paso 65,400 400 4.8 mi (7.7 km) 62 2018 27[74] 2[74] —

Gallery[edit]

Systems excluded from ridership table[edit]

The following light rail systems have been excluded from the ridership table above:

System Largest city served Opened Route length Reason(s) for exclusion from Ridership table
San Francisco cable car system San Francisco, CA 1873 5.1 mi (8.2 km) APTA does not provide ridership figures for this system.
Lowell National Historical Park Trolley System Lowell, MA 1984[75] 1.2 mi (1.9 km)[76] Primarily a tourist system (does not operate daily, year-round). APTA does not provide ridership figures.
Galveston Island Trolley Galveston, TX 1988[77] 6.8 mi (10.9 km)[77] Non-operational; suspended since September 2008 due to damage from Hurricane Ike.
Kenosha Streetcars Kenosha, WI 2000[78] 2.0 mi (3.2 km)[78] Primarily a tourist system. APTA does not provide ridership figures.
Metro Streetcar Little Rock, AR 2004[79] 3.4 mi (5.5 km)[79] Primarily a tourist system. APTA does not provide ridership figures.
River Street Streetcar Savannah, GA 2009 1 mi (1.6 km) Primarily a tourist system. APTA does not provide ridership figures.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j This system also has available connections to a commuter rail system; the ridership figures and statistics presented here represent the light rail portion of the system only.
  2. ^ a b c d e f This line or system is operated using heritage streetcars.
  3. ^ a b c d e f This system also has a heavy rail rapid transit/metro portion (see List of metro systems), and connections to a commuter rail system; the ridership figures and statistics presented here represent the light rail portion of the system only.
  4. ^ a b c d e This is the Average Daily Ridership figure, not an "Average Weekday Ridership" figure – it is averaged from the 2022 Total Ridership figure for this system.
  5. ^ Uses streetcar-like surface stops
  6. ^ As current incarnation of light rail.
  7. ^ This system is owned by the City of Portland, which is not a member of APTA, and its ridership figures are not included in the APTA statistics for Portland.
  8. ^ This system also has a heavy rail rapid transit/metro portion (see List of metro systems); the ridership figures and statistics presented here represent the light rail portion of the system only.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Vintage Trolley". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. May 22, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "About MTS". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. November 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Metro – Facts at a Glance". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). February 22, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "About the T – Financials – Appendix: Statistical Profile" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2007. pp. 103–104. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  7. ^ "MTBA – About the MTBA – History – The Rapid Transit Commission and the BERY". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c "Schedules – SoundTransit". Sound Transit. 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Hilltop T Line Extension". Sound Transit. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "TEP Route Data & Proposed Changes". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "F Market & Wharves | SFMTA". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Rider Information – Market Street Railway". Market Street Railway. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c "Muni Metro Light Rail | SFMTA". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  14. ^ McKane, John; Perles, Anthony (1982). Inside Muni: The Properties and Operations of the Municipal Railway of San Francisco. Glendale, CA: Interurban Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-916374-49-5.
  15. ^ fpadmin (January 25, 2013). "Central Subway Project". SFMTA. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Facts about Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. February 26, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "DART.org – DART History". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  18. ^ "DART.org – DART Schedules". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  19. ^ a b "NJ TRANSIT Annual Report" (PDF). New Jersey Transit. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Hudson-Bergen – Light Rail" (PDF). NJ Transit. March 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  21. ^ a b "RTD – Facts & Figures". Regional Transportation District. February 2017. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "RTD – Facts & Figures – Central Corridor Light Rail Line". Regional Transportation District. January 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  23. ^ "FasTracks Southeast Rail Extension". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  24. ^ a b c d "METRO Blue Line – Facts About Trains and Construction". Metro Transit. 2013. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  25. ^ a b c d "Metro Green Line Fact Sheet". Metropolitan Council. June 14, 2014. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d "METRORail". Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas. October 7, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Houston Facts 2014" (PDF). METRO. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  28. ^ "SEPTA – Trolley Lines". Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  29. ^ a b c "SEPTA – Spring 2012 Route Statistics" (PDF). Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  30. ^ a b "SEPTA – Media Guide" (PDF). Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  31. ^ "Front Lines 2015 Map" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 25, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  32. ^ Vo-Duc, Viviane (September 5, 2013). "New streetcar S-line set to open Dec. 8 in Sugar House". deseretnews.com.
  33. ^ "UTA History – Fact Sheet History 2012" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. April 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  34. ^ a b "Rail and BRT Map". Utah Transit Authority. August 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  35. ^ "Ridership Reports". Valley Metro. 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  36. ^ a b "Light rail to reach eastern end of the line with opening of Mesa extension". azcentral. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  37. ^ a b "Light Rail System 2011 Facts and Figures" (PDF). Valley Metro. August 14, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  38. ^ "Valley Metro Expands Safe Place". Valley Metro. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  39. ^ a b c d e "Sacramento Regional Transit District: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Sacramento Regional Transit District. May 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  40. ^ a b "Procurement Information". Bi-State Development Agency (Metro). 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  41. ^ "History – The 1990s – MetroLink". Bi-State Development Agency (Metro). 2010. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  42. ^ "Procurement Information" (PDF). Bi-State Development Agency (Metro). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  43. ^ "History – 2000 to Today – MetroLink". Bi-State Development Agency (Metro). 2010. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  44. ^ a b c "LYNX Home". Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  45. ^ a b "LYNX Blue Line Extension Service Update". City of Charlotte Government.
  46. ^ "LYNX Blue Line Recognizes Ridership Success During Week of Five-Year Anniversary". Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). November 28, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  47. ^ Sheldon, Juliann (August 26, 2021). "CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar to Open for Passenger Service on Aug. 30". City of Charlotte. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  48. ^ a b c d e "VTA Facts: Light Rail System Overview" (PDF). Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). November 14, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  49. ^ a b c "Visitors Ride Guide" (PDF). Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved July 14, 2013 – via http://mta.maryland.gov/content/visitors. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  50. ^ a b c "Agency Profile: New Orleans Regional Transit Authority" (PDF). National Transit Database. 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  51. ^ "RTA will open its Cemeteries Transit Center to streetcars this Sunday". Curbed New Orleans. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  52. ^ a b c d "Port Authority of Allegheny County – Company Info & Projects – Agency Profile". Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT). 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  53. ^ a b "Portland Streetcar Ridership Performance" (PDF). Portland Streetcar. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  54. ^ a b c d "Streetcar History | Portland Streetcar". Portland Streetcar, Inc. 2012. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  55. ^ "Loop Service - Portland Streetcar". August 6, 2015. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015.
  56. ^ a b "Metro Rail 7 Day Timetable" (PDF). NTFA-Metro. July 2, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  57. ^ a b c "Why do we need a streetcar? – The streetcar route". Sun Link Tucson Streetcar. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  58. ^ "SPRINTER Fact Sheet" (PDF). North County Transit District. January 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  59. ^ a b c d "Nctd sprinter". North County Transit District (San Diego). 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  60. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2023" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  61. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2023" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  62. ^ "The KC Streetcar - FAQs". Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  63. ^ a b c "The Tide – Hampton Roads Transit". Hampton Roads Transit. 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  64. ^ "Light Rail Service to Begin August 19, 2011". Hampton Roads Transit. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  65. ^ a b c "2012 Annual Report – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. December 31, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  66. ^ a b "About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  67. ^ a b "QLINE's limitations reflect regional transit failures holding back Detroiters". Bridge Detroit. June 28, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  68. ^ "Cincinnati Connector". City of Cincinnati. 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  69. ^ a b "Streetcar Ridership". Cincinnati Bell Connector. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  70. ^ a b "Design & Route". City of Cincinnati. 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  71. ^ Coolidge, Sharon (September 9, 2016). "It's a go: Streetcar finally opens". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  72. ^ "DART Scorecard". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  73. ^ a b c The Hop MKE - Ridership
  74. ^ a b Streetcar work on time, budget
  75. ^ "Lowell National Historical Park, Massachusetts : The Trolleys". National Park Service. National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior). Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  76. ^ "U.S. Streetcar Systems- Massachusetts – Lowell". Railway Preservation. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  77. ^ a b "Island Transit Information". Island Transit. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  78. ^ a b "Streetcar Route Map" (PDF). Kenosha Streetcars Today. Retrieved July 14, 2013 – via http://www.kenoshastreetcarsociety.org/today. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  79. ^ a b "River Rail – Central Arkansas Transit Authority". Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA). Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_United_States_light_rail_systems&oldid=1217544191"