Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation
Indianapolis, IN · NTD ID 50050 · 2024 report year
Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation carries 7.1 million passenger trips a year across three modes — bus, bus rapid transit and demand response — making it the 89th-busiest transit operator in the United States, and the largest in Indiana. It is based in Indianapolis, IN.
It spends $134 million a year running that service, or $18.78 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $17.74 per rider — 28% above the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 25% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 4% on 2023. Fares cover 5% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus#84 of 1,162 nationally | 5,561,899 | $98.7 million | $17.74 | +28% | 5% | 114 |
| Bus Rapid Transit#9 of 20 nationally | 1,402,365 | $15.0 million | $10.66 | +68% | 8% | 22 |
| Demand Response#150 of 1,920 nationally | 169,074 | $20.4 million | $120.39 | +216% | 3% | 84 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,133,338 | $134 million | $18.78 |
| 2023 | 6,888,880 | $128 million | $18.63 |
| 2022 | 5,751,302 | $115 million | $20.07 |
| 2021 | 5,203,919 | $119 million | $22.95 |
| 2020 | 5,907,773 | $127 million | $21.41 |
| 2019 | 9,517,965 | $117 million | $12.25 |
| 2018 | 9,119,074 | $106 million | $11.65 |
| 2017 | 9,064,009 | $90.1 million | $9.94 |
| 2016 | 9,494,784 | $88.3 million | $9.30 |
| 2015 | 9,951,627 | $83.2 million | $8.36 |
Where Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation ranks
- Most Expensive Bus Systems by Cost per Rider #4 of 40
- Highest-Ridership Bus Rapid Transit Systems #9 of 20
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Ask NTD about Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation →Source & method. Figures are from the Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database (NTD) annual reporting for 2024, the most recent published report year. Cost per rider is operating expense divided by unlinked passenger trips. Farebox recovery is fare revenue divided by operating expense. Ten-year trends are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; single-year figures are as reported. Agencies self-report to the NTD, and reporting practice varies, so figures are best read as comparable in magnitude rather than to the cent.