North County Transit District
Oceanside, CA · NTD ID 90030 · 2024 report year
North County Transit District carries 7.7 million passenger trips a year across four modes — bus, hybrid rail, commuter rail and demand response — making it the 83rd-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Oceanside, CA.
It spends $149 million a year running that service, or $19.33 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $13.11 per rider — 5% below the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 26% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 8% on 2023. Fares cover 8% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus#90 of 1,162 nationally | 4,924,682 | $64.6 million | $13.11 | -5% | 9% | 131 |
| Hybrid Rail#2 of 6 nationally | 1,822,849 | $33.3 million | $18.27 | -56% | 4% | 8 |
| Commuter Rail#18 of 27 nationally | 852,993 | $37.9 million | $44.41 | 0% | 9% | 30 |
| Demand Response#254 of 1,920 nationally | 105,244 | $13.2 million | $125.67 | +230% | 6% | 22 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,705,768 | $149 million | $19.33 |
| 2023 | 7,132,419 | $140 million | $19.59 |
| 2022 | 5,927,166 | $133 million | $22.51 |
| 2021 | 4,457,759 | $120 million | $26.84 |
| 2020 | 8,292,809 | $122 million | $14.75 |
| 2019 | 10,391,615 | $119 million | $11.42 |
| 2018 | 10,662,534 | $116 million | $10.92 |
| 2017 | 10,958,725 | $119 million | $10.84 |
| 2016 | 12,005,664 | $114 million | $9.53 |
| 2015 | 12,640,231 | $114 million | $9.04 |
Where North County Transit District ranks
- Cheapest Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #14 of 24
- Most Expensive Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #11 of 24
- Highest-Ridership Commuter Rail Systems #18 of 27
- Best Farebox Recovery Among Commuter Rail Systems #17 of 24
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Ask NTD about North County Transit District →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.