Regional Public Transportation Authority
Phoenix, AZ · NTD ID 90136 · 2024 report year
Regional Public Transportation Authority carries 9.3 million passenger trips a year across three modes — bus, vanpool and demand response — making it the 71st-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Phoenix, AZ.
It spends $167 million a year running that service, or $17.88 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $15.80 per rider — 14% above the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 39% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 6% 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#67 of 1,162 nationally | 8,477,785 | $134 million | $15.80 | +14% | 4% | 290 |
| Vanpool#10 of 113 nationally | 546,767 | $4.3 million | $7.81 | +10% | 60% | 239 |
| Demand Response#76 of 1,920 nationally | 306,003 | $28.5 million | $93.24 | +145% | 4% | 259 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9,330,555 | $167 million | $17.88 |
| 2023 | 8,812,730 | $152 million | $17.23 |
| 2022 | 7,111,243 | $139 million | $19.52 |
| 2021 | 6,246,891 | $138 million | $22.09 |
| 2020 | 12,413,427 | $161 million | $12.97 |
| 2019 | 15,406,368 | $165 million | $10.70 |
| 2018 | 16,277,324 | $148 million | $9.11 |
| 2017 | 15,380,743 | $139 million | $9.05 |
| 2016 | 16,668,271 | $126 million | $7.54 |
| 2015 | 17,601,086 | $123 million | $6.98 |
Where Regional Public Transportation Authority ranks
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Ask NTD about Regional Public Transportation Authority →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.