San Mateo County Transit District
San Carlos, CA · NTD ID 90009 · 2024 report year
San Mateo County Transit District carries 10.3 million passenger trips a year across two modes — bus and demand response — making it the 66th-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in San Carlos, CA.
It spends $216 million a year running that service, or $21.02 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $18.93 per rider — 37% above the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 10% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 17% on 2023. Fares cover 6% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus#52 of 1,162 nationally | 9,991,507 | $189 million | $18.93 | +37% | 6% | 237 |
| Demand Response#94 of 1,920 nationally | 264,093 | $26.4 million | $100.12 | +163% | 2% | 124 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,255,600 | $216 million | $21.02 |
| 2023 | 8,773,845 | $198 million | $22.59 |
| 2022 | 7,128,074 | $164 million | $23.00 |
| 2021 | 4,632,200 | $172 million | $37.10 |
| 2020 | 9,227,255 | $197 million | $21.31 |
| 2019 | 11,342,332 | $190 million | $16.74 |
| 2018 | 11,819,988 | $173 million | $14.61 |
| 2017 | 12,550,962 | $170 million | $13.58 |
| 2016 | 13,530,765 | $169 million | $12.51 |
| 2015 | 13,796,204 | $160 million | $11.62 |
Where San Mateo County Transit District ranks
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Ask NTD about San Mateo 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.