Southern California Regional Rail Authority
Los Angeles, CA · NTD ID 90151 · 2024 report year
Southern California Regional Rail Authority carries 4.3 million passenger trips a year on commuter rail service — making it the 124th-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Los Angeles, CA.
It spends $309 million a year running that service, or $71.56 per trip. Its commuter rail service, the largest of its modes, costs $71.56 per rider — 61% above the $44.41 median for the 27 US agencies reporting commuter rail.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 66% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 17% on 2023. Fares cover 12% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter Rail#9 of 27 nationally | 4,321,271 | $309 million | $71.56 | +61% | 12% | 195 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,321,271 | $309 million | $71.56 |
| 2023 | 3,703,404 | $287 million | $77.37 |
| 2022 | 3,754,556 | $263 million | $70.14 |
| 2021 | 2,102,196 | $277 million | $131.68 |
| 2020 | 9,357,013 | $284 million | $30.39 |
| 2019 | 12,824,059 | $298 million | $23.25 |
| 2018 | 14,190,870 | $294 million | $20.69 |
| 2017 | 14,396,198 | $284 million | $19.74 |
| 2016 | 13,758,419 | $285 million | $20.71 |
| 2015 | 13,975,359 | $275 million | $19.66 |
Where Southern California Regional Rail Authority ranks
- Cheapest Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #23 of 24
- Most Expensive Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #2 of 24
- Highest-Ridership Commuter Rail Systems #9 of 27
- Best Farebox Recovery Among Commuter Rail Systems #16 of 24
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Ask NTD about Southern California Regional Rail 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.