Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority
Staten Island, NY · NTD ID 20099 · 2024 report year
Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority carries 5.3 million passenger trips a year on heavy rail service — making it the 107th-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Staten Island, NY.
It spends $89.2 million a year running that service, or $16.69 per trip. Its heavy rail service, the largest of its modes, costs $16.69 per rider — 59% above the $10.50 median for the 16 US agencies reporting heavy rail.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 31% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rail#12 of 16 nationally | 5,343,041 | $89.2 million | $16.69 | +59% | 5% | 45 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,343,041 | $89.2 million | $16.69 |
| 2023 | 5,194,599 | $72.5 million | $13.95 |
| 2022 | 3,757,728 | $74.9 million | $19.94 |
| 2021 | 2,776,302 | $71.3 million | $25.69 |
| 2020 | 2,713,941 | $68.7 million | $25.31 |
| 2019 | 7,731,849 | $70.7 million | $9.14 |
| 2018 | 8,129,661 | $74.4 million | $9.15 |
| 2017 | 8,251,126 | $90.2 million | $10.94 |
| 2016 | 8,614,320 | $83.6 million | $9.70 |
| 2015 | 8,557,009 | $66.2 million | $7.74 |
Where Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority ranks
- Cheapest Heavy Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #13 of 16
- Most Expensive Heavy Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #4 of 16
- Highest-Ridership Heavy Rail Systems #12 of 16
- Best Farebox Recovery Among Heavy Rail Systems #12 of 16
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Ask NTD about Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating 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.