Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
Detroit, MI · NTD ID 50031 · 2024 report year
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation carries 6.1 million passenger trips a year across two modes — bus and demand response — making it the 101st-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Detroit, MI.
It spends $112 million a year running that service, or $18.50 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $14.89 per rider — 7% above the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 33% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 25% 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#83 of 1,162 nationally | 5,743,364 | $85.5 million | $14.89 | +7% | 6% | 165 |
| Demand Response#75 of 1,920 nationally | 309,806 | $26.4 million | $85.32 | +124% | 4% | 116 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,053,170 | $112 million | $18.50 |
| 2023 | 4,827,519 | $110 million | $22.78 |
| 2022 | 4,430,455 | $111 million | $25.16 |
| 2021 | 3,249,516 | $106 million | $32.51 |
| 2020 | 7,647,955 | $120 million | $15.64 |
| 2019 | 9,038,149 | $133 million | $14.69 |
| 2018 | 8,577,077 | $127 million | $14.83 |
| 2017 | 8,614,722 | $130 million | $15.08 |
| 2016 | 9,426,956 | $138 million | $14.60 |
| 2015 | 9,798,638 | $131 million | $13.32 |
Where Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation ranks
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Ask NTD about Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation →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.