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University of Michigan Parking and Transportation Services

Ann Arbor, MI · NTD ID 50158 · 2024 report year

Annual trips4.6 million #121 in the US
Operating expense$13.6 million 2024, as reported
Cost per rider$2.98 all modes combined
Farebox recovery— fares ÷ operating cost

University of Michigan Parking and Transportation Services carries 4.6 million passenger trips a year on bus service — making it the 121st-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Ann Arbor, MI.

It spends $13.6 million a year running that service, or $2.98 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $2.98 per rider — 78% below the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.

Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 38% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and down 14% on 2023.

Service by mode, 2024

ModeAnnual tripsOperating expense Cost per ridervs national median FareboxVehicles
Bus#98 of 1,162 nationally 4,567,120 $13.6 million $2.98 -78% — 46

Ridership, 2015–2024

7.7 million 1.2 million 2024 2015
YearAnnual trips Operating expense (2024 $)Cost per rider (2024 $)
2024 4,567,120 $13.6 million $2.98
2023 5,308,822 $13.4 million $2.52
2022 4,256,925 $12.9 million $3.02
2021 1,181,645 $12.8 million $10.84
2020 5,718,494 $11.9 million $2.09
2019 7,355,679 $12.0 million $1.64
2018 7,669,071 $11.0 million $1.43
2017 7,352,383 $10.2 million $1.38
2016 6,655,604 $10.0 million $1.51
2015 7,256,729 $10.2 million $1.40

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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.