TransIT Ridership Soars 20 Percent In One Year

Frederick County bus service handled over 843,000 passengers, highest since 2015.FREDERICK, Md.  – Transit Services of Frederick County achieved a major ridership milestone, serving over 843,000 passengers between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. This is the highest number of riders since 2015, demonstrating the success of Transit’s fare-free policy, recent service updates, and community outreach efforts. The number represents a significant increase over Fiscal Year 2023, which saw over 700,000 passengers.“It’s exciting to see more people riding our buses,” Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. “Access to transportation is critical to a high quality of life, making it possible for people to get to work, healthcare, and food. I’m proud of the incredible outreach Transit is doing to show residents how convenient it is to take the bus.””We believe transportation is at the heart of sustainable community growth, and we’re thrilled to see our buses full of riders,” Transit Deputy Director Jaime McKay said. “This milestone ridership is a vote of confidence from our riders who know and trust that we are delivering safe, accessible, reliable transit service. We encourage everyone to experience Transit and provide feedback on how we can best serve our Frederick community.”Transit’s Travel Training Program and community outreach efforts have also played a major role by empowering people with the skills and knowledge to use transit services independently.The Travel Training Program offers personalized instruction to help passengers learn how to read schedules, locate stops, and use tools like Google Transit. Transit’s community outreach has also connected with more potential riders. Events and marketing educate residents about route options while building enthusiasm for public transportation.Transit staff encourages everyone in the community to take advantage of their services and provide feedback on how Transit can continue to improve.