The number of urban transit passenger trips in Canada hit a pandemic-era high in September, reaching 120.6 million for the first time since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, according to a report released Monday by Statistics Canada.
With more workers returning to the workplace—full time and hybrid—along with schools reopening, transit ridership has recovered almost three-quarters (73.5%) of its pre-pandemic level from September 2019, said the federal agency.
Statistics Canada
“In September 2022, an estimated 120.6 million passenger trips were taken on Canada’s urban transit networks, an increase of 46.7%, or 38.4 million trips, from September 2021. This was the 18th consecutive month of year-over-year growth and the highest monthly total recorded in two and a half years,” said the report.
“According to the Labour Force Survey, fewer people were working from home in September 2022. With students heading back to school and more people returning to workplaces amid elevated gas prices, public transit ridership reached its highest level since the onset of the pandemic. While passenger volume has recovered almost three-quarters (73.5%) of its pre-pandemic level, there were still 43.4 million fewer rides compared with September 2019.
“On a monthly basis, public transit ridership typically increased by an average of 12% from August to September before the pandemic, as that is when school resumes and workers return from summer vacations. However, September 2022 had a higher-than-average increase of 24.7%, or 23.9 million rides, from August. This increase was widespread across the country.”
StatsCan said total operating revenues (excluding subsidies) reached $273.0 million—an increase of 44.3%, or $83.8 million, from September 2021. This was the highest level recorded since March 2020, but remained down (-26.0% or -$96.0 million) compared with the pre-pandemic September 2019 level, it added.
(Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and only Canadian)About Us
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