A few facts to ponder:
- On July 4th 2011 LTD carried its 250 millionth rider.
- In the month of April 2011, LTD carried 1,113,357 riders. Yes, over 1 million rides in a month. IT continues to average near a million at 957,699 per month currently.
- For the initial EmX route from Eugene to Springfield there were 5,800 riders in January 2007 soon after opening. The ridership of conventional buses prior to EmX serving the same destinations totaled 2,700 per month. Ridership nearly doubled after EmX was completed.
- There are 555 bus transit systems in the US. LTD ranks number 30 (near the top) in rides per hour at 40 rides per hour. This is higher than systems in DC and Seattle.
On more than one occasion I have heard claims that “no one is ever on the EmX.” Every day I drive by a crowded bus stop or an over-flowing bus and I have to wonder what they are seeing?!