Mode detail

Bus

Ordinary fixed-route bus service, the mode that carries more Americans than every other mode combined outside New York.

← All modes

Boardings

Nationwide, annual

Operating cost

As reported and in 2024 dollars

Largest Bus operators, FY2024

# Agency Service Boardings Operating cost Cost / ride Subsidy / ride Fare recovery
1 Directly operated 647,859,171 $3,471,179,450 $5.36 $4.49 16.1%
2
Los Angeles Metro
Los Angeles, CA
Directly operated 218,918,383 $1,406,470,190 $6.42 $5.99 6.8%
3 Directly operated 181,733,617 $1,082,788,688 $5.96 $4.91 17.6%
4 Directly operated 131,950,034 $1,179,426,179 $8.94 $6.45 27.8%
5
MTA Bus Company
New York, NY
Directly operated 126,616,665 $973,676,611 $7.69 $6.24 18.9%
6
Washington Metro
Washington, DC
Directly operated 117,539,605 $1,052,019,387 $8.95 $8.52 4.8%
7 Directly operated 105,052,346 $755,341,300 $7.19 $6.02 16.3%
8 Directly operated 83,942,889 $607,565,301 $7.24 $6.35 12.3%
9 Directly operated 77,857,337 $513,444,763 $6.59 $6.09 7.6%
10 Directly operated 72,304,880 $764,572,298 $10.57 $9.70 8.3%
11 Directly operated 62,327,289 $423,773,754 $6.80 $5.99 11.9%
12 Purchased transportation 52,203,687 $242,027,889 $4.64 $3.55 23.5%
13
Baltimore MTA
Baltimore, MD
Directly operated 48,038,092 $453,419,020 $9.44 $8.82 6.6%
14
Houston METRO
Houston, TX
Directly operated 44,535,336 $433,964,155 $9.74 $9.25 5.1%
15 Purchased transportation 41,052,559 $244,810,974 $5.96 $4.85 18.6%
16
Portland TriMet
Portland, OR
Directly operated 40,600,671 $393,736,886 $9.70 $8.95 7.8%
17
AC Transit
Oakland, CA
Directly operated 33,931,071 $473,114,563 $13.94 $12.75 8.5%
18 Directly operated 33,269,678 $381,787,341 $11.48 $9.93 13.5%
19 Directly operated 33,066,907 $308,226,820 $9.32 $8.38 10.1%
20
Metro Transit
Minneapolis, MN
Directly operated 31,941,893 $400,424,572 $12.54 $11.59 7.6%
21 Directly operated 29,091,210 $375,639,722 $12.91 $12.25 5.2%
22
San Antonio VIA
San Antonio, TX
Directly operated 28,947,825 $206,822,360 $7.14 $6.67 6.6%
23
RTD-Denver
Denver, CO
Directly operated 27,790,030 $398,452,279 $14.34 $13.50 5.8%
24 Purchased transportation 25,300,648 $148,150,909 $5.86 $4.96 15.3%
25 Directly operated 24,433,436 $163,566,385 $6.69 $5.85 12.6%