Mode detail
Bus
Ordinary fixed-route bus service, the mode that carries more Americans than every other mode combined outside New York.
Boardings
Nationwide, annual
Operating cost
As reported and in 2024 dollars
Largest Bus operators, FY2025
| # | Agency | Service | Boardings | Operating cost | Cost / ride | Subsidy / ride | Fare recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
MTA New York City Transit
Brooklyn, NY
|
Directly operated | 651,521,206 | $3,737,377,846 | $5.74 | $4.86 | 15.2% |
| 2 |
Los Angeles Metro
Los Angeles, CA
|
Directly operated | 229,767,050 | $1,572,456,883 | $6.84 | $6.44 | 5.9% |
| 3 |
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago, IL
|
Directly operated | 199,648,790 | $1,162,549,720 | $5.82 | $4.86 | 16.5% |
| 4 |
New Jersey Transit Corporation
Newark, NJ
|
Directly operated | 137,528,366 | $1,237,227,783 | $9.00 | $6.24 | 30.7% |
| 5 |
MTA Bus Company
New York, NY
|
Directly operated | 134,291,965 | $1,091,053,277 | $8.12 | $6.75 | 16.9% |
| 6 |
Washington Metro
Washington, DC
|
Directly operated | 124,032,263 | $1,059,287,281 | $8.54 | $8.09 | 5.3% |
| 7 |
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Philadelphia, PA
|
Directly operated | 113,844,026 | $785,910,150 | $6.90 | $6.03 | 12.7% |
| 8 |
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Boston, MA
|
Directly operated | 83,842,241 | $737,815,416 | $8.80 | $7.88 | 10.4% |
| 9 |
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
San Francisco, CA
|
Directly operated | 81,134,696 | $526,486,927 | $6.49 | $5.93 | 8.7% |
| 10 |
King County Metro
Seattle, WA
|
Directly operated | 77,866,225 | $824,350,761 | $10.59 | $9.70 | 8.3% |
| 11 |
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, NV
|
Purchased transportation | 55,770,766 | $251,534,213 | $4.51 | $3.45 | 23.6% |
| 12 |
Transportation & Public Work
Miami, FL
|
Directly operated | 54,693,965 | $513,259,377 | $9.38 | $8.40 | 10.5% |
| 13 |
Baltimore MTA
Baltimore, MD
|
Directly operated | 49,573,579 | $522,966,586 | $10.55 | $9.94 | 5.7% |
| 14 |
Houston METRO
Houston, TX
|
Directly operated | 47,639,772 | $477,185,607 | $10.02 | $9.60 | 4.2% |
| 15 |
Portland TriMet
Portland, OR
|
Directly operated | 42,283,831 | $449,860,682 | $10.64 | $9.85 | 7.4% |
| 16 |
City & County of Honolulu DTS
Honolulu, HI
|
Purchased transportation | 40,887,229 | $250,937,777 | $6.14 | $5.09 | 17% |
| 17 |
Metro Transit
Minneapolis, MN
|
Directly operated | 37,276,994 | $468,366,355 | $12.56 | $11.79 | 6.1% |
| 18 |
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Atlanta, GA
|
Directly operated | 34,713,269 | $343,866,677 | $9.91 | $9.03 | 8.8% |
| 19 |
AC Transit
Oakland, CA
|
Directly operated | 34,580,054 | $498,811,024 | $14.42 | $13.27 | 8% |
| 20 |
Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Directly operated | 32,983,553 | $382,936,967 | $11.61 | $9.99 | 14% |
| 21 |
San Antonio VIA
San Antonio, TX
|
Directly operated | 29,383,350 | $239,184,472 | $8.14 | $7.69 | 5.6% |
| 22 |
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas, TX
|
Directly operated | 28,492,907 | $363,278,994 | $12.75 | $12.04 | 5.5% |
| 23 |
RTD-Denver
Denver, CO
|
Directly operated | 28,131,762 | $420,038,029 | $14.93 | $14.13 | 5.4% |
| 24 |
Valley Metro
Phoenix, AZ
|
Purchased transportation | 27,843,505 | $228,592,772 | $8.21 | $7.70 | 6.2% |
| 25 |
Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange, CA
|
Directly operated | 25,345,767 | $174,479,920 | $6.88 | $6.09 | 11.6% |