Information will be updated after each Board Meeting
Source: March 2013 Commuter Rail Ridership Trends
Reported system ridership (including free Benefit-Access trips) in March 2013 decreased by -2.2% compared to March 2012. Compared to February 2013, reported system ridership in March 2013 increased by 6.0%. Metra ridership is typically higher in March than in February. March ridership has averaged 6.7% higher than February ridership for the past four years.
March 2013 had one less weekday, the same number of Saturdays, and one additional Sunday when compared to March 2012. After adjusting for calendar differences, March 2013 ridership was -1.0% lower than March 2012 ridership. March 2013 ridership was negatively impacted by Easter occurring on March 31. Average weekday passenger loads were down -8.4% during the last work week in March due to the many Metra riders that likely took time off from work to coincide with their children’s vacation from school and general holiday preparations. In contrast, Easter occurred on April 8 in 2012.
March 2013 ridership was also negatively impacted by the lower attendance at Downtown Chicago’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade when compared to the record setting attendance at last year’s parade. Parade attendance in 2012 greatly benefited from the record setting temperatures and unseasonably mild weather experienced on the day of the parade. In 2013, attendance for the parade was lower likely due to the cooler temperatures and rainy weather. Total passenger loads for the Saturday of the St.Patrick’s Day Parade in 2013 were -28.7% lower than on the Saturday of the parade in 2012.
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System Ridership
March 2013
