SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — If dreaded Southern California freeway traffic is preventing you from taking weekend daytrips in the region, you’re probably not alone.
Driving to nearby counties for beach days, concerts, hikes, and other activities can take hours.
Many Southern California residents, however, refuse to miss out and have opted for an alternative form of travel instead.
Last month, Metrolink, the region’s six-county passenger rail provider, recorded the highest number of weekend customer boardings in agency history, according to the transit agency.
The new single-month benchmark of 122,693 boardings eclipsed the previous record of 117,348 set in September 2018. It’s the first time Metrolink ridership has exceeded a pre-pandemic milestone following a steep decline in the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 mitigation measures fundamentally changed how Southern Californians travel and interact with public transportation systems.
“Ridership recovery hasn’t been quick, but we’ve been trending in the right direction thanks to innovative campaigns and promotions, along with improved service, that are expanding Metrolink’s customer base,” Metrolink Board Chair and Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee said. “Weekend ridership is at an all-time high because today’s riders know that, in addition to traveling to and from work, Metrolink is a great option for exploring regional destinations like Orange County’s famous beaches, visiting friends and family, and connecting with new experiences.”
Metrolink officials now consider weekend ridership to be fully recovered compared to pre-pandemic levels, and weekday ridership continues to show year-over-year growth, reaching a 65% recovery rate in March, according to Metrolink.
March weekend ridership was bolstered by several high-profile events taking place across Southern California, including the International Women’s Day Protest and Rally March 8 in Downtown Los Angeles, the Swallows Day Parade March 22 in San Juan Capistrano and the Beyond Wonderland festival March 28-29 in San Bernardino.
Metrolink has emphasized leisure and entertainment travel in recent years with campaigns such as the $10 Weekend Day Pass, Kids Ride Free on Weekends and SoCal Explorer Rewards, all of which have contributed to weekend ridership growth, according to the transit agency.
Metrolink serves Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties. There are nine Metrolink stations in Riverside County, including two in Corona, two in Perris, one in Moreno Valley, three in Riverside, and one in Jurupa Valley.
Learn more about destinations that are easily accessible from Metrolink stations — including amusement parks, hiking and biking trails, restaurants, beaches and more — at metrolinktrains.com/explore.
