In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the evolving trends in public transit ridership, highlighting both increases and decreases across various routes. The meeting revealed a mixed landscape as the transit system continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key changes were approved during a public hearing in June, which included reinstating service levels on popular routes such as 11, 14, and 15, while making some pandemic-related cuts permanent. Route 15, noted as the most popular, saw a significant increase in service to accommodate rising demand. Route 13 also experienced a 21% increase, attributed to shifts in student ridership patterns following the discontinuation of Route 32 by North Dakota State University (NDSU).

Conversely, routes 17, 18, and 20 saw slight decreases in ridership, with Route 16 experiencing a notable 20% drop, likely due to passengers switching to Route 15, which serves a similar area. The meeting underscored the ongoing adjustments as ridership stabilizes post-COVID, with officials anticipating a clearer picture of consistent ridership trends in the coming year.

The discussion also touched on the performance of on-demand services, which have seen fluctuating demand, particularly in industrial areas. Paratransit services reported a steady increase, reflecting a growing need among the aging population.

In Moorhead, ridership trends varied, with Route 1 serving Concordia College experiencing a decline, while Route 4, which serves key community services, reported a 9% increase despite ongoing detours. Overall, Moorhead's transit system recorded a 1.76% increase in ridership from January to September, inching closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Officials expressed optimism about the recovery of transit services, noting that reinstated routes and improved service frequency have contributed to the uptick in ridership. The meeting concluded with a commitment to explore marketing opportunities to further engage college students and the community in utilizing public transit services.