Urban public transit, August 2021
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Released: 2021-10-29
Highlights
In August, the number of passengers on Canada's urban transit networks rose to its highest level in almost a year, as more businesses reopened following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions amid high vaccination rates. Transit ridership has recovered roughly two-fifths (41.9%) of its pre-pandemic August 2019 level.
Ridership trails pre-pandemic levels
Canada's urban transit networks carried nearly 61.3 million riders in August, up 10.5% from the 55.5 million riders in August 2020. This marked the fifth consecutive month with a year-over-year increase and the highest number boarding in 11 months.
August volumes exceeded 40% of pre-pandemic levels nationwide for the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020. However, volumes remained well below pre-pandemic levels as there were 84.9 million fewer riders in August compared with the same month in 2019.
While ridership from July to August is typically flat or wanes somewhat, it increased by 3.2% in August 2021 (or 1.9 million more rides). By August, most jurisdictions in Canada had implemented near-final stages of public health reopening plans for indoor locations, such as restaurants, recreation facilities, personal care services, retail stores, and entertainment venues.
According to the August Labour Force Survey, employment increased in the services-producing sector, led by large gains in accommodation and food services, and in information, culture and recreation, creating a greater need for transit. More than half (57.9%) of passenger growth in August stemmed from urban areas in Quebec and Ontario.
Chart 1
Urban public transit operating revenue and passenger trips, monthly, 2017 to 2021
Financial situation improving
Total operating revenues (excluding subsidies) reached $149.7 million in August, up 20.2% from August 2020. While this amounted to nearly 44 cents of every pre-pandemic dollar earned for the month, the most since the pandemic began, it remained $192.6 million below August 2019.
Note to readers
Data for the most recent quarter are subject to revision. The data in this release are not seasonally adjusted.
This survey collects data on operating revenue (excluding subsidies) and the number of passenger trips from a panel of urban transit companies that represents at least 75% of revenues in each province and territory. Users should note that the panel is adjusted annually to maintain the 75% coverage and could differ slightly from what it was in the same month a year earlier.
Data prior to January 2017 can be found in table 23-10-0078-01.
The Transportation Data and Information Hub, a web portal developed jointly by Statistics Canada and Transport Canada, provides Canadians with online access to comprehensive statistics and measures on the country's transportation sector.
Contact information
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