Gone are the days of seeing empty Metrobuses rolling down the streets of St. John’s at rush hour as ridership has ballooned over the past while. City officials expect usage will only continue to grow.

The 3.1-million passengers last year is expected to reach 4.5-million this year. Mayor Danny Breen says that has created some issues for the St. John’s Transportation Commission, but they are planning accordingly to meet demand.

Ridership has increased by about 40 per cent since pre-pandemic times.

He says they have made changes over the past few years which are now coming to fruition. The city partners with the province government to provide a bus pass for those on low incomes, and kids 12 and under ride for free. Mayor Breen says those moves have done a lot to increase demand.