Tri-Rail, South Florida’s commuter rail service, has achieved a significant milestone by setting a new annual ridership record. The service logged an impressive 4,578,680 rides during the most recent fiscal year, surpassing its previous record from Fiscal Year 2019. This achievement highlights Tri-Rail’s crucial role in serving the region’s growing transportation demands and its strong recovery post-pandemic.
Record-Breaking Ridership Achieved
During the fiscal year spanning July 2024 through June 2025, Tri-Rail recorded a total of 4,578,680 passenger rides. This figure surpasses the prior record of 4,465,750 rides set in Fiscal Year 2019. David Dech, SFRTA Executive Director, expressed pride in this accomplishment, stating, "It speaks to the essential role Tri-Rail plays in meeting the transportation needs of our growing region."
National Recognition for Ridership Recovery
Tri-Rail is also being recognized nationally for its strong ridership recovery. A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which examined 31 commuter rail systems across the country, ranked Tri-Rail fourth overall. It is noted as one of the few systems to have fully recovered its pre-pandemic ridership levels. The service returned to its benchmark of 15,000 weekday and 7,000 weekend rides in February 2024 and has continued to experience growth since then.
Key Takeaways
- Tri-Rail set a new annual ridership record with over 4.5 million rides in the latest fiscal year.
- The service has fully recovered pre-pandemic ridership levels and ranks fourth nationally in recovery.
- Future funding is a concern, with current projections indicating operations may only continue through July 2027 due to state budget cuts.
Future Funding Challenges
Despite the record-breaking ridership, Tri-Rail faces a critical juncture regarding future funding. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority is actively collaborating with the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Transportation, and county leadership from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties to secure necessary financial support. Current projections indicate that without additional funding, Tri-Rail may only have sufficient resources to operate through July 2027, following recent reductions in the state budget.