List of North American light rail systems explained

See also: List of North American rapid transit systems. The following is a list of all light rail systems in North America, ranked by ridership. Daily figures for American and Canadian light rail systems are "average weekday unlinked passenger trips" (where transfers between lines are counted as two separate passenger "boardings" or "trips"), unless otherwise indicated. For light rail systems in the United States and Canada, these figures come from the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Ridership Reports statistics. For Mexico, the figures are obtained from Banco de Información Económica's Instituto Nacional de Estadísitica y Geografía (INEGI), and the daily figures represent daily passenger trips averaged from the monthly and quarterly ridership figures. "Daily boardings per mile" figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 or 10.

The question of which systems would qualify as "light rail transit systems" is debatable, so this table includes some systems (such as Toronto's) which are technically streetcars rather than "true" light rail.

Systems

System	Country	City/Area served	data-sort-type="number"	Annual ridership (2023)^[1] ^[2]	data-sort-type="number"	Avg. daily weekday boardings (Q4 2023)	System length	Avg. daily boardings per mile (Q4 2019)	Year opened	data-sort-type="number"	Stations	data-sort-type="number"	Lines	Year last expanded
Guadalajara light rail (Tren ligero de Guadalajara)<	--^[3] -->	Mexico	Guadalajara	157,704,000		29.2miles^[4]	19,800	1989^[5]	48	3	2020^[6]
CTrain	Canada	Calgary	85,320,400	264,200	37.2miles^[7]	8,395	1981^[8]	45	2	2014
	Canada	Toronto	69,106,000	221,700	51miles^[9]	3,915	1861^[10]	708 streetcar stops	11	2016
San Diego Trolley (incl. Silver Line^[11])	United States	San Diego	38,438,000	130,500	65miles^[12]	2,155	1981	62	4	2021^[13]
Metro Rail light rail: A, C, E, & K lines	United States	Los Angeles	36,082,100	120,100	88.1miles^[14]	2,390	1990	72	5	2022
MBTA light rail:<	---->^[15] Green Line &<br />Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line^[16]	United States	Boston	34,581,000	80,300	26miles^[17]	6,265	1897;^[18] 1929	74	2	2022^[19]
Link light rail 1 Line, 2 Line, and T Line	United States	Seattle and Tacoma	27,338,200	78,600	NaNmiles	3,820	2003^[20]	39^[21]	3^[22]	2024^[23]
Xochimilco Light Rail	Mexico	Mexico City	23,741,000	65,043^[24]	8miles	11,010	1986	18^[25]	1	2008
MAX Light Rail	United States	Portland, Oregon	23,446,700	74,800	60miles	1,995	1986	97	5	2015
Edmonton LRT	Canada	Edmonton	24,143,200	85,100	17.5miles^[26]	7,335	1978	29	3	2023
	United States	Dallas	21,380,900	71,700	93miles^[27]	1,030	1996^[28]	64	4^[29]	2016
Muni Metro (incl. F Market^[30] ^[31])	United States	San Francisco	24,324,600	75,500	35.7miles^[32]	4,480	1980	152	8	2023^[33]
NJ Transit Light Rail	United States	Newark, New Jersey, as well as Hudson, Mercer, Burlington, and Camden Counties.	20,827,300		108.1miles^[34]	2,985	1935^[35]	86	3	2011^[36]
O-Train	Canada	Ottawa	19,451,800	74,700	12.5 km(7.8 mi)^[37]	n/a	2019	13	1	n/a
RTD Light Rail	United States	Denver	12,740,600		58.5miles^[38]	1,740	1994^[39]	46	6	2017
METRO Light Rail	United States	Minneapolis	14,755,900	46,500	21.8miles^[40] ^[41]	3,515	2004	37	2	2014
METRORail	United States	Houston	13,883,700	42,900	22.9miles^[42]	2,651	2004	37^[43]	3	2015
SEPTA Metro light rail:^[44] Subway–Surface Trolleys (T), Media–Sharon Hill Line (D), & Route 15 Trolley (G)	United States	Philadelphia	13,248,600		68.4miles^[45] ^[46]	1,330	1858^[47]	>100	8	2005
TRAX (light rail)	United States	Salt Lake City	11,043,800	37,700	44.8miles^[48]	1,288	1999^[49]	50^[50]	3	2013
Valley Metro Rail	United States	Phoenix	10,797,600	33,000	29.8miles^[51]	1,800	2008^[52]	41	1	2024^[53]
St. Louis MetroLink	United States	St. Louis	6,717,900	19,400	46miles^[54]	857	1993^[55]	37	2^[56]	2006^[57]
Lynx Rapid Transit Services	United States	Charlotte, North Carolina	6,118,300	18,200	18.9miles^[58]	1,228	2007^[59]	15^[60]	1	2018
Sacramento RT Light Rail	United States	Sacramento, California	6,580,000	22,200	42.9miles^[61]	858	1987	53	3	2015
Streetcars in New Orleans	United States	New Orleans	3,884,800	9,700	22.3miles^[62] ^[63]	843	1835	streetcar-like surface stops	4	2013
VTA light rail	United States	San Jose, California	4,464,500	13,800	42.2miles^[64]	1,121	1987	62	3	2005
Baltimore Light RailLink	United States	Baltimore	3,546,300	12,500	33miles^[65]	558	1992	33	3	1997
Ion rapid transit	Canada	Kitchener and Waterloo	5,654,810^[66]		12miles	n/a	2019	19	1	n/a
The T: Pittsburgh Light Rail	United States	Pittsburgh	3,417,100		26.2miles^[67]	1,057	1984	53	3	2012
San Francisco cable car system^[68]	United States	San Francisco	5,719,900	14,900	5.2miles	3,021	1878^[69]	streetcar-like surface stops	3^[70]	1952
Portland Streetcar^[71]	United States	Portland	2,373,341^[72]	8,339	7.35miles^[73]	2,723	2001	76	2	2012
Buffalo Metro Rail	United States	Buffalo, New York	2,433,300	6,600	6.4miles	2,500	1985	14^[74]	1	n/a
SPRINTER	United States	Oceanside, California	1,362,600	5,600	22miles^[75]	341	2008	15	1	n/a
Seattle Streetcar	United States	Seattle	1,326,500	4,200	3.8miles	1,447	2007^[76]	17^[77]	2	2016^[78]
RTA Rapid Transit Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines	United States	Cleveland	661,500	2,500	15.3miles^[79]	327	1913^[80]	34	2	1996
Tide Light Rail	United States	Norfolk, Virginia	771,500	2,500	7.4miles^[81]	622	2011^[82]	11	1	n/a
DC Streetcar	United States	Washington, D.C.	721,700	2,200	2.4miles^[83]		2016^[84]	8	1	2016
TECO Line Streetcars	United States	Tampa, Florida	1,428,700		2.7miles^[85]	630	2002	11^[86]	1	2010
Sun Link	United States	Tucson, Arizona	1,724,900	5,800	3.9miles^[87]	1,026	2014	22	1	n/a
The Hop	United States	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	760,321	–	2.1miles^[88]		2018	18	1	2018
El Paso Streetcar	United States	El Paso, Texas	130,600	600	4.8miles^[89]		2018^[90]	27	2	2018
Atlanta Streetcar	United States	Atlanta, Georgia	184,500	600	2.7miles	111	2014	12	1	n/a
MATA Trolleys	United States	Memphis, Tennessee	365,400	800	6.3miles	0^[91]	1993^[92]	25^[93]	3	2004

Excluded systems

The following systems have been excluded from the ridership table above (generally because the system's ridership statistics are not tracked by APTA):

• Galveston Island Trolley (Galveston, TX)
• Kenosha Streetcars (Kenosha, WI)
• Metro Streetcar (Little Rock, AR)
• River Street Streetcar (Savannah, GA)

See also

• Light rail in North America
• Light rail
• List of tram and light rail transit systems
• List of United States light rail systems by ridership
• Light rail in the United States
• Streetcars in North America
• List of Latin American rail transit systems by ridership
• List of North American rapid transit systems by ridership
• List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership
• List of rail transit systems in the United States
• Public transportation

Notes and References

1. Web site: March 4, 2024 . American Public Transportation Association Q4 2023 Ridership Report . 2024-04-19 . American Public Transportation Association.
2. Web site: Banco de Información Económica - Instituto Nactional de Estadística y Geografía - Comunicaciones y transportes . Instituto Nactional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) . September 22, 2023. September 22, 2023.
3. This system also has a heavy rail rapid transit/metro portion (see List of metro systems); the ridership figures and statistics here represent the light rail portion of the system only.
4. Web site: Línea 3 del Sistema del Tren Eléctrico Urbano de Guadalajara – Fonadin2. 2021-01-01. es-MX.
5. Web site: Características del Tren Eléctrico. Characteristics of the Electric Train. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816031944/http://www.siteur.gob.mx/tren-ligero/caracteristicas.html. 2016-08-16. 2017-05-19. SITEUR. Spanish.
6. Web site: corresponsal. Juan Carlos G. Partida. 2020-09-12. López Obrador inaugura la Línea 3 del Tren Ligero de Guadalajara - Política - La Jornada. 2021-01-04. www.jornada.com.mx. es.
7. Web site: About Calgary Transit / Corporate Information / History . Calgary Transit . City of Calgary . 2015 . 2015-07-17.
8. Web site: About Calgary Transit / Corporate Information / History . Calgary Transit . City of Calgary . 2015 . 2015-09-09.
9. Web site: 2012 - TTC Operating Statistics . Toronto Transit Commission . 2013 . 2013-07-26.
10. Web site: Toronto's Streetcar Network - Past to Present - History . Toronto Transit Commission . 2013 . 2013-07-26.
11. Web site: Vintage Trolley . 22 May 2015 . San Diego Metropolitan Transit System . 2015-12-30.
12. Web site: November 2021 . About MTS . 2022-08-12 . San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
13. Web site: 2018-08-30 . UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley Extension . 2022-08-12 . San Diego Metropolitan Transit System . en.
14. Web site: Metro – Facts at a Glance . Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) . November 18, 2016 . 2017-05-19.
15. This system also has a heavy rail rapid transit/metro portion (see List of metro systems); the ridership figures and statistics here represent the light rail portion of the system only.
16. This line or system is operated using heritage streetcars.
17. Web site: About the T - Financials - Appendix: Statistical Profile . . 2007 . 2013-07-13 . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223436/http://www.mbta.com/uploadedFiles/About_the_T/Financials/9_Appendix.pdf . dead .
18. Web site: MTBA - About the MTBA - History - The Rapid Transit Commission and the BERY . . 2013 . 2013-08-07.
19. News: Kool . Daniel . December 12, 2022 . 'It's finally here': Green Line Extension's Medford branch opens to a crush of excited riders . . January 30, 2023.
20. News: Sound Transit starts small with Tacoma Link system . Lindblom . Mike . August 23, 2003 . . April 16, 2021.
21. Web site: Link light rail stations . Sound Transit . May 3, 2024.
22. 2024 . Sound Transit Current Service . Sound Transit . May 3, 2024.
23. News: Lindblom . Mike . Kroman . David . Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride . 3 May 2024 . The Seattle Times . 27 April 2024.
24. This is the Average Daily Ridership figure, not an "Average Weekday Ridership" figure – it is averaged from the 2022 Total Ridership figure for this system.
25. Web site: Servicios. - Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del D.F. . Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del Distrito Federal . Spanish . Electrical transport service of the Federal District . 2013-07-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120716204014/http://www.ste.df.gob.mx/servicios/trenligero.html . 2012-07-16.
26. Web site: The Way We Move LRT for Everyone . Edmonton Transit System and City of Edmonton . 4–5 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910224155/http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/PDF/LRT_for_Everyone.pdf . 2015-09-10 . live . 2017-05-19.
27. Web site: Facts about Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) . Dallas Area Rapid Transit . April 22, 2015 . 2015-09-09.
28. Web site: DART History . Dallas Area Rapid Transit . 2015 . 2015-09-09.
29. Web site: DART.org - DART Schedules . Dallas Area Rapid Transit . 2015 . 2015-09-09.
30. Web site: F Market & Wharves | SFMTA . San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . 2013 . 2013-08-25.
31. Web site: Rider Information – Market Street Railway . Market Street Railway . 2013-08-18.
32. Web site: Muni Metro Light Rail | SFMTA . San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . 2013 . 2013-06-30.
33. Central Subway Service Changes . November 19, 2022 . San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
34. Web site: NJ TRANSIT FACTS AT A GLANCE. New Jersey Transit. September 23, 2023.
35. Web site: Light Rail Spurs New Development. NJDOT.org. September 23, 2023.
36. NJ Transit Opens New 8th Street Light Rail Station in Bayonne. January 31, 2011. New Jersey Transit. Newark, New Jersey. November 17, 2023.
37. Web site: O-Train Line 1 . 2024-04-19 . octranspo.
38. Web site: RTD - Facts & Figures . May 24, 2013 . Regional Transportation District . 2013-07-23.
39. Web site: RTD - Facts & Figures - Central Corridor Light Rail Line . January 2013 . Regional Transportation District . 2013-07-23.
40. Web site: METRO Blue Line - Facts About Trains and Construction . Metro Transit . 2013 . 2014-06-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140214014738/http://www.metrotransit.org/facts-about-trains-and-construction.aspx . 2014-02-14.
41. Web site: Metro Green Line Fact Sheet . Metropolitan Council . June 14, 2014 . 2014-06-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140612212020/http://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects/Central-Corridor/Publications-And-Resources/Miscellaneous-Documents/Metro-Green-Line-Fact-Sheet.aspx . June 12, 2014 . dead .
42. Web site: METRO About Us . Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas . 2013-07-23.
43. Web site: MetroRail Rider Guide . METRO . May 23, 2015 . 2015-09-09.
44. Web site: SEPTA - Trolley Lines . Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority . 2013-06-28.
45. Web site: SEPTA Route Statistics 2016 . Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority . 2016 . 2017-05-19 . 2020-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021402/https://septa.org/strategic-plan/reports/route-statistics.pdf . dead .
46. Web site: SEPTA - Media Guide . Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority . 2013 . 2017-05-19 . 2018-04-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180417143227/http://www.septa.org/media/guide/pdf/media-guide.pdf . dead .
47. Web site: Hepp . John . Streetcars . Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia . Rutgers University Camden . 2 December 2018.
48. Web site: Front Lines 2015 Map . Utah Transit Authority . 2013-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131125161159/http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/FrontLines2015Map.pdf . 2013-11-25.
49. Web site: UTA History - Fact Sheet History 2012 . Utah Transit Authority . April 2013 . 2013-08-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130121151519/http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/FactSheet_History_2012new.pdf . 2013-01-21.
50. Web site: TRAX and FrontRunner Map . Utah Transit Authority . pdf . 2013-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130620184234/http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/2013April_Railmap_large.jpg . 2013-06-20.
51. Web site: Valley Metro Expands Safe Place . Mar 21, 2016 . Valley Metro . Mar 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160401045037/http://www.valleymetro.org/pressreleases/detail/valley-metro-expands-safe-place1 . April 1, 2016 . dead .
52. Mesa Extension Opening Seven Months Early . Valley Metro . June 3, 2015 . 2015-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151017100225/http://www.valleymetro.org/pressreleases/detail/first-light-rail-extension-opening-seven-months-early . October 17, 2015 . dead .
53. Web site: Northwest Light Rail Extension Opens . Mar 19, 2016 . Valley Metro . Mar 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328170643/http://www.valleymetro.org/pressreleases/detail/northwest-extension-opening-date-announced . 2016-03-28.
54. Web site: Procurement Information . Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) . 2010 . 2013-08-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130818235916/http://metrostlouis.org/BusinessCommunity/Procurement/ProcurementInformation.aspx . 2013-08-18.
55. Web site: History - The 1990s - MetroLink . Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) . 2010 . 2013-08-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130823111730/http://metrostlouis.org/About/History/The1990s.aspx . 2013-08-23.
56. Web site: Procurement Information . Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) . 2013-08-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328132512/https://www.metrostlouis.org/Libraries/System_Map_PDFs/Metrolink_Schematic_Map.pdf . 2016-03-28.
57. Web site: History - 2000 to Today - MetroLink . Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) . 2010 . 2013-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130823122145/http://metrostlouis.org/About/History/2000toToday.aspx . 2013-08-23.
58. Web site: Lynx Blue Line. August 28, 2019. 2019-09-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190901084125/https://charlottenc.gov/cats/rail/lynx-blue-line/Pages/default.aspx. dead.
59. Web site: LYNX Blue Line Recognizes Ridership Success During Week of Five-Year Anniversary . Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) . November 28, 2012 . 2013-08-07.
60. Web site: LYNX Home. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). 2013-08-07.
61. Web site: Sacramento Regional Transit District: Fact Sheet . Sacramento Regional Transit District . May 2016 . 2016-06-22.
62. Web site: New Orleans Streetcars - New Orleans Online . The Official Tourism Site of the City of New Orleans: NewOrleansOnline.com . 2013 . 2013-07-16.
63. Web site: APTA Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Site - New Orleans Overview . American Public Transportation Association . 2013-07-16.
64. Web site: VTA Facts: Light Rail System Overview . Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) . pdf . November 14, 2012 . 2017-05-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130820152521/http://vta.org/news/factsheets/bus_lightrail_trolly_information/lightrail_overview.pdf . August 20, 2013 .
65. Web site: Visitors Ride Guide . . 2013-07-14.
66. Web site: 2023-05-15 . Performance measures . 2023-09-28 . www.grt.ca . en.
67. Web site: Port Authority of Allegheny County - Company Info & Projects - Agency Profile . Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) . 2013 . 2013-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130703091048/http://www.portauthority.org/paac/CompanyInfoProjects/AgencyProfile.aspx . 2013-07-03 . dead .
68. It is debatable whether this system truly qualifies as "light rail" (or as a true "transit" system either), but it is included in the table anyway for comparison purposes (and due to its ridership statistics being tracked by APTA).
69. Web site: Cable Cars | SFMTA . San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . 2013 . 2013-06-30.
70. Web site: Routes & Stops | SFMTA - Cable Cars . San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . 2013 . 2013-08-25.
71. This system is owned by the City of Portland, which is not a member of APTA, and its ridership figures are not included in the APTA statistics for Portland.
72. 2022 Annual Agency Profile - City of Portland . 2023.
73. Web site: Streetcar History . Portland Streetcar, Inc. . 2012 . 2013-11-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013400/http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/node/33 . 2013-12-03.
74. Web site: Metro Rail 7 Day Timetable . NTFA-Metro . September 4, 2016 . 2017-05-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002214439/http://metro.nfta.com/Routes/ttpdf/45.pdf . October 2, 2013 .
75. Web site: NCTD SPRINTER . North County Transit District (San Diego) . 2013 . 2013-06-30.
76. Web site: South Lake Union Streetcar . Seattle Streetcar . 2016-03-29.
77. Seattle Streetcar Map . December 2015 . . 2016-03-29.
78. News: Lindblom . Mike . January 22, 2016 . Seattle's First Hill Streetcar to open Saturday with free rides . The Seattle Times . 2016-03-29.
79. Web site: 2012 Annual Report - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . December 31, 2012 . 2013-07-21.
80. Web site: About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland . Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . 2012 . 2013-07-21.
81. Web site: Hampton Roads Transit – Services – The Tide . Hampton Roads Transit . 2017-05-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120616134732/http://www.gohrt.com/services/the-tide . 2012-06-16 . dead .
82. Web site: Hampton Roads Transit – Services . Hampton Roads Transit . 2017-05-19.
83. News: D.C. drops plan to extend streetcar line to Georgetown. 23 January 2020. 15 July 2022. The Washington Post. Shaver. Katherine.
84. News: D.C. streetcar makes its first voyages on H Street. 'Is it really happening?. 27 February 2016. 15 July 2022. The Washington Post. Laris. Michael.
85. Web site: TECO Line Streetcar . TECOline Streetcar System . 2012 . 2013-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150906181829/http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/about/history/index.htm . dead . 2015-09-06.
86. Web site: Downtown Network Map . Hillsborough Area Transit Authority (HART) . February 2013 . 2013-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130626063755/http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/about/maps/downtown_network.pdf . 2013-06-26 . dead .
87. Web site: Why do we need a streetcar? – The streetcar route . Sun Link Tucson Streetcar . 2015-04-02.
88. Web site: Milwaukee streetcar draws a crowd on first day of service. Ryan. Sean. 2 November 2018. 15 July 2022. Milwaukee Business Journal. www.bizjournals.com.
89. Web site: Streetcar work remains on time, budget. 23 September 2016. 15 July 2022. Cindy. Ramirez. El Paso Times.
90. Web site: El Paso streetcars make their return after 45-year absence. 9 November 2018. 15 July 2022. Ruben R.. Ramirez. El Paso Times.
91. The MATA Trolley system completely suspended operations for a significant portion of 2014 (including all of Q4 2014) due to maintenance issues.
92. Web site: MATA - Memphis Area Transit Authority - Trolley History . . 2013 . 2013-08-18 . 2018-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185738/http://www.matatransit.com/trolleys/trolley-history . dead .
93. Web site: MATA - Memphis Area Transit Authority - Trolley Map . . 2013 . 2013-08-18.