Transit Agencies Deliver During Final World Cup Matches

Public transit agencies in World Cup host regions delivered safe, efficient service for fans during the final stretch of the tournament. From Dallas, TX, to Atlanta, GA, to Miami, FL, to the New York/New Jersey region, agencies focused on expanded service, multimodal coordination, and customer-facing support to move large crowds.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which provided services for the semi-final matches, saw an overall increase in ridership over the course of the tournament. DART experienced a 13 percent increase in ridership, which the agency said is “a testament to the role public transit played” in moving locals and fans across the region for the event. The additional services were funded by federal and local grants.

In Atlanta, MARTA reported 4.7 million rail passenger trips over 35 days of World Cup matches, fan festivals, concerts, events, and the Peachtree Road Race. Match days generated approximately two to three-and-a-half times normal daily rail ridership.

MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan J. Hunt thanked employees, police officers, ambassadors, volunteers, and regional partners for supporting the operation and ensuring the system was safe and secure. “I am proud of every one of the almost 5,000 MARTA employees who moved millions of people safely and efficiently while our entire Atlanta metropolitan region was on the world stage,” he said.

Miami-Dade’s Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Metrorail station.

In Miami-Dade County, the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) delivered fans to seven matches at Miami Stadium, including the third-place final, and a 23-day Fan Fest at Bayfront Park. The county’s Miami Game Day Express provided roundtrip shuttle service for verified ticket holders from four regional hubs, including connections with Metrorail and Tri-Rail.

Stacy L. Miller, DTPW director and CEO, said the tournament gave the county a global platform to demonstrate its multimodal network while focusing on “helping fans travel safely and efficiently on game days and throughout their visit, while minimizing impacts on residents and the surrounding community.”

For the final match at New York New Jersey Stadium, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA) and NJ TRANSIT continued to share travel information via social media, customer support, and transit ambassadors holding soccer ball signs. NJ TRANSIT operated expanded rail service with matchday-only rail and bus connections to the stadium. NYMTA increased service on select lines where watch parties and related events were taking place.

NYMTA transit ambassador signage.

The final weeks of the tournament underscored the central role public transportation played in connecting fans to stadiums, fan festivals, and regional destinations. Across host regions, agencies used expanded service, special shuttles, real-time customer communications, multilingual support, and interagency coordination to help deliver safe and reliable mobility during one of the world’s largest sporting events.