*INSERT MAGIC SCHOOL BUS THEME SONG!* Eau Claire Transit saw two big changes at the start of 2026: The long-awaited Transfer Center (14 S. Farwell St.) opening and launch of free fare for kids in grades K-12. The latter has made a huge impact, as year-to-date data shows a roughly 77% increase in youth riders over last year.

Over 30,000 kids have used the Eau Claire Transit system so far this year – more than double the amount of youths who had used the local bus system by this time of year in 2025.

That’s according to a report shared during a City of Eau Claire Transit Commission meeting on Sept. 16. In the meeting – which also included a budget update and proposal to combine routes 15 and 21 into one route – this report shared ridership data through August 2026, with both month-to-month and year-to-date comparisons.

Transit Manager Katrina Running noted some numbers in the report may look more drastic because of changes made to the way data is shown. For instance, prior to 2026, ARPA-funded passes were counted under the same category as income-qualifying passes. Those data are now in separate categories.

Still, some of the report's data displays significant – even staggering – trends in Eau Claire Transit ridership. From seasonal or time-of-day usage, to what type of payment passes are being used.

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The most exciting part of the increase in ridership is the hope that these experiences will inspire lifelong interest in public transit.

KATRINA RUNNING

EAU CLAIRE TRANSIT MANAGER

On one hand, there are some notable “in the red” trends.

The amount of transit riders using income-qualifying passes (available to those individuals or households whose annual income is below the ALICE threshold, via application) between this time in 2025 to 2026, has decreased by about 11% (from roughly 192,000 riders to 171,000).

UW-Eau Claire student ridership is also down about 4.5% (or roughly 366,000 to 350,000).

Yet, overall transit ridership is up just shy of 4.4% year-to-date. That figure greatly benefits from the roughly 70% increase in youth ridership between 2025 and 2026.

While monthly Eau Claire Transit passes and low-income qualifying passes have seen a decrease this year, the purchasing of one-day passes and Transit punch cards has increased this year. (Transfer Center, 14 S. Farwell St., pictured)

In January, the City announced it would offer free bus fare for all youths under age 18, and that – along with community engagement, like a naming competition for the bus traveling the Fairfax Pool bus route this summer; the winner was “Magic Pool Bus” – is likely behind the increase.

“Since going fare free for K-12 kids in January of 2026, we were curious to see how our numbers would increase seasonally throughout the year,” Running said. “We were excited about the numbers we saw for ridership in the spring and found that school days were busier than Saturdays.”

Running observed that trend continue over this summer – partially due to day camps, day care groups and other kid-friendly groups or events using Eau Claire buses.

The City-owned Transfer Center, which broke ground in February 2021, began operating in January 2026. However, the apartments being built atop it – not owned by the City – has seen several setbacks, leaving them still unfinished as of September 2026. That continued construction has kept roadblocks on Farwell Street.

“The most exciting part of the increase in ridership is the hope that these experiences will inspire lifelong interest in public transit,” she said.

The new downtown Transer Center (14 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire), a project which has continued to be a sore spot due to the years-overdue construction of apartments built atop it, has largely been received well by riders.

“We are just about at a year since opening the transfer center and a rider shared with me this past week that, 'the transfer center was well worth the wait,' ” Running said.

The City of Eau Claire Transit Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month at 4:30pm • Learn more about the Eau Claire bus system routes, the Transit Tracker and fare fees online at www.eauclairewi.gov/Transit