Mallon: When transit meets the moment and riders show up en masse

As discussed in previous columns, the FIFA World Cup was supposed to be a major test for Bay Area transit systems, with thousands of fans coming from all over the world to attend the matches.

So far, it’s shown what can happen when transit meets the moment and riders show up.

I’ve written about transit preparation for the 2026 major sports events since 2024. For years, I’ve heard skeptics question whether Bay Area transit could handle events on a global scale. Before the World Cup, concerns ranged from service levels to ridership levels, or whether fans would just drive instead.

Instead, transit agencies across the region have repeatedly shattered ridership records.

The opening World Cup match between Qatar and Switzerland at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium had more than 37,000 transit trips on VTA, BART and Caltrain, setting a new record for a major event at the stadium. Just days later, that record was broken again, with VTA reporting nearly 39,600 riders for the Austria-Jordan match — surpassing records set by two Super Bowls and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

These numbers are evidence that lessons from previous events and investments made in transit over the past few years are paying off.

The Caltrain electrification project has transformed service on the Peninsula. Faster trains and more frequent schedules and connections to VTA helped move more than 7,000 fans during the first match in the Bay Area. Coordinated service with VTA and extended hours and schedule changes made transit a viable option to get to the matches.

The results matter because they challenge a narrative that has followed Bay Area transit and transit in general since the pandemic.

Conversations often focus on ridership losses, budget shortfalls and changes in commute patterns. Those challenges are real. But the World Cup has highlighted something equally important — transit’s unique ability to move large numbers of people efficiently when it’s given the opportunity.

That’s especially true at major events at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Anyone who has tried to leave a sold-out game or concert knows that tens of thousands of vehicles can’t exit the area quickly. Transit is the only efficient and practical way to move large crowds at scale.

That doesn’t mean everything has been completely perfect at the World Cup. At times, there have been long wait times, confusion about schedules and train directions. Transit agencies should continue to learn from those mistakes and improve communication, signage, passenger information and crowd management for future matches and events.

But I don’t think we should let perfect be the enemy of the good. Especially since managing large crowds is always a challenge, even with near-perfect preparation.

Success in this case means safely and efficiently moving tens of thousands of people from across the Bay Area and around the world to and from matches that attract global attention. By that measure, Bay Area transit is exceeding expectations.

The World Cup is showing visitors and residents that when service is frequent, reliable and easier than driving and parking, people will use it.

And hopefully, it will also serve as a reminder that transit is capable of far more than many people think.

San José Spotlight columnist Monica Mallon is a transit advocate and rider in Santa Clara County. Mallon’s columns appear on the first Thursday of every other month. Contact Mallon at [email protected] or follow @MonicaMallon on X.