Photo: Met Council

Metro Mobility provided more than 2.23 million rides in 2016, a 6 percent jump over the previous year, according to figures recently released by the Metropolitan Council.

Metro Mobility is an on-demand paratransit service that provides door-to-door rides for people with disabilities and unable to use traditional buses and light-rail trains. Riders must meet eligibility requirements to use the service.

The jump in 2016 continues an annual growth of 5 percent to 8 percent over recent years, and that is expected to continue well into the future, the council said.

"The number of adults over 65 will double by the year 2030, and as our population ages the demand for Metro Mobility services will continue to grow with it," said Council Chair Adam Duininck. "The challenge for the region is to find the resources to continue offering quality service that meets this growing need."

In 2006, Metro Mobility provided 1,261,054 rides. By 2010, that had risen to 1,494,877 and to 1,977,205 in 2014. Ridership topped 2.1 million in to 2015.

Riders pay $3 for a one-way trip during off-peak hours and $4 during peak periods.

Metro Mobility is mandated under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act as well as state law.

The Met Council also reported that rides on Transit Link, a dial-a-ride service for the general public in areas where regular route transit service is not available, was up 4.4 percent rise last year. The service was used 436,500 times.