Metro Transit will close out 2014 with an all-time high in number of bus trips taken in King County.

In the days just before Christmas, Metro expects to break the annual record for most rides taken in its 41-year history.

Preliminary data show Metro’s annual ridership will be about 2 percent higher compared to 2013. That’s more than 120 million rides — or an average of nearly 400,000 trips each weekday. Metro is the ninth-largest transit agency in the United States for ridership.

“Our work in recent years to increase efficiency and productivity is helping to move more people than ever before,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “The transit measure approved by Seattle voters last month will help keep pace with increasing demand within the city, but sustainable, long-term funding is needed to satisfy the growing unmet need for reliable public transportation throughout our county and region.”