A report set for release today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) shows trips on public transit January-March rose 3% over the same period last year to 2.6 billion rides. Light rails saw the biggest jump: 10% to 110 million trips. Early figures for April show ridership going even higher as gas hovers near $4 a gallon, says APTA president William Millar. In 2007, he says, "we had higher numbers than we've seen in 50 years, and the trend is continuing in 2008."
Transit managers say systems are underfunded.
The APTA ridership report covers 262 transit systems. It shows the biggest increase in rail travel in Oceanside, Calif., Seattle and Harrisburg, Pa. Gainesville, Ga., and Pompano Beach, Fla., saw some of the biggest gains in bus ridership.
Rico says he rides the 'little bus' now, and is thankful that SEPTA exists at all...
I wondered when we would see some effect on driving from high gas prices. I guess this is the start of people cutting back.
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