Bus and train ridership in the metro area was up 2 percent in the first quarter of this year over the same period last year.
Could that be related to higher gas prices? You bet.
“Rising gas prices have certainly played a role in encouraging new customers to give transit a try,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.
He goes further, with some spin: “They continue riding with us because we consistently deliver on service, schedule and safety. Those attributes contributed to the Twin Cities being ranked among the top five transit systems nationally.”
The breakdown by system:
- Northstar Commuter Rail — 6 percent increase over the first quarter of 2010
- Express service — up nearly 3.5 percent
- Urban local service — up 2.3 percent
- Suburban local service up — 1.5 percent
- Hiawatha light-rail line — down 1.8 percent.
We suspect that E85 sales are up, too, although we won’t see the hard numbers for another month. It’s selling for 70 cents per gallon cheaper than regular unleaded right now.
How about charging riders of trains and busses what it actually costs, or somewhat close to it anyway.
but ridership is up from what? What are the numbers? How about alittle more info to see if we are really getting our moneys worth. I suspect that the cost/ridership is going to be way more then buses.