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7:58 a.m. • 2-11-12

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Gas prices drive Triangle Transit ridership to new high


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Triangle Transit reported Monday that its monthly ridership hit an all-time high in June, with 97,712 people climbing into buses and shuttles.

The figure was 30.2 percent above ridership in June 2007, transit officials said.

June was the third straight month of ridership increases, Triangle Transit said in a statement.

The system's GoTriangle information center also hit a new high, drawing 28,842 calls for information about all transit systems in the area.

“With the current cost of fuel, we are seeing that people want more choices, like the new service introduced today in Wake Forest. We believe ridership will continue to be strong as we work with other Triangle communities on partnerships to roll out future transit service and enhance our current routes,” transit Chairman Sig Hutchinson said.

RELATED TOPICS: Triangle Transit, Wake Forest

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this is good. Now while the demand is there it is time to raise the fares so that the system pays for itself. Be nice to even see a little profit. That can go towards roads._whatelseisnew

AFAIK there is NO system of transit that is completely self supporting. Cars included.

I am for mass transit and it is great that Triangle Transit has more ridership. Unfortunately, I believe that when fuel prices start going down (even little), people will start to lose interest. Triangle Transit really needs to improve to be on-par with the real city transit, like in NYC or Los Angeles. I'm used to mass transit like in Japan, where in the mornings and evenings the buses run every 15 minutes in the metro areas. I live in North Raleigh and ended up with a job in Garner (my employer moved from downtown to Garner), and I cannot get any buses to my new job location.

"At best it is a trade-off, you will save some money, but you are exchanging that saved money with increased time spent in traveling."

I have to say it costs me 5-10 minutes at most. I take an express bus and it goes straight to my destination (NC State) without any stops in between. Additionally, one can read and do work on the bus...I am also able to slip in a 30 minute nap. I can't say I could do that if I drove.

At best it is a trade-off, you will save some money, but you are exchanging that saved money with increased time spent in traveling. Now as you know, we Americans are a very patient group of people. Just look at how slowly people poke about out there on the Interstates. Why, you would think there is a speed limit or something.

this is good. Now while the demand is there it is time to raise the fares so that the system pays for itself. Be nice to even see a little profit. That can go towards roads.

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