SDSU Pass sales hit record-breaking 5,100 pass sales
San Diego, CA – The Metropolitan Transit System has recorded a new record number of riders during its fiscal year 2008, up 6.7 percent to more than 90.5 million trips for the year.
While the high cost of fuel helped generate the increase of more than 5 million riders, MTS also credits the ridership gains to its redesigned bus network. Launched in 2006, the new market-driven bus network better utilizes MTS resources to connect people with jobs, school, shopping and other destinations.
“We’re now carrying about 275,000 people every weekday,” said Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer of MTS. “The increase in ridership reflects the importance of public transportation in our region. San Diego County residents are turning to public transit not only because of high gas prices and an increase in the cost of living, but also because we’ve worked hard to make our system more convenient and efficient.”
Trolley ridership was up 7.1 percent from last year to 37,620,946 trips for the year. Bus ridership was up 6.7 percent to 52,953,479 trips
Already, ridership is increasing in fiscal year 2009. Bus ridership rose in July when gas prices spiked was up 11 percent. Some commuter express bus route ridership was up 20 percent. And, at SDSU, a new record was set this fall semester with more than 5,100 students opting to purchase a semester pass, which is almost 11 percent more than the fall semester last year.
MTS also continues to excel at getting people to special events. Of the almost 69,000 people at the September 22 Chargers game, 27 percent took the trolley to watch the Chargers beat the Jets. This was the third highest ridership to a Chargers game since service started in 1997.
“People have found that using public transportation is far easier than driving through congestion, finding and paying for parking, and filling up their gas tanks twice a week,” Jablonski said. “We are encouraged by the growing number of students and commuters who plan to make the MTS Trolley and Bus part of their daily routine.”
