May 5, 2008 2:26 pm US/Eastern
MBTA Ridership On Pace For Record Year
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas says ridership on the "T" is trending toward record-breaking levels this year.
That's according to the most recent monthly statistics.
The commuter system averaged 1.29 million weekday passengers in March -- up from 1.22 million in the same month one year ago. January and February saw similar increases from those months in 2007.
Grabauskas said rising gas prices have triggered the increased ridership on the system's trains and buses. "Overall, 5.6 percent this March, versus last…6.2 percent this quarter versus last quarter."
According to Triple-A Southern New England's latest weekly survey, a gallon of regular, self-serve unleaded in Massachusetts is now at a record high $3.56 a gallon.
Along with gas prices, the rise is ridership is also attributed to an improvement in on-time service, cleanliness and a lower crime rate on the T.
WBZ conducted an unscientific test Monday, comparing driving against riding the train on a trip from Riverside to Government Center. We gassed up at $3.69 a gallon and drove 11 miles to Boston in a van that gets 16.3 miles a gallon. WBZ's commuting cost was $2.49.
The price using a Charlie Card would be $1.70 and with a monthly pass only $1.47, and that's not including parking and tolls. "The MBTA is a real reasonable alternative price-wise," said Grabauskas.
Grabauskas says the T is also paying high fuel prices, so he's not sure if the increased ridership will help the cash-strapped authority. But he says he hopes the occasion convinces more people to ride the T.
The MBTA serves greater Boston with commuter rail trains, subway service and buses.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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