Jul 28, 2008 9:44 am US/Eastern
Commuters Ride T In Record Numbers
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Rising gas prices sent commuters flocking to the MBTA in record numbers over the last 12 months.
The transit system
released figures Monday showing that nearly 375 million people took public transportation in fiscal 2008, a 6 percent increase from the previous year and the highest ridership figure ever.
State Secretary of Transportation Bernard Cohen says $4-per-gallon gasoline prices are creating major changes in travel behavior.
MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas told The Boston Globe that while increased ridership means increased revenue, the extra fares aren't enough to solve all of the agency's financial problems. The T was forced to deplete much of its reserves to bridge a $75 million dollar budget gap for the new fiscal year.
(© 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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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