Metro Ridership Rose Double Digits in LA County

Metro ridership estimates in Los Angeles County rose by double digits in October compared with the same month one year before, transit officials said today.

Transit ridership increases in the region are being driven by fluctuating gas prices, efforts to combat congestion, an expanding Metro bus and rail system and a strong demand from the public seeking cost-efficient and time-saving means of transportation, according to a department statement.

Metro Rail ridership rose by more than 23 percent from 8.1 million boardings in October 2011 to 9.9 million boardings in October 2012.

Metro Bus ridership rose by nearly 5 percent during the same period, going from 31.1 million boardings in October 2011 to 32.7 million last month, according to the statement.

In terms of average weekday boardings, Metro Rail ridership showed a 19 percent gain compared to one year ago, totaling 360,901 average weekday boardings on the entire 87.7-mile system.

After opening two new stations in June, the new Expo Line, which reported 11,347 weekday boardings in its May start-up reports, continued its upward climb to 21,382 boardings.

Metro bus ridership rose by nearly 5 percent during the same period, going from 31.1. million boardings in October 2011 to 32.7 million last month.

Since October 2011, ridership on Metro's bus system showed an increase of 2.1 percent, averaging more than 1.19 million boarding passengers on an average weekday in October.

Ridership on the Metro Orange Line, which now includes boardings from the new four-mile extension to Chatsworth, grew to 32,069, up 20.5 percent from one year ago. The Silver Line express bus service between the El Monte Bus Station to the Harbor (110) Freeway Transitway, grew to 13,765 weekday boardings from 11,234 in October 2011, up 22 percent from one year ago.

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