Metro Transit's ridership continues upward trend

Last update: January 29, 2009 - 11:14 PM

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Metro Transit saw boardings on its buses and trains total nearly 82 million in 2008. That's the highest annual ridership for the state's largest transit provider since 1981, the agency said Thursday.

Ridership last year was up 4.8 million over 2007, an increase of 6.1 percent, transit officials said, continuing an upward trend in recent years.

"Ridership has grown by 17.4 percent in the past four years," said Brian J. Lamb, general manager. "That's a testament to the growing demand for transit service in the region and to the quality that people are experiencing when using our services."

For the first time, Lamb said, the Hiawatha light-rail line topped 10 million rides for the year, an increase of 12 percent from 2007. During weekday rush hours, an average of 37,000 commuters boarded trains each day. The line opened in June 2004.

PAUL WALSH