T ridership remains heavy as gas prices soar
By Michael Levenson and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Ridership on the MBTA surged 6.2 percent in the first three months of 2008 compared with the start of 2007, a spike the general manager today attributed to “scary” gas prices that could help set an annual record for trips on subways, trains, and buses.
The steep increase in customers put the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority ahead of other transit systems, which have seen ridership spikes of 2 to 4 percent so far this year, according to Daniel Grabauskas, the MBTA general manager.
“Absolutely no question we are seeing gas prices drive up the ridership numbers here in Boston and in transit agencies across the nation,” Grabauskas said at a press conference this morning at Ruggles T station in Roxbury.
Soaring gasoline prices have allowed the MBTA to “grab a hold of new customers” who are “dumping the pump” and hopping on the T, Grabauskas said.
The average number of weekday passenger trips hit 1,294,000 in March, which is 69,000 more than last year, according to figures released today. Average ridership jumped 11 percent in February 2008 from February 2007.
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