Politics & Government
Gas Price Spike Behind Metro Ridership Increase
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that rail ridership jumped 5.9 percent in February over the same month in 2011.
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Angelenos took public transit in higher numbers as gas prices rose quickly early this year, according to ridership data recently released by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The Metro Gold Line saw the biggest spike in ridership, a 21.6 percent increase in boardings compared with this time last year. Ridership on the San Fernando Valley Orange Line bus rapid transit was up 18 percent.
The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County was at $4.395 two days ago, 42.2 cents greater than it was a year ago at this time, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
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Metro rail ridership jumped 5.9 percent in February over the same month in 2011, an addition of about 17,500 new weekday riders.
In a statement, Metro called the jump a "significant increase from the slow-but-steady 1.9 percent rise reported between 2011 and 2010.''
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Metro will expand its 79.1 mile transportation system this year when it opens the the 8.6-mile Expo Line from Union Station to Culver City this spring and the 4-mile extension of the Orange Line to Chatsworth this summer.
The Foothill Extension project will continue the Metro Gold Line light-rail line from East Pasadena to Montclair, with a target completion date of 2017.
