Transit Use Up Again, Thanks to Expensive Gas

As reporter Robert J. Hawkins notes, "It's like 2008 all over again." Back then, skyrocketing gas prices sent people fleeing to use public transit. Today, the pattern remains the same, at least in San Diego.

1 minute read

April 11, 2011, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

Hawkins says that ridership on the San Diego Trolley rose "16.8 percent in December from a year earlier, and 13 percent in January."

The Coaster commuter rail is up 13.7 percent from the previous year.

But fingers are pointing at other culprits as well:

"Local transit officials say gas prices are certainly affecting ridership but that isn't the whole story.

"Public transportation closely follows employment," said MTS's Schupp. When jobs disappear, so do public transit riders.

The jobs are coming back and with them, ridership."

FULL STORY: Rising gas prices again filling seats on public transit

Sunday, April 10, 2011 in San Diego Union-Tribune

Transportation California Public Transit San Diego Gas Prices

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