(Philadelphia) SEPTA ridership up, despite fare increases

[phantom power]

When SEPTA hiked fares 12 percent last summer, transit-agency officials said they expected ridership to decline, as it had after prior fare increases.

But when gasoline prices jumped sky-high and stayed there, SEPTA ridership escalated by 30,000 daily trips (4 percent) from July 1 to Jan. 1 over the same period in 2006.

Regional Rail ridership rose 12 percent, or 13,000 daily trips, while city transit (trains and buses) increased by 17,000 daily trips or 2.6 percent.

The ridership renaissance continued last month, up 51,000 daily trips or 6 percent over the previous January - up 32,000 daily trips on city transit; up 19,000 daily trips on Regional Rail.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080227_SEPTA_ridership_up__despite_fare_increases.html

[displacedtexan]

1. The same here in DC.

Metro said it needed more money 4 years ago (for infrastructure)
because ridership was down. They didn't get it, of course. R's were in charge.

Now that ridership is way up, Metro just increased fares.

Today's dollar is worth a lot less than it was 4 years ago, but it
took increased ridership (and a Dem majority) to get $$ for upgrades.

Vicious R v D cycle.

The only good part: because of high gas prices, R's are now parking and riding,
but parking fees are going up, too. R's are screaming.