Mass transit demand rises, costs soar

[phantom power]

More than 90 percent of public-transit officials report that their ridership is up over the past three years, according to a survey released this week by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). And more than 90 percent credited the sky-high gasoline prices.

At the same time, many transit agencies find themselves squeezed by the higher fuel prices and smaller local government subsidies, which are shrinking because of the economic downturn. Almost 70 percent have had to raise fares, and some have even been forced to curtail services to cope with the high energy prices, even as the demand is increasing.

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The Cleveland area is an example. Last year, the transit agency spent $12 million on fuel. This year, it's expecting fuel to cost as much as $20 million. At the beginning of the year, it cut bus service lines by 5 percent. With the increase now in people looking to hop on the bus, officials are determined not to cut service further. But they still have to find a way to cut their expenses significantly to pay for keeping the buses' fuel tanks full.

"We're looking at cutting overtime to save money," says Chad Self, a spokesman for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. But he also hopes the federal and state governments may step in with increased funding. "More people are riding the buses and trains now. Fewer people are driving, so let's hope there's a resolution."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0604/p01s09-usgn.html?page=1