July 1, 2008 MBTA ridership increases, turnpike traffic lower

BOSTON (AP) - The number of people using public transportation in the Boston-area jumped 5.3 percent in May when compared with a similar period last year, while the number of vehicles using the Massachusetts Turnpike declined.

MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said Tuesday the average weekday bus ridership exceeded 400,000 for the first time in more than three years.

The number of people carried on the commuter rail increased by 2.6 percent over May 2007, marking the third straight month of growth.

The figures indicate that more people are turning to public transportation as the price of gas continues to soar.

The Boston Globe reports that 600,000 fewer vehicles used the turnpike in May, marking a 3.4 percent decline over last year. But revenues remained up overall due to toll increases that began in January.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)