GCRTA, MetroTransit end 2011 on ridership high

Written by jrood

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority carried more than 46 million riders throughout 2011, a nearly four percent increase since 2010. In just December of 2011, GCRTA had an increase of 12.5 percent more riders this year than the same month in 2010. On the Red Line specifically, more than half a million riders used this heavy rail service, making it the highest December Red Line usage since 1988.

“These numbers are phenomenal,” explained Joe Calabrese, CEO and general manager, to the GCRTA Board of Trustees. “RTA is glad to serve more customers this year in every area of service. RTA appreciates that people trust us to get them where they need to go.”

Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minn., also saw ridership increases. Metro Transit finished 2011 with 80.9 million rides, an increase of 3.5 percent, or 2.7 million rides, over 2010.

It’s only the second time in 30 years that ridership has exceeded 80 million. This marks the fifth consecutive year ridership topped 76 million, a number not previously achieved since 1982.

For the year, ridership on the Hiawatha light-rail line exceeded 10.4 million for only the second time. just 0.5 percent or 55,000 rides shy of record 2010 ridership.

Northstar finished the year with more than 703,000 rides, just one percent lower than in 2010. That was despite a freight derailment that took trains out of service for several days.

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