Metro Announces Highest Yearly Ridership Since 1979

Metro Transit is proud to announce that its 2008 fixed-route ridership is its highest ridership count since 1979. Metro's annual ridership for 2008 was 13,433,149 an increase of 6% over its 2007 ridership total of 12,672,265. The highest yearly count officially recorded was 13,953,237 back in 1979. Some of the many factors attributing to this ridership include: Unlimited Ride Pass Programs: Metro continued its very successful unlimited ride pass programs with the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College, City of Madison, UW Hospital, and St. Marys Hospital. In December, Meriter Hospital also began offering this program. National Environmental Trend and Community Interest in "Green" Initiatives: Local commuters share the national interest of reducing pollution and other negative impacts on the environment. Metro further caters to the environmentally conscious by using hybrid buses, wind power at its facility, and cleaner burning ultra-low sulfur fuel. Higher Gasoline Costs/Tighter Economy: To avoid high gas prices in the first part of the year, many commuters began leaving their cars at home and riding Metro. With a tighter economy in the second part of the year, these commuters continued to utilize mass transit. New Technology/Improved Customer Experience: Metro's continued efforts to improve the customer experience have also played a role. In 2008, staff rolled out cell phone text message and e-mail alert services to better communicate with customers and keep them informed. Phone technology was updated in Metro's customer service center, and online instructional videos have also helped new passengers better prepare before travel. Looking Forward to Continued Success: Staff are working on rolling out additional programs and technological improvements to make it even easier and more convenient to Metro throughout the community. In 2009, Metro will introduce an updated website design and an online bus arrival monitoring system. Automated phone information and additional electronic signs in bus shelters providing real-time arrival information are other projects being looked at for the year. National Trends: Metro's high ridership is in keeping with the national trend towards increased transit use. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Americans continue to ride public transportation at record levels even though gas prices have declined. More than 2.8 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the third quarter of 2008 an increase of 6.5 percent over the third quarter of 2007. This is the largest quarterly increase in public transportation ridership in 25 years. Last year 10.3 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation - the highest number of trips taken in fifty years. In the first quarter of 2008, public transportation continued to climb and rose by 3.4 percent. In the second quarter of 2008, as gas prices rose to more than $4 for a gallon of gasoline, public transit ridership increased by 5.2 percent. The third quarter transit ridership increase of 6.5 percent continued the trend of more and more Americans turning to public transportation in record numbers. Public transportation ridership has increased by 30% since 1995, with more than 10.3 billion trips taken annually. For more information on riding Metro Transit, contact the Metro customer service center at (608) 266-4466 or mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com. Complete service information is also available at mymetrobus.com. For more information on national transit trends, visit the American Public Transportation Association's Web site at: www.apta.com Metro Transit: Annual Boardings 1970 7,493,944 1971 7,405,337 1972 8,471,155 1973 9,185,257 1974 10,120,231 1975 11,021,953 1976 11,417,630 1977 11,800,243 1978 12,299,311 1979 13,953,237 1980 11,933,703 1981 12,398,910 1982 13,388,926 1983 12,007,723 1984 12,228,881 1985 11,946,337 1986 11,301,361 1987 10,063,120 1988 9,540,787 1989 9,047,940 1990 9,096,485 1991 9,389,637 1992 9,560,739 1993 9,554,959 1994 9,655,615 1995 9,600,678 1996 9,816,095 1997 10,370,107 1998 10,097,867 1999 10,110,441 2000 10,065,495 2001 10,210,834 2002 10,895,089 2003 10,934,125 2004 10,962,345 2005 11,475,597 2006 12,034,468 2007 12,672,265 2008 13,433,149 1970-1979 Ridership figures from Transit Development Program 1982-1986. # # #

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