COUNTYWIDE : OCTD Ridership Up 17.4% Last Quarter
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Despite a nickel increase in fares, ridership jumped 17.4% on Orange County Transit District buses in the last quarter, setting a record.
Boardings totaled more than 11 million for the quarter, General Manager James P. Reichert told the district’s board of directors meeting Monday in Garden Grove.
Revenue rose more than 15%, Reichert said. The nickel increase took effect July 1, raising the fare to 85 cents.
The ridership gains followed a record year in 1988-89.
“Our tremendous ridership growth shows in part that the community is responding to the air-quality problem by choosing to share a ride rather than only using their personal automobile,” Reichert said. “It’s especially important to note that over two-thirds of our passengers are taking the bus to work, so Orange County’s tax dollars are being used productively.”
About 30% of OCTD costs were covered by fares. Like all public bus systems, OCTD is subsidized by taxpayers.
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