MTS logs record ridership

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The Metropolitan Transit System set a record for bus and trolley ridership last month, thanks to new services along the Interstate 15 corridor and elsewhere, the agency reported Friday.

More than 9 million passenger trips were taken last month, the highest number ever in a single month, according to the MTS. Of those trips, 5.4 million were taken on buses, which is also an all-time single-month high for the agency.

The MTS reported that overall ridership increased 3 percent over the first four months of this fiscal year, compared to the same period last year.

The number of passenger trips on buses rose from nearly 18.8 million in the first four months of the fiscal year in 2013 to 19.7 million this year. On the trolley, trips went from 13.9 million to almost 14 million during the same time period, according to MTS data.

“Based on these results, ridership is on pace to increase to nearly 100 million trips over the course of the year,” said Paul Jablonski, the MTS chief executive. “MTS is delivering more public transit options than ever before at higher frequencies with its three new rapid routes.”

The MTS credited the introduction of frequent bus routes along the Interstate 15 corridor for the hike. A new route between downtown and San Diego State University has also proven popular, according to the agency.

The MTS implemented a major route reconfiguration along the I-15 corridor that included the launch of Rapid 235, and Rapid Express 280 and 290 in June, and Rapid 237 in October.

Rapid 235 is averaging nearly 4,000 daily trips, connecting passengers from Escondido to downtown San Diego, with fewer stops and no transfers, the agency reported. Rapid 215, which began service on Oct. 12, is averaging more than 6,000 daily trips and connects San Diego State University to downtown San Diego.

MTS officials also reported record ridership increases on the SuperLoop — which serves University City and UC San Diego.