WTA Fixed Route Ridership Increases by 46 Percent

BELLINGHAM, April 10, 2008—WTA’s February 2008 Fixed Route ridership (measured as one-way passenger trips) was up 46 percent compared with ridership for February 2007. This represents 130,772 additional passenger trips over the course of the month, and the largest ridership increase in WTA history.

Western Washington University (WWU) students account for 73 percent of the increase. While increases on routes serving WWU saw the largest ridership gains, students boosted ridership throughout WTA’s system, not just on routes serving WWU. 18 of WTA’s 25 non-WWU routes experienced ridership gains of 20 percent or higher.

Non-WWU students account for 27 percent of the ridership increase. Many of these increases are being realized on the “Go Lines,” or corridors along which the bus is coming every 15 minutes. February 2008 ridership on the Green Line is up 35 percent (compared to February 2007), on the Red Line up 59 percent, and on the Gold Line up 88 percent. Ridership on the Plum Line is up 24 percent since it became a Go Line in January 2008.

Three of WTA’s longest routes, serving Kendall (32 one-way miles), Mt. Vernon (28 one-way miles), and Everson/Nooksack/Sumas (25 one-way miles), have seen increases of 32, 35, and 40 percent respectively. Ridership gains on these long routes are especially important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, highway congestion and travel costs for individual travelers.

For route and schedule information, call 360-676-RIDE (7433) or visit www.ridewta.com.