ATLANTA — MARTA experienced a significant boost in ridership in FY07 providing service for 147.5 million passenger boardings – 6.6 percent more than the previous fiscal year, officials said.
Rail ridership also increased 12.2 percent with 77.7 million passenger boardings. Thanks to the additional ridership, passenger revenue was also up 3.5 percent contributing to a budget surplus for the second year in a row.
“MARTA’s efforts to improve service and to take a more customer focused approach to the way we do business have successfully resulted in an increase in ridership,” said MARTA General Manager Richard McCrillis. “We are extremely pleased to see that everyday more and more people are enjoying the quality and convenience of our service.”
Numerous system improvements as well as rising gas prices have contributed to an increase in MARTA’s ridership.
Over the past fiscal year, bus service was increased and the Authority completed installation of the Breeze fare collection system. With Breeze technology, MARTA can now collect more accurate ridership data and has increased revenue collections thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and reduced fare evasion.
In addition, MARTA’s maintaining the same affordable fare since January 2001 has contributed to an increase in customers, officials said.
— Special to Railfanning.org News Wire
