Over the last few weeks both Metro and ST have released early ridership numbers that, of course, break all records:

  • “Estimates show 118 million trips were taken on Metro buses in 2008 – a seven percent increase over 2007,” Metro Press Release.
  • “Last year we carried 16.1 million passengers in our Sound Transit trains and buses, which is up 17 percent, or more than 2 million riders from a year earlier,” Sound Transit’s CEO Report.

My route (#8) has definitely been less crowded since this past Summer’s crunch loads that came with high gas prices (or maybe just good weather). It’s worth noting that service is not growing with the ridership, unfortunately, and Metro may be forced to cut service without additional revenue.