Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority celebrates a new record for riders in a single day set Feb. 1.
ST. PETERSBURG - Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority leaders got a pleasant surprise when they calculated the agency’s daily ridership information from Friday, Feb. 1, 2013: 50,791 boardings, representing the highest-ever number of rides taken in a single day of service.
“Our highest ridership usually comes during Spring Break,” says PSTA Chair and St. Petersburg City Councilman Jeff Danner. “So to see this record set this early in the year is proof positive that the demand for transit in Pinellas County is skyrocketing. It also underscores the need for improved transit service in our region as demand now exceeds capacity on numerous routes.”
Although there is no way of knowing exactly why there were so many riders on the system Feb. 1, agency officials are optimistic that it’s a sign of an improving economy and the start of a record-setting tourist season. They also acknowledge that fuel prices are again on the rise, which is a reliable trigger for ridership increases.
Historically, PSTA carries more riders in the month of March than any other time in the year, so leaders are eager to see what kind of records will be set once Spring Break is in full swing.
For more information, visit www.PSTA.net or call the PSTA InfoLine at 540-1900. Real Time Bus Information is available at RidePSTA.net.
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