Richfield Today
Supports "for a country way of life"                   
On any given day this site receives more than 150 hits
  • Welcome
  • About Us
    • Quote of the Day
  • RT Blog
  • Governments
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • Events Calendar

County keeps an eye on declining bus rides 

4/9/2014

0 Comments

 
By DAVE RANK   Daily News

A 10 percent drop in bus ridership last year has transportation officials closely watching this year’s numbers trend.

Ridership took central stage in Tuesday morning’s Transit Division’s year-end report to the County Board’s Transportation Committee.

The county’s Commuter Express Bus and Countywide Shared-Ride Taxi services finished in the black with a $3.8 million budget, returning $289,259 to the county’s general fund, Transit Manager Joseph Stier III said.

Commuter Express provides weekday public bus service between Washington and Milwaukee counties. Riders use the service to get to jobs, medical services and schools in Milwaukee County.

The Shared-Ride Taxi Service provides rides for the public and door-to-door transportation for the elderly and disabled within the county.

Commuter Express ridership in 2013 dipped to 116,067, according to Transit Division statistics, 11,468 fewer rides than 2012’s 127,535, which, in turn, was 16 rides fewer than record year 2011.

The taxi service’s record year also was in 2011, with 99,587. In 2012, taxi ridership dropped to 92,941 and last year climbed to 94,457, about 95 percent of 2011’s record.

“A lot of it correlates with gas prices,” Stier said. A gallon of gasoline averaged $3.61 nationally in 2012, according to the Oil Price Information Service, and $3.51 in 2011. Last year the average national price for a gallon was $3.49.

“When gas (prices) goes up our ridership skyrockets,” Stier said. And when the price of a gallon goes down, so does bus ridership.

“It’s raised a lot of red flags,” Stier said of last year’s decline. The trend has continued in the first quarter this year, as well, he said. “We’re watching it.”  First-quarter figures for the taxi service remain steady. “This year, so far, the taxi service is holding its own,” Stier said.

The shrinking number of bus riders also may be tied to the state Department of Transportation’s ongoing reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee, Stier said.

That forces Commuter Express buses onto detour routes, which add 10-15 minutes to trips, Stier said. Some riders may be sliding back behind the steering wheels of their cars to try to make better  time to and from work.  “There’s nothing we can do about it,” Stier said of the delays.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About

    RT Blog will let you know the latest happenings around Richfield.

    Archives

    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    2014 Election
    2015 Election
    2016 Election
    2017 Election
    2018 Election
    2019 Election
    2020 Election
    Business News
    Government Topics
    Just News
    Local Events
    Political Posts

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from xbouwman, Pink Sherbet Photography, rumimume, VLMPO, roberthuffstutter, andreavallejos, steakpinball