East Valley (Arizona) Tribune: More than 1 million ride light rail in April

[marmar]

More than 1 million ride light rail in April
Mike Branom, Tribune

May 18, 2009 - 2:17PM


April’s light-rail ridership set new highs in both total number of passengers and average daily count.

More than 1,044,000 rode the cross-Valley system last month, Metro announced Monday. Since the system opened in late December, it was the first million-rider month.

“This is a significant milestone for a transit agency,” Metro CEO Rick Simonetta said. “We’re sincerely appreciative of our riders for making light rail a part of their lives.”

Metro’s average weekday ridership in April was 37,386.

Helping bring passengers to the trains during the month were the Arizona Diamondbacks and their 18 home games — just the fourth time since 1900 a team played that often at its own park in April.

Metro established its previous bests in March, with nearly 973,000 total boardings and an average weekday ridership of 34,376. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/139339