Ridership on the MBTA averaged more than 1.3 million per weekday in April, the third straight month that number has been above 1.3 million and the 15th consecutive month in which ridership has increased, the agency announced today.
Weekday ridership across the entire MBTA system averaged 1.371 million trips in April, an increase of 4.4 percent over April 2011, the T said. Weekday bus ridership reached 401,000 in April, the first time bus ridership has topped 400,000 two months in a row.
Acting MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis said bus ridership has been boosted by the availability of real-time arrival information for MBTA buses, which customers can access on smartphone apps and websites.
“We’re absolutely convinced that the widespread availability of real time bus data is making public transit a more convenient option for commuters,” he said in a statement. “More than a hundred thousand smart phone users have downloaded apps that provide arrival time information for more than 180 MBTA bus routes.”
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Ridership increased 8.2 percent in April on the Green Line and 3.8 percent on the Red, Orange, and Blue lines, compared with April 2011, the T said. Commuter boat ridership rose almost 12 percent.
In early April, the MBTA board voted 4-1 to raise most subway fares 30 cents, bus fares 25 cents, and commuter rail fares by $1.25 or more, starting July 1. The fare increases will be the T’s first in five years.