SF Bay Area Public transit adjusts to surge in ridership [View All]

[marmar]

cross posted from the public transit/smart growth forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=398


Public transit adjusts to surge in ridership
By Erik N. Nelson
Oakland Tribune, Denis Cuff
Contra Costa Times

Article Launched: 05/15/2008 12:32:07 PM PDT


Traffic congestion and air pollution have long spurred transportation officials and environmental advocates to urge, cajole and beg commuters to switch to public transit. Still, the vast majority of Bay Area commuters wouldn't budge from behind the wheel.

As gasoline prices climb past $4 a gallon, however, commuters are moving to public transportation in huge numbers, breaking records on BART, commuter trains and transbay bus routes.

Whereas public transportation used to be equal to the task of transporting one in 10 of the Bay Area's commuters, evolving into a major rival of solo driving is proving to be as painful for commuters as it is delightful for public transit advocates.

Parking at many BART and train stations is filling up earlier and earlier. Seating is becoming a luxury on more peak-hour trains and buses, and transit officials are wondering how to increase service at a time when state and local budgets are strapped. The economy is on edge and filling buses' diesel tanks has never been more expensive.

"Just getting 15 miles per gallon from here to Santa Clara was getting to be too much," said Brian Heidl, a mechanical engineer, as he waited for the 6:42 a.m. Altamont Commuter Express train in Livermore on Wednesday.

"I was practically paying $400 a month just in gas," Heidl said, to keep his 1987 Ford Ranger pickup making the 60-mile trip along some of the area's most congested freeway segments, on Interstates 580 and

Now, he pays about $225 for his monthly ACE ticket "and I get to sleep the whole way and not have to worry about the traffic." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_9271039?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com