CARTA is seeing a remarkable spike in its ridership, Assistant Executive Director Lisa M. Maragnano told CARTA board members on Thursday.
She said ridership year to date is 1,689,688, up from 1,391,990.
Transit ridership has climbed from 797,304 to 966,482 for this point in the fiscal year.
The shuttle ridership is up to 485,465 from 392,201.
The Incline Railway has gone from 182,429 riders to 212,438.
Care-A-Van is up from 20,046 to 25,303.
The North Shore Shuttle has gone from 23,157 to 34,745 and the MOCS Express at UTC from 63,404 to 79,095.
Ms.
Maragnano said the only factors she could point to might be better weather and increased shopping activity.
She said CARTA's budget is being helped by lower fuel prices - down to $3.08 per gallon for diesel.
Also, she said the insurance increase that was feared to reach 20 percent is at 14.25 percent. She said some additional options are being studied for savings.