CARTA's transit ridership remains down, but for the past month ridership was up on the shuttle, the Incline and Care-A-Van.
Overall for October, ridership was 248,226, compared to 258,995 for the previous years. Overall ridership for the year to date is down from 560,170 to 494,099.
CARTA Executive Director Lisa Maragnano said last month that transit across the country has declining ridership except for Seattle.
The shuttle was up from 58,736 to 59,439.
The Incline, which is a good money-maker for CARTA, surged from 45,526 to 51,354.
Care-A-Van, providing service for the disabled, was up from 4,539 to 5,257.
Ms. Maragnano said some encouraging signs include a rise in ridership on seven transit routes.
The Hamilton Place stop remains a challenge with riders having to walk some distance to the bus. Ms. Maragnano said several new additions at the mall, including Cheesecake Factory, should help.
She said CARTA took a hit when Virginia College close since the agency had a contract to provide rides to 1,400 students. She noted the building at Eastgate where it was located still has not been filled.
CARTA's Philip Pugliese, said those taking part in a local survey want a broader range of transit services.
A committee of the board praised the performance of Ms. Maragnano, who has been at CARTA for seven years, as well as Autumn Jewell, chief financial officer.
The board accepted the recommendations for a raise for both. Ms. Maragnano requested that her increase not be more than the two and one half percent received by the CARTA union. So that will be the raise for the two.
They opted to receive the increase in a lump sum, so their salaries will remain the same level. Ms. Maragnano is at $122,600. Her lump sum will be $3,090. Ms. Jewell is at $97,516. Her lump sum will be $2,437.
Board member Ernie Hedgecorth, who headed the compensation committee, said their pay is at the lower end of the scale when compared to others in similar transit positions elsewhere.