(The following story appeared on The Stockton Record website on August 19.)
STOCKTON, Calif. — Evidence that gas prices still are prompting travelers to swap their car keys for mass-transit tickets continue to grow, according to July statistics of riders on regional rail corridors.
In July, riders took 100,564 trips on Amtrak’s San Joaquin route, which runs through Stockton on its way from Bakersfield to either Sacramento or Oakland. That’s a 32 percent increase over last year’s 76,107.
Nationwide, Amtrak set a record for riders in July with 2,750,278, a 14 percent increase over July 2007, according to Amtrak.
“It’s due to the rising gas prices,” Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said.
The nearby Capitol Corridor route, which connects the Bay Area to Sacramento and other locations, also increased ridership by 32 percent in July.
Unlike the Capitol Corridor, the San Joaquin traditionally is not a commuter route, but it is a convenient substitute for air and car travel for people traveling along the Central Valley, Graham said.
But some riders who make long commutes from southern parts of the San Joaquin Valley to points north and west connect from Amtrak to the Altamont Commuter Express, spokesman Thomas Reeves said.
About 20 to 30 riders a day make that their transportation choice, he said.
Gas prices have also boosted ACE rider numbers.