(The following story by Jennifer Maloney appeared on the Newsday website on Febraury 21.)
NEW YORK — An increase in commuters and occasional riders pushed the Long Island Rail Road’s overall ridership numbers to 82.1 million in 2006 — a boost of 2 million riders, or 2.4 percent, from the previous year.
More than half of those new riders were non-commuters, according to figures to be released at an LIRR/LI Bus Committee meeting Wednesday. Commuters increased by 0.8 million, occasional riders by 1.1 million.
Officials also are expected to announce today that Long Island Bus ridership in 2006 jumped by 3.4 percent to 32.6 million, because of increases across the board in weekday, weekend and holiday passengers.
The LIRR’s 2006 ticket sales totaled $457.5 million, 3 percent more than the previous year.
LI Bus pulled in $41.2 million — 0.7 percent more than 2005.
Ticket sales in 2006 for both agencies topped projected earnings — the railroad’s by 3.3 percent and the bus company’s by 3.7 percent.