(The following appeared on the Newsday website on May 1.)
NEWARK, N.J. — Rising gasoline prices appear to be driving commuters onto NJ Transit’s trains and buses.
NJ Transit officials say preliminary figures show a 5.3 percent increase in rail riders during the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2007.
There’s been a 1.8 percent increase in ridership on NJ Transit buses during the first quarter.
Spokesman Dan Stessel tells The Star-Ledger of Newark it’s difficult to attribute the increase to one factor. But Stessel says the agency is hearing gas prices are a factor, especially among first-time riders.
NJ Transit’s rail ridership reached a record 23 million in October.