MetroBus sees big jump in riders first half of '08
by Lee Voss, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- High gas prices seem to be having an effect on MetroBus ridership.

St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission spokesman Tom Cruikshank says they have seen a 14-percent increase in ridership numbers for the first six months of this year compared to last year.

But, he says a new County Road 75 route and Sunday service were not in place last year. Even so, Cruikshank says the increase in the number of riders when taking out those new services is still at 12-percent.

Cruikshank says they also saw a 14-percent increase in ridership along the SCSU routes and when you take away the late night bus service which started this January, it too is a 12-percent jump.