Gas prices help send CARTA ridership above 4 million in 2008

Gas prices above 4 dollars a gallon helped pushed the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority past a ridership milestone last year. 

CARTA surpassed four million passenger trips in 2008—the second highest ridership level in the transit system’s more than 10-year history.

CARTA saw approximately 700,000 more trips in 2008, up more than 20 percent from the year before. 

“Ridership of this magnitude reinforces that CARTA continues to grow and improve,” said Howard Chapman, executive director of CARTA.  “The implementation of the commuter Express Service in January 2007 has contributed greatly to the ridership increases CARTA has been experiencing.  The strong ridership also is a testament to the leadership of the CARTA Board that service levels were increased even in the face of escalating fuel and operational costs during 2008.”