Metro sees ridership fall, driven by rail drop

Associated Press//May 30, 2013//

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WASHINGTON — As Metro ridership falls, some people are moving to other forms of public transit.

The Washington Examiner reports that Metro saw a 3.6 percent drop in ridership for the fiscal year through March, including a 4.9 percent drop on Metrorail. The transit agency’s latest financial report shows a 1.5 percent drop for Metrobus over the same period.

Metro had hoped that the restoration of federal transit benefits in January would turn around losses, but now Metro says it is seeing the impact of federal budget cuts.

Meanwhile, MARC and Virginia Railway Express are seeing record numbers. Also, Robert Griffiths, who analyzes regional travel data for the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, says more people are choosing to walk or ride bicycles in some parts of the region.

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