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The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon's (TriMet) overall average weekly ridership decreased 3.4 percent to 1.8 million trips during the winter 2012-13 quarter compared with the same period a year ago. The quarter covers rides taken in December, January and February.

Total trips taken on bus, MAX light-rail and WES commuter-rail services dropped 5.2 percent in the quarter to 23 million, while weekday trips fell 4 percent to 305,430, weekend trips slipped 0.6 percent to 316,900 and rush-hour trips decreased 6.4 percent to 94,930, TriMet officials said in a prepared statement.

WES ridership continued to grow in the quarter with weekday/rush-hour trips up 3.8 percent to 1,630 and weekly trips up 3.8 percent to 8,150. Quarterly trips rose 0.8 percent to 99,690.

MAX weekday trips were down 11 percent to 110,600, with much of that decrease attributed to the elimination of the Free Rail Zone and an increase in fare enforcement efforts, TriMet officials said. Weekly trips fell 10.5 percent to 683,300, weekend trips dipped 7.9 percent to 130,300 and rush-hour trips declined 11.7 percent to 33,200.

Overall, MAX ridership plunged 12.1 percent to 8.6 million trips in the quarter.