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Ridership on Metro Transit buses and trains rose 2 percent to 19.5 million in the first quarter, with Northstar commuter-rail service registering the highest year-over-year gain at 6 percent.

Customers used the Twin Cities-area Northstar service more than 146,000 times in the quarter. However, ridership on the Hiawatha light-rail line fell 1.8 percent in the quarter vs. a year ago, even though ridership was “trending upward” in February and March, Metro Transit officials said in a prepared statement.

“Rising gas prices have certainly played a role in encouraging new customers to give transit a try,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.