MBTA posts ridership gain in July, records fare revenue growth for FY2014

Despite a 5 percent fare increase that took effect July 1, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) posted a ridership gain for the sixth consecutive month. July ridership figures show a 3 percent year-over-year increase.

The agency recorded growth in subway, commuter-rail, commuter boats and bus ridership, MBTA officials announced in a press release.

"We also experienced robust ridership levels on weekends in July," said General Manager Beverly Scott.

Saturday ridership rose 3.6 percent and Sunday ridership grew 1.4 percent.

Ridership growth in the second half of fiscal-year 2014 helped drive up the agency's fare collections by 2.1 percent, said Scott. For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, the agency collected nearly $624.4 million in revenue, she said.

"Combined with our cost-cutting initiatives, the increased fare collections resulted in overall revenues exceeding total expenses by $14.2 million in FY2014," said Scott. "That money goes directly into our Capital Maintenance Fund to help pay for much-needed repairs and upgrades to our aging infrastructure."

Boston's subway, the nation's first system, turned 117 years old yesterday.