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Improved equipment and facilities, a recovering economy and high gas prices were key factors behind an increase in Chicago's transit ridership through 2012's first eight months, Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) officials reported last week.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace in total accommodated more than 443.5 million rail and bus riders through August, a 3.2 percent increased compared with the first eight months of 2011, RTA officials said in a prepared statement.

"The steady ridership increase is a clear indication that more people are choosing our transit system," said RTA Chairman John Gates Jr.

CTA's ridership rose 3.6 percent while Pace's suburban bus ridership increased 6.4 percent.

Metra posted a slight ridership decline during the period, however. Although the agency's passenger count slipped 1.1 percent, the decrease was less than what Metra officials had anticipated following a 25 percent fare hike, RTA officials said.