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The U.S. economy may have slowed during the year’s first quarter, but transit ridership trends show no sign of decreasing their break-neck pace — helped in part by some recently opened line extensions, according to American Public Transportation Association.



In addition to annual 2000 ridership increasing 3.5 percent compared with 1999, first-quarter 2001 ridership grew another 2.8 percent compared with the same period last year. In the past five years, transit ridership ballooned 21 percent.



"The public transportation industry’s efforts to listen to customers and invest in new services has kept ridership growing," said William Millar, APTA president, in a prepared statement.



Although all modes posted first-quarter 2001 increases, light rail led the pack growing by 6.4 percent compared with first-quarter 2000, helped by Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority each increasing 7.5 percent; New Jersey Transit, 7.4 percent; and Maryland Mass Transit Administration, 6.1 percent.



First-quarter 2001 heavy rail ridership overall increased 5.5 percent compared with the same period last year. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) led last year’s growth rate, expanding its ridership base by 61 percent thanks to a recently opened line extension. That line is the gift that keeps giving: LACMTA first-quarter heavy-rail ridership exploded 95 percent.



Other early 2001 heavy-rail heavy-hitters include Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, increasing 10.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2000; Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York City Transit, 5.5 percent; and New Jersey’s Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp., 6.2 percent.



Commuter rail also increased at a respectable 4.3 percent rate. A major rail expansion vaulted Trinity Railway Express’ ridership 101 percent in 2001’s first three months compared with the same period last year, followed by San Jose, Calif.’s Altamont Commuter Rail, 70 percent; and Virginia Railway Express, 17.6 percent.