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The recession hasn't slowed the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's (VTA) ridership. March ridership rose 3.4 percent system-wide compared with March 2008 figures. The agency now has posted a ridership gain for eight consecutive months.

The agency carried an average of 33,000 weekday passengers on its light-rail system, up 7.1 percent. VTA attributes the gain in part to a platform retrofit project completed earlier this year, as well as the low cost of public transportation, gas price volatility and an increased awareness of carbon emissions.