advertisement

---

After two years of declining ridership, New Jersey Transit is adding passengers during fiscal-year 2004.

Between July 2003 and March 2004, NJ Transit’s overall system provided more than 165 million passenger trips — a 2 percent increase compared with 2003’s total — and exceeded FY2004 budget forecasts by generating almost $1 million in additional revenue.

During FY2004’s first three quarters, commuter-rail ridership increased more than 3 percent compared with similar FY2003 data.

During the third quarter, ridership increased 6.4 percent compared with the same 2003 period and all 11 lines showed increases. Ridership on the Main, Bergen County and Pascack Valley lines grew 9.8 percent, partially due to the opening of Secaucus Junction and increased weekend service.

Light-rail ridership rose 6.7 percent in the third quarter and Newark City Subway ridership, about 11 percent.