Orange Line Ridership Up 18 Percent as Gas Prices Rise

Angelenos took public transit in higher numbers as gas prices rose quickly early this year, according to ridership data released Friday by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Ridership on the San Fernando Valley Orange Line bus rapid transit was up 18 percent. And Metro will expand its 79.1 mile transportation system this year when it opens the 4-mile extension of the Orange Line to Chatsworth this summer.

The Metro Gold Line saw the biggest spike in ridership, a 21.6 percent increase in boardings compared with this time last year.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County was at $4.395 today, 42.2 cents greater than it was a year ago at this time, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

• To find the lowest gas prices in Chatsworth, click onto our "Traffic & Gas" link at the top of the page.

Metro rail ridership jumped 5.9 percent in February over the same month in 2011, an addition of about 17,500 new weekday riders.

In a statement, Metro called the jump a "significant increase from the slow-but-steady 1.9 percent rise reported between 2011 and 2010."

-- City News Service