Phoenix, Ariz.-based Metro light rail recorded increased ridership in the first six months of 2010 compared with the same time last year.
The ridership trend is, on average, 13.5 percent greater than in 2009 and 53.7 percent greater than the original weekday projection of 26,000.
"What's unusual here is that 2009 was our inaugural service year and you would suspect that ridership would hit an all-time high and then level off in subsequent years," said Metro CEO Stephen R. Banta. "But, we're not seeing ridership soften. In fact, just the opposite is occurring with more and more people trying the system and connecting to work, school, leisure and life."
In April 2010, Metro had its highest month and ridership days on record serving more than 1.2 million riders and as many as 55,000 in a single day.
In June 2010, when ridership usually slumps as a result of the summer heat, Metro saw a 15 percent increase from 815,566 in 2009 to 942,154 in 2010.