Transit riders increase in first half of 2010: CUTA

TORONTO, Dec. 2 /CNW/ - Preliminary Canadian public transit ridership statistics for the first six months of 2010 show an increase of 2.7% as compared to the same January to June period in the previous year, according to the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

"This performance is exceptional and shows that, following one year of stability, the growth pattern of previous years is returning," says CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau.

This growth in ridership represents an addition of nearly 23 million new trips taken by Canadians on public transit in the six month period.

"If the pattern continues to the end of 2010, Canada will again be surpassing an all time record for total transit ridership, likely reaching 1.88 billion trips," says CUTA Chair Charles Stolte. "This continued growth comes at a time when the economy is still struggling back to health."

CUTA is the national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada.

For association information, visit: www.cutaactu.ca

For further information:

Maureen Shuell, Director of Communications,
[phone] ext. 105 (office)