Public transportation gains on gas prices

WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- More U.S. citizens are hopping on buses and jumping on the subway than have in the past 50 years, public transportation officials said Monday.

"There's no doubt that the high gas prices are motivating people to change their travel behavior," said president of the American Public Transportation Association William Millar.

The APTA said 10.3 billion trips using public transportation were taken in the first quarter of 2008, a 3.3 percent rise over a year ago.

Light rail -- modern street cars and trolleys -- saw the biggest increase, up 10.3 percent with double-digit gains made in Baltimore, Minneapolis, St. Louis and San Francisco.

New Orleans, recovering from Hurricane Katrina, has experienced a 476 percent increase in light rail usage, the APTA statement said.

Gains were also made in heavy rail -- subways and elevated trains. Readership increased 4.4 percent, gaining strongest in Staten Island, N.Y., Boston, Jersey City, N.J., and Los Angeles.

Bus use gained 2 percent nationwide, the report said.