Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Ridership growth on TTA regional buses and shuttles increased 12.2 percent for calendar year 2006.  TTA’s gains were more than four times the increase nationwide for the same period, as released today by the American Public Transportation Association.

“We are pleased that more people rode TTA in 2006 than the previous year,” said General Manager David King.  “People in the Triangle continue to demonstrate that when given a transit option, they will use it.”

Nationally, ridership growth on public transportation jumped to the highest level in nearly five decades in 2006 as high gas prices and expanded bus and train service enticed people to park their cars.  Nationally, transit ridership rose 2.9 percent. 

During 2006, TTA added new regional service between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill.  Increased interest in express service between Chapel Hill & Raleigh and Durham & Raleigh also helped to improve ridership.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. 

The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.